R 101854Z MAR 26 MARADMIN 095/26 MSGID/GENADMIN/DC T&E QUANTICO VA// SUBJ/FY26 COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP SYMPOSIUM (CMS) POST SYMPOSIUM MESSAGE// REF/A/MCO 3574.2M/6Apr2022// REF/B/MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CAMPAIGN PLAN// REF/C/CMS CHARTER/NOVEMBER 2021// NARR/REF A IS THE MARINE CORPS ORDER FOR THE MARINE CORPS COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAMS (MCCMP).  REF B IS THE MARINE CORPS MARKSMANSHIP CAMPAIGN PLAN.  REF C IS THE CMS CHARTER.//  POC/J. C. GRAYEK/GUNNER (CWO4)/DIRECTOR, MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SECTION (MPMS), WTBN QUANTICO, TEL: 703 784-5275/EMAIL: [email protected]// POC/M. L. PAUGH/GYSGT/SNCOIC, MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM MANAGEMENT SECTION (MPMS), WTBN QUANTICO, TEL: 703 784-5450/EMAIL: [email protected]// GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  From 24 to 26 September 2025, Weapons Training Battalion (WTBn) Quantico hosted the FY 2026 Combat Marksmanship Symposium (CMS).  The CMS offers a forum for the Total Force to identify and discuss issues and provide recommended solutions to improve combat marksmanship.  The CMS provides a single point to consolidate combat marksmanship issues and gives senior leadership an accurate picture of the Service’s current marksmanship state.  2.  The FY26 CMS convened working groups (WG) to discuss entry-level and annual marksmanship qualifications, the Advanced Precision Marksmanship Program (APM) Program of Instruction (POI), marksmanship instructor training continuum, future marksmanship training technologies, and the Competition-In-Arms Program (CIAP) with a focus on the new Marine Corps Attack Drone Competitions (MCADC). 3.  The Executive Steering Committee (ESC) brought forward the following items that Deputy Commandant, Training and Education (DC T&E) approved:  3.a.  Entry-Level Qualification Update.  WTBn-Quantico has fully integrated the Annual Rifle Qualification (ARQ) into The Basic School (TBS).  Weapons Field Training Battalion (WFTBn)-Parris Island and WFTBn-Edson Range have completed three Entry-Level Qualification (ELQ) pilots and one ELQ Hybrid pilot in FY25. WFTBn-Paris Island and WFTBn-Edson will continue ELQ evaluation through FY26 to refine ELT courses and propose a standardized course at the FY27 CMS targeting ARQ-equivalent qualification parity by FY29.  Assessment of the ELQ pilots will be a collaborative effort between WFTBn-Parris Island, WFTBn-Edson, WTBn-Quantico, and the Office of Naval Research, including a longitudinal assessment and evaluation of Marine ELQ performance from the Depots to associated marksmanship performance at the Schools of Infantry (SOI), and ultimately ARQ and Infantry Marksmanship Assessment in the Fleet Marine Force (FMF).  3.b.  Annual Marksmanship Qualification Updates 3.b.1.  Effective with this MARADMIN, Marines are authorized to use unit funded Using Unit Responsibility Item, M17 Romeo red dot optic, National Stock Number 1240-01-713-979 for Combat Pistol Program (CPP) qualifications. 3.b.2.  Effective with this MARADMIN, Marines in units that are issued Glock pistols from the USMC (e.g., MARSOC) or Department of State (e.g., MCESG) for unique duty requirements are authorized to use these pistols for CPP qualifications. 3.b.3.  Effective with this MARADMIN, Tables 3-6 courses of fire are changed to a Global Force Management (GFM) deployment requirement in lieu of annual requirements.  Units are required to execute Tables 3-6 during their GFM work-up cycle prior to their deployment.   3.b.4.  Effective with this MARADMIN, ARQ “Destroy” targets are no longer required for ARQ due to the white boundary suppress zone not counting in a Marine’s qualification score.  The ARQ “Drill” target, which does not have this suppress zone, may be used in lieu of the “Destroy” targets to reduce the costs and logistical requirements to execute ARQ.   3.b.5.  Effective with this MARADMIN, the SOIs will use the following Lethality Factor scoring metrics for the Infantry Marksmanship Assessment (IMA) and Rifleman Marksmanship Assessment (RMA).                         KDT   SBD  SOM  MRC Infantry Common Course  .38   .99  .98  2.7 Marine Combat Training  .33   N/A  .81  2.1