MARINE CORPS BASE HAWAII, KANEOHE BAY, Hawaii -- Cadets from the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, Battleship Missouri Hawaii Division, performed their bi-monthly drill and annual air-rifle competition Saturday at the Marine Corps Base Hawaii, Kaneohe Bay Range Training Facility.
Under the close supervision of seven-year Sea Cadet volunteer Sgt. Clinton Schwarz of Headquarters Battalion, S-3, approximately 15 cadets braved sheets of rain as they accomplished their annual air-rifle training.
According to Navy Senior Chief Jack Herring, executive officer of the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps, the competition served multiple purposes, allowing the cadets to compete against one another in a nationally tracked competition, while fulfilling their annual marksmanship badge requirements.
“These cadets really enjoy coming out and learning how to fire a rifle,” said Herring. “We drill the first Saturday of every month, and on the third Saturday of the month we drill aboard the Battleship Missouri. It’s a real treat to come out here and get this training from the Marines.”
In 1958, the Department of the Navy requested that the Navy League of the United States establish a program for American youth to provide them with a drug and alcohol free environment to broaden their horizons and foster them into young adulthood. It was then that the Navy League Cadet Corps was established, and in 1962, the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps was signed into public law.
The Navy League Cadet Corps is for boys and girls at least 11 years old but not yet 14, and the U.S. Naval Sea Cadet Corps is for young adults from 13 to 17. Cadets of both organizations were present Saturday for the marksmanship training offered by Schwarz for the USNSCC annual training and competition.
“Our main purpose out here is to teach these young men and women how to safely handle a firearm,” said Schwarz. “We go over the weapons handling rules, the fundamentals of marksmanship, and we teach them how to fire a rifle in three basic shooting positions.”
The cadets fired a Daisy .177 caliber pellet rifle at a target approximately 20 meters away, to properly learn the fundamentals of rifle marksmanship. Fitted with adjustable windage and elevation sights, the pellet rifle provided the cadets with an appropriate weapon to train with, taking into account their age, physical ability and size.
According to the USNSCC Small Arms Training Policy, Sea Cadets are required to know the fundamentals of military small arms and marksmanship, and small arms training need not be limited to smallbore target rifles. If the cadets are of appropriate age, training with rifle simulation trainers, pistols and even shotguns can be conducted in appropriate facilities.
The Marksmanship Ribbon, earned by the Sea Cadets after performing this training evolution is for achieving a qualifying score on the course of fire arranged by Schwarz, taking into account the range facility and the weapon being fired. The ribbon is awarded in three categories: marksman, sharpshooter and expert.
“The course of fire consisted of 10 rounds, slow fire, fired in the prone position for 10 minutes; 10 rounds, slow fire, fired in the kneeling position for 10 minutes; and 10 rounds, slow fire, fired in the standing position for 10 minutes,” said Schwarz. “It was hit-or-miss, with a total possible score of 30 points.”
Unfortunately, according to Schwarz, only half of the cadets had the opportunity to qualify Saturday, but cadet Luis Abreu, first to fire, said he was excited to have the opportunity.
“This is the best kind of training,” said Abreu. “I don’t care if it’s snowing out here, I’d still be here firing because I love to.”