Infantry: October 24, 2000

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Every Marine is a rifleman, or at least that is the tradition. In keeping with it, every Marine (regardless of his or her job) goes to the rifle range for a week every year to "requalify" as a rifle marksman, which takes 333 rounds. This costs $132.43 per Marine, and takes them away from their primary jobs and other training. One recent suggestion is that Marines unlikely to actually use their weapons should requalify only every second year, giving their ammunition to Marines who are likely to go into combat so they can train more often.--Stephen V Cole