Infantry: November 20, 2002

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The U.S. Marine Corps is investing in new rifle ranges. The new facilities score hits electronically, showing the pattern of hits on a small electronic device next to the guy with the rifle. This eliminates the need to have someone in a trench beneath the target, pulling down the targets and showing the shooter where the bullets went. This approach eliminates a very unpopular aspect of going to the rifle range. In addition, the new, $9 million range, had three sets of targets (at 200, 300 and 500 yards) for each of the 40 shooting positions. In the past, troops had to move forward to shoot at the same targets at different ranges. The new range allows more troops to do their annual practice and qualification firing more quickly, and serve more troops with just one range.