For many years, one of the best ways for new shooters to learn sound pistol and rifle marksmanship skills and get started in service pistol and rifle target competition has been to attend a Small Arms Firing School at Camp Perry, Ohio during the National Matches. That opportunity is available again in 2007 and enrollment is now open. Shooters who want to attend a school this year are urged to get their entries in as soon as possible because the reduced number of military coaches who can attend the 2007 National Matches means there are limits on how many students can be accepted in both the pistol and rifle schools.

Small Arms Firing Schools (SAFS) focus on giving new shooters the knowledge, basic skills and practical range training they need to get started in competition target shooting. Over the years, thousands of competitors have gotten their start at one of these schools. Many also come back two or three or more times because instruction in the schools is so complete they learn new techniques each time they come. There also are many who attend SAFS because they just want to learn how to handle pistols or rifles safely or because being in a school taught by top-class military instructors where military pistols and rifles are fired is an exciting shooting sports adventure.

The schools are two-day events, but students are required to sign in at Camp Perry (In-Processing) on the day before each school starts. The first morning is dedicated to formal instruction that takes place in Camp Perry’s Hough Theater. Members of the U. S. Army Service Pistol or Service Rifle Teams teach these classes. The instruction begins with safety briefings that all students must attend before they can do any range firing in the schools. Pistol instruction covers stance and grip, basic shot technique as well as techniques for slow, timed and rapid fire shooting. Rifle instruction covers positions, shot technique, slow and rapid fire shooting, zeroing and the effects of weather.

That afternoon, students report to the range where they meet their coaches and begin practice-firing exercises with M9 pistols or M16 rifles. SAFS coaches are members of the military pistol and rifle teams that compete in the National Matches events that follow the schools. School students are grouped into five relays of firers and there is one “coach” for every two students on the firing line. This means SAFS students benefit from some of the best instruction it is possible to find anywhere. After an afternoon of practice, students return the next morning to shoot an actual competition course of fire. Many students are surprised to discover that after a day of instruction and practice, this is something they actually can do.

Both SAFS matches are “Special EIC Matches” where the top ten percent of competitors who have earned no previous EIC points receive “Introductory 4-point Legs.” EIC or Excellence-in-Competition Matches are part of a series of competitions where the top Non-Distinguished shooters receive credit points that count towards the awarding of the Distinguished Pistol Shot or Distinguished Rifleman Badges. Firing in a SAFS can become the first step on the path towards earning a prestigious Distinguished Badge.

The M9 Pistol EIC Match that is part of the pistol school can be fired with either a two-handed or one-handed stance. It includes 5 sighters, 10 shots slow-fire, 10 shots timed-fire and 10 shots rapid fire, all at 25 yards. The M16 Rifle EIC Match that is part of the rifle school is fired at 200 yards and includes 5 sighters, 10 shots slow-fire prone, 10 shots rapid fire prone, 10 shots rapid-fire sitting and 10 shots slow fire standing, all at 200 yards. M9 service pistols or M16 service rifles issued by the schools must be used in these matches. In order to fire in the M9 or M16 EIC Matches, shooters must enroll in and attend the entire school.

The 2007 Pistol SAFS takes place on Monday and Tuesday, 9-10 July, with registration on Sunday, 8 July. The 2007 Rifle SAFS takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 28-29 July, with registration on Friday, 27 July. Anyone who plans to attend either the Pistol or Rifle SAFS this year can now register on-line.

To register for the Pistol SAFS, open the National Trophy Pistol Championship on-line entry system at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=2112. Complete the registration form, check the entry box for the Pistol Small Arms Firing School and M9 EIC Match. Be sure to provide the information about prior competitive shooting experience that SAFS students are asked to provide. After you “submit” your entry form, you will also be able to pay your entry fee on-line using a credit card. Your entry will be recorded as completed as soon as your payment is made.

To register for the Rifle SAFS, open the National Trophy Rifle Championship on-line entry system at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=2113. Complete the form and check the entry box for the Rifle Small Arms Firing School and M16 Rifle EIC Match. If you intend to enter any of the CMP National Matches events, you can also enter them at the same time you enter the Pistol or Rifle SAFS.

Making early entries for the 2007 Pistol or Rifle SAFS may be especially important this year because entry spaces in both schools are limited. The SAFS policy is to provide one coach to two students ration for each of the five relays of students in each school. Thus, the number of military pistol and rifle teams members who are available determines how many students can be accommodated. In past years, there were enough military shooters to accommodate everyone who wanted to enter. This year, budget cut-backs and deployments necessitated by the war in the Middle East have significantly reduced the numbers of military competitors who will be at the National Matches.

As a result of the reductions in the number of available coaches, the present entry limit for the Pistol SAFS is 300 students and for the Rifle SAFS is 450 students. In filling the available spaces, entry priority will be given to first-time SAFS students who do not have any EIC points. Some shooters who previously completed SAFS will be accepted but those numbers will definitely be reduced this year in order to assure that as many new SASF students as possible can be accepted. Entries over those limits will be placed on waiting lists. If additional coaches subsequently become available the entry limits will be increased and waitlisted entries added to the schools.

For more details on the 2007 SAFS, read or download the program that is posted at http://www.odcmp.com/NM/safs.htm. Enter the Pistol SAFS at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=2112. Enter the Rifle SAFS at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=2113.