Advanced
Rifle
MARSOC Qual — Stage 14
Used in: Military Qualification
Source: USMC MARSOC (Marine Raiders)
5s
Par Time
10–3 yd
Distance
6
Rounds
1
Reps
6
Total Rounds
Stage 14 is the Box Drill — the final and most complex stage of the MARSOC qualification. Advancing from 10 to 3 yards, fire 2 body shots into Target A, swing to Target B for 2 body shots, then 1 head shot on Target B, and finish with 1 head shot on Target A — 6 rounds within 5 seconds. The “box” refers to the shot pattern: body A → body B → head B → head A.
This stage tests everything the qualification has built toward: movement, multi-target engagement, body-to-head transitions, and the discipline to reverse your swing direction mid-string. The trap is the reverse swing — after going A→B for body shots, you must go B→A for head shots. Many shooters lose the head shot on A because their mental map breaks during the reverse. Add the body-to-head precision shift on top of the reverse swing, and this becomes the most demanding 5 seconds in the qualification.
Range Setup
Setup
Two Marine E silhouette (or USPSA/IPSC) targets side by side at 10 yards. Carbine loaded, on safe, in low ready. Vest and helmet worn. Shot timer set to 5-second par. Clear lane for forward movement to 3 yards.
Scoring
MARSOC scoring: A zone = 2 pts, B/C = 1, D/miss = 0. Max for stage: 12 pts (6 rounds — 2 body A + 2 body B + 1 head B + 1 head A). Highest-value stage in the qualification. Total qualification max: 100 pts, pass at 80 pts.
Tips
Commit the sequence to muscle memory: A-body, A-body, swing right, B-body, B-body, shift up, B-head, swing left, A-head. The body-to-head transition happens ON Target B, not during the swing back to A. When you swing back to A, you should already be at head height.
Progression
Practice the box pattern (body A → body B → head B → head A) at slow speed until the sequence is automatic. The reverse swing (B head → A head) is where most shooters lose time or accuracy. Drill it separately. Goal: 12/12 pts under 4.5 seconds.