MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion Shooting Team was awarded the Wirgman Small Unit Rifle Team Trophy at the 2005 Eastern Division Matches held at Camp Lejeune, N.C., April 8.

Stone Bay was the scene for 2005’s Competition In Arms Program’s Eastern Division Matches, April 4 – 6. Nine, four-man shooting teams pitted their skills in individual competitions April 4 and 5, and teams had their chance on the final day.

According to Chief Warrant Officer 2 James B. Woodfin, Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion range officer and team captain of the Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion Shooting Team, the Rifleman’s Creed is more than just words on paper to his team; it is the effigy of discipline to their trade, and dedication to their Corps.  The members of the Marine Corps Security Forces Battalion Shooting Team have proven that dedication, and the mastery of their weapons.

To take the competition, “(The team) didn’t succumb to intimidation. They did not stress. They focused on the task at hand,” Woodfin said.

Woodfin headed the shooting team along with the team coach, Sgt. John Wellons, a designated marksman instructor under Woodfin. Firing members on the winning team were Privates first class Nicolas Friederich, Brandon Rokahr and Benjamin Footer. Other shooters assigned to the team included Corporals Matthew Cox, and Michael Ball, Lance Cpl. Brennon Bybee, and Pvt. Jesse Motley.

“I feel the entire evolution was a huge success,” said Woodfin. “Each team member reached new heights in shooting, and all reached the personal goals they set for themselves in the beginning.” 

The entire matches were held March 14 through April 8.

Most major Marine Corps commands located along the Eastern Seaboard participated, producing nine teams, with a total of approximately 100 competitors.

The team trained for 19 days at Dam Neck, Va., prior to the matches. Members underwent instruction in marksmanship fundamentals, shooting positions, data book procedures, competition shooting and courses of fire, as well as match range procedures. They were also issued weapons and match equipment, and were given instruction in the proper use of each during competition firing. Finally, the team underwent live-fire training in preparation for the division match course of fire.

“Each member started out from scratch, without ever firing the course of fire, and went on to become champions,” Woodfin said.

During the individual competition, none of the non-distinguished MCSF Battalion members posted top 10 percent scores. However, despite the lack of medal-winning scores in the individual brackets, the Marines shot well enough to post a third place score with the pistol, and the match winning score with the rifle.

“What is unique about this situation is that we had the most junior Marines in the matches, but they did not get intimidated by the competition. I named our team “Third Phase” because we were so junior. I was a firing member, Sergeant Wellons coached and called wind, and the other three firing members were Pfc’s. They did a great thing. It’s been a long time since this has happened, if ever.”

“They came into the team match confident, but did not think they automatically had it in the bag. I kept telling them that anything can happen,” he continued. “You can have a stoppage and lose an alibi if you are not thinking. It’s hard to come back from that.”

According to Woodfin, a former scout sniper instructor, the purpose of these competitions is not to win awards, but to drive the competing Marines toward perfect marksmanship, which can ultimately save a Marine’s life or the lives of his or her comrades in a wartime environment.

“We trained for center mass. Not just to get in the black, but the center of the black - the V-Ring,” said Woodfin. “It got to the point that when we weren’t shooting V’s – which was often - we were upset, but we found that if we didn’t hit the V-ring, we were close, which meant we were in the black for the most part.”

“The team has told me that they will always look at marksmanship in a different view, and that they are eager to spread the knowledge they have recently acquired by meeting and competing with Marines from all over,” Woodfin explained. “That is the goal of the program; it’s not about the matches we shoot in, or the trinkets we wear. It’s about learning the fundamentals through extreme discipline, and passing the knowledge on, ultimately reaching that [private first class] in a fighting hole, in a stack or on a roof. It’s happening now in Iraq.”

The team’s accomplishment was a difficult one, requiring tremendous devotion and self-discipline, and according to Woodfin, his Marines are packed full of these traits. 
During their training, the Marines were told not to worry about their individual scores or the scores of the other competitors, but to just go out and apply the fundamentals of marksmanship, according to Woodfin.

“On the stage receiving the Wirgman Trophy, the Marines did not feel they were being given an award,” said Woodfin. “They were coming up and taking what was rightfully theirs due to the extreme amount of time and effort poured into it. My hat’s off to the other teams also. They are good marksmen.”

Another high point of the team’s accomplishment was Footer winning the “high tyro” award with the pistol.

A tyro is a first year Division Match shooter. “This Marine comes here having never fired the pistol before, wins third Silver, and gets high tyro. Amazing. Don’t know if that’s ever been done either.” says Woodfin. “At the awards ceremony, he goes across the stage right, receives his Secretary of the Navy Trophy Rifle, an M-I Garand, for his pistol accomplishments, turns around to raise it in the air, and everyone sees he doesn’t even have a pistol qualification badge on. I am very proud.”

No matter what future competitions are in store for the team, Woodfin knows one thing is certain, until next year, Marine Corps Security Force Battalion has bragging rights as the number one small unit rifle team on the East Coast and more importantly to them, the team remains true to the Marine “Rifle Creed” and ready to support the mission of United States Marine Corps.