Register Now for Junior Leadership Training Conference - Junior shooting coaches, leaders and parents from all over the country have one common annual opportunity to participate in training courses that are structured to increase their knowledge and skills as junior shooting sports leaders. This one national-level training week occurs each fall as either the National Youth Shooting Sports Leadership Conference (hosted by CMP in even-numbered years) or the National Shooting Coaches College (hosted by USA Shooting in odd-numbered years). The NRA Education & Training Division also plays a major role in each year’s program.

Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Master Instructor Training Clinic Openings - Instructors and shooters who are interested in being trained and certified to teach CMP-sanctioned Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Clinics will have three upcoming opportunities to attend one of these two-day courses during the next three months.

M1 for Vets Project Brings Veterans to Camp Perry - On 4 and 5 August 2006, seven recipients of the M1 for Vets Project participated in the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s Springfield and John C. Garand Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. This trip was made possible with donations from the Walter Reed Society, Lake Norman High Power Club, and small donations from many fellow competitors and M1 collectors throughout the country. The M1 for Vets Project is designed to present injured Iraq War veterans M1 Garand rifles. Some 40 rifles have been presented since December 2005, and 11 more are being made ready for presentation. All rifles were either donated or purchased with donated funds.

Marine Corps JROTC Rifle Team Given a Taste of the National Matches - MSgt Gerald Lyons knows a thing or two about coaching champions. He has led his Shelby County High School Marine Corps JROTC Rifle Team from Shelbyville, Kentucky to victory in the JROTC National Championship three out of the last four years. That is why it was a special reward when Dr. Bill McHenry, Director of the Marine Corps JROTC Program, invited the Shelby County MCJROTC unit to send a four-member team and an instructor to attend the 2006 National Matches at Camp Perry as a reward for winning this year’s JROTC National Championship.

A M1 Carbine Match Makes Nice Addition to CMP Games - Participation reached an all-time high this year in the CMP John C. Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches. The addition of the M1 Carbine Match was also well received with high participation and is expected to grow in the years to come. The Garand, Springfield and Vintage Matches had a combined 2369 shooters, up 327 competitors from last year. The new M1 Carbine Match brought in an additional 479 competitors, believed to be the largest assembly of Carbine rifles on one range since the Korean War era.

An Evening of Honor - The National Matches Rifle Awards Ceremony is an opportunity for competitors to come together and celebrate a week of excellence. This year, 49 Distinguished Rifleman’s Badges were awarded on stage with several of those shooters earning their last EIC points in the 2006 National Matches. This was the first year that shooters who ‘legged out’ at the Nationals were able to be recognized on stage that same week. Also, 39 separate awards were presented throughout the night by several distinguished guests.

Army Wins Close National Infantry Trophy Match - Only six points separated the Army and Marine Corps in the hotly contested National Infantry Trophy Match, but in the end it was the Army’s score of 1367 that was victorious. USAMU Hopper, named for coach SFC Lance Hopper, consisted of team captain SFC Norman Anderson, SPC Ty Cooper, SPC Brandon Green, SSG Emil Praslick, SFC Grant Singley, SFC Jason St John and SSG Tobie Tomlinson.

Marines Set New Record in National Team Trophy Match - The U. S. Marine Corps Rifle Team won a narrow 4895-169 to 4892-213 victory over the Army in the Interservice Championship 10-person team match at the end of July when an Army team member had the misfortune of having a double alibi that cost the Army 30 points and the match. This left the USMC Arrieta team, named for team coach MSgt Alexander Arrieta, eager to prove themselves in the National Team Trophy Match that took place ten days later during the National Matches at Camp Perry. They wanted a victory that would prove they were a team capable of winning without the benefit of a lucky break. What they got was a dominating performance that produced the highest six-person team score ever fired in the National Matches and a place in the record books with a new National Trophy Team Match record of 2958-113X.

Year of the Whistler Girls - It is known as the Whistler Boy Team Match, but this year the trophy went to the girls of the Connecticut Palmer Team. This is the first time in the history of Whistler Boy Junior Highpower Rifle Trophy competition that both firing members of the winning team were females. Julie Coggshall and Amanda Elsenboss combined to fire an impressive 966-19X under the guidance of team coach Bradford Palmer and team captain Peter Mathewson. They finished with a nine point lead over the Wisconsin Rifle and Pistol Association’s Golden Boys who shot a 957-23X for second, and 12 points over third place California Gold who shot a 954-21X.

