MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. -- Sighting-in on a target 1,000 yards away, civilians and service members recently fired rounds for a chance to help represent the United States next year at a prestigious international shooting competition.
Others don't have to fire a shot to become part of the team. Their coaching ability earns them the nod.
Case in point, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Phillip "Gene" Rucks, the base's chief range officer, who recently realized a longtime dream when he was named "part of such a great event and team."
Rucks is the only Camp Pendleton Marine on a team composed of 16 of the best shooters in the United States. They'll face six to 10 other countries at the Palma shooting competition in July 2003 in Beasley, England.
Rucks, a member of the Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton team that swept the Western Division Matches here in March, submitted his name as a possible coach after attempting to qualify as a shooter at the October tryouts.
Rucks received an invitation to try out for a coaching position in Sacramento last month. That meant three days of reading winds and making adjustments for 36 shooters per day. Each shooter shot seven rounds in the prone position from 1,000 yards.
"The goal was to keep each round in a 20-inch 10 ring," Rucks said.
His expertise paid off; he made the team as one of its four coaches.
"It's a great chance to coach some excellent shooters," Rucks said.
The 15-day Palma competition matches are held every four years. All shooters fire from the prone position, with no scopes on their rifles. They fire from distances of 800, 900 and 1,000 yards.
The 25-person national team comprises 16 shooters, four coaches, a team captain, vice-captain, head coach, adjutant and armorer.
The 2003 team has five military members, including two Marine shooters and two members of the Army's Marksmanship Unit, from Fort Benning, Ga. Civilians from all walks of life round out the team, Rucks said.
Rucks, who has been shooting competitively for more than 10 years, says competing is fun, but "teaching marksmanship to other Marines" is his passion.
"To be able to teach someone so that they do know how to shoot and having them accomplish their goal no matter what, it is makes me happy," he said.
He credits many people with teaching him how to shoot, but one person really drove the message home.
"A retired warrant officer - Wally York," Rucks said. "I remember him just taking the new shooters and pounding the fundamentals of shooting into us.
"He always was one who gave to people. He did not have the shooting trophies or plaques, but when he spoke, all of us listened."
Rucks also has worked with the British Royal Marines in Devon, England, as a marksmanship coordinator.
"I just taught them the basic elements to a shooting position and all those things that Marines tend to find boring," Rucks said.
Rucks says he can't understand why some Marines come to the range mentally unprepared to shoot and complaining about being there for the week.
"The rifle range is not to promote you, but both the pistol and rifle range provide every Marine with a service that will keep themselves or a buddy alive when the time comes," Rucks said.