R 141252Z JUL 25 MARADMIN 327/25 MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/FISCAL YEAR 2026 COMPETITION-IN-ARMS PROGRAM// REF/A/ MCO 3591.2L /9 Dec 2024// REF/B/MCO 3574.2M /6 Apr 2022//  REF/C/DOC/CD&I/20181119 REF/D/DOC/NHRC REF/E/ MARADMIN 235/25 REF/F/ MARADMIN 236/25 NARR/REF A IS MCO 3591.2L, MARINE CORPS COMPETITION IN ARMS PROGRAM. REF B IS MCO 3574.2M, MARINE CORPS COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAMS. REF C IS THE MARINE CORPS RIFLE MARKSMANSHIP LETHALITY CAPABILITIES-BASED ASSESSMENT. REF D IS THE NAVAL HEALTH RESEARCH CENTER 2025 USMC LETHALITY REPORT.  REF E IS THE ESTABLISHMENT OF THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE TEAM MARADMIN. REF F IS THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE COMPETITION PROGRAM MARADMIN. POC/CUOMO, S.A./COL/CAPTAIN OF THE MARINE CORPS SHOOTING TEAM (MCST) AND THE MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE TEAM (MCADT)/COMM: 703-784-5084 /EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/BODZIOCH, J.R./CAPT/OIC MARINE CORPS SHOOTING TEAM /TEL: DSN 432-6952/COMM: 703-531-9788// POC/PRICKETT, C.L./MSGT/SNCOIC MARINE CORPS SHOOTING TEAM TEAM/TEL: DSN 278-6761/COMM: 703-784-6761// POC/RAMIREZ, M.A./MAJ/OIC MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE TEAM /TEL: 703-784-5226// POC/UTSLER, S.A./GYSGT/SNCOIC MARINE CORPS ATTACK DRONE TEAM /TEL: 703-784-5226// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  To announce the Fiscal Year 2026 (FY26) Competition-In-Arms Program (CIAP) regional Marine Corps Marksmanship Competitions (MCMCs) and Marine Corps Championships in accordance with the references. 2.  Situation.  For the past 115 years, the primary objective of the CIAP has been to stimulate interest and desire for self-improvement in marksmanship and to enhance proficiency within the Marine Corps in the use of individual small arms by refining precision and combat marksmanship skills through advanced marksmanship training and competition. MCMCs provide an opportunity to refine the skills that make a Marine lethal on the battlefield in accordance with the Marine Corps Rifle Marksmanship Lethality Capabilities-Based Assessment, reference (c), and the 2025 Marine Corps Lethality Report, reference (d).  While Marines today are more lethal than they have ever been, Marines always look for ways to become even more lethal, especially based on lessons learned from ongoing conflicts.  One of the foremost lessons from modern combat is the near-term potential to exponentially increase the lethality of the individual Marine, for relatively low cost, with first-person view (FPV) attack drones. For this reason and as outlined in references (e) and (f), the FY26 MCMCs will include training and competition in these capabilities. The Marine Corps Attack Drone Team (MCADT) will provide competitors intermediate and advanced armed FPV drone skills and then evaluate those skills during the competition.   3.  Mission.  During FY26, Weapons Training Battalion (WTBn) Quantico and other hosting units will conduct marksmanship competitions at designated locations, with both small-arms and FPV attack drones, in order to increase combat effectiveness and lethality for the Marine Corps Total Force. 4.  Execution 4.a.  Commander’s Intent 4.a.1. Purpose.  To increase combat effectiveness and lethality for the Marine Corps Total Force. 4.a.2.  Method.  The Marine Corps Shooting Team (MCST) and MCADT will teach precision and combat marksmanship skills, including armed FPV drone tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTP), and evaluate Marines’ performance via competition.  4.a.3.  Endstate.  The MCST and MCADT disseminate insights and lessons learned across the Total Force to maximize our Marines’ lethality and warfighting advantage. 4.b. Concept of Operations   4.b.1.  The MCST and MCADT coordinate and facilitate five regional competitions.  