TEACHING TEACHING MARKSMANSHIPMARKSMANSHIP

TO CADETSTO CADETSJROTC Marksmanship JROTC Marksmanship

Instructor Course, Section VIInstructor Course, Section VI

Teaching Marksmanship to Teaching Marksmanship to CadetsCadets

(Coaching New Shooters)(Coaching New Shooters)

Section Objective:

To review the principles and guidelines for teaching basic marksmanship to JROTC cadets

Rifle Marksmanship Rifle Marksmanship CurriculaCurricula

JMIC Instructional Material for Cadets:JMIC Instructional Material for Cadets: Section II, Introduction to JROTC MarksmanshipSection II, Introduction to JROTC Marksmanship Section V, Air Rifle SafetySection V, Air Rifle Safety Section VII, Learning Rifle Marksmanship SkillsSection VII, Learning Rifle Marksmanship Skills

VII, A, Shot Technique and Familiarization FiringVII, A, Shot Technique and Familiarization Firing VII, B, Standing PositionVII, B, Standing Position VII, C, Use of the Sling and Prone PositionVII, C, Use of the Sling and Prone Position VII, D, Kneeling PositionVII, D, Kneeling Position

Section VIII, Marksmanship Section VIII, Marksmanship Opportunities and ChallengesOpportunities and Challenges

Section IX, Becoming a Better ShooterSection IX, Becoming a Better Shooter

Instructional OptionsInstructional OptionsI.I. Safety and Familiarization FiringSafety and Familiarization Firing

Introduction to marksmanshipIntroduction to marksmanship Safety and range proceduresSafety and range procedures Familiarization firing in supported positionFamiliarization firing in supported position

II. Basic Marksmanship Course II. Basic Marksmanship Course (I + the (I + the following)following) Firing in standing positionFiring in standing position Use of the slingUse of the sling Firing in the prone (and kneeling) position(s)Firing in the prone (and kneeling) position(s) Qualification firingQualification firing

III. Rifle Team Activities III. Rifle Team Activities (I + II + the following)(I + II + the following) Additional Instruction in three-position firingAdditional Instruction in three-position firing Practice firing on regular basisPractice firing on regular basis JROTC Postals/other competitionsJROTC Postals/other competitions

Target OptionsTarget Options Principle: Start with big Principle: Start with big

targets--target must be targets--target must be large enough to large enough to contain all well aimed contain all well aimed shotsshots

Misses are negative—Misses are negative—hits are positivehits are positive

Recommend BMC Recommend BMC TargetTarget

Graduate to AR Target Graduate to AR Target when shot groups fit when shot groups fit scoring ringsscoring rings

Front Sight InsertsFront Sight Inserts Target air rifle front Target air rifle front

sights use sights use interchangeable insertsinterchangeable inserts

For new shooters--For new shooters--select the largest ringselect the largest ring

Advanced shooters--Advanced shooters--should be able to keep should be able to keep bull within ring while bull within ring while firingfiring

Post insert--not normally Post insert--not normally used (service rifle use)used (service rifle use)

Preparation for Preparation for ShootingShooting

1.1. Check dominant eye--determine right or left Check dominant eye--determine right or left handed firinghanded firing

2.2. Identify cross-dominant shooters Identify cross-dominant shooters (attach (attach blinders)blinders)

3.3. Fit stock lengths to shootersFit stock lengths to shooters4.4. Give loading instructionsGive loading instructions5.5. Demonstrate supported positionDemonstrate supported position6.6. Teach basic shot techniqueTeach basic shot technique

Sight alignmentSight alignment Breath ControlBreath Control Sight pictureSight picture Trigger controlTrigger control

Before You Start: Which Before You Start: Which Eye/Shoulder to Use?Eye/Shoulder to Use?

Answer: Shoot from the same

shoulder as your dominant eye. Do an eye

dominance test to

determine which eye and shoulder you should use.

Step 1: Use a card with a dime-sized hole. Hold it away from you and look

at a distant object with both eyes open.

Step 2: Bring the card back to your eyes while continuing to focus on the distant object. The

hole will be drawn to your dominant eye.

Shoot from that same shoulder.

For Cross-Dominant For Cross-Dominant ShootersShooters

Cross-dominance:

Aiming with non-

dominant eye

Solution: Attach a

30x100mm blinder

to the rear sight

Air Rifle Stock FitAir Rifle Stock Fit Correct stock length Correct stock length

facilitates learningfacilitates learning Have stocks of Have stocks of

variable length variable length availableavailable

Match stock lengths Match stock lengths to shooters—bent arm to shooters—bent arm test is good indicatortest is good indicator

Have shooters use Have shooters use same rifle each daysame rifle each day

Spacers can be removed or added to adjust stock length

Preparation: Loading Preparation: Loading InstructionInstruction

Teach loading procedure before first live firing:

1. Open action

2. Charge air (pneumatic), pause when fully open

3. Place pellet on loading port--open end (skirt) to rear

4. Close action

Rifle Practice Drills or Rifle Practice Drills or ExercisesExercises

1.1. Practice holding rifle in position Practice holding rifle in position while aiming at blank targetwhile aiming at blank target

