Do you believe the shooting sports provide America’s youth with knowledge, skill, discipline, responsibility and a positive self image? Do you have shooting sports knowledge and instructional skills that you would like to pass on to new camp riflery instructors who will introduce those values to more youth? If your answer to these questions is “yes,” then you may be a great candidate to become a Master Instructor to help the CMP train future summer camp rifle marksmanship instructors.

CMP Camp Riflery Instructor Training Courses (ITCs) now train about 200 new instructors a year to work in summer camp environments with thousands of youth each summer. The CMP intends to expand this program in 2007 and is seeking applications from qualified individuals who will be trained as Master Instructors to make this expansion possible.

For the last seven years, the CMP has worked with summer camps all over the United States to help them offer riflery as a camp activity. In working with these camps, the CMP provides quality curriculum materials, sound advice and most importantly, the very best training for their instructors. To do this, the CMP offers a series of Instructor Training Courses (ITC) for camp riflery instructors. These two and one-half day courses are taught at host camps by CMP Master Instructors who train camp counselors and program staff how to safely and effectively run camp riflery programs. Counselors from the host camp, as well as from other camps in that area, attend the courses. Class size normally does not exceed twelve students. The courses teach camp counselors the basics of firearm safety, marksmanship instruction and the fundamentals of three-position target rifle shooting. ITC Course graduates receive instructor certifications from the CMP along with training curriculum and training aids to use in their instruction.

This program has seen substantial growth in this program over the last couple of years. In 2006, CMP trained instructors reached approximately 16,000 youth with riflery training in an eight-week summer camp period. With more camps requesting CMP assistance in training their rifle staff in 2007 and 2008 comes a need for the CMP to have more Master Instructors available to teach these courses. In order to respond to requests from camps for more CMP ITCs, the CMP is now accepting applications from experienced target shooters and marksmanship instructors who would like to be trained and certified as Master Instructors to teach these courses.

Applicants to become Camp Riflery Master Instructors must have rifle or pistol target shooting experience as well as experience in teaching marksmanship to individuals or other instructors. Since almost all camp staff training takes place between early May and mid-June, CMP Camp Riflery Master Instructors must have sufficient time available during that period to teach the courses. CMP Master Instructors must commit to teaching instructional methods that are incorporated into CMP curriculum materials and that are covered in Master Instructor training. Camp Riflery Master Instructors must be willing to live and work in camp environments during the courses, which sometimes are in isolated locations. The CMP pays an honorarium plus travel expenses to Master Instructors who teach ITCs. A detailed job description for CMP Camp Riflery Master Instructors is posted at http://www.odcmp.org/1206/MI_JD.pdf.

The CMP expects to select ten to twelve applicants for Master Instructor training that will be conducted at Camp Perry, Ohio on 7-11 March 2007. This training workshop will be designed to teach new Master Instructors how to teach ITCs and to give them a detailed knowledge of the CMP and its camp riflery program. The selection of individuals for the next class of Camp Riflery Master Instructors will be based on marksmanship experience, teaching and instructing experience and availability to attend the March training course as well as their availability to teach two or more ITCs each spring. Consideration will also be given to where applicants live since a part of the CMP Camp Riflery strategic plan is to have Master Instructors based in each state or camping region.

Are you interested in being a part of the CMP Camp Riflery Program as a Master Instructor? If you are excited about being part of this program that has the potential to introduce tens of thousands of additional youth to the shooting sports and feel you meet the qualifications and job requirements described in the Master Instructor Job Description, the CMP invites you to apply for selection for this program. To submit your application, complete the Master Instructor Online Application Form that is posted on the CMP web site at http://www.odcmp.org/1206/MI_APP.pdf.

If you have questions regarding the CMP Camp Riflery Program, the ITCs, or working as a Master Instructor, please check the CMP website’s Camp Riflery homepage at http://www.odcmp.com/CRProgram.htm. If you want additional information, please contact Jeff Williams, CMP Camp Riflery Manager, at 419-635-2141 ext. 1130, or by email at jwilliams@odcmp.com.

If you qualify, the CMP encourages you to consider applying to be part of this program to introduce firearms safety and the exciting challenges of rifle marksmanship to more of America’s youth.