To become a skilled marksman in the Marines, one must successfully complete a wide array of training programs designed to test a myriad of different shooting skills. The Marine Corps Rifle Qualification program is a multi-week course that takes cadets through a series of training and skills tests to ensure he or she has what it takes to adhere to the Marines’ mission: “to locate, close with, and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver and to repel an assault by fire and close combat during amphibious assaults and subsequent operations ashore”
Check out what it’s like to go through Marine marksmanship training in the video below:
The clip features U.S. Marines during their rifle marksmanship qualification on tables 1 and 2 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, Ariz.. The “tables” are the ranges that comprise a number of different targets that must be hit in a given time.
U.S. Marines during rifle marksmanship qualification on tables 1 and 2 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ. (Gung Ho Vids/YouTube)
Table 1 is the known distance range and is comprised of three targets, each scored from 5 to 0 points (5, 4, 3, 2, Miss). Each recruit fires 50 shots for a maximum score of 250. The targets are made up of:
- The “Able” target. A 4ft x 6ft with a 12in bullseye and is used for slow fire at the 200 and 300-yard lines, from the sitting, kneeling and standing positions.
- The “Dog” target. Vaguely resembles a person looking over a barricade. It’s on 6ft x 6ft paper and used for rapid-fire (10 shots in 60 seconds) at the 200 and 300-yard lines, from the sitting and prone.
- The “B-Modified” target. A human silhouette, also on a 6ft x 6ft paper, and used for slow fire at the 500-yard line from the prone.
At the 500 yard line, the recruit is shooting at a target with just a sling for support. The rifle can not touch the ground or anything other than the shooter’s body.
U.S. Marines during rifle marksmanship qualification on tables 1 and 2 at Marine Corps Air Station Yuma, AZ. (Gung Ho Vids/YouTube)
Table 2 is combat marksmanship. It consists of 50 rounds (scored 2, 1 or miss), fired at a pair of silhouette targets from the 25-yard line. During this task, the recruit earns 2 points per hit in the head, chest or pelvis and 1 point per hit elsewhere on target.
After completing their Marine Corps rifle qualification, recruits will be basically trained with their rifles. Upon successful completion and graduation of boot camp, Marines will continue their training in marksmanship at the School of Infantry (SOI).
