Matt and Phil go way back. First Battalion Fourth Marines, team leaders together, two deployments as snipers. They met in 2009 and started working together in 2010. Phil calls him "the perfect half of me" because Matt is the straight-up, no-nonsense balance to Phil's more diplomatic approach.
Matt can be abrasive. He'll tell you that himself. He's passionate about the craft and he understands what it takes to perform at a high level. He's the kind of guy who doesn't need constant check-ins. Years can pass without talking, then he reaches out to ask your opinion on something, and you pick up right where you left off.
Seventeen years in the Marine Corps, thirteen in the sniper community. Matt served as Chief Instructor at Scout Sniper Instructor School in Quantico, Chief Instructor at II EOTG where he led the Urban and Aerial Sniper Courses, and Primary Marksmanship Instructor at Scout Sniper Course West. He also teaches SOF level 1 Sniper Courses and trains with FBI HRT. During his time on the West Coast, his program had the highest marksmanship pass rates in the sniper pipeline.
As a co-founder of The Cadre, Matt leads the North Carolina training operations. He teaches the same way he learned: direct, no nonsense, focused on what actually makes you a better shooter. You'll get honest feedback, and you'll get better. That's the deal.
Specialties
The Centerline Moment
In 2016, Matt was dry firing at home with a buddy. They took overhead photos of each other behind the rifle and realized they were both crooked. Matt moved the buttstock from the pocket of his shoulder to center line, right on top of his collar bone. The next day at the schoolhouse, he tried it on a student rifle during zero. "After the sights settled, my reticle landed right back on that pasty at 100 yards. I had never understood recoil management until that moment." It's now a core part of how The Cadre teaches rifle fundamentals.
Featured Video
EP 13: Redefining Precision Rifle Fundamentals - Matt, Phil, and John discuss how their understanding of shooting positions has evolved.
Train with Matt
Matt runs our North Carolina courses. If you want straight talk and proven fundamentals from someone who's been there, check the schedule.