9th ESB wins Shively Trophy

Photo By Cpl. Paley Fenner | U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion (ESB), 3rd Marine Logistics Group (MLG), pose for a photograph with the Shively Trophy after an awards ceremony on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 15, 2023. The team was awarded the Shively Trophy for taking first place during the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Far East.  

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JAPAN

01.30.2024

Story by Cpl. Paley Fenner 

3rd Marine Logistics Group

CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, Japan – U.S. Marines with 9th Engineer Support Battalion, 3rd Marine Logistics Group, were awarded the Shively Trophy during an awards ceremony on Camp Hansen, Okinawa, Japan, Dec. 15, 2023.

The team with 3rd MLG secured the top spot in the pistol team match during the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Far East. The pistol team match, consisting of 25 teams facing off against one another, was held on Dec. 14, 2023, and was just one of several events that took place during the competition.

“Our organization is one which succeeds on individual actions as part of a larger unit,” said U.S. Marine Corps Capt. John Bodzioch, the action team officer in charge with the Marine Corps Shooting Team, Weapons and Training Battalion, Training Command. “The rifle and pistol team matches mirror this specifically, calling on each competitor to perform well individually using the skills they have refined over the week, to support the success of the unit they represent as a whole. As a result, emphasis is placed on the ability for an entire team to perform well on demand, not just a few key players.”

The pistol team match was structured similar to a relay race. Team members shot in an order that was hidden inside ammo cans only accessible by the team coach. Each individual in a team engaged four targets with two rounds reach. The team’s score was calculated by dividing the amount of points scored on targets by the amount of time it took to complete the course of fire. Teams could earn up to 160 points.

“Our team has dedicated an exceptional amount of effort for more than a year to achieve this goal, and their remarkable capabilities have been showcased to the MLG and MEF,” said U.S.

Marine Corps Staff Sgt. Jordan Miller, a small arms repair technician with 9th ESB, 3rd MLG. “Marines stationed in Okinawa rarely have opportunities to engage in competitive shooting events, but they successfully overcame all obstacles and [have] shown their skill.”

Miller serves as the team captain and manages the 9th ESB marksmanship program. In addition to winning the pistol team match, there were 3 medalists in rifle and 5 medalists in pistol. Over a quarter of the medalists from the competition were with 9th ESB.

MCMC-FE is an annual two-week event held to improve Marines’ marksmanship, combat readiness and weapon proficiency. Marines utilize the first week to learn various techniques and fundamentals from members of the Marine Corps Shooting Team, and compete the following week as individuals and teams.

• Date Taken: 01.30.2024
• Date Posted: 02.01.2024 18:19
• Story ID: 462685
• Location: CAMP KINSER, OKINAWA, JP