Corps Changes Marksmanship Qualification Standards
The United States Marine Corps is finally changing the marksmanship qualification standards, for the first time in more than a century. The change is simple and much needed. On March 11th, the Corps announced that for the first time, not only will accuracy be accounted for, but the speed it takes to shoot at each target.
I could never figure out when I was in the Corps, why we had all day long to sight in on a target and pull the trigger. Maybe at the 500-yard line, but at the 200 and 300, you most definitely need to not only shoot accurately but quickly as well.
According to Stars & Stripes, Col. Gregory Jones spoke last week about the changes alongside Chief Warrant Officer 4 Joshua Grayek, director of marksmanship in the battalion. Both described the overhaul as the largest since 1907.
“The rifle range in 1907, it’s not bad or good. It’s what we had when we had … a 1903 Springfield [rifle], which was an 1890s technology,” Jones said. “Now we have an M-16A4. The test is not as true a measure of lethality as it was when we had older, outdated technology.”
In my opinion, this is very much needed and it will make a more lethal Marine.
