The Marine Corps are in the process of rolling out its new combat based pistol training program. The new program marks the first change in handgun training within the Marines since the 1980′s.
The current, legacy program, focuses on slow fire accuracy. The new program will focus on faster target acquisition, reloading and a new shooting stance.

In one stage of the legacy ELP Program, Marines were given 10 minutes to work through 15 shots at 25 yards. The new CPP training blocks require personnel to work through stages at seven, 15 and 25 yards, going through 40 rounds in a series of increments timed at between five and 12 seconds.

The program hopes to have Marines more prepared to use their sidearms under combat conditions, rather than the ideal range conditions that current training reinforces.
The new training also includes shooting from the isosceles stance, which has proven to be a popular and effective stance outside of military applications.

While this program will not be required until late 2014, many units are moving to implement the program early, possibly within the next couple of months.