A Short History of the Distinguished Shooter Program - This comprehensive article written by Hap Rocketto gives a detailed and painstakingly researched history of the Distinguished Shooter Program. The Distinguished Rifleman, Distinguished Pistol Shot and Distinguished International Shooter Badges are awarded to members of the Armed Forces and civilians in recognition of "a preeminent degree of achievement in target practice with service rifle or pistol." The article also includes a glossary of Distinguished terms, information on participation eligibility for EIC "leg" matches, shooter badge credit points, illustrations of EIC and Distinguished badges and much more. 

Navy JROTC Cadets Receive CMP Marksmanship Training at Camp Perry - For four days in mid-June, 160 Navy JROTC cadets who participated in the 2006 NJROTC Area 3 Basic Leadership Training (BLT) course received rifle marksmanship training from CMP instructors. Air rifle marksmanship was one of several cadet training activities that included orienteering, drill and ceremony, a leadership challenge course and watercraft operation.

New GSM Master Instructors Certified, Next Course Set for September - The new CMP Garand-Springfield-Military (GSM) Rifle Clinic Master Instructor Program was launched in April when the first GSM Master Instructor Training Workshop took place at Camp Perry, Ohio. The second GSM Master Instructor course was just concluded at Camp Perry on 9-10 June. 29 Master Instructors were certified in April. 25 additional Master Instructors were certified in the course just completed.

Thinking Your Way to Success - Why does it seem that the same small group of shooters wins the majority of the matches? Within the Army Marksmanship Unit’s Service Rifle Team, the same effect applies. On a team filled with uncommonly talented shooters, the same two or three are consistently at the top of the final results bulletin. What is the difference among shooters who are technically equal?

CMP Three-Position Air Rifle Camps Begin 10th Season - The 2006 CMP Three-Position Air Rifle Camps mark a decade for the program that has influenced young shooters across the country and is revered as the premier camp of its kind. This year’s schedule and staff plan to carry forward the standards that campers and coaches have come to expect.

2006 National Matches Update - With just 38 days to go until the 2006 National Matches First Shot Ceremony on 10 July, a combination of exciting new events, favorable schedule changes, continuing rivalries among the top shooters and teams and heavy early entries all point to a great 2006 National Matches at Camp Perry.

2006 Summer Shooting Opportunities for Juniors - Summers can be a special time for junior shooters. Without the time demands of school, summers offer more time for extra training as well as the travel necessary to compete in the most important championships of the year. The 2004 and 2005 summer issues of On the Mark reviewed shooting opportunities that were available to junior shooters during the summer. This year, The First Shot looks at the many shooting opportunities that can make this summer a special time for junior shooters.

Never Out of Sight - Morgan Hicks is no stranger to big competition. In 2004 she was the NCAA Smallbore Champion and an Olympian at the Athens Games. But the Olympics were the last event she fired until the World Championship Try-Outs at Fort Benning, GA in April 2006. For even a seasoned veteran like Hicks, nearly two years could seem like an overwhelming lay-off to return from.

Reading Rifle & Revolver Club, Massachusetts Junior Highpower Clinic - On April 22, 2006, Reading Rifle and Revolver in Reading, MA hosted a Junior Highpower Clinic. Registration was interesting; I had more phone calls from adults who wanted to take the clinic than I had juniors. I even had one who wanted to know if I could push the age up to 28 to qualify as a junior so he could attend. I did not have to worry though about filling the junior slots, all 40 filled very quickly. All in all, I was really impressed that there was that much interest by both juniors and adults for the highpower sport. We were also very lucky that Nashua Fish & Game Assoc., Merrimack, NH, was running a clinic the same weekend that I could refer the adults rather than flatly turning them down.

New Rimfire Sporter Guide and National Rimfire Sporter Match Program Available - The 2006 version of the CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Shooting is now available. The new guide includes the official 2006 CMP Rimfire Sporter Rules, detailed instructions on how to shoot Rimfire Sporter, instructions for match sponsors on how to conduct Rimfire Sporter Matches and the official match program for the 2006 National Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry.