2006 Small Arms Firing Schools
Open for Entry Now

By Gary Anderson, DCM

The 2006 Small Arms Firing Schools (SAFS) will again provide outstanding marksmanship instruction to nearly 1000 students. This year, however, SAFS students also will be able to compete in two exciting new matches. SAFS instruction provided by Army Pistol and Rifle Teams and supported by coaching from Army, Air Force, Marine, Navy and Coast Guard team members has long been regarded as some of the best available anywhere. This year, this great instruction will be accompanied by a new M9 Pistol EIC Match at the end of the Pistol SAFS and the M16 EIC Match at the end of the Rifle SAFS.

The official program for the 2006 schools is now posted on the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.com/NM/SAFS.htm and the CMP Competitor Tracker system is now open to accept on-line entries. You can enter either the 2006 Pistol or Rifle SAFS on-line now. Open the “Upcoming Matches” page of Competitor Tracker at http://clubs.odcmp.com/matches. Then click on “Information” for either the 2006 National Trophy Pistol Matches & SAFS or the 2006 National Trophy Rifle Matches & Rifle SAFS. From there, follow instructions to register. You can also enter the 2006 National Trophy Pistol or Rifle Matches through the same on-line entry system.

Clubs or organizations that want multiple copies of the SAFS program to distribute to their members or new shooters can download the program from the CMP web site and print as many copies as they wish. Copies of the 2006 SAFS program in the form of a printed brochure also are available from CMP Competitions on request (contact safs@odcmp.com).

The Pistol SAFS will take place at Camp Perry on Monday and Tuesday, 10-11 July. All school students need to register on Sunday, 9 July, so that USAMU instructors can squad them and they can be sure to be in attendance for the safety instruction that starts the next morning at 8:00 AM. Classroom instruction by the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit will take place in the Camp Perry Theater. That afternoon, students will move to the range where they will meet their coaches and be issued M9 pistols and ammo. SAFS coaches come from military pistol teams representing the Army, Air Force, Marine Corps, Navy and Coast Guard Active, National Guard and Reserve teams. Pistol practice firing that afternoon will include slow, timed and rapid fire shooting at 25 yards.

To learn more about the Small Arms Firing Schools and special EIC matches and to submit your entry for the 2006 schools, check these web site postings. For preliminary information on the 2006 Small Arms Firing Schools, the new M16 Pistol EIC Match and the M16 Rifle EIC Match: http://www.odcmp.org/0306/default.asp?page=PISTOLEIC. For the new 2006 CMP Competition Rules: http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf. For the official program of the 2006 Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools: http://www.odcmp.com/NM/SAFS.htm.  To enter the 2006 Pistol Small Arms Firing School, M9 EIC Match and the National Trophy Pistol Matches: http://clubs.odcmp.com/matches, then click on “Information” for the 2006 National Trophy Pistol Matches & SAFS. To enter the 2006 Rifle Small Arms Firing School, M16 EIC Match and the National Trophy Rifle Matches, including the Garand, Springfield and new M1 Carbine Matches: http://clubs.odcmp.com/matches, then click on “Information” for the 2006 National Trophy Rifle Matches & SAFS.

The new M9 Pistol EIC Match promises to be a unique addition to the school. It will be fired on Tuesday morning with the M9 service pistols that are used in the school. This new “Special EIC Match” was developed by the CMP and U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit after the M16 EIC Match proved to be so popular with service rifle shooters. Special EIC Matches offer competitors who have not earned any EIC credit points a chance to compete for 4-point “introductory legs” that are awarded to the top 10% of these shooters. Competitors may count no more than one 4-point leg towards the 30 points that are required to earn a Distinguished Badge.

Detailed rules for the new M9 Pistol EIC Match and all other 2006 National Matches events are now available in the new 2006 CMP Competition Rules. The new rules are posted at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Rulebook.pdf. More information on the new M9 Pistol EIC Match also was posted in the CMP’s First Shot On-Line earlier this month at http://www.odcmp.org/0306/default.asp?page=PISTOLEIC.

The 2006 Rifle SAFS will take place at Camp Perry on Saturday and Sunday, 29-30 July. Rifle SAFS students must register on Friday, 28 July. Their safety briefing and classroom instruction will begin early the next morning at 7:00 AM. That afternoon, rifle students will meet their coaches and complete a 200 yard range practice sequence that will include zero firing as well as slow and rapid fire exercises in prone, sitting and standing.

The M16 Rifle EIC match will be fired on Sunday morning, 30 July. The M16 EIC match will be fired with SAFS rack grade M16 rifles and 5.56mm match ammo with 69 grain bullets. The M16 course of fire starts with five sighters and 10 shots for record in prone slow fire, 10 shots rapid fire prone in 60 seconds, 10 shots rapid fire sitting in 60 seconds and 10 shots slow fire prone, all at 200 yards on the SR target.

Competitors in this match who have not earned any EIC credit points will also compete for 4-point “introductory legs” that will be awarded to the top 10% of these shooters. Providing range space is available, shooters who are Distinguished or already have earned EIC points can fire in the match, but they will not be eligible to earn EIC points.

I attended both small arms schools this summer and I can't wait to sign up again next year. It was a great experience and the most organized event I've ever attended. The instructors and class material were outstanding. Even though I've been shooting over 50 years you always learn something important and helpful. Please thank everyone involved in the schools for their hard work in making this a huge success. I’m looking forward to info on next year’s schedule.    DB, 2005 SAFS Student

Last year, 580 total students attended the Rifle SAFS. The range capacity for the 2006 SAFS will be a maximum of 700 students. Since many shooters who do not yet have EIC points may be interested in attending the school this year in order to shoot in the M16 EIC Match, anyone who wishes to attend the school is encouraged to enter as soon as they know they will attend. This year, payment of the $40.00 SAFS registration fee will be required at the time of registration. Anyone who registers will receive a full refund less a $10.00 processing fee if they must cancel and submit their request at least 30 days in advance. Late cancellation penalties will apply after that.

Through the years, many competitive shooters have used their attendance in a Small Arms Firing School to get their start as a competitive shooter. Many of them continue to come back to the school year after year because with such high quality instruction, there is always something new to learn. If you are interested in being part of a great pistol or rifle marksmanship school this year, check out the 2006 Pistol and Rifle SAFS and register now.