CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Learning gun safety and target shooting techniques under the instruction of master shooters is beneficial to a newcomer as well as to an experienced shooter in the sport of competitive shooting.

The Pistol Small Arms Firing School or SAFS that was conducted here at Camp Perry on 9-10 July was sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and conducted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit or USAMU from Fort Benning, Ga.  The school gave classroom and one-on-one instruction to over 401 individuals from all over the United States.

The Pistol SAFS started with registration on Sunday that started at 7 a.m. in the morning and ended at 9 p.m.  Everyone who registered was asked to fill out post locator cards that indicated where they were staying as well as emergency contact information.

In addition to the SAFS students, other individuals were checked into CMP matches where they received scorecards for those matches, while those who came only for National Rifle Association matches signed release forms and received wrist bands signifying that they completed registration.

“It’s very hectic,” said Samantha L. Miller, a member of the CMP staff, “but once we get problems worked out, [the registration] calms down and smoothes out.”

“There was no problem,” said William R. Hiddink, from Long Island, N.Y., who has endured 12 registration days to date, “I had questions, and the staff did a good job answering them”

“All-in-all, it was easier than in previous years,” he said.

SAFS students finished registration by receiving a USAMU T-Shirt, a free USAMU Advanced Pistol Guide written by the USAMU and published by the CMP, a match information sheet and a name badge as well as entry into the next day’s pistol instruction class, practical work on the range and entry in the M9-EIC match on Tuesday.

The pistol SAFS began with a half-day of classroom instruction conducted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit where they covered topics that included safety, pistol functioning, shooting positions and basic firing techniques.

“The class provides a half-day of instruction that gives novices the ability to start with a basic foundation that they can build on to reach a semi-advanced level,” said Sgt. 1st Class Charles E. Coffey, a shooter with the Army Marksmanship Unit, “it basically teaches everything that [people] need to know about pistol firing.”

“It was one of the better classroom instructions ever,” said Windell F. Fisher, a native of Columbus, Ohio, who this year marked the 38th consecutive time that he has attended the National Matches.

The instructors also covered special topics that are vital to a shooter including the effects of weather and mental conditioning in preparation for match along with showing the basic position fundamentals and how to shoot.

“The class was taught well by the instructors.  It was easy for people to understand,” said Fisher.

After formal instruction USAMU soldiers, the audience had an opportunity to ask questions to a five-person panel composed of Staff Sgt. Thomas A. Grieve, an armorer with over 10-years of experience; Staff Sgt. James M. Henderson, a 2670 shooter and the current National Champion; Steve F. Reiter, also a 2670 shooter, member of the 1980 Olympic Shooting Team and Triple Distinguished; Gunnery Sgt. Brian H. Zins, noncommissioned officer-in-charge of the U.S. Marine Corps Pistol Shooting Team and seven-time National Champion, and Dr. Judy L. Tant, a three-time Woman’s National Champion.

The panel had over 40 championships and 94-years of experience between them.  They answered questions ranging from the use of apertures for the eye to using red-dot and iron sights on .45 pistols.

Once the classroom instruction was finished, the instructors moved the students to the firing range where they were issued M9 pistols and ammunition to fire.  There they were coached by members of the USAMU, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force, Coast Guard, National Guard, and USAR shooting teams.

“The coaches devoted most of their attention to teaching the new shooters who had never fired an M9 before, which left me feeling good that they where helping those that needed it the most,” said Fisher.

The session concluded with individuals shooting four targets on a 25-yard firing range, going through a practice competition round of slow, timed and rapid fire, where shooters could ask questions of their coach on numerous topics that concerned target shooting.

On the second day of the school, SAFS students were able to compete in the second annual M9 Excellence-in-Competition or EIC match, where the top 10 percent of competitors who have not earned EIC-points could earn four-point introductory legs that counted toward earning a Distinguished Pistol Badge.

The winner of the 2nd annual M9 EIC-match was Paul C. Kane, from Rockville, Md.  Kane fired a 271-6X to  receive four-introductory leg points that count toward earning a Distinguished Pistol Badge. A total of 28 shooters including Kane earned their first EIC points in the M9 match.

“I encourage young people to contact their local shooting league and get involved,” said Kane.

“I was very pleased with the CMP, NRA, and the post commander,” said Fisher, “everything was organized, in tip-top shape and with a friendly atmosphere, it lived up to the highest standards, and I want to commend them.”

Results from the M9 Pistol EIC Match can be viewed on the CMP web site at http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_matchResult.cgi?matchID=2112.