Inaugural Hearst Doubles Match a Hit with Competitors - The 2006 National Matches and CMP Games schedule featured several new additions. One of three new events added to this year’s program revived a National Trophy that has not been in competition since 2002. The Hearst Trophy was donated to the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice by the newspaperman William Randolph Hearst in 1940. The trophy, which features a 17th century Spanish flintlock with an ornately inlaid stock, was originally awarded to the High ROTC competitor and subsequently to the High Collegiate shooter in the National Trophy Individual Rifle Match. The decision was made to remove it from competition since the latter award essentially served the same purpose as other High Junior awards. This year, the Hearst Trophy was returned to competition when it gave its name to the new Hearst Doubles Match.

SPC Brandon Green USA Wins National Trophy Individual Rifle Match - The heat wave continues at Perry but SPC Brandon Green of the Army Marksmanship Unit stayed cool as he entered the 600 yard stage with the lead and a chance to win the 2006 National Trophy Individual Rifle Match. CW02 Billy Williamson of the U.S. Marine Corps shot a strong 197-8X at 600 to jump to the top of the leader board, meaning SPC Green had to shoot at least 195-9X to win. The race for the Daniel Boone Trophy went down to the last relay of the match, as SPC Green was the last of those in contention to fire. Showing a remarkable display of toughness, SPC Green shot a 196-4X at 600 to give him a winning total of 494-17X. 

SFC Lance Dement USA Wins President’s Match - Temperatures were a scorching 95 degrees with a heat index of 105 degrees by mid-day during the President’s Rifle Match. This made for a long day for the 1275 competitors, though scores were still high despite the conditions. Winner of the President’s Match was SFC Lance Dement of the Army Marksmanship Unit with a score of 296-9X, two points over Sgt Kelly Wakefield of the U.S. Marine Corps who shot a 294 with an impressive 13X.

SPC Michael Andersen ARNG Sets New Record in the M16 EIC Rifle Match - It was a day of firsts for many of the competitors at the M16 EIC Match, which was designed to introduce new shooters to EIC rifle matches. Only shooters who have not earned any EIC points towards a Distinguished Badge are eligible for the four introductory leg points available in this match.

Viale Range Project Comes Full Circle - On 29 July 2006 a Viale Range Rededication Ceremony took place to mark the conclusion of a nine month renovation project that yielded a complete reconstruction of the range’s berm and pits. The day not only marked the reopening of Camp Perry’s renowned Viale Range, but it was also an opportunity to honor 2nd Lt. Robert M. Viale, a World War II hero for whom the range is named. 2nd Lt. Viale was posthumously awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor during WWII. He received this distinction for a series of heroic actions that culminated when he jumped on a live grenade to save the lives of five of his men. His acts of extraordinary bravery was captured in a drawing by Jess Cauthorn who served under 2nd Lt. Viale in WWII. Cauthorn’s artwork was included in the program for the event.

5th CMP Rimfire Sporter Match is Biggest So Far - The CMP Rimfire Sporter Match that took place at Camp Perry, Ohio on Sunday, 23 July, had the largest attendance of any of the CMP Rimfire Sporter events conducted since this unique championship started five years ago. The 2006 Rimfire Sporter competition had 212 event entries, up from 180 in 2005. After suffering rainy and windy weather in 2005 and 2004, this year’s match was blessed with glorious Camp Perry weather.

National Youth Shooting Sports Leadership Conference and Coach-Instructor Schools Registration Start - If you work with junior shooters and want to grow and improve your program, you belong at the 2006 National Youth Shooting Sports Leadership Conference and Training Week. Any one who serves as a leader, coach, instructor or active parent in a high school or junior shooting program can benefit from the training courses and conference presentations that will be available at Camp Perry, Ohio on 19-24 September.

Master Garand-Springfield-Military Clinic
First in Howell, Michigan Area Taught by Master Instructors - The Howell National Guard Armory, home of the 1462nd Transportation Company, was the site recently of the first Master Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Clinic in the Howell area conducted by CMP-certified Master Instructors. This one-day event far surpassed initial expectations by attracting 36 participants for its inaugural clinic held on July 15, 2006. Eleven participants were National Guard troops, and 25 were civilians.