The competitions are held annually at: Marine Corps Base (MCB) Quantico, National Capital Region (NCR); MCB Camp Butler, Far East; MCB Hawaii, Pacific; MCB Camp Pendleton, West; and MCB Camp Lejeune, East. The Marine Corps Championship Match is held at MCB Quantico.   4.b.2.  Marksmanship competition participants will significantly enhance their lethality in the use of individual small arms by refining fundamental marksmanship skills, learning advanced marksmanship techniques, and overcoming mental and physical boundaries in a competitive environment. In addition to receiving advanced marksmanship training within the action shooting rifle and pistol disciplines, Marines attending the regional MCMCs will have the opportunity to learn night vision device marksmanship techniques and to accurately engage Tracked Mobile Infantry Targets (TMIT). Additionally, to expand on the growing precision marksmanship capability within every infantry battalion and littoral combat team battalion, a precision marksmanship match will also be held at each MCMC.   4.b.3.  FPV attack drone competitors will increase the lethality of their small units by enhancing the ability to operate armed FPV drones individually, with spotter small unmanned aircraft system teams, and with marksmanship competitors to set conditions for small arms engagements.   4.b.4.   WTBn Quantico will coordinate with regional hosting and supporting commands to execute the MCMCs. 4.b.5.  FY26 CIAP Schedule.   4.b.5.a.  MCMC NCR, 27 October-7 November 2025.   4.b.5.a.1.  Hosting Commander: Commanding General, Training Command.   4.b.5.a.2.  Hosting Unit: WTBn Quantico.   4.b.5.a.3.  Registration NLT: 24 October 2025.   4.b.5.a.4.  Live-fire training days: 27 October – 7 November 2025.   4.b.5.a.5.  Awards ceremony: 7 November 2025. 4.b.5.b.  MCMC Far East, 1 - 12 December 2025.   4.b.5.b.1.  Hosting Commander: Commanding General, MCB Camp Smedley D. Butler.   4.b.5.b.2.  Hosting Unit: Formal Marksmanship Training Center, Marine Corps Installations Pacific aboard Camp Hansen, Okinawa.   4.b.5.b.3.  Registration NLT: 28 November 2025.   4.b.5.b.4.  Live-fire training days: 1 - 11 December 2025.   4.b.5.b.5.  Awards ceremony: 12 December 2025. 4.b.5.c.  MCMC Pacific, 5 - 16 January 2026.   4.b.5.c.1.  Hosting Commander: Commanding Officer, MCB Hawaii.   4.b.5.c.2.  Hosting Unit: Pu'uloa Range Training Facility.  4.b.5.c.3.  Registration NLT: 2 January 2026.   4.b.5.c.4.  Live-fire training days: 5 - 15 January 2026.   4.b.5.c.5.  Awards ceremony: 16 January 2026. 4.b.5.d.  MCMC West, 2 - 13 February 2026.   4.b.5.d.1. Hosting Commander: Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations West - MCB Camp Pendleton.   4.b.5.d.2.  Hosting Unit: Marksmanship Training Branch, Marine Corps Installations.   4.b.5.d.3.  Registration NLT: 30 January 2026.   4.b.5.d.4.  Live-fire training days: 2 - 12 February 2026.   4.b.5.d.5.  Awards ceremony: 13 February 2026. 4.b.5.e.  MCMC East, 23 February - 6 March 2026.   4.b.5.e.1.  Hosting Commander: Commanding General, Marine Corps Installations East - MCB Camp Lejeune.   4.b.5.e.2.  Hosting Unit: WTBN, MCB Camp Lejeune.   4.b.5.e.3.  Registration NLT: 20 February 2026.   4.b.5.e.4.  Live-fire training days: 23 February - 5 March 2026. 4.b.5.e.5.  Awards ceremony: 6 March 2026. 4.b.5.f.  Marine Corps Championships, 13 – 24 April 2026.   4.b.5.f.1.  Hosting Commander: Commanding General, Training and Education Command.   4.b.5.f.2.  Hosting Unit: WTBn Quantico   4.b.5.f.3.  Registration NLT: 6 April 2026.   4.b.5.f.4.  Live-fire training days: 13 - 23 April 2026.   4.b.5.f.5.  Award ceremony: 24 April 2026. 4.b.5.g.  Inter-Service Rifle Championships, 1-12 June 2026 (tentative).  4.b.5.g.1.  Hosting Commander: Commanding General, Training Command.   4.b.5.g.2.  Hosting Unit: WTBn Quantico.   4.b.5.g.3.  Registration NLT: 30 May 2026.   4.b.5.g.4.  Live-fire training days: 1 - 11 June 2026.   4.b.5.g.5.  Award ceremony: 12 June 2026. 4.c.  Tasks 4.c.1.  WTBn Quantico.  No later than two weeks after the release of this message, provide the overall Letter of Instruction (LOI) with key planning events for the conduct of the FY26 competition season. 