ROK Marines test U.S. Marine weapons

Photo By Sgt. Tyler Giguere | A Republic of Korea Marine clears out the M249 squad automatic weapon Feb. 5 during Korean Marine Exchange Program 15-3 in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea. The ROK Marines were given 200 rounds to fire at targets ranging from 200- to- 500 meters out. The U.S. Marines demonstrated the range first and then assisted the ROK Marines during their firing. The U.S. Marines are reconnaissance men with Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force. The ROK Marines are force reconnaissance men with 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Tyler S. Giguere/Released)  

GIMPO, 41, SOUTH KOREA

02.06.2015

Story by Cpl. Tyler Giguere 

III Marine Expeditionary Force   

GIMPO, Republic of Korea - Republic of Korea Marines watch U.S. Marines demonstrate rifle, pistol and machine gun ranges; the ROK Marines quickly absorbed as much knowledge as possible before putting their own skills to the test.

U.S. Marines, from Company A, 3rd Reconnaissance Battalion, 3rd Marine Division, III Marine Expeditionary Force, brought approximately 20,000 rounds of ammunition for the ranges during Korean Marine Exchange Program 15-3, in Gimpo, Gyeonggi Province, Republic of Korea.

The U.S. Marines started the day by demonstrating the “table three” unknown distance rifle range to the ROK Marines during KMEP 15-3. The U.S. Marines then ran a pistol range followed by a demonstration of the properties of their light machine guns.

The U.S. Marines were shooting with ROK Marines of 2nd Battalion, 2nd Marine Division. The weapons in use were the M4A1 service rifle, the M9 9 mm service pistol, the M27 infantry automatic rifle and the M249 squad automatic weapon.

“The teaching of the ROK Marines went really smooth,” said Cpl. Peyton N. Whitted, a reconnaissance man and instructor on the range, assigned to Company A, 3rd Recon Bn., 3rd Marine Division, III MEF. “They picked up on everything quickly and in no time we had conducted a large amount of ranges, overall I’d say the day was a success.”

The U.S. Marines had demonstrations of all ranges beginning with a dry-fire run, or no rounds loaded throughout the course, and ending with a live-fire run. The U.S. Marines also had extensive support guiding the ROK Marines every step of the way.

“I really enjoyed the pistol range,” said ROK 1st Lt. Sun K. Shin, the logistics officer of Headquarters Company., 2nd Bn., 2nd Marine Division, “I carry my own pistol as an officer, but the techniques the Americans have is quite unique.”

The U.S. Marines’ “unique technique” is to bring the pistol to the center of their chest before locking out their arms and placing a well-aimed shot, center mass on the target. Another advanced technique used during the pistol range was the speed reload and drawing from the holster before firing.

“The Marines are great teachers and always answer any questions you have,” said ROK Marine Sgt. Steven Choi, a force reconnaissance man with Headquarters Company, 2nd Bn., 2nd Marine Division, “I was so glad to be able to fire the machine gun with their help because my job does not have me using one.”

The U.S. Marines participated in the firing of all their own weapons as well and conducted the “table three” range. All 20,000 rounds were used by the end of the day.

“The biggest difficulty, surprisingly, wasn’t the language barrier,” said Whitted. “The problem was actually that it is uncommon for the South Koreans to use safeties on their weapons, therefore when on our range they had to meet our standards and this took a little adjusting too. The dry-runs definitely allowed everything to run smooth though and I think teaching them really brought us closer together.”

• Date Taken: 02.06.2015
• Date Posted: 03.04.2015 01:57
• Story ID: 155857
• Location: GIMPO, 41, KR