USMC Weapons Safety Rules | Treat Never Keep Keep
The Marine Corps takes safety very seriously. Especially when it comes to Firearm safety. All Marines, regardless of MOS, are basically trained, Rifleman. This training and emphasis on weapons safety begin in Boot Camp when you learn and memorize the Marine Corps 4 Weapon Safety Rules.
Marine Corps Recruits are issued an M16 rifle. This will be issued to you during your first week of training. Your familiarization with your rifle will begin immediately. Not only will you field-stip and clean your weapon regularly, and learn to assemble and disassemble, but you will also use it for close-order drill and carry it with you nearly everywhere you go.
Marine Recruits will learn the Marine Riflemens’ Creed and the 4 Weapons Safety Rules. You will spend weeks of Recruit Training learning about your rifle, familiarizing yourself with it, and memorizing the 4 Weapons Safety Rules before you even fire it.
Due to the fact that all Marines are basically trained riflemen, the training is extensive and the standards are consistently being reviewed and changed accordingly. All Marines, qualify at 200, 300, and 500 yards every year to ensure that their skills are sharp and that they can properly employ their weapons if need be. This all begins in Recruit Training.
Here are the USMC Weapons Safety Rules:
Marine Corps 4 Weapons Safety Rules
- Treat every weapon as if it were loaded
- Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot
- Keep your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire
- Keep the weapon on “SAFE” until you intend to fire
To easily memorize the USMC Weapons Safety Rules, memorize:
Treat. Never. Keep. Keep.
The 5th USMC Weapons Safety Rule that you’ll learn is: Know your target and what lies beyond it.
USMC Weapons Safety Rules Broken Down
Let’s now discuss each weapon safety rule and gain a better understanding of why each rule is important. Not all rules will apply to all weapons, but they serve as a guide to ensure the safety of yourself and others.
Weapons Safety Rule 1:
TREAT every weapon as if it were loaded.
Every weapon regardless of its caliber should be treated with the utmost respect. There are serious consequences of mishandling a firearm and as we discussed earlier, the Marine Corps places are very large emphasis on firearm safety. Plain and simple if you treat a weapon as a toy or mishandle one, the consequences are extremely severe and even deadly in certain cases.
“Treat every weapon as if it were loaded” is a rule that is in place to encourage the handler to always check to see if the weapon is loaded and ensure that there are no rounds in the chamber before.
If you take another Marine’s rifle, you should under no circumstance trust their word that the weapon is not loaded or unloaded. Not that they are lying, but it is your responsibility to check for yourself to eliminate any possibility of error. Any weapon in your possession, regardless of whether or not it’s yours, is your responsibility.
Weapons Safety Rule 2:
NEVER point a weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot.
Equally as important as rule 1, “Never point your weapon at anything you do not intend to shoot” means just that. Muzzle awareness means always being aware of what your muzzle is pointing at. You will, under any circumstance, point your weapon at another individual as a joke.
Weapons Safety Rule 3:
KEEP your finger straight and off the trigger until you’re ready to fire.
Keeping your finger off the trigger until you intend to shoot is another rule that is in place to prevent a negligent discharge. While your weapon should always remain on “Safe” (rule 4), there may be situations where your weapon safety switch gets hung up or bumped on gear or vehicles. Keeping your finger off of the trigger until you’re ready to fire will prevent any possibilities of a negligent discharge.
Weapons Safety Rule 4:
KEEP the weapon on safe until you intend to fire.
Your weapons should always remain on “Safe” until the moment you intend to shoot. Even on the rifle range, until you’re given the green light and the range is “hot” your weapons safety switch will remain on “Safe”.
While these are the USMC 4 Weapons Safety Rules, the last, and unofficial fifth USMC Weapons Safety Rule that you will learn is:
Weapons Safety Rule 5:
Know your target and what lies beyond it.
This is the fifth unofficial weapons safety rule. Knowing your target and what lies beyond it is important because not everything you shoot at will stop a bullet. Being aware of what you are shooting at will help eliminate the possibility of accidentally shooting something you didn’t intend on shooting…
Memorizing the 4 Weapons Safety Rules
While it is important and required to memorize your Weapons Safety Rules, you will not need to do so before you ship off to recruit training. Your Drill Instructors will ensure that you have them memorized while in boot camp. You will be required to recite them word for word. Just remember Treat. Never. Keep. Keep.
If you’re in the process of joining or already in the Delayed Entry Program and would like to start memorizing Basic Marine Corps Knowledge you can download the FREE Marine Corps Knowledge eBook here!
Thanks for stopping by!
Semper Fidelis,
Tony
Sergeant (Marine Corps Veteran)
For The Corps
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