4.c.2.  Regional hosting units.  Serve as the lead planners and executing agents for respective match locations and publish the regional LOI no less than 90 days prior to execution. Regional hosting unit specifications will be detailed in the FY26 CIAP LOI. 4.d.  Coordinating Instructions 4.d.1.  Maximum participation increases the number of highly skilled and lethal marksmen across the Marine Corps.  Commanders from across the Total Force are encouraged to support individual and team entries. Quotas are managed by the hosting command based on range capacity and availability.  4.d.2.  The FY26 CIAP LOI will provide the remaining details on individual eligibility, team construct, equipment, and other information. 4.d.3.  The Marine Corps Championships, from 13 - 24 April 2026 at WTBn Quantico, will consist of an array of individual shooting disciplines, FPV attack drone profiles, and team competition.   4.d.3.a.  Marines who place in the top 10-percent at their respective MCMC will receive an invite to participate in the Marine Corps Championships. The Captain of the MCST and/or MCADT will send “by-name” invitations to the Marine’s commanding officers and senior enlisted advisors. The MCST and MCADT will provide more detailed reporting instructions once a Marine is approved to attend. 4.d.3.b. Marines who demonstrate maturity, professionalism, and exceptional marksmanship talent at the Marine Corps Championships will receive an invitation from the Team Captain, MCST and/or MCADT to serve as a summer augment. Summer augments to the MCST and/or MCADT will further compete while representing the Marine Corps in state, regional, national, and inter-service matches from April through August 2026. Length of TAD orders are negotiable between commanding officers but will not exceed the fiscal year. 4.d.3.c.  Summer augments will be assigned to the MCST and/or MCADT effective immediately following the conclusion of the Marine Corps Championships. Due to budget limitations, summer augments will not be funded to return to their parent command until the conclusion of the summer shooting season.   4.d.4.  Reference (a) will serve as the foundation for planning, awards issuance, and team construct. The MCST has also developed an Action Shooting Rule Book to ensure all MCMCs are fair, safe, and consistent. The MCADT will use similar evaluation methods for the competitions. Questions specific to any of the MCMCs should be directed to the POCs. 5.  Administration and Logistics. When complete, WTBn will post the FY26 CIAP LOI and all references for the MCST and MCADT on the below sites. The public sites for the teams are also listed: 5.a.  MCST Public Site will have the master documents to include the FY26 CIAP LOI and enclosures titled “FY26 CIAP Schedule and Coordinating Instructions”. Download document at https://www.wtbn.marines.mil/Units/Advance-Marksmanship-Training -Company/Marine-Corps-Shooting-Team/#tab/information-downloads 5.b.  Other useful sites. 5.b.1.  MCST SharePoint:  https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/ TECOM_WTBN/wtbnteams/SitePages/Home.aspx 5.b.2.  MCADT Public Site:  https://www.wtbn.marines.mil/Units/ Headquarters-Company/Marine-Corp-Attack-Drone-Team/ 5.b.3.  MCADT SharePoint:  https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/ TECOM_WTBN/MCADT/ https://usmc.sharepoint-mil.us/sites/TECOM_WTBN/wtbnteams/ SitePages/Home.aspx 5.c.  The MCST will continue to post updated information on its social media accounts:  Facebook, USMC Shooting Team; Instagram, usmcshootingteam. 6.  Command and Signal. 6.a.  Command.  CO, WTBn-Quantico is the Team Captain for the MCST and MCADT and has the authority to establish rules and standards for Service competition in accordance with the references. 6.b.  Signal. 6.b.1.  This MARADMIN expires on 30 September 2026. 6.b.2.  Release authorized by Lieutenant General Benjamin T. Watson, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//