Photo By Lance Cpl. Eric Valerio | U.S. Marines with Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego rifle-team pose for a...... read more read more
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MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CA — The Marine Corps Recruit Depot San Diego (MCRD San Diego) shooting team recently displayed exceptional skills at the 2025 Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition (MCMC), held at Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, California, from February 6 - 21, 2025. The competition, part of the Competition in Arms Program, not only celebrated the achievements of individual Marines but also highlighted the Marine Corps' 250-year legacy of marksmanship excellence.
The competition featured intense rifle and pistol challenges, where two Marines from the MCRD team earned rifle medals, and four earned pistol medals. Their accomplishments underscore the elite skill set honed through rigorous training. The rifle team earned the prestigious San Diego Trophy, awarded to the top rifle team from a unit with more than 600 personnel, demonstrating the team's outstanding performance.
The victory in this competition reflects the Marine Corps’ deep-rooted tradition of marksmanship, dating back to the 1966 Western Division Rifle and Pistol Matches. These early competitions shaped the Corps' focus on firearm proficiency and continue to inspire Marines to excel under pressure.
Master Sergeant Augusto Zapata, an operations chief with Headquarters Company, Recruit Training Regiment, shared his perspective on the achievement. “These medals mean both a personal and professional accomplishment. They symbolize a personal challenge of pushing myself beyond my comfort zone, as well as carrying on the Marine Corps legacy and traditions of continuous improvement in marksmanship.”
While Marines are required to qualify annually on the rifle range as part of their training, the competition goes beyond typical training events.
Sergeant Darren Singletery, a combat marksmanship coach with Weapons and Field Training Battalion, MCRD San Diego, expressed, “Being a part of this competition made me step outside of my comfort zone.”
The competition demands more than just qualification skills; it requires determination, advanced proficiency, and the warfighting spirit instilled in every Marine.
The rifle and pistol medals earned in the competition distinguish these Marines as elite marksmen within the Corps. These achievements reaffirm the enduring tradition of marksmanship excellence that has defined the Marine Corps for over two centuries.
As the Marine Corps celebrates its 250th anniversary, the victory serves as a reminder of the Corps' commitment to precision, teamwork, and tactical readiness. From the 1966 matches to today's competitions, the Marine Corps continues to uphold its standard of excellence in marksmanship. The success of the MCRD San Diego shooting team, marked by the San Diego Trophy, reaffirms the Corps' ongoing dedication to high standards of performance and skill.
| Date Taken: | 03.11.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 03.11.2025 13:29 |
| Story ID: | 492499 |
| Location: | MARINE CORPS RECRUIT DEPOT SAN DIEGO, CALIFORNIA, US |
| Web Views: | 2,204 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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