By Robert Frenke
3rd Marine Expeditionary Force Pulic Affairs
CAMP HANSEN, OKINAWA, Japan – The Far East Division Matches came to a close Feb. 29 when Maj. Gen. Robert B. Neller, the 3rd Marine Division commanding general, awarded the high shooters of the individual and team matches for both rifle and pistol during an award ceremony at the Camp Hansen Theater.
Eleven teams, consisting of more than 160 Marines from all over the Pacific, participated in the 107th Division Matches Feb. 4-27.
Marine Corps Base Camp Butler won the team matches for both the M-9 pistol and M-16A2 service rifle competitions. MCB also took the majority of the individual silver and gold medals.
The high score for individual pistol was Capt. Chris Eichner, a shooter with 3rd Maintenance Battalion, Combat Logistics Regiment 35, 3rd Marine Logistics Group. Eichner also took fourth place in the individual rifle competition. It was the first time he took gold in match competition.
"This is the third Division Match I've participated in, and I've gotten better every time," Eichner said. "My secret is consistency."
The high shooter for individual rifle was Sgt. Geoffrey Furgason from the MCB team. He also took 5th in individual pistol competition.
Last year, the individual and team M-9 pistol and M-16A2 rifle portions were structured to more closely emulate combat, which included combat shooting, according to Chief Warrant Officer 2 Mark W. Clark, the Marine Corps Base range officer and a shooter for MCB. This year they added known distance shooting and engaging targets in combat conditions.
Other changes this year included Marines qualifying as combat marksmanship instructors, and altering the competition to more closely reflect the current Marine rifle marksmanship qualification course, Clark said.
The annual qualification course also incorporates fundamental known-distance and combat precision firing.
"When they walk away from here, we want them to understand the scientific and technical aspects of their weapons," Clark said. "It has basically combined the Division Matches with a (marksmanship instructor) school."
Many Marines said they gained valuable experience at the matches.
"The combat shooting is a lot more beneficial for Marines and for the Marine Corps," Eichner said.
Lance Cpl. Ethan Adams, with the Combat Logistics Regiment 37, 3rd MLG, team, said he learned a lot from the Division Matches and can't wait to come back for next year's competition.
"I love it out here," he said. "I've learned a lot. It definitely improved my ability to shoot. I'll beg and plead if I have to, to come back next year."
| Date Taken: |
03.07.2008 |
| Date Posted: |
03.07.2008 05:05 |
| Story ID: |
17097 |
| Location: |
|
| Web Views: |
348 |
| Downloads: |
250 |
PUBLIC DOMAIN
This work, Marine Corps Base Camp Butler dominates at Far East Division Matches on Okinawa, by LCpl Robert Frenke, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
Subscribe
