Photo By Sgt. Catie Massey | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Aaron Stringer, recruiter with RSS Fairfield, RS San Francisco,...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - “Every Marine a rifleman,” a mantra that’s been around since the beginning of the Corps. Every Marine, no matter what Military Occupancy Specialty (MOS) or rank, is proficient in combat marksmanship, and ready to respond when America calls upon her Marine Corps.
To stay tactically proficient, Marines qualify annually with the M16A4 service rifle, but some Marines, such as those on recruiting duty, are exempt from this qualification due to rigors of their schedules and vast geographical locations.
Recruiters work very long hours, and time away from recruiting duty is not the norm. There are a few, though, who excel at making their recruiting mission and can afford to take advantage of opportunities when they present themselves.
Such was the case for two recruiters from Recruiting Station San Francisco, who were ahead of mission during the time of the 2014 Western Division Matches, an annual rifle and pistol competition aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., where the best marksmen go head-to-head for two weeks of shooting.
Even while assigned to recruiting duty, Sgt. Tyler Webb, recruiter from Recruiting Substation Fremont, and Sgt. Aaron Stringer, recruiter from Recruiting Substation Fairfield, found the time to hone their rifle and pistol marksmanship skills in the 2014 Western Division Matches, Feb. 24 to March 7.
Their journey to such a high level of competition wasn’t easy though. Originally, the two were sent by their parent command for the two week Depot Competition at Arms evolution, an evaluation for the Marine Corps Recruit Depot shooting team.
“My Staff Noncommissioned Officer in Charge (SNCOIC) gave me a call and offered me the opportunity to shoot for a couple of weeks, and I said ‘absolutely’,” said Webb. “My shop was able to let me go for a couple weeks, and I thought it was only going to be a two week evolution, but those two weeks turned into five. I shot well enough to be picked up on the MCRD shooting team and compete in the Western Division Matches.”
Both recruiters also found similarities between competition shooting and recruiting duty.
“Much like recruiting duty, you definitely need to keep yourself dedicated during the shooting competition,” said Stringer. “We have long days, waking up at 3 a.m. and getting off the range around 9 p.m. You have to keep yourself focused, always keeping our objective in mind, to win. Just like on recruiting duty, we’re always striving towards our goal of making mission. So you have to keep your mind focused at all times, concentrating on the prize, whether it be winning a trophy here, or getting that poolee down to MCRD.”
Webb and Stringer are the only recruiters shooting, making them one-of-a-kind amongst a prestigious group of Marines.
“There are about 275 Marines out here right now, and thousands throughout the Marine Corps,” said Webb. “The chance I got to come out here and shoot was one in a few.”
Their participation also gained them the attention of range personnel and observers.
“For a recruiter to make it to this level of competition, it really shows their character,” said Gunnery Sgt. Paul A. Berenguer, Wilcox Range SNCOIC. “As a recruiter, it’s tough out there on the streets; it’s a very unforgiving and thankless job. But if you’re meeting your quota and helping the station meet mission, then that will afford you the opportunity to take some personal time. In this scenario, they’re given the opportunity to develop professionally, and to come out here and show what they’ve got.”
The recruiters say that even though they’ve improved themselves, they’re also participating to take their marksmanship fundamentals back to the recruiting substation.
“If there’s a Marine who gets to go shoot, I’ll be able to share the fundamentals I’ve learned here,” said Webb. “And if an applicant comes in the door, and I talk about how we’re all rifleman and well-rounded, and that’s what we’re looking for in an individual, I’ll be able to put my money where my mouth is and share my experiences with them.”
| Date Taken: | 03.04.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 03.06.2014 01:58 |
| Story ID: | 121563 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 229 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, “Every Marine A Rifleman” Rings True for Two San Francisco Recruiters, by Cpl Michael Wick, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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