The Marine Corps Championship Awards Ceremony hosted by LtGen Benjamin T. Watson (CG Training & Education Command, Quantico) was held on 18 April and saw SSgt Payton Garcia awarded for his clean sweep of both the Rifle and the Pistol Matches, scoring perfect scores of 100% in each — the only competitor to do so, thereby making him the default recipient of the highly esteemed Lauchheimer Trophy.
The Rifle Match consisted of eight intermediate-range and long-range stages of fire during the day, and five stages conducted at night.
The Pistol Match consisted of six action pistol stages conducted during the day, and four action pistol stages conducted at night.
SSgt Payton Garcia was also the only competitor to make a clean sweep of the Multi-Gun Match (using the M16 and the M18) achieving 100% in a course of fire which requires competitors to move through eight shooting stages while engaging targets in a variety of different positions. In the Multi-Gun Match, targets consist of either paper targets or steel targets, and the targets cover a distance ranging from a few yards away to over 100 yards away. (Missed targets or hitting “no-shoot” targets all incur penalties.)
LtGen Benjamin T. Watson presented an M1 Garand rifle to SSgt Payton Garcia who had been awarded the Lauchheimer Trophy, and SSgt Payton Garcia (wishing to provide and signal an encouragement to all new competitors who may participate in the Marine Corps’ Competition-In-Arms Program) in turn presented his M1 Garand to the High Tyro, Sgt Kai Byrom.
MajGen Hartsell presented Sgt Kai Byrom with the “Hammer” Hartsell High Tyro Trophy which is awarded each year to the first-year competitor possessing the highest overall aggregate at the Marine Corps Championship.
MajGen Hartsell is himself Distinguished and a member of the Marine Distinguished Shooters Association.
Other members of the Marine DSA who were present included Marine DSA President Danny Burke, as well as Jake DeBerry and Ray Bailey. …Jake DeBerry and Ray Bailey both took advantage of the “hands-on” opportunities offered by WTBn CO Colonel Cuomo in the invitation which he extended earlier to all members of the Marine Distinguished Shooters Association.
LtGen Benjamin T. Watson, CG of Training & Education Command
*Col Scott Cuomo, CO WTBn Quantico
*LtGen Watson presents an M1 to SSgt Payton Garcia, Lauchheimer Trophy Winner
MajGen James S. Hartsell stands ready to award the High Tyro Trophy
*Sgt Kai Byrom, recipient of the MajGen “Hammer” Hartsell High Tyro Trophy
*SSgt Payton Garcia, MajGen James S. Hartsell, Sgt Kai Byrom, Col Scott Cuomo
Marine DSA members Jake DeBerry and Ray Bailey give the recently-developed courses of fire a go.
To see more photos (including Team Champions), click on the following link:
At the most recent meeting of the Board of Governors the subject was broached and concerns were discussed over the fact that there have been some who publicly identify themselves as members of the Marine DSA and then proceed to publicly post on social media their criticisms of recent changes to the Marine Corps Marksmanship Program.
Remember that as an Association we have among our Constitutional Objectives:
1) the furthering of THE SPIRIT OF CAMARADERIE among those who have distinguished themselves in the MARINE CORPS COMPETITION-IN-ARMS PROGRAM (past AND present)
as well as
2) fostering the PROMOTION OF MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP.
When we clearly identify ourselves as members of the Marine Distinguished Shooters Association and then proceed to publicly criticize and attempt to undermine today’s Marine Corps Marksmanship Program and Training, we betray two of our Association’s Constitutional Objectives.
It is understood — the wish for the Corps to be more in the public eye (the way it used to be back when the Corps would win matches on the National and International competitive stages). But, lethality in combat and what it means today has evidently changed from how it was understood and implemented “back in the day.” Goals have to be prioritized, new methodologies developed — and we seem to be at a place where we must ask ourselves which goal do we want more for our Marines AT THIS POINT IN TIME:
For Marines to be elevated in the eyes of the public, or for our Marines to QUICKLY and solidly have the enemy in their sights?
…For BOTH those who support AND those who oppose the changes made in recent years within the Marine Corps Marksmanship Program YOU ARE STRONGLY ENCOURAGED TO GO AND SEE FOR YOURSELVES (FIRSTHAND) what exactly the changes entail and to learn the “Why?” which is behind those changes.
How can you do that?
You can do that by accepting the amazing invitation extended by the CO of WTBn (Quantico) TO ALL MEMBERS of the Marine Distinguished Shooters Association, and:
-BE PRESENT at the Marine Corps Championship Awards Ceremony on 18 April 2025 and celebrate the achievements of our present-day Marines.
-OBSERVE the live-fire event which will follow, during which you will be provided a demonstration of the Infantry Marksmanship Assessment, and see first-hand how the Corps quantitatively measures lethality today.
-SEIZE the (optional) opportunity to engage targets over the new course of fire and thereby measure your own lethality.
-ENJOY the camaraderie during a barbecue which will subsequently be held for Marine DSA members and the Marine Corps Shooting Team at the Downrange Club.
Break bread together and build bonds
THIS Friday 18 April 2025!
*****Remember to let our Association President (Danny Burke) know if you will be there so that he can provide an RSVP to WTBn.*****
Members of the MCDSA have been extended a formal invitation by Colonel Scott A. Cuomo, the Commanding Officer of Weapons Training Battalion Quantico, to attend the Marine Corps Championship Matches and Awards Ceremony on 18 April 2025 which will then be immediately followed by a live fire event at WTBn during which time members of the MCDSA will be provided with:
-a demonstration of the Infantry Marksmanship Assessment (and how the Corps is quantitatively measuring lethality)
AS WELL AS,
-the opportunity to themselves engage targets over the new courses of fire and thereby measure their own lethality!
Furthermore, once live fire is concluded, the Battalion will be hosting a barbecue in the Downrange Club for members of the MCDSA and the Marine Corps Shooting Team — an opportunity to break bread together and to build bonds.
THIS IS AN OUTSTANDING OPPORTUNITY…
SEIZE IT!!!
NOTE: Members wanting to engage targets during this phenomenal opportunity will want to wear comfortable clothing and closed-toe footgear.
*****Please advise our MCDSA President Danny Burke if you will be present at this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity so that he can RSVP the Team.*****
