Photo By Master Sgt. Tyler Hlavac | U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Thomas Colyard, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of Marine...... read more read more
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Sgt. Thomas Colyard
Primary MOS: 0331/Machine Gunner
Primary Marksmanship Instructor at Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island
Age: 30
Hometown: Satellite Beach, Fla.
Before joining the Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island Shooting Team, I was a Primary Marksmanship Instructor. It was always the goal for me to become a PMI. I found out there was a lot more to becoming a PMI than just getting the billet; you have to work on the range and get selected and go through different schools.
I grew up hunting; ever since I was three years old I would carry my rifle into the woods with my dad. Whenever we found something, he’d let me shoot it. I shot in competitions when I was in the fleet, but I never had the opportunity to go to a team. When I found out there was an opportunity here on the East Coast, I tried out.
My favorite weapon that I’ve shot is the M240B Machine Gun.
To get on the team, it’s not just about being a good shot, it’s about being a good teammate and being able to work with others and take criticism the right way.
For the Marine Corps, marksmanship is what distinguishes us from the other branches in the military. History is what distinguishes us from everybody else.
The two most important tips I can give shooters are sight alignment and trigger control. If you’re looking through the optic the right way, on target, and you pull the trigger without moving, you’re going to hit center mass. It doesn’t matter what position you’re in.
Working with recruits is mostly about the basic fundamentals. Being out here on the team, we learn how to judge wind and shoot an extra 100 yards back. It’s a whole new ballgame and there’s a lot that we can bring back to our coaches and instructors.
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.03.2018 16:47 |
| Story ID: | 287215 |
| Location: | PORT CLINTON, OHIO, US |
| Web Views: | 165 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
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