MARINE CORPS AIR STATION IWAKUNI, Japan -- Four teams of four came together, or better yet, went head-to-head against each other in a match that would define the best pistol shooters on the station.
On Nov. 25, Marines gathered at the Indoor Small-Arms Range here for the inaugural intramural pistol shooting competition.
Maj. James S. Whiteker, commanding officer of Combat Logistics Compay 36, designed the competition to get Marines on the range doing what they do best — shooting.
“I think shooting the pistol is harder than shooting the rifle,” said Cpl. Aaron W. Marsh, a member of the CLC-36 pistol team. “I think it’s more about technique. It’s on you to make sure everything is correct. With the rifle, you have the sling and other different elements that can help you. With the pistol, you only have your arms. It’s strictly muscle control.”
The competition was between the best of the best from select units around the station. Each member of each team was selected at his/her unit’s discretion. “It’s the best of each unit, so everyone is a good shot,” said Marsh.
For nearly two hours the teams duked it out over three segments: 25-yard-line slow fire with two magazines of five each over the duration of 10 minutes; 25-yard-line timed fire with two strings of five over the duration of 20 seconds; and 15-yard-line rapid fire with two strings of five over the duration of 10 seconds.
Once the scores were tallied, the places were determined.
First place and second place went to Marine Aircraft Group 12.
Third place went to CLC-36, and fourth went to Marine Wing Support Squadron 171.
The scores of individual shooters and teams are one of the main reasons to have an intramural match.
“You really have one of these intramural matches to identify the guys you would want to take to division matches,” said Whiteker.
Division matches are conducted at Marine Corps Base Camp Smedley D. Butler Okinawa, Japan, Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendelton and Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune.
The top 10 percent of the division matches go on to the Marine Corps matches where it is determined who will go on to the Marine Corps rifle and pistol team.
Gunnery Sgt. William R. Janssen, a former competitor and instructor for the All-Marine Rifle Team, coached Marine Wing Support Squadron 171’s team during the competition. Janssen’s background has enabled him to share the various opportunities pistol and rifle competitions can provide.
“If you have the opportunity and your command will let you go, do it,” said Janssen. “Things like this will teach you things that you can apply to everything from qualifications to hunting. This intramural is just a taste of the competition. Marines are competitive, making this is a great thing to get into.”