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Category: Manly Stuff
“Now remember, when things look bad and it looks like you’re not gonna make it, then you gotta get mean. I mean plumb, mad-dog mean. ‘Cause if you lose your head and you give up, then you neither live or win. That’s just the way it is.”
Outlaw Josey Wales
The United States Marine Corps’ marksmanship has long set it apart from other branches. This focus has created a culture in which every Marine is primarily a rifleman. Rifle accuracy has often been the deciding factor in battles in American military history.
The Marine Corps marksmanship badges program is one of the toughest and most respected ways to learn how to use a rifle in the world. It has created generations of expert sharpshooters who live by the warrior spirit of America’s expeditionary force.
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badges & Their Meanings
The Marine Corps gives marksmanship qualification badges to people who are good at shooting. They wear these badges with pride on their dress uniforms. Marksmanship badges, on the other hand, must be earned again every year, ensuring that Marines keep their skills sharp throughout their careers.
Three Levels of Marine Corps Marksmanship Qualification
- Expert: This is the highest level of qualification. To become an Expert, Marines must get 220 to 250 points out of a possible 250 on the annual qualification course. The Expert badge features a wreath design with two crossed rifles in the center, and people who earn it can wear special badges.
- Expert shooters can hit targets with precision from any shooting position and at any distance, often within a set time limit. Getting an Expert qualification is a big deal and something that Marines are proud of for the rest of their careers.
- Sharpshooter: To get the intermediate qualification level, Sharpshooter, you need to score between 210 and 219 points. The Maltese cross design on the Sharpshooter badge stands for good, reliable shooting. Sharpshooter Marines have shown above-average skill and consistency with their service rifles, even though they haven’t reached the highest level.
- Marksman: To be a Marksman, you need to get at least 190–209 points. The Marksman badge is the lowest level of qualification, but it still shows that you passed a challenging course of fire. For a Marine to be considered good with their service weapon, they must at least pass the Marksman test.
Badge Components & Re-qualification Bars
Marksmanship badges have hanging bars that show that the person requalified at the same level. Every time a Marine re-qualifies at their current level, they get another bar. Depending on the time period and the rules in place, these bars indicate the score or whether someone is qualified. Some Marines rack up a lot of bars over their careers, creating a visual record of how well they shoot.
The badges are made of metal and go on the left side of dress uniforms, below ribbons and medals. The weight and arrangement of several qualification bars can create a unique look. Senior Marines with long careers often have impressive collections of re-qualification bars under their badges.
Distinguished Badges in Marine Corps Marksmanship
The Marine Corps gives special badges for outstanding performance in competitions, in addition to basic qualification levels. The Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge are two of the highest honors for marksmanship. These badges go to Marines who have performed very well in formal shooting competitions and earned scores that place them among the Corps’ best shooters. Distinguished badges are rare and indicate that someone has been practicing for years and has a natural talent for shooting.
Historical Foundations
The “Devil Dogs” of the U.S. Marine Corps have used an English Bulldog as their mascot since 1922.
The Marine Corps has always placed great emphasis on marksmanship, but it wasn’t until the early 1900s that it became official and organized. During the Spanish-American War and the Philippine Insurrection that followed, Marine leaders knew that better shooting skills could make up for having fewer troops and give them an edge in battle. But the modern marksmanship program didn’t start to take shape until the years before World War I.
The Marine Corps set up its first official marksmanship qualification standards in 1908. Doing so made it possible to judge and reward Marines fairly for their shooting skills. This groundbreaking move made Marines different from other branches of the military. The program focused not only on accuracy but also on quickly and effectively engaging targets in a variety of situations. This early training would be beneficial for Marines in World War I, when being a good shot could mean the difference between life and death in the trenches of France.
Timeline Of Notable Events
Early 20th Century (1900-1920)
During the early years of Marine Corps marksmanship, they created qualification courses and standardized training methods. The Corps officially adopted the qualification badges in 1911. These badges would later become famous symbols of Marine shooting skill.
During World War I, Marine snipers became renowned for their accurate rifle fire at battles like Belleau Wood in 1918. Here, they shocked German troops, earning the Marines the nickname “Devil Dogs.” The Corps’ stories of Marines fighting enemy soldiers at ranges of more than 500 yards became part of its history and underscored the importance of marksmanship training.
Interwar Period (1920-1941)
The Marine Corps continued to develop its marksmanship program between the two World Wars. The Corps competed in national shooting competitions and always came out on top, further building its reputation. Training ranges got better, and the Known Distance (KD) course became the standard at all Marine bases.
