Interservice Rifle Championship explodes into action
Submitted by: MCB Quantico
Story Identification #: 2005721112457
Story by Cpl. Justin P. Lago
MARINE CORPS BASE QUANTICO, Va (July 21, 2005) — Lt. Gen. James Mattis, commanding general, Marine Corps Combat Development Command opened the 2005 Interservice Rifle Championships Tuesday, hosted by Training and Education Command and Weapons Training Battalion.
Mattis fired the official opening shot from an M16A2 service rifle on Range 4 at the Calvin A. Lloyd range to begin the matches. On impact, a target fixed with explosive cord detonated, obliterating the center of the target. This tradition signaled the beginning of the match.
“We are in a wartime situation and we need to keep putting out good shooters,� said Mattis. “It wasn’t the aircraft that dropped bombs or the naval ships that delivered the shells that made the biggest impacts during war. It was the small units and the precision shooting that made the difference. We need good shooters right now.�
The Marine Corps sponsored Interservice Rifle Championship is a high powered rifle competition amongst the military services. Marines from across the United States gathered with shooters from the Army, Army Reserve, Navy and Air Force shooting teams to compete for team and individual scores amongst fellow service members. The match includes competitive categories for post and station rifle teams.
