Significant changes are in the works for Marine Corps marksmanship that are likely to make basic rifle qualifications more challenging, if not more complex, affecting everyone from the freshest boots to the grizzled infantrymen on predeployment workups.
Updates to targets, tables of fire and uniform badges were recommended by the service's top marksmanship experts at the 2014 Combat Marksmanship Symposium, held April 7-11 at Weapons and Training Battalion, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. Results of those recommendations were released in Marine administrative message 451/14, signed Sept. 11.
In addition to plans to revise the service's four tables of fire — among them those used for annual rifle qualifications — results of the symposium include the adoption of new photo-realistic targets, proper identification of a target, and the creation of a new uniform device for the service's best shooters. New devices, which would denote top-notch proficiency with rifles and pistols, would be worn in lieu of standard marksmanship badges, according to the MARADMIN.
No-shoot targets introduced as early as Table 2 could result in point deductions during rifle qualifications. How they will be scored, however, is still being determined.
While changes span the entire continuum of Marine marksmanship, they all share a common thread. They are part of the service's concerted march to place greater emphasis on combat shooting over bull's-eye-style marksmanship. Combat-oriented changes that have already hit pistol marksmanship include the introduction of time limits and movement. The idea is to increase pressure and more accurately reflect the stresses of battlefield shooting, as compared with older Olympic-style marksmanship more akin to competition than fighting in a chaotic, dynamic environment.
Now, leaders are turning their sights toward updating rifle marksmanship.
Photo realistic targets
Approval for "the procurement and use of a new target" that incorporates photo realism for multiple courses of fire is among the most immediate of the recommendations approved at the symposium.
The target, which would be used for Tables 2 through 3D, "will take advantage of photo realism and be a threat-type target in order to better prepare Marines for combat," the MARADMIN reads.
"The target will support gaining [positive identification], shoot/no shoot concepts, and doctrinal engagement techniques," it goes on to say.
Marines begin receiving shoot/no-shoot training in Table 4, the most advanced table of fire, which only infantry Marines complete during predeployment workups. The adoption of photo-realistic targets for even Table 2 — where all fleet Marines begin learning combat marksmanship skills while wearing personal protective equipment — means Marines will begin honing those skills earlier. Also, with Table 2 as part of annual basic rifle qualifications, it will ensure Marines have pressure to do well in at least some shoot/no-shoot training.
"Conceptually, no-shoot targets that are engaged would result in an equal point value reduction from their overall score," according to written responses from Chief Warrant Officer 5 Vincent Pope, a Marine gunner who serves as the director of Weapons Training Battalion's Marksmanship Doctrine and Programs Management Section. "However, this needs to be vetted through the Combat Rifle Working Group at the [Combat Marksmanship Symposium]. Currently, no-shoot targets that are engaged during Table 4 are scored as misses."
For the Marine Corps, realistic targets would be in large part employed to help Marines place shots more effectively to stop advancing threats.
Photo realistic targets will be a tremendous improvement to Table 2, said Sgt. John P. Kuebler, Bravo Range Combat Marksmanship Trainer, for Marksmanship Training Unit, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Installations East-Camp Lejeune.
"We really need those photo targets on Table 2," he said. "It would be beyond beneficial when you are engaging targets at 25 yards — you can see all of that. You can see eyes for head-shots, belt or pants line for the pelvic girdle. It would benefit the Marine Corps exponentially doing that for Table 2.
"While shoot/no-shoot scenarios are currently being tested, definitive score value or deduction has yet to be worked out. The four sites currently conducting these tests will present their results at the FY-15 Combat Marksmanship Symposium for further discussion and refinement."
Officials did not comment on what a "no shoot" target would look like, but presumably it would be of a civilian.
While not photo realistic, the service has already adopted an anatomical target that shows a character of a man complete with pectoral muscles, eyes and a pelvic region to help pistol shooters place rounds in critical areas that are more likely to stop a threat in its tracks. Failure-to-stop drills, for example, can include two shots to the thoracic cavity and one more to either the pelvis or head. Fighters don't always stop immediately when shot in the chest and can continue to pose a lethal threat if they aren't dropped quickly.
Proper identification is key
Kuebler was a bit more skeptical of proposed changes to Table 1, however. Table 1 is the foundation of all Marine marksmanship and recommendations include revising it to incorporate "positive identification of a threat" and "physiological realism." That could potentially cloud basic lessons.
