This, is my boomstick!

Well faithful readers, whomever you may be, I just finished up two weeks of rifle range goodness. Because ever Marine is first and foremost a Rifleman, we’re required to qualify every year on the M-16 to prove we’re able to step up and defend ourselves and our missions in the event that we’re called upon. Most of the Marines who fought their way out of Chosin Resevoir in Korea weren’t infantry, they were cooks and administrative weenies and motor transport bubbas. But they fought, and they made it out of there and the legacy of the Corps is filled with examples where the combat skills of non-combat Marines have gotten the job done and them home safely.

 As such, marksmanship is highly prized in the Marines today. It, and the assortated basic combat skills that go with it are given a lot of time and energy in both Recruit Training and in the follow-on Marine Combat Training that every Pogue or P.O.G. (Personnel Other than Grunt) goes thorough before their MOS school and the Fleet. It takes a tremendous amount of work to train thousands of green recruits who may have never touched a rifle to meet the standards required by the Corps, and they’re fairly stringant standards. I won’t get into the point system but to give you an idea I’ll just list some of distances and positions tested: 200 yards sitting, kneeling, and standing- slow fire (15 rounds, 20 minutes), 200 yards sitting from standing (changing your position) rapid fire (10 rounds, 60 seconds), 300 yards sitting (slow fire), 300 yards prone from standing (rapid fire), 500 yards prone (10 rounds, slow fire). All of these positions are at man-sized targets, for the most part, and have to take into account the wind and weather conditions as well as breathing and trigger control. It can all get a bit tricky for a beginning shooter such as myself.

 While in Recruit Training I had the misfortune to break my leg as we started the rifle range. Not wanting to be dropped from training I pushed through it with the help of my Senior Drill Instructor and I eventually qualified with the M-16, although as a Marksman, the lowest of the three classes of rifle ability. A week later I was dropped from training anyways (having a cast put on automatically means you’ve got to go to the Medical Rehibilitation Platoon) but I always thought I’d do better the next time around.

This year, I got my chance to see if I was correct in blaming my previous performance on my leg or if I was just a lousy shot. Luckilly for my ego, I qualified as an Expert (just barely) the highest of the three classifications and I can plausibly say that it was my leg that messed me up the first time around. Now all that remains is buying some new badges for my uniforms and hoping I can do as well or better the next time around. My new higher score will help with promotions so hopefully I’ll earn one in the next few months.

 In other, unrelated news, I lost my power adapter for my laptop so I may not be online as often for the next week or so. Much like the last two, I suppose. You can reach me at scottdavidsanders AT gmail DOT com or at my work account at scott DOT sanders @ usmc DOT mil

Keep on rockin’