CAMP PENDLETON, CA The U.S. Marine Corps has rolled out a next-generation marksmanship training system that combines artificial intelligence, smart targets, and real-time analytics to help Marines refine their shooting skills faster and more efficiently. The system, officially named the Adaptive Marksmanship Enhancement Network (AMEN), was unveiled this week at Camp Pendleton as part of a broader initiative to modernize training across the Corps. Unlike traditional static ranges, AMEN uses AI-driven smart targets capable of detecting shot placement, reaction time, and even shooter fatigue. Each target is equipped with embedded sensors and advanced imaging that feed data back to a central system. The AI then evaluates patterns in accuracy, consistency, and stress response, allowing trainers to deliver personalized feedback to every Marine. Early testing has shown that Marines using the system improve their precision and speed by up to 30 percent within the first two weeks of training. What sets AMEN apart is its adaptability. The system creates dynamic shooting scenarios that mimic real-world combat situations, such as rapidly changing cover, moving targets, and low-visibility conditions. Instead of static firing drills, Marines must adjust their stance, timing, and decision-making under pressure. Trainers can also program the system to replicate specific combat environments, from dense urban terrain to desert landscapes, ensuring that units prepare for missions tailored to their likely deployments. Marine Corps officials emphasized that AMEN is not just a tool for individual skill building but also a way to enhance unit-level cohesion. The system allows entire squads to train simultaneously, tracking their performance as a collective unit. Data from multiple shooters can be analyzed to identify communication gaps, timing mismatches, and tactical weaknesses. This group-level analysis represents a shift from evaluating Marines solely as individual marksmen to assessing them as integrated elements of combat teams. The Corps has also highlighted cost savings as a major benefit. Traditional live-fire exercises require extensive ammunition and range maintenance, often limiting the frequency of practice sessions. By blending live ammunition with AI-assisted dry-fire simulations, AMEN reduces overall costs without compromising readiness. According to initial estimates, training expenses could be cut by nearly 40 percent, freeing up resources for other operational needs. Feedback from Marines who tested AMEN has been overwhelmingly positive. Many noted that the instant, data-driven feedback shortened the learning curve and helped them identify weaknesses they might not have noticed in a conventional range environment. Some did caution, however, that no simulation can fully replace the sensory and psychological stress of live combat. Marine officials agreed, stressing that AMEN is designed as a supplement, not a substitute, for live-fire training. Defense analysts see AMEN as part of a broader Pentagon push toward leveraging artificial intelligence in training and operations. Similar systems are being tested by NATO allies, and the Marine Corps hopes to lead the way in refining how data-driven training can integrate with battlefield demands. As the system expands to other installations in 2026, Marines across the country will have access to a more individualized and technologically advanced training regimen.