MARINE CORPS AIR STATION MIRAMAR, Calif. -- The old adage, “Every Marine is a Rifleman,” is the core of every Marine’s warrior ethos. Once a year, Marines requalify with the service rifle.
The Marines responsible for maintaining these weapons are small arms repairers and technicians, known to most as armorers.
Armorers assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron (HHS) at Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, California, are responsible for securing, issuing and maintaining gear and weapons for HHS Marines. They are responsible for every weapon in their armory and must maintain accountability of those weapons at all times.
“Marines are issued weapons cards that correspond with a weapon’s serial number,” said Sgt. Joseph Patterson, the noncommissioned officer in charge of the HHS armory. “You turn in the card to draw a weapon for a range or duty.”
In addition to normal duties as an armorer, HHS is tasked to select one armorer to serve as the onsite armorer at the Carlos Hathcock Range Complex at MCAS Miramar.
At the range, the armorer ensures all shooters have a functioning weapon and scope and is the only person that can drop a Marine from the range due to a serious weapon malfunction.
Shooters learn an immediate action drill, a method used to quickly repair several malfunctions that occur on the firing line. The breakdown of the immediate action drill involves tapping the magazine, racking the charging handle to the rear, sending the bolt back to its original position and attempting to resume fire. Applying the “tap, rack, bang” technique while on the firing line allows shooters to clear a stoppage as it occurs.
“We teach shooters to use a method called immediate action for most malfunctions,” said Lance Cpl. Anthony Bartelmie, the Hathcock Range armorer. “If they are unable to fix the problem, then it is my responsibility to take a look at the weapon.”
The HHS armory contains M16A4 service rifles, M4A1 service rifles and M9 service pistols, which the squadron uses for ranges and personnel serving duty under arms. The armorers perform required maintenance on these weapons to ensure they meet serviceability standards and are ready for issue.
Maintaining serviceability requires an immense knowledge of each weapon system and the ability to diagnose potential problems.
“Making sure every weapon we issue is serviceable is one of our most important responsibilities,” said Bartelmie. “Marines depend on us to do our job so they can go out and do their job.”
Becoming a small arms repairer and technician requires Marines to attend a three-month long Small Arms Repairer Course located at Fort Lee, Virginia. At the course, Marines learn the necessary skills to completely disassemble and repair weapons.
“We are directly responsible for every small arms weapon in the Marine Corps,” said Patterson.
According to Bartelmie, the knowledge and certifications he has as an armorer can often be applied to employment in the civilian sector.
“The skills I possess transfer to becoming a gunsmith or an armorer at a recreational gun range,” said Bartelmie. “I enjoy the hands-on aspect of this job. It’s interesting to see how a weapon comes together to fire correctly.”
According to Patterson, armorers are directly responsible for every Marine’s ability to train with a rifle and qualify in marksmanship.
Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock, the founder of the Marine Corps Scout Sniper Program once said, “The most deadly thing on a battlefield is one well-aimed shot.”
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