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PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The first recruit training company on Parris Island to qualify with a Rifle Combat Optic device graduates today with 30 percent more rifle experts than the average company.
Bravo Company recruits were issued the AN/PVQ-31 RCOs for the M16-A4 rifle June 15 as part of a study by the Marine Corps Operational Test and Evaluation Activity.
“They were the first company for the test pilot program aboard the depot,” said Gunnery Sgt. Brian Corns, staff non-commissioned officer in charge at the Marksmanship Training Unit. “It was a very successful first running of the RCOs.”
The initial basic marksmanship qualification rate was 9 percent higher than the 10-year average at Parris Island, Corns said.
“I can tell you Bravo Company had 30 percent more experts than all of the iron sight [shooters] last year,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Kenneth Kurre, officer in charge of the MTU.
Corns said Bravo Company also had a 55 percent expert rate, which is unheard of at recruit training.
“It’s been a great success so far and overall. Scores have skyrocketed,” he added.
Although some may think RCOs make shooting easier, using them requires a lot more concentration.
“With the RCOs, recruits have to focus more on the fundamentals of marksmanship than they did with the iron sights,” Kurre said.
Corns said the reason for this is because looking into a four-power optic magnifies every mistake.
“You have to be more fundamentally sound with the optics than the iron sights,” Corns continued. “It’s not point of aim, point of impact.”
Some people are saying “recruits aren’t going to understand it,” Kurre said. “No, they got it.”
With today’s video games and fast-moving technology, these recruits adapt quicker to the RCO, Kurre added.
“So, offset aiming – adjusting your point of aim because of windage – they understand that,” he said.
The great thing about recruits using the RCO down here is continuity in weapons systems, Kurre continued. In other words, the exact weapon they draw out here at the armory, is the exact same weapon they are going to draw out at the School of Infantry.
Corns said the study is ongoing and no decision has been made on whether or not the use of RCOs in recruit training will become permanent. The decision lies on Headquarters Marine Corps.
| Date Taken: | 09.08.2011 |
| Date Posted: | 09.08.2011 10:49 |
| Story ID: | 76651 |
| Location: | PARRIS ISLAND, SOUTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 1,428 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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