I have. Just about everything you stated above is incorrect. I'm an old Seabee and we qualify side-by-side with marines on marine gun ranges. Seabees must qualify with a rifle every 2 years, marines must qualify every year.

First off, all marines, hell even all Seabees, are trained to be sharpshooters. Actually marines are trained to be expert rifleman. All marines. They spend 4-6 weeks every year being trained by the best marksmen in America. In those 4-6 weeks they spend 8-12 hours a day learning shooting techniques, practicing these techniques, and shooting hundreds of aimed rounds every day.

During these weeks of rifle qualifications all other training ceases. Rifle qualification is a marine's #1 priority. If you don't score at least as a marksman you are discharged from the Marine Corp. That is shooting from 200-500 yard ranges with open sites at man sized targets. And I'm telling you this not easy. And so far from "If you can barely hit anything you are given a "Marksmen" badge. If you hit a few more then you get "Sharpshooter" as to be laughable.

Anybody who achieves Sharpshooter qualification as a marine rifleman is not to be trifled with nor denigrated as a lousy shot as you implied above.