The M1903 Springfield rifle remained the Marines’ primary weapon, and they learned a great deal about how it worked. During this time, the Marine Corps also formed the Rifle Team. They competed at Camp Perry and other national venues, which brought honor to the service.
World War II (1941-1945)
World War II‘s island-hopping campaigns put marine marksmanship to the test across the Pacific. The marksmanship program also taught basic skills and discipline. These secondary skills were instrumental, even though combat conditions often made it impossible to employ the long-range precision shooting stressed in peacetime training.
Marines had to change their training when they switched from the M1903 Springfield to the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle, but they did so quickly. Even though they used a variety of weapons in close-quarters combat, legendary snipers like John Basilone showed the warrior spirit that comes from training to shoot.
Cold War Era (1945-1991)
There were significant changes to the marksmanship program after World War II. The Marines adopted the M14 rifle in the 1950s, and the M16 in the 1960s. This change required updating training protocols. The Vietnam War showed both the strengths and weaknesses of marksmanship training in jungle warfare. In response, the Corps changed its program to focus on quickly finding targets and shooting from different positions. The Rifle Qualification Course, as we know it today, was created during this time. It included more realistic combat scenarios while still focusing on the basics.
Modern Era (1991-Present)
The Gulf War, operations in Iraq and Afghanistan, and evolving combat needs led to ongoing changes in Marine Corps marksmanship. The M16A4 service rifle and, later, the M4 carbine, as well as advanced optics such as the Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG), were significant technological advances.
The Annual Rifle Training (ART) program replaced older programs. It included more realistic combat situations, stress shoots, and engagements at unknown distances. In recent decades, there has also been more focus on combat marksmanship skills. These include shooting from behind barriers, quickly engaging multiple targets, and switching between weapons systems.
The Rifleman’s Creed
Marines switched from the M1903 Springfield to the M1 Garand semi-automatic rifle during the defense of the Philippines.
The Rifleman’s Creed, also known as “My Rifle” or the Creed of the United States Marine, is essential to the culture of marksmanship in the Marine Corps. Major General William H. Rupertus wrote this powerful statement during World War II. It sums up the Marines’ relationship with their weapons and their dedication to being the best in arms.
This is my rifle. There are many like it, but this one is mine.” -Major General William H. Rupertus, USMC
The Creed starts with the simple statement, “This is my rifle.” This one is mine, but there are many others like it. This opening makes it clear that every Marine is responsible for their weapon and how well they use it. The Creed goes on to say that the rifle is the Marine’s best friend and the only way to stay alive, and that they must learn to use it as well as they learn to live their own lives.
The most important thing the Creed says is, “My rifle and I know that what matters in war is not the rounds we fire, the noise of our burst, or the smoke we make.” We know that the hits matter. We will hit. This passage stresses accuracy over volume of fire, a key difference between Marine Corps marksmanship training and simply getting used to guns.
Marine Corps Marksmanship Badges: The Ultimate Military Skill?
All Marines, regardless of MOS, must qualify annually in marksmanship using iron sights and optics. (Credit: U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jesus Sepulveda Torres) The appearance of U.S. Department of Defense (DoW) VI does not imply or constitute DoW endorsement.
Marine Corps marksmanship is more than just a military skill. It’s a part of Marine culture that defines what it means to be a Marine. The focus on accurate, effective rifle fire has stayed the same from the first days of formal training to modern combat operations, even though weapons and tactics have changed. The Rifleman’s Creed is the philosophical basis of this culture, and qualification badges are a way to show that someone has done well and continues to do well.
Every Marine, whether they are a foot soldier, an aviator, or work in administration, must show that they can use a rifle every year. This rule reinforces the basic idea that there are no rear-echelon Marines; everyone may have to fight with a rifle in hand. The marksmanship program builds the Marine Corps’ unique warrior ethos, discipline, and confidence while ensuring they are always ready.
The Marine Corps marksmanship badges program will evolve as warfare evolves. It always emphasizes accuracy, discipline, and the rifleman’s duty to make every shot count. Marine Corps marksmanship has been a part of the Corps for more than a hundred years, and it’s still a source of pride for everyone who earns the title of Marine.
A handcuffed enlistee, a burning B-17, and a stubborn ball turret gunner who just wouldn’t quit. Maynard “Snuffy” Smith was flawed, fiery, and absolutely fearless.
From Pedestals to People: Why Flawed Men Still Do Great Things
We expect way too much out of our pastors and our heroes. We put those guys on pedestals that we ourselves could never successfully occupy. To hold such folks to an unreasonable standard simply invites disappointment.
