Marines

Photo Information

Lieutenant General Mark Brilakis fired the opening shot with an M1 Garand at the Calvin A. Lloyd Range Complex on Marine Corps Base Quantico. The first shot signified the initiation of the 54th Inter-service Rifle Championship.

Photo by Steve Kim

54th Inter-service Rifle Championship with all US Military Branches

1 Jul 2015 | Steve Kim Marine Corps Base Quantico

Marine Corps Base Quantico, Va. – The opening ceremony for the 54th Inter-service Rifle Championship was held at Calvin A. Lloyd Range Complex on June 24th. The competition will last a demanding week and will test each service member’s proficiency with their weapons.

At the opening ceremony, each military branch of service in the match was represented in the ceremonial formation. The annual championship has been almost every year at Marine Corps Base Quantico and is being hosted by the Weapons Training Battalion.

“The competition won’t only measure the caliber of the rifles, but the caliber of each shooter.” Lieutenant General Mark A. Brilakis, Commanding General of Marine Corps Recruiting Command said as he gave his best wishes to the shooters and fired the opening shot. Brilakis stated, “I am honored to be at this year’s championship. This event is not only about the scores, but will test each shooters marksmanship skills, mental fortitude and weapons knowledge.”

The competition is similar to an Olympic-type match, emphasizing precision, score-based shooting. Each match includes both individual and team-based shooting sessions. Shooters competed at several distances, ranging from 200 yards to as far as 1,000 yards. 

Prior to this year, the Marines triumphed in five out of 15 shooting events involving both single and team-based shooting. Expectations will run high to see who will rise to the top and earn the most victories.  Winning shooters and teams will be given awards at a formal evening banquet held at Clubs at Quantico on June 1.


Marine Corps Base Quantico