A year ago, the U.S. Marine Corps selected the VCOG 1-8x28 optic from Trijicon as the new Squad Common Optic (SCO). The deal is big US$64,000,000 and with the company starting to deliver the SCO, the Marines can now lay their hands on it and mount on their M27 IARs as well as their M4 and M4A1 carbines.

Initially the SCO will supplement the Rifle Combat Optic (RCO) and the Squad Day Optic (SDO), eventually replacing these as more of the SCO gets delivered to the Marines and the latter optics get worn out.

“The Squad Common Optic provides an improved day optic to infantry and infantry-like communities, including reconnaissance units” said Tom Dever, project officer for Combat Optics at MCSC in a press release from the Marine Corps Systems Command (MCSC).  He added that, “It’s a system that improves situational awareness and decreases engagement times, greatly benefiting Marines.”

Compared to the fixed magnification of the RCO, the SCO provides variable power, allowing the Marine to identify targets and objects at a further distance. The SCO 1-8x28 offers Universal MRAD and MOA reticles illuminated with 11 levels of brightness by a single AA battery and can be easily adjusted for windage and elevation. The integrated dial fin makes it easier to go through the magnification settings.  It includes an integrated mount for easier mounting and removal without the need for scope rings.

According to Maj. Kyle Padilla, MCSC’s optics team lead and an infantry officer, the SCO is agnostic to the round and weapon system, which provides additional flexibility for Marines. This allows for movement to a different host weapon and accommodates the employment of the M855, M855A1 or future ammunition.

“It’s all about making an accurate decision,” said Padilla. “The SCO gives squad leaders or individual riflemen more time to make a decision to eliminate that threat if necessary.”

The system is also easy to assemble. The SCO includes a mount that prevents Marines from needing to carry tools to remove or exchange the optic, lightening the load for Marines.

“If you want to mount it onto the rail of the weapon, you don’t need a wrench to tighten anything,” said Boughton. “You just need your hands.”

The Marines raved about the benefits of the SCO and its improvement over the existing system during the evaluatiosn. CWO4 David Tomlinson, MCSC’s infantry weapons officer said, “Being able to shoot farther, identify targets at greater ranges and be more accurate will make them more lethalr. “Marines have expressed excitement over this capability.”

CWO4 Gerald Eggers, the infantry weapons officer at The Basic School, participated in the system’s fielding in January, aboard Marine Corps Base Quantico, Virginia. He commended the scope’s variable power magnification as well as its ability to be employed with different ammunition and weapons.

“Marines with M27s will greatly benefit with this scope,” said Eggers. “I certainly believe the SCO fielding is a step in the right direction.”

As stipulated in the contract Trijicon aims to deliver 19,000 units of the SCO by the end of 2023.

Photos: Chief Warrant Officer 4 Dave Tomlinson, infantry weapons officer at Marine Corps Systems Command with the SCO mounted on the M27 IAR on Feb. 10 at Marine Corps Base Quantico (Matt Gonzales/Marine Corps)