MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- The best of the West displayed their marksmanship skills during the Western Division Competition-in-Arms Program at Wilcox Range here March 13-31.
More than 100 of the best pistol shooters and riflemen west of the Mississippi River strived to outshoot each other in the competition. Most of the participants were Marines, but reservists, retirees and civilians also competed, said Staff Sgt. Scott K. Jones, utilities chief at Marine Wing Support Squadron 372 here.
Jones competed in this year’s individual pistol and rifle matches, finishing first and third, respectively. He also won the Eastern Division M-9 service pistol match at Camp Lejeune, N.C., in 1998.
Jones says a positive attitude going into the competition is essential.
“I tell myself I can shoot well,” said the 39-year-old from Heber Springs, Ark. “Then I apply the fundamentals, which in turn starts to increase my belief that I can shoot well.”
The shooters competed only three days during the three-week program. They spent about two weeks familiarizing with the shooting course and sharing valuable marksmanship knowledge.
“My mission in competing is to become the best marksman I can possibly be. Marines are always ‘riflemen first,’” said Sgt. Kelly R. Wakefield, a primary marksmanship instructor for Weapons Field Training Battalion.
Wakefield won first place in the M-16A2 service rifle match and took home the rifle high-TYRO (first-time competitor) award.
“The purpose of the Combat-in-Arms Program is to provide intensive marksmanship training in a competitive environment,” said Capt. John T. Schwent, officer-in-charge of Marine Corps Mobilization Command in Kansas City, Mo. “The competitors can take all that knowledge with them and reapply it back in their commands.”
The competition program might sound like a break from everyday work for some Marines, but it’s not all fun and games, said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Leonard S. Garcia, officer-in-charge of the Marksmanship Training Branch.
“The perception from folks not in the competition is that the competitors come out here and shoot just to have fun,” said the 40-year-old from Phoenix. “It’s very hard to come out here, carry all that equipment from yard line to yard line, take what the weather gives you, and then sustain a high level of performance. It’s physically and mentally demanding.”
Indeed, the weather played a factor. The shooters hit the range every morning at 7 a.m., and it started raining during the final day of competition. The team match went on as scheduled, and the shooters adapted to the wet conditions.
“That’s why they keep their data book,” said Garcia. “Competitors will have different zeroes for different shooting conditions, and they’ll make adjustments. They need to keep that data book.”
All shooters performed at a high level, with scores averaging around 270, but MCRD Scarlet, “The Purple Cobras," dominated the range, winning both team matches and the individual rifle match.
Those who finished in the top 10 percent move on to the All-Marine Championships at Camp Lejeune April 10-28.