History is littered with examples. The Israelite King David killed a man and stole his wife, yet was described in scripture as a man after God’s own heart.
Martin Luther King defined the Civil Rights movement with his mantra of non-violence, and was likely the sole reason our great nation did not dissolve into anarchy. However, King was also a serial philanderer who plagiarized significant portions of his doctoral dissertation.
Charles Dickens was history’s alpha novelist, yet he was terribly abusive to his wife and children.
Thomas Jefferson penned the Declaration of Independence by day and made babies with his slaves by night.
William Shockley invented the transistor and was the father of the modern computer, yet was an unrepentant racist and a strident proponent of eugenics. For all have sinned and fallen short of the glory of God. That’s in the Book…
I’ll let you in on a little secret: We all suck–Every. Last. One. Of. Us.
If ever I felt otherwise, those flawed assumptions were thoroughly put to rest the moment I became a physician and started trying to fix other people’s many manifest problems. Everybody on Planet Earth is just a hot mess. That includes your sweet grandmother and Mother Theresa.
As a result, have reasonable expectations as regards the people in your life. Don’t be surprised when everybody else in the world struggles with the same stuff you do. Tragically, that’s just part of being human.
Origin Story: From Courtroom to Cockpit in Wartime
Maynard Harrison Smith was born on 19 May 1911 in Caro, Michigan. His Dad was a lawyer, and his Mom taught school. From the very beginning, Maynard was a difficult kid. He sought out trouble at every opportunity. This earned him a billet at Howe Military Academy in lieu of High School.
Like most such broken souls, Maynard Smith found it impossible to stay married. He wed Arlene McCreedy, but that only lasted three years. Two years after that, his Dad died and left Maynard a little money. The young man subsequently quit his job with the US Treasury Department and lived off his inheritance. In 1941, Maynard married Helen Gunsell and fathered a son. They split up about a year later.
Maynard supposedly refused to pay child support and was subsequently dragged before a judge. With war brewing, the magistrate gave him the option of jail or the Army. When the local newspaper ran a patriotic photograph of young men being inducted into the military, Maynard Smith was in the background in handcuffs being escorted by the local sheriff.
Uniform On, Trouble Still: Into the 306th Bomb Group
A great many folks have entered military service and discovered both maturity and depth. My time in uniform played an outsized role in my own success later in life. However, sometimes that stuff just doesn’t take. Maynard Smith was a First Sergeant’s nightmare.
Smith was a short-statured man. After basic training, he volunteered for aerial gunnery school. Prior to 1947, the US Army owned what would eventually become the Air Force under the auspices of the US Army Air Corps.
Smith volunteered for the Air Corps because he knew that would mean faster promotion and more money. After gunnery school, Smith was shipped to Bedfordshire in Southern England to join the 423d Bombardment Squadron of the 306th Bomb Group.
Ball Turret Hell: Cold, Cramped, and Nowhere to Run
Things didn’t get any better once he got to his unit. Maynard soon developed a reputation for being both obnoxious and stubborn. At some point, he earned the nickname “Snuffy” Smith, no doubt a reference to the popular period cartoon strip Barney Google and Snuffy Smith. Because of his modest height, Snuffy Smith drew the duty as a ball turret gunner.
Serving as a bomber crewman was the most dangerous job in the US military during World War 2. Fully one-fifth of all US aircrew perished in the skies above Europe and the Pacific. Of all the jobs on board US heavy bombers, that of the ball turret gunner was statistically the most hazardous.
Inside the Sphere: What a B-17 Ball Turret Demanded
Duty in the ball turret was unlike anything else in the Air Corps. The ball turret was designed to defend B17 and B24 bombers from attack directly underneath the aircraft. The Sperry ball turret was roughly 3.5 feet in diameter and weighed 850 pounds. It was constructed predominantly of transparent Plexiglas and included a pair of M2 .50-caliber belt-fed machine guns. The ball turret gunner sat in the fetal position, wrapped around the two weapons. He controlled the orientation of the turret via a firing yoke.
Duty in the ball turret was, by its nature, terribly isolating. While most of the rest of the crew could interact with each other directly, the ball turret gunner was sealed inside his big plastic sphere.
Because the turret was so small, there was no room for a parachute. Entry and exit were through the back of the contraption. To egress a disabled aircraft, the ball turret gunner had to orient the thing guns-downward such that the hatch faced the interior of the aircraft, unstrap, climb out, locate and attach his parachute, and then find his way to an exit door. That’s a big ask when the plane is shot up, on fire, and plummeting earthward.
