Rifle Marksmanship (MCRP 3-1A) is a comprehensive U.S. Marine Corps marksmanship training manual that provides doctrine, techniques, and procedures for rifle handling, maintenance, marksmanship fundamentals, target engagement, and combat shooting skills. Published by the Marine Corps Combat Development Command, it serves as the foundational training guide for Marines learning to effectively employ the M16A2 service rifle.
The manual begins by emphasizing the Marine Corps philosophy that “Every Marine is a rifleman”, explaining the importance of marksmanship across the full spectrum of military operations. It covers combat mindset, physical and mental preparation, target detection, and the importance of confidence developed through disciplined training.
A large portion of the document focuses on the M16A2 service rifle, including its components, operation, ammunition types, maintenance, inspection procedures, and troubleshooting. Detailed sections explain weapon safety, loading and unloading procedures, weapons conditions, remedial action for malfunctions, preventive maintenance, and operation in extreme environments such as desert, tropical, arctic, and wet conditions.
The manual then expands into the fundamentals of accurate shooting, including aiming, breath control, trigger control, follow-through, firing positions, sling use, target engagement techniques, range estimation, zeroing procedures, effects of weather on ballistics, use of cover and concealment, and engaging moving or low-light targets. It is essentially a complete rifle marksmanship training course in book form.
For preparedness-minded readers, the document contains valuable educational material on firearm safety, maintenance, shooting fundamentals, fieldcraft, and practical marksmanship skills. However, because it is a military training manual focused on combat rifle employment, it should be viewed primarily as a training and historical reference rather than a general preparedness guide.
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