Edward James Land, Jr. or Jim Land (1935) is a retired Marine Corps Officer who was instrumental in starting the Marine Scout-Sniper program.

Land was born in Lincoln Nebraska

Lincoln, Nebraska

The City of Lincoln is the capital and the second-most populous city of the US state of Nebraska. Lincoln is also the county seat of Lancaster County and the home of the University of Nebraska. Lincoln's 2010 Census population was 258,379....

 in 1935.

United States Marine Corps

He enlisted in the Marine Corps at age 17 in 1953. Land went on to become a Staff Sergeant and a Drill Instructor before attending Officer Candidate School in 1959. upon graduating OCS, Land was commissioned as a Second Lieutenant in the 4th Marine Regiment. As an officer, Land demonstrated an aptitude for competitive shooting and was selected for the Marine Corps Rifle Team.

In 1961 Land founded the first modern Sniper Course for the Marine Corps.

In Vietnam, Land was the Commanding Officer of Carlos Hathcock

Carlos Hathcock

Carlos Hathcock was a United States Marine Corps Gunnery Sergeant sniper with a service record of 93 confirmed kills. Hathcock's record and the extraordinary details of the missions he undertook made him a legend in the Marine Corps...

, whom he had trained in one of his early Sniper Courses.

After Vietnam, Land served as the USMC Marksmanship coordinator.

After military service

Land retired from the Marine Corps as a Major in 1977.

Land was elected as Secretary of the National Rifle Association

National Rifle Association

The National Rifle Association of America is an American non-profit 501 civil rights organization which advocates for the protection of the Second Amendment of the United States Bill of Rights and the promotion of firearm ownership rights as well as marksmanship, firearm safety, and the protection...

in 1994.