MARINE CORPS AIR GROUND COMBAT CENTER TWENTYNINE PALMS, Calif. --
Operation Neptune, the largest amphibious assault in history better
known as D-Day, began June 6, 1944, as Allied Forces liberated Normandy,
France.
In memory of D-Day, the Marines of the Combat Center
Shooting Team participated in the Combat Center D-Day Match sponsored by the
High Desert Competitive Shooting Club. The match was held at the Combat Center
Rifle Range, June 6 and 7, 2015.
“This event allows us to experience a piece of history,”
said Cpl. Kevin Evans, statistics non-commissioned officer, Combat Center
Shooting Team. “History is a huge part of the Marine Corps, and being able to
use an event like this to remember an historical event like D-Day is a great
opportunity.”
The match consisted of five events along the course of two
days. On the first day, shooters participated in an M1-Garand Rifle Match, a
Springfield Rifle Match and an Excellence in Competition Pistol Match.
During
the M1-Garand and Springfield matches, the participants shot three courses of
fire from the 200 yard line. First, the competitors shot 10 rounds slow-fire in
the prone position. During the course of fire, officials scored and marked the
shooters’ targets after every shot. The next portion of the competition was the
rapid-fire phase in the prone position. The shooters would fire 10 rounds
within 80 seconds and all 10 shots were scored after the allotted time. During
the final slow-fire portion, the participants fired 10 rounds from the
standing.
“Having the opportunity to participate in an event like
this is a great experience,” said Sgt. James Marker, head coach, MCAGCC
Shooting Team. “The courses of fire for these matches are similar to what the
armed forces were doing during that time. This event allows us to experience
what kind of marksmanship the Marines and soldiers of that era would have
[practiced].”
During the Pistol EIC match the participants used
competition versions of the M1911 pistol throughout three courses of fire. The
shooters first fired 10 rounds, with a time limit of 10 minutes and from 50
yards away. They then moved to the 25 yard line and fired two magazines of five
rounds each with a time limit of 20 seconds per magazine. The last course called
for participants to fire two magazines of five rounds with a time limit of 10
seconds per magazine at the 25 yard line..
“We held the EIC matches so the participants can earn
points to become distinguished marksmen,” Evans said. “The other matches give
everyone a chance to fire some weapon systems they may not get the chance to
use very often, which is why participating in events like these are a great
opportunity. The EIC matches allow the participants, especially the Marines, to
earn something from participating.”
On the second day, the participants competed in the Vintage
Rifle Match and the Rifle EIC Match. During the Vintage Rifle Match, participants
ran the same courses of fire as the M1-Garand and Springfield matches while
using any rifle from the WWII time period.
“Not everyone has a M1-Garand or a Springfield,” Evans
said. “Giving the shooters the opportunity to use their other rifles allow for
more people to participate.”