Coaches walk the line, bestow the basics

Photo By Sgt. Erica Kirsop | Cpl. Chad M. Lewison, a Carlos Hathcock Range rifle block instructor and Las Vegas native, walks the firing line to ensure commands are understood and shooters practice proper weapons safety techniques. As many as 200 Marines visit the Carlos Hathcock Range each week for rifle qualification.  

SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, UNITED STATES

07.14.2011

Story by Lance Cpl. Erica Kirsop 

Marine Corps Air Station Miramar

SAN DIEGO - Pistol and rifle range coaches start each day with a long drive out to the dry and desolate area of East Miramar.

Although rifle and pistol range instructors’ jobs vary when it comes to daily routine, each provides lessons of instruction and coaching for Marines qualifying on the range.

Rifle instructors begin each morning with a formation at 6:30 a.m. each day followed by the raising of the range flags and break down of ammunition. Afternoons are filled with instructors walking the firing line to assist Marines with any command confusion, hot brass to skin incidents and to maintain weapons safety.

Although pistol instructors do not have a formation, their day begins just as early and jumps right into setting up targets upon arrival, distribution of ammunition as well as teaching the proper shooting techniques.

Marines must attend a three-week training course to become a range coach.

“You become an instructor after any Marine completes the Combat Marksmanship Course and has a qualifying firing score of either expert or sharpshooter,” said Cpl. Chad M. Lewison, a Carlos Hathcock Range rifle block instructor and Las Vegas native.

The secondary step in this billet is a one-week long Combat Marksmanship Training Course to become a range block. A range block instructs range coaches more in depth on how to watch for cycle-of-operations problems, focus on basic marksmanship principles as well as shadow range coaches for any other problems that may occur.

Each coach will hold either a six-month or one-year billet at the range, after being sent from their original units through the Fleet Assistance Program as instructor openings occur. Each week approximately 25 range coaches and block instructors train hundreds of Marines who visit Carlos Hathcock Range to qualify with the M-9 pistol and M-16 A-4 service rifle.

• Date Taken: 07.14.2011
• Date Posted: 07.20.2011 19:29
• Story ID: 74034
• Location: SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US