![]() With a wide smile, she continues to say she and her friends have always tried to compete and beat each other's rifle scores. It is something new and as Marines say, we need to adapt and overcome.”Ĭapuchino explains that she's always enjoyed a challenge, especially as a competitive person. “Even though it was a little intimidating, the challenge of it made me want to succeed. “The third day I was more confident, but was still learning the course of fire,” said Capuchino. The Marines were still learning and had not fully grasped the time hacks and how long it would take to shoot which she expresses was very stressful. The hardest part was time management during the second day, says Capuchino. However, now the drill has transitioned to chest and head shots only. Additionally, failure to stop drill used to consist of shooting into the chest and pelvis zone. “I felt way more confident once I realized we had a lot of opportunities for each drill to get at least one destroy for each.”Ī ‘destroy’ is a zone on a target where the shots must impact to be counted. “At first I was a little off because it was something new, especially the failure to stop - going from the pelvis to now the head and also applying a lot of individual headshots,” she said. It was communicated to them to use the time allotted to completely understand the drills and ask for help.Īs the day progressed, Capuchino expressed that she started to understand the course of fire a little better, however, there was still a clear adjustment period to work through. Each shooter had an opportunity to run through the course of fire and ask the coaches as many questions as they needed. The second day of the range was the first time the Marines officially shot the new rifle qualification course of fire. It may not be a requirement, but conduct the grass week, the preparatory training and issue out range books to your Marines.” “I strongly encourage all commanders to enforce grass week to ultimately prepare the Marines for the new ARQ. “It is highly, highly recommended that you attend,” said Bill. ![]() Kaleb Bill, marksmanship school house SNCO “It’s more combat oriented and combat effective to train this way.” Staff Sgt. However, it is still strongly encouraged by range personnel to participate in these preparatory classes. There is no longer a formal requirement to attend a grass week. Grass week, a scheduled time Marines use to practice marksmanship fundamentals, is now a command dictated event. The preparatory period of instruction has also been adjusted with the new rifle qualification. In a combat situation, while the fundamentals still apply, they may need to determine how to utilize the materials they are given by themselves. Shooting this new course of fire allows Marines to make their own judgements and think critically. “It also judges Marines based on their lethality as opposed to precision style shooting.” Kaleb Bill, a marksmanship school house staff noncommissioned officer with Marine Corps Installations Pacific, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler’s Formal Marksmanship Training Center. “It’s more combat oriented and combat effective to train this way,” said Staff Sgt. A few changes include: static engagement of stationary and moving targets, barricades for weapon stabilization, on the move engagements of static targets, and an adjusted scoring system. The Marines still shoot at the 500, 300, 200, 25 and 15-yard line, however, major adjustments were made. Overall, it was unfamiliar for everyone and that meant all of the Marines needed to work side-by-side to conduct the range in a timely and proper manner. ![]() She knew the course of fire was going to be more difficult and physically demanding due to moving while shooting in full gear. She expressed that she came to the range really nervous. Morelia Capuchino Diaz, a food service specialist with Camp Courtney Mess Hall, Combat Logistics Regiment 37. “When I first heard about the range changing, I was concerned,” said Sgt. These Marines were the first on the island to shoot the new ARQ course of fire. However, not for battlesight zero, but for what was to occur in the days to come. The day began with heightened nerves and rigid composures. Shooters utilize artificial support to engage moving targets both while on foot and remaining stationary. The intent of ARQ is to provide an enhanced combat centric evaluation that uses a lethality based scoring system with more realistic standards. This consisted of a three-day course of fire that tests Marines’ marksmanship skills in a dynamic-shooting environment. Marines across Okinawa participated in the new Annual Rifle Qualification from Oct. ![]()
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |