New USMC rifle qualification procedure?

[Gryff]

A friend has asked me to take him and his son shooting next week. His son has committed to joining the Marines after he graduates high school next year.

I wanted to get a hold of some of the USMC rifle qualification targets so that the son gains some familiarity with them. The problem is that I'm reading that the Corps is changing its rifle qualification process and targets soon.

https://www.military.com/daily-news/...ight-fire.html

If we have any Marines here with recent qualification experience, I would appreciate some input on what targets to get.

[jarhead714]

I think the best thing you can do is instruct him to sit Indian style for long periods of time. Maybe get him locked on to sight alignment/sight picture, B.R.A.S.S., all that stuff, ya know. Let the PMI get him on target. The more raw a recruit is in their hands the better.

[Gryff]

Originally Posted by jarhead714

I think the best thing you can do is instruct him to sit Indian style for long periods of time. Maybe get him locked on to sight alignment/sight picture, B.R.A.S.S., all that stuff, ya know. Let the PMI get him on target. The more raw a recruit is in their hands the better.

Yeah, I don't want to pollute his training. But I can help him with learning about trigger press, breathing, sight alignment. Also get him initially familiar with the controls of the AR. Super-basic stuff that he won't need to un-learn.

BTW, according to that article, they are getting rid of the seated shooting position.

[autoduel]

For the old qualification course, take an appleseed class.
They go over the same shooting positions and basics.

[press press]

Teach him natural point of aim and trigger control. He will be taught the rest. Just like jarhead714 said the PMI will teach him the rest.

Want to get him ready for the range. Have him walk around picking up all the trash and brass from the range. While he's doing that walk behind him yelling, look for stuff he missed.

[tnlrat37]

Originally Posted by press press

Teach him natural point of aim and trigger control. He will be taught the rest. Just like jarhead714 said the PMI will teach him the rest.

Want to get him ready for the range. Have him walk around picking up all the trash and brass from the range. While he's doing that walk behind him yelling, look for stuff he missed.

^^^Pretty much all this. As a former PMI and shooting coach myself it was actually much easier teaching those that didn’t have bad habits. Not saying you’ll give him any but a lot of people that grow up shooting pick some up. That’s why women were usually easier to teach, no bad habits and would actually listen rather than think they know everything. He will be snapping in (dry-fire) for hours before firing a shot, that’s where you get your POA, body position and trigger pull down. That being said take him out and have some fun with him, also tell him if he comes home with a Pizza box he should’ve joined the Navy

[kwest10]

Originally Posted by tnlrat37

^^^Pretty much all this. As a former PMI and shooting coach myself it was actually much easier teaching those that didn’t have bad habits. Not saying you’ll give him any but a lot of people that grow up shooting pick some up. That’s why women were usually easier to teach, no bad habits and would actually listen rather than think they know everything. He will be snapping in (dry-fire) for hours before firing a shot, that’s where you get your POA, body position and trigger pull down. That being said take him out and have some fun with him, also tell him if he comes home with a Pizza box he should’ve joined the Navy

^^^ This and that

Literally weeks of snapping in. Best thing he can do to prepare is get physically fit, learn how to move fast and deal with constant micromanagement stress.

[quadmx301]

Want to help him learn to shoot? Don’t take him shooting.

[Gryff]

Originally Posted by quadmx301

Want to help him learn to shoot? Don’t take him shooting.

Missing your logic.

[SnWnMe]

Originally Posted by quadmx301

Want to help him learn to shoot? Don’t take him shooting.

Originally Posted by Gryff

Missing your logic.

Because there is your way and there is the Marine Corps way.

[smogcity]

Originally Posted by autoduel

For the old qualification course, take an appleseed class.
They go over the same shooting positions and basics.

I second this! Appleseed is the way.

[BajaJames83]

The Marines are going to teach him over and over and over. Just give him the basics of trigger control, breathing and sight pictures

[Gryff]

Originally Posted by BajaJames83

The Marines are going to teach him over and over and over. Just give him the basics of trigger control, breathing and sight pictures

That's the point.

[tokuno]

Neither of my two kids was a shooter, and they both expert qualified - the Marines teach 'em what they need to know.
This far out, there's plenty of time to get in good physical shape and round out the education to get a better asvab - opens up more options. I'd recommend taking practice asvabs online to find areas of improvement & life experience for a better score & more career options.

[Old Marine]

If you truly want to prepare him for The United States Marine Corps, have get up at zero 4 hundred. Make his rack, ****, shower and shave in 6 minutes.
Then stand by for hours...............

[FLIGHT762]

The best thing to do is to have your friend's son get into the best physical shape before going in. I watched so many recruits struggling with the PT.

Getting into top shape and not struggling with the others will help. I was fortunate at the time to have gotten into shape. My running routine was doing 5 miles in 40 minutes. In looking back at the many decades that have passed, getting into physical shape was one of the most important things.

The Marine instructors will teach your friend's son everything else.

[WalterJones]

Not just physically fit...mentally fit as well.

I memorized everything my recruiter gave me and then some. While the other guys had to lose sleep at night working on their general orders, ranks, customs and courtesies, etc, I got to get some precious extra rack time.

Makes a HUGE difference on your quality of life.

[DevilDawgJJ]

His time would be better served memorizing rank structure, general orders and trying to get 30 of his friends jammed nut to butt in your half bathroom.

[press press]

Originally Posted by DevilDawgJJ

His time would be better served memorizing rank structure, general orders and trying to get 30 of his friends jammed nut to butt in port a crapper .

FIFY

[Corbin Dallas]

You want him to learn to shoot?

First teach him to learn to listen twice as much as he speaks.

PMI will do the rest.

[LB9]

Marine PMI will teach them everything they need to know. I had zero experience with firearms and shot expert every year. PMI liked training those with little to no experience as there were no/very little bad habits to break.

I got out in 97 so things are probably way different now but I would think my statement still stands.

[Che762x39]

Originally Posted by LB9

Marine PMI will teach them everything they need to know. I had zero experience with firearms and shot expert every year. PMI liked training those with little to no experience as there were no/very little bad habits to break.

I got out in 97 so things are probably way different now but I would think my statement still stands.

Great advice. My dad (WWII Vet) and grandpa (WWI Vet) taught me the bad habit of using "Kentucky Windage". So I usually got Sharpshooter but one year I did get Expert.

[Che762x39]

Originally Posted by Corbin Dallas

You want him to learn to shoot?

First teach him to learn to listen twice as much as he speaks.

PMI will do the rest.

Also great advice. Parents always want to help too much

[jarhead714]

The fear and potential embarrassment of getting a pizza box or worse still, going UNQ’D is a tremendous motivator.

[middleofnowhere]

I was an experienced hunter and shooter going in to the Corps. What others have said about letting the Marines teach the kid is 100% correct.

[IronsightsRifleman]

Weren't we done with this thread last Thanksgiving?

[jarhead714]

Originally Posted by IronsightsRifleman

Weren't we done with this thread last Thanksgiving?

We’re done when we find out which rifle badge the kid ends up with.