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Reader Comments:
CMP Shooters' News is one of my favorite email news publications. Information packed, talented authors, timely subjects, and all around well done. What a great service you are providing to the shooting community. Just wanted to say thanks and Merry Christmas.
Newt E.
I enjoy and look forward to TFS and the excellent articles that are published on a regular basis.
Please keep this publication coming and keep the CMP active.
Don M.
One of the members at Snipers Hide pointed out the newsletter and the High Power Tips articles by the USAMU team.
Darn you! I was up until 1:00 AM last night reading all of the articles. Great newsletter and really great USAMU articles.
Thanks,
Michael E.
Great article written on physical conditioning in the latest TFS. I was one of likely many who had asked about the type of conditioning recommended for serious shooters. Sgt. Craig did a great job on describing the routines. Now it’s my turn to put it to work.
Thanks to you, Sgt. Craig and other contributors who share best practices of shooting excellence.
Sincerely,
Keith H.
I use these articles in our high power clinics and have found them very helpful for both new shooters and reinforcement of the basics for the more experienced.
Thanks, Gary M.
Thanks for the great articles on the Carbine, Springfield, Garand matches. All the articles are interesting, but the Carbine, Springfield & Garand are my favorites.
Jim H.
The September-07 on line shooting tips by SSG Tobie Tomlinson, USAMU Service Rifle Team Member, is a great article. I have reproduced 15 copies of it to hand out and discuss to our “newbie” first year air rifle shooters on our high school JROTC Air Rifle Team. Come to think about it believe I’ll hand out a copy to my advance shooters as well. His explanations are simple to understand but rich in detail. Coupled with the sight pictures this article will go a long way towards helping all our JROTC shooters obtain better sight patterns. Keep up the great work. AND…..keep the articles like this coming.
Malcolm V.
CW2 (R), US Army
It seemed good to read the article on Infantry Trophy Match. As a shooter on the Marine Corp Team way back in 1967 I participated in the Match. We were the second team for the Marines but placed second overall. One of our shooters forgot to put the windage on his rifle. I enjoyed shooting the M-1 and M-14 at Camp Perry and always wanted to go back but never seemed to find the time. The top over all shooter at that time was my team mate Lt. Bowen. I remember some of the team members carrying him from the 600 yd line back to the rest of us. It was a great time in my life and will never forget it. Thanks again for the article.
Mike A.
Thanks for the great series of articles from the USAMU – they are very readable, and usable!
Tom, AZ
Great articles. Great to identify those who are participating as well as those who are working behind the scenes to make the whole of the National Matches run so well.
David D.
Boxford, MA
This is a special note just for my friends at the CMP, I want to thank you all for your hard work and attention to details, it's a great program!
"You help our shooting dreams come true!"
Best Regards,
Tony M.
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2008 Small Arms Firing Schools Enrollment Now Open
By Gary Anderson, DCM
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One of the best ways for new shooters to learn good pistol and rifle marksmanship skills and get started in service pistol or rifle target competition is to attend the Small Arms Firing Schools at Camp Perry, Ohio during the National Matches. The official program for the 2008 schools is now available and on-line entry in the CMP Competitor Tracker system is now open.
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Each Small Arms Firing School begins with classroom instruction taught by U.S. Army Service Pistol or Service Rifle Team members. Students must attend the classroom portion of the school or they will not be allowed to do any range firing.
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Small Arms Firing Schools (SAFS) give new shooters the knowledge, basic skills and practical range training they need to handle pistols and rifles safely and to help them get a good start in competition target shooting. Over the years, thousands of competitors have benefited from these schools. Many come back two or three times because the instruction is so good. Lots of shooters attend 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 affairs, but students must sign in at Camp Perry (National Matches In-Processing) on the day before each school starts. The first morning is dedicated to formal instruction 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. 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.
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After students attend the classroom session, they move to the range to work hands-on with their coach.
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After the classroom session, students report to the range to work with a coach and begin practice-firing with M9 pistols or M16 rifles. School students are grouped into five relays of firers and there is one “coach” for every two students on the firing line. SAFS coaches are members of other military pistol and rifle teams that will compete in the National Matches. Hands-on coaching is a special feature of Small Arms Firing Schools. This means SAFS students receive great instruction and great coaching, some of the best instruction you can 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.
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The minimum age for pistol SAFS students is 14; the minimum age for rifle SAFS students is 12. Waiver requests may be submitted to the CMP for younger participants only if evidence of previous competition and ability to safely handle center fire pistols or rifles is presented with the request.
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Both SAFS matches are “Special EIC Matches” where the top ten percent of the competitors who have earned no previous EIC points receive “Introductory 4-point Legs.” EIC or Excellence-in-Competition Matches are 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 be 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 2008 Pistol SAFS takes place on Monday and Tuesday, 7-8 July, with registration on Sunday, 6 July. The 2008 Rifle SAFS takes place on Saturday and Sunday, 26-27 July, with registration on Friday, 25 July. Anyone who plans to attend either the Pistol or Rifle SAFS this year can now register on-line.
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Starting this year, all Pistol SAFS students must fire the M9 pistol and ammunition issued by the school. Personal service pistols will not be permitted in the school.
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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=3417. 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 whether you have attended any previous schools. 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.
There is one significant change in the 2008 Pistol SAFS program. This year all students in this school will be required to fire the M9 pistol and ammunition issued by the school. Pistol SAFS students will no longer be permitted to fire their personal service pistols in the school.
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=3426. 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.
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The cost is $40.00 for adults ($30.00 for juniors) for each school, Pistol or Rifle. Students receive one and one-half days of instruction, an M9 9mm service pistol or an M-16 service rifle to fire, ammunition for the school, an AMU Service Pistol or Service Rifle Guide, a SAFS T-shirt, SAFS certificate and handout materials. All SAFS students also receive automatic entry in the M9 Pistol EIC or M16 Rifle EIC Matches at no additional cost, a special EIC match pin and an opportunity to win four EIC credit points.
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Making early entries for the 2008 Pistol or Rifle SAFS can be especially important because entry spaces in both schools are limited. The number of students who can be accommodated is determined by the number of military coaches available. The present entry limit for the Pistol SAFS is 400 students and for the Rifle SAFS is 500 students. Entries over those limits will be placed on waiting lists.
For more details on the 2008 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=3417. Enter the Rifle SAFS at
http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/matchInfo.cgi?matchID=3426.
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