MCRD/ERR PARRIS ISLAND, S.C. -- The Parris Island Rifle and Pistol Team competed in the Marine Corps Eastern Division Championship and returned home with first place in both rifle and pistol competitions.The rifle and pistol team, admired for its precision and exceptional shooting skills, traveled to Marine Corps Base Camp Lejuene, N.C., to compete against a myriad of other Marine Corps rifle and pistol teams."The competition was stiff," said Chief Warrant Officer Mark Clark, officer-in-charge of the team. "I was nervous about the team."According to Clark, the pressure was not only from the competition, but from the Marine marksmen themselves. "[The Parris Island Rifle and Pistol Team] represents the entire Depot; we train recruits to become Marines through marksmanship," Clark said. "We are the source of excellence. What message would we be putting out if we did not do well?""The success of the team is important," he added."Parris Island predominately wins," Clark concluded. "The teams change from year to year, and a lot of practice is involved, which ultimately helps in the long run."During the competition, the Marines from Parris Island found out just how good the other teams were. The Parris Island team edged out the Marine Corps Security Forces team in the pistol match by three points and it took a late surge to beat them by 10 points in the rifle competition. Sergeant Michael Mulane, a tower non-commissioned officer at Starlite Range, who is a fifth award rifle expert, competed in the competition and admitted to the struggle the Parris Island team faced against the Marine Corps Security Forces team."Marine Corps Security Forces had two very good pistol shooters," he described. "We knew we had to bring our "A" game. Luckily, we won the pistol competition by three points and earned the Edson pistol team trophy."Mulane said shooting from the standing position and shooting from the 500- yard-line are strong points of the Parris Island Rifle and Pistol Team. "At the 500 yard range mark, [the Marine Corps Security Forces rifle and pistol team] inexperience started to show, and Parris Island took the lead."Fortunately, the rifle and pistol team had practiced diligently, which helped them overcome the adversity, added Clark.The experience helped the Parris Island Rifle and Pistol Team ultimately win the Elliot rifle team trophy."We have a hard training schedule," said Clark. "We start practicing during the intramural tournaments when the Parris Island Marines shoot in friendly competition."Clark said the team's practices consist of working on all areas of shooting. All members of the rifle and pistol must be efficient with both weapons."It is a great experience to be on the team," Mulane said. "There is a great amount of camaraderie. A couple of times when I got down in the dumps, the team would bring me back up, and on the flip side, if ever I got too cocky, the team was sure to bring me back down to earth."