"Haste Thee to help me..."

Its been a while since I've posted, but life gets a person busy.  These past 4 days I've been training with my Marines on the rifle range at Camp LeJeune.  Our company recently got a new First Sergeant, so we're all adjusting to the changes.  Life is considerably less relaxed than it was previously, but it really feels as though in conjunction with our new Commanding Officer, these Marines will help take us in a more constructive direction.  I'm pretty excited about it, but that doesn't mean life has gotten easier for anyone.  (I think the latest I slept throughout the duration of training was 3:45 am... and people wonder why I usually get to research between 7:00 and 7:30.)

Anyhow, the rifle range.  The Marine Corps prides itself on every Marine being a rifleman.  We have the most rigorous course of fire out of any of the four services, and it is not trivial for any Marine.  There are no scopes -- everything is iron sights -- and we hit targets up to 500 yards away, requiring that one accounts for windage and weather conditions.  The course of fire consists of two major parts, known as "Tables."  Table 1 is the known-distance (or KD) course, which is what we shot this past week.  Table 2 is combat marksmanship.  Tables 3 and 4 exist, but they are intermediate and advanced combat marksmanship (which I shot with my old unit, but is not essential for supply or most Marines in general) and are thusly not required for qualification.  

Table 1 consists of five courses of fire over three distances.  First, from 200 yards, fifteen total rounds are fired in the sitting, kneeling, and standing positions (five rounds  at each) in 20 minutes.  Then, the shooter stands and waits for the target to reappear before dropping back to the sitting position and firing 10 rounds in under 1 minute, completing the second course of fire.  The third course of fire is five shots from 300 yards in the sitting position.  Then, dropping from standing to prone to deliver 10 shots in 1 minute.  The fifth and final course of fire is 10 rounds from 500 yards in the prone position.  Each shot is recorded and scored from 2 to 5 points, with more points awarded as one hits closer to the bulls-eye.  Each shooter receives the 50 rounds required to complete the firing for a total of 250 points max.  If one scores from 190 - 210 points, they are a Marksman.  211 - 219 points is a Sharpshooter.  220 - 250 points is an Expert.

Prior to leaving for training, I told my parents I was going to the range.  They said they would pray for me, as they know how important riflery  is to a Marine.  As I began the course of fire, my shots were hitting pretty well, but a few key mistakes found me in a delicate point as I walked to the 500 yard line to begin my final course of fire.  From the crude arithmetic I performed in my head, in order to qualify expert, I needed to hit a bulls-eye almost every time from the 500.  I approached the range with the somber knowledge that in all likelihood, I would be a sharpshooter -- something I was not pleased with.  I conceded that I must not have been as good as I thought I was, and that shooting expert at this point was out of my control.  For me to break 220 would take a small miracle.

As I lay down and assumed my prone position, I remembered my parents saying they would pray for me.  As I obtained good sight alignment and sight picture, focusing on the front sight post and sighted in on the black silhouette of the bulls-eye, I humbled myself and started praing.  "Lord, haste thee to help me..."  I slowly began to squeeze the trigger, felt the recoil of the rifle, and saw the target pulled into the pits to mark the shot.  

Bulls-eye.

I slowly refocus on the target, and prepare for my second shot.  "Blessed be the Lord my Rock, who trains my hand for war and my fingers to fight..."  Slow gradual pressure on the trigger... the hammer falls, the round travels downrange and the target drops for marking.

Bulls-eye.

I breathe slowly, methodically, exhaling completely as I gently press the trigger.  "Lord, be my Strong Tower, the Rock in Whom I trust..."

Bulls-eye.

The wind is starting to pick up.  500 yards, 10-15 mph left winds at a half-value... I adjust the rear sight aperture two clicks to the right.  "Bow down the heavens, O Lord.  Touch the mountains and they shall smoke..."

Bulls-eye.

"Oppose those who oppose me, stand against those who stand against me.  Lift up Your spear and buckler, and declare 'I am thy salvation'..."

Bulls-eye.

Nine shots.  Nine bulls-eyes.  One round in the chamber and 2 minutes remaining in the course of fire.  My non-firing hand is numb from the position I am laying in and the midday sun is causing sweat to drip into my eyes.  The sling keeper is pressing painfully into my wrist and rubbing my arm raw.  My vision blurs, then refocuses as I stare downrange at the target.  It has all come down to this one final shot.  I pull the buttstock of the rifle tight to my shoulder and begin to sight in, trying to focus on the fundamentals rather than the importance of this last round.  I center the front sight post in the rear sight aperture and align the pair to the center mast of the silhouette.  I focus on the front sight post, making it clear.  I breathe out and apply gentle pressure to the trigger as the sweat pours into my eyes.  "God... thank You.  To You be the Glory."

The round goes off.  I feel the recoil of the rifle slam through my body as the cartridge ejects and I hear the bolt lock to the rear.  The smell the gunpowder wafts in the air as the target drops for scoring.

I wait, eager... but terrified.

The target reappears, slowly revealing the strike of the round the the corresponding score...

Bulls-eye.

God, Thank You.  I could not have done this by my own power.  To You be the glory.  -Amen.