CAMP PERRY, OH – “It could be worse – it could be raining harder!” said a still dripping first time Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) participant Christine Hemmer, 42, of Castalia, OH, after the torrential downpour that soaked the SAFS shooters during their EIC match practice on Saturday, July 27 on Viale Range.
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USAMU, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Navy and National Guard instructors were on hand to show students the fundamentals of competition rifle shooting.
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More than 720 shooters participated in the SAFS class during the National Matches at Camp Perry. The school is a mix of class work and hands-on coaching by USAMU, Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine and Navy Active and National Guard and Reserve instructors. Rifle students learn the fundamentals, training methods and mental approaches to competitive shooting. Participants also have the opportunity to live fire in the prone, sitting and standing positions from 200 yards.
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More than 720 shooters attended the Rifle Small Arms Firing School during the National Matches. Classroom instruction was conducted before students had the opportunity to live fire on Viale Range.
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Though her first experience with SAFS was a wet one, Christine Hemmer said she still enjoyed being out firing on the range. She was sharing the day with her husband, Jeffrey, who was also participating in the school.
“I’m excited to get up there. It’s going to be fun,” she said as she dried out and waited for her relay to be called. “I’m just glad my husband was in the pits when it rained so I didn’t have to hear him whine about it!”
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Besides elements on the firing line, SAFS students also learned how to pull targets and score in the pits.
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Scott Chin, 40, of Gibraltar, MI, was also a first timer. He could have done without the soggy weather, but he was still amazed by the masses of shooters the school seems to draw.
“It’s a little cold out here with the wind, but I can’t believe how many people are here. It’s really great,” he said.
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A torrential downpour momentarily postponed firing on the range during the school, but instruction resumed immediately after the rain finally stopped falling.
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Rifle SAFS is open to all U.S. citizens who are over the minimum age of 12 – the experienced and the beginning shooters alike. Veterans of the sport can acquire new ways to improve their scores in the competition they love while also learning beside new shooters who are just starting to fall in love with the sport.
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Christine Hemmer of Castalia, OH, and her husband, Jeffrey, decided to brave the weather to attend the school.
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Joseph Ferline, 79, of Lakewood, OH, brought his grandson, Alex Carr, 19, to try out the Small Arms Firing School. Since his grandson is new to the sport, Ferline thought there would be no better way for him to learn the ways of competition shooting than to be exposed to the world of the National Matches at Camp Perry, instructed by some of the best shooters in the country.
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Alex Carr of Lakewood, OH, attended SAFS for the first time, under the supervision of his grandpa, Joseph Ferline. Carr said he learned a lot from his SAFS instructor and was very glad he decided to attend the school.
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“His mother doesn’t like shooting. She said to make sure he stays safe. I told her that this is the safest place in the world!” Ferline said as he laughed. “And this is a great school. These guys really know what they’re talking about.”
Ferline watched his grandson as he took the line. Equipped with yellow shooting glasses, protective ear muffs and a smile, Alex took his prone position. An attentive grandpa kept good on his word to Alex’s mother, staying close with a watchful eye, but knowing all the while that his grandson was about to have the time of his life.
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Veteran and beginning shooters alike attended SAFS to better their competition shooting abilities.
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After his prone, standing and sitting positions were over, Alex met with Ferline, who was eagerly awaiting to hear about his experience.
“The standing was really hard! But it was fun,” Alex said after reuniting with his grandpa.
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After the day of instruction was complete, SAFS students fired in a true M16 EIC Match on Sunday, July 28. Participants had the opportunity to earn introductory 4-point legs towards becoming a Distinguished shooter.
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SAFS coaches helped students learn with hands-on techniques. The instructors were patient and willing to answer any questions the students may have had.
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Robert McClain, 15, of Walkersville, WV took home the overall first place prize in the M16 Match, firing a 390-14x. Coming in second was Makayla Douthit, 15, of Walden, CO, with a score of 388-10x, followed by Jeremy Bogdany, 37, of Felton, PA, who fired a 387-19x for third.
McClain was surprised on stage during the awards ceremony with a new Colt Match Target 6700 5.56 Rifle, donated by Colt Manufacturing. He was put into shock as he was handed the rifle, gazing at it with wide eyes and a smile. The gun McClain was offered on stage was meant for photo op purposes only, but he was so excited to have the new rifle in his hands that he nearly walked off stage with it, gaining laughs and applause from the crowd.
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Robert McClain won first place overall in the M16 EIC Match, held on the last day of the school. Very excited McClain also received a new Colt Match Target 6700 5.56 Rifle, donated by Colt Manufacturing. Mrs. Judith Legerski, CMP Chairman, was the presenter.
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McClain’s stage presence was a refreshing reminder of what the Matches are about: fulfilling dreams, creating lasting memories and, of course, enjoying the sport of competition rifle shooting.
A total of 61 competitors received their first 4 EIC points during the M16 EIC Match. The cut-score was 369-6X. Results can be viewed at
http://ct.thecmp.org/app/v1/index.php?do=match&task=edit&match=9827. Photos can be viewed at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com/p161074340.
More information about the Small Arms Firing School can be found by visiting
http://thecmp.org/NM/SAFS.htm. NEXT ARTICLE
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