MARADMIN 095/26
FY26 COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP SYMPOSIUM (CMS) POST SYMPOSIUM MESSAGE
R 101854Z MAR 26 MARADMIN 095/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/DC T&E QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/FY26 COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP SYMPOSIUM (CMS) POST SYMPOSIUM MESSAGE// REF/A/MCO 3574.2M/6Apr2022// REF/B/MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CAMPAIGN PLAN// REF/C/CMS CHARTER/NOVEMBER 2021// NARR/REF A IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER FOR THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAMS (MCCMP). REF B IS THE MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CAMPAIGN PLAN. REF C IS THE CMS CHARTER.// POC/J. C. GRAYEK/GUNNER (CWO4)/DIRECTOR, MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SECTION (MPMS), WTBN QUANTICO, TEL: 703 784-5275/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/M. L. PAUGH/GYSGT/SNCOIC, MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SECTION (MPMS), WTBN QUANTICO, TEL: 703 784-5450/EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1. From 24 to 26 September 2025, Weapons Training Battalion (WTBn) Quantico hosted the FY 2026 Combat Marksmanship Symposium (CMS). The CMS offers a forum for the Total Force to identify and discuss issues and provide recommended solutions to improve combat marksmanship. The CMS provides a single point to consolidate combat marksmanship issues and gives senior leadership an accurate picture of the Service’s current marksmanship state. 2. The FY26 CMS convened working groups (WG) to discuss entry-level and annual marksmanship qualifications, the Advanced Precision Marksmanship Program (APM) Program of Instruction (POI), marksmanship instructor training continuum, future marksmanship training technologies, and the Competition-In-Arms Program (CIAP) with a focus on the new Marine Corps Attack Drone Competitions (MCADC). 3. The Executive Steering Committee (ESC) brought forward the following items that Deputy Commandant, Training and Education (DC T&E) approved: 3.a. Entry-Level Qualification Update. WTBn-Quantico has fully integrated the Annual Rifle Qualification (ARQ) into The Basic School (TBS). Weapons Field Training Battalion (WFTBn)-Parris Island and WFTBn-Edson Range have completed three Entry-Level Qualification (ELQ) pilots and one ELQ Hybrid pilot in FY25. WFTBn-Paris Island and WFTBn-Edson will continue ELQ evaluation through FY26 to refine ELT courses and propose a standardized course at the FY27 CMS targeting ARQ-equivalent qualification parity by FY29. Assessment of the ELQ pilots will be a collaborative effort between WFTBn-Parris Island, WFTBn-Edson, WTBn-Quantico, and the Office of Naval Research, including a longitudinal assessment and evaluation of Marine ELQ performance from the Depots to associated marksmanship performance at the Schools of Infantry (SOI), and ultimately ARQ and Infantry Marksmanship Assessment in the Fleet Marine Force (FMF). 3.b. Annual Marksmanship Qualification Updates 3.b.1. Effective with this MARADMIN, Marines are authorized to use unit funded Using Unit Responsibility Item, M17 Romeo red dot optic, National Stock Number 1240-01-713-979 for Combat Pistol Program (CPP) qualifications. 3.b.2. Effective with this MARADMIN, Marines in units that are issued Glock pistols from the USMC (e.g., MARSOC) or Department of State (e.g., MCESG) for unique duty requirements are authorized to use these pistols for CPP qualifications. 3.b.3. Effective with this MARADMIN, Tables 3-6 courses of fire are changed to a Global Force Management (GFM) deployment requirement in lieu of annual requirements. Units are required to execute Tables 3-6 during their GFM work-up cycle prior to their deployment. 3.b.4. Effective with this MARADMIN, ARQ “Destroy” targets are no longer required for ARQ due to the white boundary suppress zone not counting in a Marine’s qualification score. The ARQ “Drill” target, which does not have this suppress zone, may be used in lieu of the “Destroy” targets to reduce the costs and logistical requirements to execute ARQ. 3.b.5. Effective with this MARADMIN, the SOIs will use the following Lethality Factor scoring metrics for the Infantry Marksmanship Assessment (IMA) and Rifleman Marksmanship Assessment (RMA). KDT SBD SOM MRC Infantry Common Course .38 .99 .98 2.7 Marine Combat Training .33 N/A .81 2.1 3.b.6. Effective with this MARADMIN, Marine Forces Reserve is authorized to process waivers for annual marksmanship qualifications via the first General Officer in the chain of command. 3.c. Marksmanship Instructor Training Continuum 3.c.1. The APM course will continue to prioritize student allocations based on unit alignment to GFM and crisis response missions with the goal to ensure APMs return to their units prior to training with other Marines during 3000-level collective Training and Readiness events. 3.c.2. Combat Marksmanship Coach (CMC) and Combat Marksmanship Trainer (CMT) Content Review Boards (CRB) were conducted in July 2025. The CRBs focused on incorporating best practices learned from the Infantry Marksmanship Training Program in future CMC and CMT courses. The CMS concurred with the CRB out-briefs. Weapons Training Battalion, Quantico will continue Master Lesson File construction to support submission of revised CMC and CMT POIs in Q2 FY26. 3.c.3. WTBn-Quantico will host an Operational Planning Team conference in Q2 FY26 to develop courses of action to create and sustain Advanced Marksmanship Instructors across the Service. 3.d. Competition-In-Arms Program 3.d.1. Consistent with the ongoing updates to Marine Corps Marksmanship Competitions (MCMC), all future competitions will incorporate IMA and Precision Marksman Assessment (PMA) stages, with the goals to identify annually the most lethal marksmen in the Service and increase small-arms marksmanship lethality data sets to help inform senior leader decision-making. 3.d.2. MCADCs will continue to focus on training and certifying via competition Attack Drone-Operators (AD-O), Attack-Drone Instructors (AD-I), and Payload Specialists (PS). Additionally, at each MCADC, the Marine Corps Attack Drone Team will continue to inform and update the Fleet on best practices for first-person view attack drone employment. 4. The CMS met its intent to gain a clear picture of the current state of Marine Corps marksmanship and the steps required to continue to improve the program in accordance with the MCP. WTBn-Quantico will draft a calling message for the FY27 CMS in May 2026 announcing the symposium dates, anticipated topics, and guidance from DC, T&E and to solicit further inputs from the FMF. 5. Contact the POC for any requests for information. 6. Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, Deputy Commandant, Training and Education.//