As announced on March 11th, the US Marine Corps is set to implement sweeping changes to its rifle marksmanship training and qualification regulations, aiming to bolster combat lethality and accuracy among troops.

Revamping Rifle Marksmanship Training

The Marine Corps is overhauling its rifle marksmanship training program, aiming to turn all of its Marines into highly lethal sharpshooters.

This initiative comes in response to concerns about existing shortcomings in marksmanship accuracy as identified in studies dating back to 2018.

The new program emphasizes real-world combat scenarios, with Marines qualifying on tougher targets.

Gone are the days of simply hitting anywhere; instead, the service is committed to instilling a culture of precision marksmanship that aligns with the ethos of “one shot, one kill.”

Marines must now pre-qualify with an “Expert” score before even entering the annual qualification course.

marksmanship competition
A Marine fires an M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle during a marksmanship competition (Image source: DVIDS)

Implementing Reforms Under Col. Greg Jones

Under the leadership of Col. Greg Jones, commander of the Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico Marine Corps Base, Virginia, the Marine Corps is implementing a series of reforms effective immediately.

These reforms encompass a multifaceted approach to address deficiencies in shooting accuracy, with a particular emphasis on realistic shooting scenarios, movements, and positions.