The helmet, which was originally worn by drill instructors before World War II, is a common appearance on most rifle ranges today.
Marksmanship coaches analyze difficulties shooters may be experiencing during dry- and live-fire exercises in all phases of the Marine Corps Marksmanship Program during qualification and re-qualification. Additionally, they assist in the operation of firing ranges, according to Marine Corps Order 1200.17, paragraph 3115.
To become a coach, Marines must be a sharpshooter or above with the service rifle, complete the Marine Corps Institute course Marine Marksman, and complete the Marksmanship Coach Course Program the order states.
The course includes classes on weapons safety, known distance courses of fire, preventative weapons maintenance, range operations, fundamentals of rifle marksmanship, weapons handling and an introduction to the data book, according to Sgt. Edwin H. Harmon, combat marksmanship trainer, Marksmanship Training Unit, S-3, Headquarters and Service Battalion, Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler, III Marine Expeditionary Force.
When Marines graduate the course they gain the additional military occupational specialty of 0933 Marksmanship Coach and are qualified to coach shooters on rifle and pistol marksmanship, he added.
After the training is complete, coaches are prepared to work with shooters but must work long hours to gain proficiency in their craft.
On a normal range, coaches have to be awake around 1 a.m. , said Lance Cpl. Timothy Yoo, a marksmanship coach with the Marksmanship Training Unit.
“We normally don’t get back from the range till 1700 [5 p.m.] or later,” he said.
“At first it’s hard, but you get used to the hours, and the shooters make it worth it,” Yoo commented. “It gave me a new perspective on the Marine Corps when I got to see all the Marines out there together.”
Each coach is in charge of about 22 Marines per range, Yoo added.
”So far, I’ve coached about 528 Marines and about half of them have shot expert,” the 20-year-old San Diego native said. Qualifying as an expert with the rifle or pistol recognizes a Marine as proficient to the highest degree in non-competition shooting.
A long-standing Marine tradition is for shooters who qualify as an expert with the service rifle or pistol to give one of their collar rank insignia to their coach after they move off the firing line.
“When I get one of my shooter’s insignia, I know they believe I was a direct help in them achieving expert,” Yoo said. “I feel happy because I know that my work was appreciated.”
With training, Marine coaches can recognize common mistakes that may cost shooters valuable points on the range – and precision when it counts in combat.
“After being out there for a while, it’s easy to recognize habits shooters have,” Yoo said. “It’s rewarding to see shooters scores improve after you point out their finger movement, body twitching or jerking the trigger.”
One of the most valuable tools a Marine marksmanship coach has is simply their attitude. Since most coaches are in the ranks of lance corporal through sergeant, without a professional demeanor, coaches’ guidance on the firing line could potentially be ignored or not taken as seriously as it should. To prevent this and enable themselves to be as effective as possible, coaches must also be a model of calm authority on the firing line, according to Yoo.
“These Marines are hardworking, and they do their best to help Marines with their shooting while maintaining respect,” Harmon said.
Marine Corps marksmanship coaches have the job of passing on their expertise to make “every Marine a rifleman.”