The Marine Corps Shooting Team hosted the Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Pacific at Marine Corps Base Hawaii, from January 23 to January 31, 2025. 

 Throughout the competition Pacific Marines, Sailors and officers with the Honolulu Police Department trained and competed for a week for the opportunity to be invited to the Marine Corps Marksmanship Championship at Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia.  

While the event is a competition, the true goal of MCMC-PAC is to advance the lethality of the Corps and build camaraderie across a multitude of experience and backgrounds. 

“My favorite part is getting to see the shooters grow and develop as marksmen, as well as Marines,” said Sgt. Dylan Kelley, an instructor and competitor with the Marine Corps Shooting Team, “We’re giving the Marines an opportunity to come out here, compete against their peers, compete against fellow Marines and give them a chance to see where they are at.” 

Kelley instructed approximately 72 shooters throughout the competition. Those shooters ranged from first time competitors to veteran shooters, all with various capabilities with their weapon system.  

“It takes the ‘Every Marine a Rifleman’ and actually makes it a true statement,” says Master Gunnery Sgt. Derrick R. Stanfield, intelligence chief, G-2, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Pacific, and competitor since 2012. “It applies a lethality factor.” 

Throughout the event, competitors participated in three training days, one individual pistol match, consisting of four stages, and two individual rifle matches, both consisting of two stages. Following the individual matches, the teams battled it out in a team pistol and rifle match. 

Winners of each match not only get invited to compete in championships but were awarded both trophies and medals for their accomplishments.  

“Two years ago, I was lucky enough to place bronze,” said Capt. Tyler Ashton, commander, Headquarters and Service Company, Headquarters and Service Battalion, MARFORPAC, and team captain of MARFORPAC’s rifle team, “Getting a group of 22 Marines out of the office to come out and shoot is important for morale and skills, and I am happy to be a part of it.” 

After all the rounds were scored and the aroma of gunpowder floated towards the horizon, the Marine Corps Shooting Team awarded the victors.  

Staff Sgt. Christian Cachola, operations chief, Marine Corps Shooting team, won gold for rifle with an overall combined score of 188.24% 

Maj. Tanner Grover, Oceana planner, G-2, MARFORPAC, won gold for pistol with an overall score of 100% 

The first-place rifle team trophy was awarded to 1st Lt. Xavier Chido, aviation supply officer, Gunnery Sgt. Ger Lao, basic engineer equipment mechanic, Sgt. Isiah Crossguns, hygiene equipment operator, Sgt. Rodolfo Vergara, systems technician and Lance Cpl. Carlos Dowdney, systems technician, all with Marine Aircraft Group 24 with an overall score of 70.90%. 

 The first-place pistol team trophy was awarded to Maj. Tanner Grover, Capt. Tyler Ashton, Master Gunnery Sgt. Derrick Stanfield, Sgt. Ty Countryman, instrumentalist, and Cpl. Andrew Crume, Instrumentalist, all with MARFORPAC, with an overall score of 100%. 

“Even though I didn’t medal, I feel like I have improved exponentially as shooter.” said Cpl. Matthew Benfield, combat graphic specialists, MARFORPAC, and first-time competitor, “This is an amazing opportunity that all Marines should take to not only improve their shooting but learn from the very best.”