Parris Island, SC. Platoon 3026, 3rd Batallion, (lovingly called Disneyland - 3 story brick building)
2nd Force Recon, Camp Geiger, NC.
I was a bit more specialized. I used the 308 SR mounted with a Redfield (military spec.)4X12. (The results are still classified.)
Ha, CHIEF...I'll have you know that when I was at Parris Island, 3rd Marine Training Battalion was for us Women Marines!
Somewhere down the line the numbers were reassigned.
Furthermore, we did NOT have sissy brick buildings...just the old two-story wooden monstrosities with windows flung open in the hope of catching a breeze, or closed against the seeping in cold.
I also had to instruct my classes of between 60-120 women recruits under those conditions, with planes noisily taking off from what was the then nearby airfield, taking male graduates to Korea; and I had to project my voice over the noise of two HUGE exhaust fans.
We then had only familiarization with weapons and the gas chamber, not actual firing, although I did have an offer for 'personal instruction' I declined!
It wasn't fear of the weapons since I already was an excellent shot, but the rather unnerving ROAR that went up when I would ride the bus just PAST the range to get to the indoor swimming pool...there were thousands of men-away-from-wimmin out there and they were very vocal with their appreciation!
I had visions of a stampede had I appeared on the firing line.
My main experience with weapons came later in Alaska, hunting license and all, outshooting my husband and most men with every one I handled.
I am, however, in absolute awe over a genuine RECON MAN...:)))