Given its direct exposure to the rarefied high-altitude slipstream, the ball turret also got incredibly cold. Gunners were equipped with electrically-heated suits, but this was 1940’s technology. Those suits not infrequently failed. It took a special sort of soldier to thrive in a ball turret in combat.
Snuffy Goes to War: St. Nazaire, the Original Flak City
Six weeks after he arrived at his unit, Snuffy Smith flew his first combat mission. The target was the Nazi U-boat pens at St. Nazaire on the Bay of Biscay in France. The Germans knew this facility to be strategically critical and defended it accordingly with a dense array of flak guns and fighters aplenty. Allied aircrews called St. Nazaire “flak city.”
Aerial navigation in the days before electronic navaids was a sketchy proposition. Somebody made a mistake, and Snuffy’s B17 approached the heavily-defended French city of Brest at around 2,000 feet. Exposed and at low altitude, the big bomber was easy meat for German fighters and anti-aircraft artillery.
When Everything Went Wrong: Fire, Fighters, and a Choice
Smith’s plane was hit hard. A fuel tank ruptured and caught fire. With the fuselage now aflame, three of the plane’s ten crewmen bailed out. Smith clawed his way out of the ball turret and turned his attention to two remaining buddies who were too badly wounded to parachute.
Smith could have jumped himself, but not without abandoning his mates. Instead, he dressed the injured men’s wounds while also manning the bomber’s waist guns against attacking German fighters.
The fire became so hot that it melted through the Fort’s aluminum skin. Smith expended all of the plane’s fire extinguishers and discarded as much flammable material and ammunition as he could through the gaping holes burned in the plane’s fuselage. With nothing left to throw on the fire, Smith dropped his trousers and urinated on it.
Ninety minutes later, Smith’s plane landed at the first available airfield on British soil. The massive bomber broke in half immediately upon touchdown. Ground crews counted 3,500 holes from German bullets and shrapnel.
The three crewmen who bailed out were never heard from again. Snuffy Smith’s selfless actions had saved the lives of the remaining six. Journalist Andy Rooney was present at the air base where Smith’s plane landed and penned a front page story about the obstinate ball gunner’s exploits. Smith was subsequently awarded the Medal of Honor.
Medal of Honor Day… and KP Anyway
Smith was on punitive KP duty the week he was awarded his nation’s highest award for valor for arriving chronically late for command meetings.
His medal was awarded by US Secretary of War Henry Stimson. Snuffy Smith flew four more combat missions after receiving his award, but was ultimately grounded due to battle fatigue. Smith was made a unit clerk but was subsequently reduced in rank to Private because he sucked so bad at it.
Private Smith went home on 2 February 1945. Despite his checkered record, his hometown threw him a rousing parade and greeted him as a hero. Smith left the military three months later.
Whenever interviewed about his time in the military, Smith had nothing but disdain for the experience. His propensity for being difficult followed him everywhere he went. Smith bounced from job to job and suffered perennial legal problems.
The Rest of the Story: A Flawed Man, A Lasting Legacy
Smith married his third wife, Mary Rayner, in 1944. He and Mary met at a USO dance in Bedford, England, and eventually had three sons and a daughter. Snuffy Smith, the deadbeat hero, eventually settled in St. Petersburg, Florida, where he died of heart failure at age 72. He was buried in Arlington National Cemetery.
True heroes seldom look the part. Audie Murphy weighed 112 pounds when he tried and failed to enlist in both the US Marines and the Airborne, yet ended the war as the most highly decorated soldier in American history.
Maynard Smith enlisted in handcuffs and left the military under a cloud. However, he was still nonetheless a hero of the highest order—a flawed man who did some truly amazing things.
Quick Facts: B-17 Ball Turret and Mission Details
| Role | Ball turret gunner, B17 |
|---|---|
| Unit | 423d Bombardment Squadron, 306th Bomb Group |
| Ball Turret Diameter | 3.5 feet |
| Ball Turret Weight | 850 pounds |
| Armament | 2 x M2 .50-caliber machineguns |
| First Combat Target | St. Nazaire U-boat pens |
| Aircraft Damage | 3,500 holes from bullets and shrapnel |
| Lives Saved | Six crewmen |
Pros & Cons — Hard Truths of a Ball Turret Gunner’s War
- Pros: Raw, human story of courage; vivid technical detail on ball turret life; keeps all dates and numbers; powerful, relatable voice.
- Cons: Grim imagery; not a gear review; heavy subject matter for sensitive readers.