Basic Officer Course
Quail Time
“Firing Week”

In Week 5, your Marine’s focus shifts to mastering marksmanship, starting each day with hikes to the rifle range to build endurance and mental toughness. They will undertake the Annual Rifle Qualification (ARQ), a crucial test of their shooting skills, while also maintaining their weapons daily to ensure peak performance. The week wraps up with pre-qualification practice and the final qualification event, where their accuracy and precision will be officially assessed.

Annual Rifle Qualification (ARQ)

The week kicks off with your Marine taking on the Annual Rifle Qualification (ARQ)—one of the most important tests of a Marine’s skill and discipline. Each day begins with a 2.5-mile hike to the range and ends with a 2.5-mile hike back, reinforcing endurance and mental toughness before and after hours of training. By the end of the week, your Marine will have covered more than 20 miles on foot just moving to and from the range.

The ARQ is far more than a routine assessment; it’s a demanding series of live-fire exercises that measure accuracy, precision, and consistency at various distances. Marines will fire from standing, kneeling, and prone positions, mastering both rapid and sustained fire while adapting to different combat scenarios.

Success in the ARQ isn’t just about hitting targets—it’s about upholding the Marine Corps standard that Every Marine Is A Rifleman First. Passing this qualification proves your Marine’s ability to fight, protect, and lead with confidence. It is a proud milestone that demonstrates their professionalism, dedication, and readiness to answer the nation’s call at any moment.

Pre-Qualification and Qualification

The week will culminate with pre-qualification and qualification events. During pre-qual, your Marine will have the opportunity to refine their skills and address any deficiencies identified earlier in the week. This is their final chance to practice under conditions similar to the actual qualification. The week concludes with the qualification event, where their marksmanship skills will be formally tested and scored.

As your Marine progresses through this intense week of training, they will continue to build the confidence and competence required to lead Marines in any situation. We look forward to sharing more about their journey in the weeks to come.

Semper Fidelis,
SgtMaj Paul Davis (USMC Ret)