It could also make annual rifle qualifications a bit more complicated with Table 1 and Table 2 used together to determine a Marines proficiency. The revisions could make the test more challenging by introducing more things to think about, beyond simply placing an accurate shot. It remains to be seen how PID in Table 1 and shoot/no-shoot concepts in Table 2 would factor into scoring.
Table 1 changes, along with other revisions to courses of fire from the latest symposium, will be refined at the next marksmanship symposium held Oct. 20-23 and go into effect before the end of fiscal 2015, which begins Oct. 1, according to responses Pope provided.
After last year's marksmanship symposium, Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico was tasked with exploring ways to incorporate more "combat related marksmanship techniques" into Table 1 training. That would include engagement techniques, positive identification of a threat and physiological realism "while maintaining proven fundamental marksmanship skills," according to MARADMIN 451/14.
Kuebler and several of his fellow Marines, including his battalion command, told Marine Corps Times they are highly supportive of nearly all the recommendations made at the latest marksmanship symposium, except revisions to Table 1. The introduction of more combat marksmanship to the Table 2 course of fire and beyond is a great move, but making Table 1 more complex could complicate things for Marines still trying to master fundamentals necessary to excel in later tables, they say.
"Table 1 really is focusing on the fundamentals of marksmanship," Kuebler said. "You are looking at trigger pull, recoil management, the seven common factors of the proper marksmanship stance when shooting in different positions, sight alignment and sight picture through your optics."
In agreement were Sgt. Joseph M. Syracuse, a Combat Marksmanship Trainer Instructor for Marksmanship Training Unit, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Installations East-Camp Lejeune, who attended the symposium at Quantico, and Lt. Col. Mark R. Reid, Battalion Commander for Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Installations East-Camp Lejeune.
"To maintain high standards on table one you want to really emphasize those fundamentals that are key to marksmanship," Syracuse said.
Table 1 is good as is, Reid said.
"From what we've seen, table one is solid. We appreciate the smart folks at Quantico looking at how we can improve marksmanship efficiency. As far as combat, adding realism, these guys see that there is room for that in table two more so than in table one," he said.
The changes, however, are meant to reflect changing threats, according to answers provided by Pope.
"Slow and rapid rates of fire were actually methods of employment for riflemen back in World War 1," Pope wrote. "Today we have single-precision shot, controlled pair, hammer pair and failure to stop engagement techniques."
Not only will changes to Table 1 reflect those changes, but they will account for the use of the Rifle Combat Optic which puts the target and aiming reticule on the same plane. With traditional iron sights, a shooter focuses on the front sight, leaving the target blurry. But the RCO means a shooter can see the target in detail and place more lethal shots.
"Therefore, it's no longer enough just to aim at a contrasting silhouette. Our Marines need 'operant conditioning' by aiming at and engaging a target that as much as possible resembles an armed individual threat."
Tables 3 and 4 merge
Another significant revision calls for merging Tables 3-4, which should save time for units in training and reduce the burden on the service's ranges.
"With the exception of lateral engagements, the majority of the skills we train in Table 4 are already resident in Table 3," Pope wrote. "This merging of the tables maximizes efficiency for infantry units who can now train all of their required skills in four vice eight separate tables."
Both Tables 3 and 4 include short- and long-range day and night shoots at known and unknown distances.
"The most advanced skills including pivots and lateral engagements will be removed from the tables, but will remain as 03XX skills specific to [Military Operations in Urban Terrain] and [Close Quarters Battle] training."
New uniform devices
As an incentive to promote marksmanship proficiency, the symposium's executive steering committee approved a recommendation to create a new uniform badge that would be worn in lieu of traditional rifle and pistol badges to denote top-level of proficiency.
Upon earning a Combat Rifle and Pistol Master Certification Marines would be able to wear a new pistol or rifle badge putting them a cut above even "expert."
Officials have yet to determine exactly how the badge will look like or how Marines will earn it.
"The roadmap for this certification is still in conceptual development, however, existing formal training (Combat Marksmanship Coach and Training courses) combined with personal achievements in marksmanship as well as the Marine's success/experience in training others will serve as a baseline," wrote Pope.
Marines in every military occupational specialty will be eligible, he said.
"I think it is a great idea. I don't think anyone was opposed to it," said Syracuse,. "It was seen as a really great way to get focus and emphasize marksmanship ... "
"I think the goal when they set out to make a new badge was to make a different level of standard," he added. "If meritorious promotions come along, it would set a Marine apart."
