Marksmanship fundamentals keep US forces elite

Published May 23, 2013
By Sgt. Cody Stagner
133rd Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. -- Getting deploying service members familiar with their assigned weapon is a top priority here before getting sand in their boots or sending bullets down range.

Whether a service member uses iron sights or red dot sights, preliminary marksmanship instruction is crucial to the development of basic marksmanship skills, which is a basic necessity for service members of all five branches.

"Regardless of branch, we treat all as if we are going down range with them," said Army Sgt. 1st Class Joseph Rivera, 1st Battalion, 314th Infantry Regiment expert marksman and noncommissioned officer in charge of PMI training.

"We intend to give them the best training they can possibly get," he said.

Rivera instructed more than 40 service members May 15, 2013, from the Army, Air Force and Navy in preparation for future deployments to Afghanistan and other contingency operations.

"Learning to fire the M4 is a new experience for me," said Navy Petty Officer 1st Class Denise Peele, Alameda Naval Air Station administrative specialist.

The sailor is familiar with pistols and shotguns, the Navy requirements for basic riflemen skills.

"We have to qualify on the 9 mm and shotgun for the Navy," she said. "So, this experience really overstated my need for knowledge. I have never touched a rifle like this before now."

It's the basic fundamentals that Rivera says allows for service members to pick up any weapon and hit targets.

"Preliminary marksmanship instruction focuses on the four fundamentals of marksmanship - learning how to steady your fighting position, using correct aiming techniques, breathing properly and squeezing the trigger," he said.

Teaching the same fundamentals, across the service branches is what ensures the U.S. remains an elite fighting force, said Peele.

"Over there, it's one team and one fight," she said.