thedrifter
07-06-07, 07:22 AM
During annual marksmanship qualification, range coaches provide valuable hands-on training to Marines, but many Okinawa units are experiencing a shortage of coaches, training officials from several Okinawa units said recently.
III Marine Expeditionary Force's role as the only permanently forward-deployed MEF coupled with the impact of supporting the War on Terror have contributed to the shortages, according to Lt. Col. J. Senter III, the 3rd Marine Division assistant chief of staff for manpower and administration.
The shortage of coaches, who instruct and reinforce the fundamentals of Marine Corps marksmanship, could adversely affect Marines' training, said Gunnery Sgt. Najee Jordan, training and operations chief for Headquarters and Services Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.
"Shooters on the range may be missing out on needed instruction," Jordan said.
Jordan said if more Marines become qualified as coaches, units could provide more equitable instruction time to shooters, especially those who need more hands-on training time.
Jordan said he encourages sections that can spare some junior Marines to let them become qualified as range coaches. Marines from the rank of private first class to sergeant need only be qualified as a sharp shooter or higher on the rifle range to become coaches.
Leaders can contact their training and operations section to schedule Marines for a two-week basic marksmanship trainer course at Camp Hansen. Upon completion, the Marine's unit can either transfer him to the Marksmanship Training Unit, or the MTU can use the Marine intermittently when the need arises.
Sergeants who complete the course can become primary marksmanship instructors for their units by completing an additional one-week course, according to Sgt. Chris Rushing, a range coach with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
During the basic marksmanship trainer course, Marines learn proper marksmanship techniques and enhanced shooting skills. They also go through distance, night fire, low-light fire and multiple target engagement exercises to gain experience with weapons in different situations.
Some range details on Okinawa have up to 60 shooters per unit, and with particularly large groups, it becomes particularly challenging to provide instruction to all shooters, according to Cpl. Pedro Morales, a range coach with MCB Butler. Having qualified coaches available to augment a unit's MTU would help alleviate the problem.
Pfc. Steven Lim, a refrigeration mechanic with MCB Butler, said a coach's influence can have a significant impact on a Marine's performance on the range
"With the coaches' help, I went from shooting a 204 (marksman) to a 238 (expert)," Lim said. "They really paid attention and made sure I was applying the fundamentals correctly to get every shot in the black."
III Marine Expeditionary Force's role as the only permanently forward-deployed MEF coupled with the impact of supporting the War on Terror have contributed to the shortages, according to Lt. Col. J. Senter III, the 3rd Marine Division assistant chief of staff for manpower and administration.
The shortage of coaches, who instruct and reinforce the fundamentals of Marine Corps marksmanship, could adversely affect Marines' training, said Gunnery Sgt. Najee Jordan, training and operations chief for Headquarters and Services Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler.
"Shooters on the range may be missing out on needed instruction," Jordan said.
Jordan said if more Marines become qualified as coaches, units could provide more equitable instruction time to shooters, especially those who need more hands-on training time.
Jordan said he encourages sections that can spare some junior Marines to let them become qualified as range coaches. Marines from the rank of private first class to sergeant need only be qualified as a sharp shooter or higher on the rifle range to become coaches.
Leaders can contact their training and operations section to schedule Marines for a two-week basic marksmanship trainer course at Camp Hansen. Upon completion, the Marine's unit can either transfer him to the Marksmanship Training Unit, or the MTU can use the Marine intermittently when the need arises.
Sergeants who complete the course can become primary marksmanship instructors for their units by completing an additional one-week course, according to Sgt. Chris Rushing, a range coach with Combat Logistics Regiment 3, 3rd Marine Logistics Group.
During the basic marksmanship trainer course, Marines learn proper marksmanship techniques and enhanced shooting skills. They also go through distance, night fire, low-light fire and multiple target engagement exercises to gain experience with weapons in different situations.
Some range details on Okinawa have up to 60 shooters per unit, and with particularly large groups, it becomes particularly challenging to provide instruction to all shooters, according to Cpl. Pedro Morales, a range coach with MCB Butler. Having qualified coaches available to augment a unit's MTU would help alleviate the problem.
Pfc. Steven Lim, a refrigeration mechanic with MCB Butler, said a coach's influence can have a significant impact on a Marine's performance on the range
"With the coaches' help, I went from shooting a 204 (marksman) to a 238 (expert)," Lim said. "They really paid attention and made sure I was applying the fundamentals correctly to get every shot in the black."