Infantry Magazine. Volume 107, Number 1, January March 2018

Lethality is one of the most critical aspects of the Infantry. The Infantry Soldiers ultimate mission to close with and destroy the enemy by fire and maneuver, demands lethality to win this close combat fight. Precision marksmanship is the key to lethality. Our existing qualification standards fail to accurately reflect the basic tactical employment skills, leader commands, and the requisite sense of urgency essential during reloading, changing positions, or fighting from cover on todays battlefield. We must improve our marksmanship training to increase Soldier lethality. The new rifle marksmanship course of fire still with 40 rounds includes prone unsupported 10 rounds prone supported 10 rounds kneeling supported 10 rounds and standing supported 10 rounds. These four firing positions more accurately replicate combat conditions. Under fire, they can be readily assumed whenever the Soldier receives enemy contact and finds it necessary to deliver aimed fire on an enemy. Each firing position provides a stable platform and body position that maximize cover and concealment from enemy fire. Our new rifle marksmanship training strategy is tied to an improved integrated weapons training strategy that is designed to evolve with technological enhancements but maintains a train-as-we-fight philosophy.