2.2. Dry fire on a blank targetDry fire on a blank target

3.3. Live fire 3-5 shot groups on a Live fire 3-5 shot groups on a blank target (objective: small blank target (objective: small shot groups)shot groups)

4.4. Holding/Dry fire on bull's-eye Holding/Dry fire on bull's-eye targettarget

5.5. Live fire 3-5 shot groups on Live fire 3-5 shot groups on bullbull’’s-eye target (objective: s-eye target (objective: small shot groups)small shot groups)

6.6. Adjust sights to center groups Adjust sights to center groups on target (Teach sight on target (Teach sight adjustment first)adjustment first)

7.7. Shoot 5 or 10 shot series for Shoot 5 or 10 shot series for scorescore

Familiarization Familiarization FiringFiring

Start in Supported Start in Supported PositionPosition

Use to teach basics Use to teach basics of firing the shot of firing the shot

Fire from table or Fire from table or floor with supportfloor with support

Support rifle with Support rifle with rest (kneeling roll, rest (kneeling roll, sandbag, etc.)sandbag, etc.)

Allows new shooter Allows new shooter to concentrate on to concentrate on shot techniqueshot technique

Correcting Serious Correcting Serious MistakesMistakes

Failure to hit the target is unacceptableFailure to hit the target is unacceptable Serious New Shooter ErrorsSerious New Shooter Errors

Cross-dominant shooter--aims with other eyeCross-dominant shooter--aims with other eyeSolution: Attach blinder to rear sightSolution: Attach blinder to rear sight

Not looking through rear sight apertureNot looking through rear sight apertureSolution: Instruction/close observationSolution: Instruction/close observation

Flinching/Jerking TriggerFlinching/Jerking TriggerSolution: Demonstration/dry firingSolution: Demonstration/dry firing

Shooting a rifle like a shotgun (point and shoot)Shooting a rifle like a shotgun (point and shoot)Solution: Re-instruct on steps to fire shot, dry Solution: Re-instruct on steps to fire shot, dry firingfiring

Be alert during first shot groups--if shooters Be alert during first shot groups--if shooters do not hit targets, intervene immediatelydo not hit targets, intervene immediately

Position SequencePosition Sequence Start new shooters in Start new shooters in Supported Supported

positionposition 11stst Regular Position: Regular Position: StandingStanding

Easiest, most natural position to Easiest, most natural position to learnlearn

Most important position to learnMost important position to learn Successful if BMC target is usedSuccessful if BMC target is used Charging M853 easier in standingCharging M853 easier in standing Requirement: Pellet holder (standing Requirement: Pellet holder (standing

height)height) 22ndnd Position: Position: ProneProne

Introduce use of slingIntroduce use of sling Standing and Prone scores required Standing and Prone scores required

for Mks/SS qualification badgesfor Mks/SS qualification badges 33rdrd Position: Position: KneelingKneeling

Most difficult position to teachMost difficult position to teach All three positions required for Expert All three positions required for Expert

qualification badgesqualification badges

Teaching Firing PositionsTeaching Firing Positions

1.1. Position FoundationPosition FoundationStanding--foot positionStanding--foot positionProne--body position on matProne--body position on matKneeling--body position on kneeling rollKneeling--body position on kneeling roll

2.2. Elbow Location Elbow Location (left elbow for right handed shooters)(left elbow for right handed shooters)

3.3. Head & Butt-Plate PositionHead & Butt-Plate Position

4.4. Adjust Rifle Height (sights to target level)Adjust Rifle Height (sights to target level)

5.5. Tighten Sling (prone & kneeling)Tighten Sling (prone & kneeling)

6.6. Orient position on target (natural point of Orient position on target (natural point of aim)aim)

Teaching Sling PositionsTeaching Sling Positions

Start with sling onStart with sling on Start with sling long and Start with sling long and

looseloose Establish the position Establish the position

foundationfoundation Locate left elbowLocate left elbow Position head & butt-Position head & butt-

plateplate Adjust rifle heightAdjust rifle height Tighten slingTighten sling Rotate position to targetRotate position to target

Introducing a Firing PositionIntroducing a Firing Position

Fundamental Fundamental Principle: Teach Principle: Teach only the minimum only the minimum information information necessary to build necessary to build a sound position.a sound position.

The illustration The illustration shows the shows the teaching points teaching points needed for needed for standing.standing.

#1, Turn the feet & body 90 degrees from the target

#2, place elbow on side, under rifle

#3, butt-plate up in shoulder to keep head erect

#4, adjust hand-wrist to raise sights to target

Positive Repetitions—Not Positive Repetitions—Not MagicMagic

Shooting skills are Shooting skills are developed through developed through positive repetitions of positive repetitions of correctly executed correctly executed positions, shots and positions, shots and techniquestechniques

Believe in practice—it Believe in practice—it is the real difference is the real difference makermaker

Give positive Give positive corrections, highlight corrections, highlight the correct action, not the correct action, not the incorrect onethe incorrect one