MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Four Marine sharpshooters from the Provost Marshal's Office recently returned from Camp Foster, Okinawa, after receiving advanced training with the Marine Corps' new Designated Marksman Rifle.
Staff Sgt. Steven Raby, Staff Sgt. Frederick Calawar, Sgt. Robert Bowker and Lance Cpl. Shane Worley, all military policemen with the Special Response Team here, trained, tested and qualified with the new sniper rifle.
"The DMR is a heavily modified M-14," said Bowker. "It was modified to help improve its accuracy, and all of us seemed to be pretty accurate."
All four Marines trained with the rifle, learning different shooting positions, marksman observation skills and techniques to best fire the DMR.
"The DMR is an urban combat rifle, so during the training we focused on shooting positions we would utilize if we are ever in that situation," said Bowker. "We were able to train and qualify with a great weapon."
Once the Marines arrived at Camp Foster, they began classes to help them better understand the weapon.
The Marines were split into two teams with one Marine from each team taking the task of shooter and the other acting as marksman observer.
"Shooting at targets the size of quarters and making moving head shots from 200 yards was not easy," said Bowker, "but we all qualified, and both of our teams did a good job."
Raby, SRT team leader, and Bowker played the role of the marksman observer during training, while Worley and Calowar took the shots.
"The observer plots out the shooters shot, telling them how much wind they are working with, how far away they are and what course of fire to take," said Bowker.
The training will help the SRT Marines in their mission to control hostage situations, domestic disputes, controlling demonstrations and terrorist threats, according to Bowker.
"We learned a lot during the training, and hopefully will be able to use this knowledge to effectively neutralize a situation if needed," said Bowker.