Marine Corps Unveils Groundbreaking Marksmanship Campaign Plan

Quantico, VA – The U.S. Marine Corps has taken a major step forward in enhancing combat readiness with the release of the new Marksmanship Campaign Plan (MCP). Signed by Major General Benjamin T. Watson on September 16, 2024, the plan introduces the most significant updates to Marine marksmanship in over a century. This groundbreaking strategy is built on the foundation of the S.P.E.A.R. Model of Lethality, designed to ensure that Marines can assess and improve their effectiveness on the battlefield.

The S.P.E.A.R. Model evaluates Marines across five key attributes: Speed, Precision, Executive Control, Adaptability, and Risk Exposure. These metrics offer a standardized, data-driven approach to marksmanship, allowing leaders to assess individual and unit readiness with unprecedented accuracy. The Joint Marksmanship Assessment Package (JMAP), a sophisticated shot-timer technology, is central to this transformation. By using JMAP, Marines can track their performance, measure progress, and enhance their lethality in real-time combat scenarios.

Colonel Scott Cuomo, Commanding Officer of Weapons Training Battalion at Quantico, emphasized the historical significance of the new plan. “With the publication of this MCP, we are witnessing the most transformative change in Marine Corps marksmanship in over a century.”

This service-wide teamwork will only enhance the U.S. Marine Corps’ already exceptional small-arms training, and over the next five years, our Marines’ lethality will improve even more.

The overhaul of Marine Corps marksmanship began with the introduction of the revamped Annual Rifle Qualification (ARQ) three years ago. Now, the MCP introduces additional assessments, such as the Infantry Marksmanship Training Program and the Infantry Marksmanship Assessment (IMA), which focus on comparing legacy training methods with the modernized system.

In an article by Task & Purpose, it was noted that the changes reflect lessons learned from two decades of warfare in Iraq and Afghanistan. Colonel Cuomo remarked, “We were doing really well crushing our adversaries, …but this was about looking in the mirror and asking if we can do better.” The introduction of the ARQ and new tactics helps Marines adapt to modern combat environments, particularly close-quarters engagements and urban warfare scenarios.

From the press release, Col. Scott Cuomo, Commanding Officer of Weapons Training Battalion-Quantico, emphasized the impact of the new MCP:

“we are witnessing the most transformative change in Marine Corps marksmanship in over a century,… our Marines’ overall, quantifiably-measured lethality–is only going to get even better over the next five years as we achieve each of the goals set forth in the MCP, including scaling JMAP employment across the Service..”

This initiative underscores the Marine Corps’ commitment to ensuring that every Marine, regardless of their role, remains highly lethal and effective on the battlefield. As part of the plan, all shooting ranges across the Corps will be updated by 2029 to comply with the new standards, ensuring that Marines have the facilities needed to meet the demands of modern warfare.

This plan is set to reshape the Marine Corps’ approach to combat training, ensuring the readiness and superiority of the nation’s premier fighting force for years to come.