ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (March 3, 2006) -- Walking into the La Cueva High School Air Rifle Team spaces, one notices a table behind the firing line. On that table, the Marine Corps Junior Reserve Officer Training Corps displays the most recent awards from a range of different disciplines. From physical fitness, to color guard and close order drill to two types of air rifles, the program has excelled at all the MCJROTC program has to offer. Of all the awards, none is held in higher regard than the 2005 National Air Rifle Championship.

Since the program began in 1996, the senior Marine instructor has held certain emphasis on shooting for his cadets.

There is a direct correlation in a students shooting and his grades, said Maj. Bill Barker, who has run the program since its inception. Shooting requires a lot of concentration, so it is no surprise that their grades improve as there rifle score increases.

La Cueva's program began after Barker, who had been an instructor at a neighboring high school, was asked to start a similar program at La Cueva.

We were aiming for just 40 cadets to start the program, but at the beginning of the year we had 80 show up, said the Bellingham, Wash., native. The next year we hit our required number of 100 cadets and now we field a 150-cadet strong program.

Barker's philosophy revolves around the belief that if you get the high achieving students in your program the rest will follow. Now the program boasts the distinction of sending more students to military service academies than any school in the United States.

Unlike a core subject teacher, who only get to see a student for one year, we get ninth graders and see them for four years, Barker said. When we see them go, they leave here leaning forward into the world due to the confidence they have gained through the program.

Although a bonus to have many students go on to successful lives and careers, Barker continued, our biggest successes are the students who are barely getting through school and after joining the program, they get some direction and improve their academics, graduate and have a chance at something better for themselves.

The thriving shooting program that Barker developed at La Cueva didn't just happen over night. While an instructor at Eldorado High School, Barker had a cadet make it to the National Shooting competition. Barker took the time to learn from other successful programs and coaches during the competitions.

When I first started taking students to competitions, I didn't know a lot about air rifles specifically, Barker said. I started getting books and using what other coaches had done for their teams and we got better.

After improving his squad, Barker began hosting camps for shooters and coaches in the summers. You'll never get better unless you compete against better competition.

“We teach clinics every year for the incoming freshmen, said Senior Sam Vaughn, the cadet commanding officer and member of the rifle team. We use the clinics to gain interest in our rifle team. Being on this team takes a lot of time and effort so we try to find newcomers who are willing to put forth the effort it takes to succeed at shooting.

The students that Barker prefers are the ones who have never shot any type of weapon before.

These kids don't have any bad habits, Barker said. I,ve had freshman who have never shot before they started high school and have gone all the way to nationals by the end of their first year on the team.

The students understand what they gain from shooting and are anxious to get involved in the program.

Being on this team builds determination and helps the shooters by instilling discipline, Vaughn said.

I like being apart of the shooting team because we get to travel to the different regional, state and national competitions, said Danielle McCarthy, a second year member of the rifle team. I wanted to join the team to gain some discipline while getting used to performing under stress.

Year after year the La Cueva team has been at the leading edge of high school air rifle shooting. With members of the team practicing before, during and after school, the La Cueva MCJROTC shooting team is always preparing for their next competition and making their team better.

We have been successful, but what is amazing is how lucky you get when you practice a lot, Barker said.

Source: www.usmc.mil (story by Cpl Alex Herron of 8th Marine Corps District)