The research investigated a new course of fire, called combat field fire (CFF), to determine CFF marksmanship standards, and where CFF should occur in marksmanship training. CFF is a complex scenario requiring changing magazines, reacting to a simulated malfunction and engaging targets within arrays that require multiple hits. Ten training companies (1976 Soldiers) from the Infantry OSUT and Basic Combat Training Brigades at Ft. Benning, GA participated. Six companies executed Army qualification at the end of basic rifle marksmanship (BRM) and CFF at the end of advanced rifle marksmanship (ARM). Four executed CFF in BRM and executed Army qualification in ARM. Performance data and Soldier interviews revealed the unique dynamics of CFF, differentiating it from Army qualification. Results showed that CFF should be in ARM, as Soldiers were not prepared in BRM for the additional skills and demands required by CFF. Recommended standards were developed for the Expert, Sharpshooter, Marksman, and Unqualified marksmanship categories, TPU (trained, needs practice, and not trained) categories., and Go/NoGo categories. 15. SUBJECT TERMS basic rifle marksmanship, advanced rifle marksmanship, combat field fire, measuring Soldier performance, marksmanship training, marksmanship qualification, combat fire, marksmanship standards SECURITY CLASSIFICATION OF 19.

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In response to the Deputy Commanding General for Initial Military Training, new marksmanship strategies for Infantry One Station Unit Training (OSUT) and Basic Combat Training (BCT) were compared. OSUT Soldiers scored significantly higher than BCT Soldiers on Record Fire and Combat Field Fire (CFF) with the difference being substantial on CFF. The OSUT CFF scores supported the advanced rifle marksmanship (ARM) strategy which included different scenarios and more ammunition than the BCT ARM strategy. Results also supported the use of combat gear by OSUT in basic rifle marksmanship (BRM). Round allocation for grouping and zeroing was inadequate with 5-round shot groups. Overall, the Practice Record Fire and Record Fire patterns showed that Soldiers benefitted from Practice Record Fire. Equipment and time limitations hindered the ability to fully train optics for BCT Soldiers, and to train night fire with aiming lights and night vision goggles for both BCT and OSUT Soldiers. Soldiers also indicated they needed more training with this equipment. The CFF hit standard in the marksmanship FM was validated. Current and prior research on 3-and 5-round shot groups showed that similar numbers of shot groups were required to group and zero regardless of shot group size.

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