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SAN DIEGO (10/11/2012) - Recruits of Company F, 2nd Recruit
Training Battalion, listened attentively to lessons on how to fire
their weapon during Grass Week on Edson Range aboard Marine Corps
Base Camp Pendleton Oct. 2.
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Sgt. Ryan Salinas, primary marksmanship instructor, Weapons
Company, Weapons and Field Training Battalion, demonstrates the
kneeling position to the recruits of Company F, 2nd Recruit Training
Battalion, Oct. 2, 2012 at Edson Range aboard Marine Corps Base Camp
Pendleton. Grass Week is dedicated to teaching the fundamentals of
marksmanship and allows recruits to become comfortable with the
weapon. Photo by USMC Lance Cpl. Bridget Keane
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When recruits arrive at Edson Range, they attend a
week-long schedule that pertains to the fundamentals of
marksmanship. During that time, learning to fire a weapon is
broken down into a series of classes and practical
applications. They spend a majority of the day with a Marine
who is skilled in marksmanship, known as a primary
marksmanship instructor, whose job is to ensure recruits
grasp the concept of how to operate the weapon.
“Grass Week allows recruits to build a solid understanding
of what is expected of them,” said Sgt. Ryan Salinas,
primary marksmanship instructor, Weapons Company, Weapons
and Field Training Battalion. “We want them to be
comfortable and use this time to ask questions, practice
different positions and learn how to properly handle a
weapon before they get to the firing line.”
Recruits
lined up in the bleachers and sat down as Salinas began to
explain one of the three firing positions. Recruits will go
through the same course of fire that Marines do when
qualifying every year, which requires them to shoot in four
positions.
Once the PMI complete his instruction in
the classroom, recruits move to a grassy area surrounding a
white drum with targets painted on it.
They then
spent the next several hours “snapping in”, which allowed
them to find which shooting position was more comfortable
for them, as well as applying the fundamentals they've
learned.
The PMI walked around and corrected
recruits on their positions and helped them find more
comfortable positions.
Although becoming comfortable
with the positions is important, other lessons such as the
effects of weather and shot delivery process are just as
important, according to Salinas, a 27-year-old Helotes,
Texas native.
“Basically, we need them to completely
understand the fundamentals before they actually apply
them,” said Salinas.
Later in the week, recruits were
able to apply the fundamentals through the Indoor Simulated
Marksmanship Trainer. The ISMT is a simulated course of fire
that allows recruits to fire from the different yard lines,
shoot in the different positions, and become familiar with
the firing commands.
“All this practicing makes us
more comfortable with the positions, commands and overall
feel of the weapon,” said Recruit Brandon Tveit, Platoon
2130, Co. F.
For some recruits, this is the first
time they've fired a rifle so learning the fundamentals
might be overwhelming, according to Tveit, an 18-year-old
Poulsbo, Wash. Native.
“It's very important that we
learn everything about the weapon in order to master it,”
said Tveit. “Everything is laid out for us step-by-step, so
I feel pretty confident with what I'm being taught.”
By USMC Lance Cpl. Bridget Keane
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2012
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