thedrifter
09-12-08, 07:14 AM
MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM RAISES MARINE CORPS’ ACCURACY
By Lance Cpl. Thomas Hermesman
2nd Mar Div Combat Correspondent
Since the beginning of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, an estimated 4,500 rounds have been fired to achieve each insurgent fatality.
It is for this reason, the Marine Corps has spent more time implementing training like the Combat Marksmanship Program, said Ken Silvers, a new equipment trainer with Marine Forces System Command.
Marines with, Regimental Combat Team 8, 8th Marine Regiment, headed out to Camp Lejeune’s K-Ranges for CMP training, Aug. 22, to get more comfortable with weapon systems they will be taking on their scheduled deployment to Iraq.
Silvers, a retired Marine infantry systems officer, used class curriculum to teach RCT-8 Marines a more effective way to use their weapon in a combat situation. With the help of a rifle combat optic, he showed them how to engage insurgents in a more controlled and accurate manner.
Any Marine can find himself in a combat situation. All Marines need to have an understanding of their standard issue weapons systems, Silvers said.
‘‘These Marines need to be able to believe in themselves and in their abilities. This training not only helps build skills necessary for an upcoming deployment, but it improves self-confidence,” said Gunnery Sgt. Clarence Davis, company gunnery sergeant for RCT-8 Headquarters Company. ‘‘Even though these are not infantry Marines, the skills and confidence are still needed in Iraq. It is not just infantrymen doing the patrols.”
Although the M-16 A2, M-16 A4, and M-16 MA are the standard firearms issued to Marines, they were not the only pieces of weaponry the RCT-8 Marines had with them at the event.
‘‘We are doing the standard machine gun training with the M16s, M249 squad automatic weapons, 240G machine gun, M19 grenade launcher and the .50 caliber automatic weapon,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel LangLois, RCT-8 operations staff noncommissioned officer.
The three days of weapons training will help meet the predeployment training requirements before the regiment heads off to operation Spartan Reserve at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, Calif.
With statistics like 4,500 rounds to one insurgent fatality, classes the CMP are sending Marines to theater with the weapons knowledge and skills to drastically lower the ratio. With instructors like Ken Silvers, units will have the correct training with them and experience backing it up.
Ellie
By Lance Cpl. Thomas Hermesman
2nd Mar Div Combat Correspondent
Since the beginning of Operations Iraqi and Enduring Freedom, an estimated 4,500 rounds have been fired to achieve each insurgent fatality.
It is for this reason, the Marine Corps has spent more time implementing training like the Combat Marksmanship Program, said Ken Silvers, a new equipment trainer with Marine Forces System Command.
Marines with, Regimental Combat Team 8, 8th Marine Regiment, headed out to Camp Lejeune’s K-Ranges for CMP training, Aug. 22, to get more comfortable with weapon systems they will be taking on their scheduled deployment to Iraq.
Silvers, a retired Marine infantry systems officer, used class curriculum to teach RCT-8 Marines a more effective way to use their weapon in a combat situation. With the help of a rifle combat optic, he showed them how to engage insurgents in a more controlled and accurate manner.
Any Marine can find himself in a combat situation. All Marines need to have an understanding of their standard issue weapons systems, Silvers said.
‘‘These Marines need to be able to believe in themselves and in their abilities. This training not only helps build skills necessary for an upcoming deployment, but it improves self-confidence,” said Gunnery Sgt. Clarence Davis, company gunnery sergeant for RCT-8 Headquarters Company. ‘‘Even though these are not infantry Marines, the skills and confidence are still needed in Iraq. It is not just infantrymen doing the patrols.”
Although the M-16 A2, M-16 A4, and M-16 MA are the standard firearms issued to Marines, they were not the only pieces of weaponry the RCT-8 Marines had with them at the event.
‘‘We are doing the standard machine gun training with the M16s, M249 squad automatic weapons, 240G machine gun, M19 grenade launcher and the .50 caliber automatic weapon,” said Staff Sgt. Daniel LangLois, RCT-8 operations staff noncommissioned officer.
The three days of weapons training will help meet the predeployment training requirements before the regiment heads off to operation Spartan Reserve at Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center 29 Palms, Calif.
With statistics like 4,500 rounds to one insurgent fatality, classes the CMP are sending Marines to theater with the weapons knowledge and skills to drastically lower the ratio. With instructors like Ken Silvers, units will have the correct training with them and experience backing it up.
Ellie