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MarForPac Marines sharpen combat skills during live-fire exercise

Marine Corps News

Release Date: 7/25/2003

Story by Cpl. Luis R. Agostini

MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, Kaneohe Bay(July 24, 2003) -- More than 20 Marines from Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Forces Pacific, sharpened their combat skills at the Weapons Range here during a live-fire exercise Tuesday morning.

Originally designed for Marines attached to the HQSVCBN Security Augmentation Force, the invitation to fire the weapons was extended to all Marines stationed at Camp Smith.

The Marines fired the M-16A2 service rifle and the M-1014 combat shotgun from a distance of 15 meters, and launched training grenade shells with the M-203 grenade launcher up to 225 yards away.

"This is a great training opportunity for the troops," said Master Gunnery Sgt. Dennis Ghiselli, maintenance chief, G-6, MarForPac. "Some of the troops at staff headquarters don't get as many opportunities to fire weapons as much as the infantry."

The two-day training evolution was conducted over four phases.

The first phase, held Monday at Bordelon Field at Camp Smith, covered practical application and weapons handling and safety, assembly and disassembly, technical data and proper employment techniques.

The shooters moved to the Weapons Range here Tuesday, for the final three phases.

Marines used the bullet hole drill with the M-16A2 for the second phase, using the single-action and double-tap shots, as well as the failure to stop drill, which consists of two rapid-fire shots to the body of the target and a well-aimed shot to the head.

For the third phase, Marines engaged their targets with the M-1014 tactical shotgun.

During the final phase of the live-fire exercise, Marines engaged targets of up to 225 yards away with the M-203 grenade launcher at designated targets.

The transition from Bldg. 1 at Camp Smith to the Weapons Range was a welcome change of pace for the Marines.

"Everybody's out here to get out of the office and get some good training," said Lance Cpl. Jose Guzman, an administration clerk with the Aviation Logistics Division, MarForPac.

Hundreds of Marines and Sailors from HQSVCBN have served in the Marine Central Command's area of responsibility since early-2002, many of them crossing the borders of Kuwait and Bahrain into the war zone of Iraq.

"Every Marine is a rifleman, first and foremost," said Capt. Michael McDaniel, MarForPac S-3 training officer. "It is absolutely imperative that all Marines get exposed to infantry small arms and crew-served weapons, regardless of their MOS. It is a guaranteed formula to increase your life expectancy in a combat environment."