Shooting Drills Help Marines Sharpen Skills

American Forces Press Service ^ | Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde, USMC

[SandRat]

CAMP DWYER, Afghanistan, Jan. 27, 2010 – With large packs and complete sets of personal protective equipment, Marines from Headquarters and Service Company of 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, arrived at the makeshift rifle range here Jan. 23 under rain-threatening clouds.

Marines from 3rd Battalion, 6th Marine Regiment, fire rounds at a target while at the rifle range on Camp Dwyer in Afghanistan’s Helmand province, Jan. 23, 2010. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde  
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.

"There's going to be a lot of pivoting and shooting, facing away from the target and turning around very quickly; usually engaging the target with two shots at a time," said Marine Corps Cpl. Sandro Ola, a field radio operator. "It's very quick and to the point."

The drills also consisted of firing while moving toward the target, reloading rifles quickly and correcting weapon malfunctions while under pressure.

Ola, from Anchorage, Alaska, said he thinks the firing drills will benefit the Marines who will be working with Afghan soldiers to conduct counterinsurgency operations in southern Helmand province.

"It's very crucial that we have this training," he said, “[so that] when we have the opportunity to take that shot, we know when to take it and when not to take it."

The drills consisted of two separate shooting sessions, one during the day and the other at night. During the night-fire portion, Marines used night-vision goggles and laser-aiming devices to help them see their targets.

"The more training they have with their gear and [optics] and everything, the more comfortable they are when it comes to the real thing," said Marine Corps Staff Sgt. William Hart, who’s in charge of the range.

The Marines agreed that repetitive training is a key element for combat readiness.

"The whole point … [is] to get you used to moving around and shooting with your rifle," said Marine Corps Pfc. Joseph Attaway, an administrative clerk from Statesboro, Ga. "Whenever the time comes when you have to shoot, you just do it out of habit."

(Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Tommy Bellegarde serves in the 1st Marine Division’s Regimental Combat Team 7 public affairs office.)

[SandRat]

Marine version of Police "Hogan's Ally."

[SandRat]

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[Recon Dad]

The Marine Corps has just been called by the New York Times, ‘The elite of this country.’ I think it is the elite of the world.
Admiral William Halsey, U.S. Navy

[samsmom]

Thanks, my son is in 3/6 Marines.

[Constitutions Grandchild]

Pat takes his commission Saturday — in 24 degree weather. Hope my tears don't freeze to my face. ;-) Also hope my hands don't seize up from the cold as I try to pin on his “butter bars”. I'm making his dad carry the mameluke, as I don't want to drop it (BTW, that thing weighs a ton). I can't imagine wearing it around my waist when in dress uniform. I thought I was crippled by a diaper bag when he was little. Thought I'd go through life listing to Port.

[SandRat]

Almighty Father,
whose command is over all and whose love never fails,
make me aware of Thy presence and obedient to Thy will.

Keep me true to my best self,
guarding me against dishonesty in purpose and deed and helping me to live so that I can face my fellow Marines,
my loved ones,
and Thee without shame or fear.
Protect my family.

Give me the will to do the work of a Marine
and to accept my share of responsibilities with vigor and enthusiasm.
Grant me the courage to be proficient in my daily performance.
Keep me loyal and faithful to my superiors
and to the duties my Country and the Marine Corps have entrusted to me.
Help me to wear my uniform with dignity,
and let it remind me daily of the traditions which I must uphold.

If I am inclined to doubt, steady my faith;
if I am tempted, make me strong to resist;
if I should miss the mark, give me courage to try again.
Guide me with the light of truth and grant me wisdom by which I may understand the answer to my prayer.

Semper Fidelis

[samsmom]

We were at Camp LeJeune when it was 17 degrees a couple of weeks back. Put some handwarmers in your shoes and bring lots of tissues! God bless, protect and guide your son. Pat will be in my prayers as well.

[samsmom]

Beautiful prayer. Thank you. Is this the prayer the Marines learn when they first become Marines? Or am I thinking of another oath?

[SandRat]

Yes it is.

[MomofMarine]

My son is currently at Camp Dwyer, so thank you for this post.

[SandRat]

See Reply#6

[John-Irish]

My nieces fiancee is serving with the 1/6 Marines. He was deployed last month. God Bless them and prayers for all.

[SuperLuminal]

What a "DUH" piece....

That is unless times have changed so much since the early 50's that us jarheads would have to be going into the battle zone either untrained or needing remedial training...

Keeping sharp is fine...but this article seems to me to be implying that it's "remedial"....Or am I, almost 60 years removed from P.I., still overly reactive to anything that seems critical of the Corps?

[SandRat]

"....Or am I, almost 60 years removed from P.I., still overly reactive to anything that seems critical of the Corps?

NOPE.

[Naplm]

mine too!

[MaxMax]

This type of training should be basic for Marines. To think
that I have more tactical training than a jarhead is a serious concern.

[2111USMC]

Your first statement is correct. This is very basic training for Marines.

Sometimes publications, even AFPS, need some fluff pieces to fill space. This looks and reads like one of them.

[calex59]

I'll never forget going to the range at Fort Ord(yep, a long time ago) the day we were going to qualify during Basic Training. It was completely fogged in but they had us shoot anyway and I was in the first order. The targets were silhouettes(something new for the army at that time)and the only ones you could actually see were the 50 yard targets. Needless to say the whole order failed and had to shoot again. By the time the second order(and subsequent orders)had fired the fog had lifted.

It was very irritating to have to shoot again:)

[calex59]

Addition to post #18: What I didn’t realize at the time, but learned soon enough, is that battles are fought, fog or no fog and it was good training for us. No excuse, Sir was what we had to say when we failed the course.

[calex59]

One more addition to post #18: I know this is a Marine thread and I would like to say my Uncle was a Capt. of Marines in WWII. I don’t know why I joined the army instead of the Marines. No excuse, Sir!