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More than 145 Marines from LF CARAT-2010 aim for black

US Marine Corps News

4/8/2010
By Lance Cpl. Colby W. Brown, Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training

Since stepping on the yellow foot prints at recruit training, every Marine has formed a habit of firing rifles. It's ingrained in every Marine, no matter what military occupational specialty, that knowing basic combat marksmanship fundamentals is a requirement to be in the Corps – those fundamentals must be maintained.

"Knowing that all my fellow Marines are at least a basic marksman gives me an assurance, if i were ever to go into a combat zone," said Lance Cpl. Ryan Kennedy, field radio operator, Command Element, Landing Force Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2010, native of Tinley Park, Ill.

More than 145 Marines from the Landing Force, participating in Cooperation Afloat Readiness and Training 2010, came here April 3 and April 5 through 9 to hone their combat marksmanship skills. The LF conducted annual rifle, pistol and machine gun qualification in preparation of it's planned deployment to the Southeast Asian Pacific.

The Marines started by zeroing their rifles, firing three shot groups at a target 36 meters away and adjusting their rifle combat optic so the rounds will hit where aimed. Once the zero is found, it's used for the rest of the week as a base to make wind adjustments.

The next two days consisted of pre-qualification and qualification, where each Marine went through the known distance course of fire. The KD spans from 200 to 500 meters away from target and calls for each Marine to use the prone, sitting, kneeling and standing firing positions. The KD, also known as table one, is where 250 of 350 points possible during rifle qualification come from.

"As a Marine, we were taught the fundamentals of marksmanship," said Cpl. Steven Schuldt, dispersing technician, Command Element, LF CART-2010, native of Dew Berlin, Wis. "This is a test to see if you have maintained what you learned and to see if you need to seek self improvement on it."

Next is the fire and movement portion of qualification, where the Marines fired from five to 50 meters away from target while standing, kneeling and moving towards their respective target. This is known as table two and the Marines can acquire 100 points for qualification.

The Marines then moved to table three, which is similar to table two but is conducted at night and requires each Marine to use night vision goggles and infrared lasers. This course of fire is pass/fail and is not used for qualification purposes. It allows the Marines to become comfortable while firing at night and while using night vision and infrared.

After qualifying with the rifle, more than 40 of the Marines, in a billet of platoon sergeant or above, moved to the pistol range where they fired pre-qualification and qualification. The Marines fired from five to 25 meters away from target and practiced speed reloads for qualification.

Though out the week, more than 40 machine gunners qualified on their weapon systems at the Camp Hasen impact zone. Each machine gunner zeroed his weapon system and fired the machine gun qualification course.

Although rifle qualification is an annual requirement for both reservist and active duty Marines, the Marines from the Landing Force took more away from this qualification than just an annual firing. Each Marine was able to spend more time around equipment and weapon systems they will teach foreign armed services how to use, during their deployment.

"When we go to these different countries we will be teaching them how to use the weapon systems, and being here not only gives our Marines time to practice skills with their equipment, it gives them confidence in teaching about it," said Sgt. Scott Seals, 3rd Platoon commander, Company A, LF CARAT-2010, native of Kearney, Neb. "Its kind of hard to teach something when you don't know how to use it."

With the final ammo casing falling to the ground, finishing the LF's rifle, pistol and machine gun qualification, the Marines from the LF are one step closer to embarking on their deployment.

"It feels like meeting up with a long lost friend," Schuldt said. "I always miss this stuff. I enjoy the rifle range, spending a whole day shooting – what Marine doesn't."