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CMP
An Introduction to CMP Programs Resources for New Shooters
The CMP is, in many respects, a grass roots The CMP continues to develop resources that
organization that places a high priority on encouraging new shooters can utilize to learn gun safety and
new shooters and helping them learn gun safety and basic marksmanship skills as well as to help them
marksmanship skills to get them off to a good start in get started in different types of competitions. Some
target rifle and pistol shooting. Several CMP programs Civilian Marksmanship Program resources are available to download for free on the
focus on this objective. If you are new to the shooting CMP website, while others are available for purchase
sports, this brochure describes CMP programs for from the CMP E-Store at http://estore.thecmp.org.
new shooters and how to take advantage of the • A Junior Shooter’s Guide to Air Rifle Safety:
opportunities they offer.
A 20-page booklet; written for junior air rifle
CMP Program Announcements shooters, but it provides safety rules, procedures
With so many programs for new shooters being and guidelines that can be used by youth or adult
available, a key to taking advantage of the opportunities www.thecmp.org shooters in any range firing situation. Send requests
they offer is finding out when and where program to CMP Programs, programs@thecmp.org.
• CMP Guide to Junior Pistol Shooting: The Guide
events take place and how to register for them. The
first step in doing this is to get on the CMP email
CMP Ranges provides information and instruction to inspire and
Since the beginning, the CMP has dedicated itself
distribution list so you will receive CMP Shooting News motivate youth, parents and club leaders to become
to providing arenas for all to grow in marksmanship.
email updates. The CMP releases these updates two or active in junior pistol programs. Send requests to
With state-of-the-art technology and some of the
three times a month and contain announcements of all CMP Programs, programs@thecmp.org.
major CMP programs. CMP email notices also provide most pristine facilities in the world, the CMP has
• CMP Poster Sets for BB Gun, Rimfire Sporter
links to official event programs and instructions on lived up to its mission and continues to raise the bar
and Air Rifle: The 11x17 poster series highlights the
how to register. Click on the “Subscribe Now” link on each and every day.
most important teaching points for getting young
the CMP website or visit http://thecmp.org/email/. • Air Gun: CMP’s air gun ranges are located
competitors started in marksmanship. The full-color
The CMP also provides a printed newsletter for junior at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center posters are designed so they can be used in presenting
coaches and shooters, On The Mark. Subscriptions in Camp Perry, Ohio, and the CMP South instruction or they can be posted on the range.
are available for $8.00/year. Visit http://thecmp.org/ Competition Center in Anniston, Alabama. Each • USAMU Service Rifle Marksmanship Guide and
communications/on-the-mark/ to sign up. range contains 80, 10-meter firing points equipped USAMU Advanced Pistol Guide: Illustrated books,
The next step in finding out about CMP program with electronic targets that instantly display shots written by the U. S. Army Teams, with detailed
opportunities in your area is to become familiar with on monitors located next to each shooter. A Mobile instructions on the basic and advanced skills of
the upcoming events lists in the CMP Competition Range harnessing the same technology can also be service rifle, service pistol and bullseye pistol target
Tracker website, http://ct.thecmp.org. The CMP constructed in virtually any area of the country. shooting. Order through the CMP E-Store.
uses this website to manage information for all of its
training and competition activities. For shooters, this
page can be the entry point to a wealth of information. Visit the CMP website for Additional Resources at
It provides lists of CMP-affiliated clubs, upcoming http://thecmp.org/training-tech/coaching-resources/.
matches and results from completed CMP sanctioned

Programs for
matches.

• Talladega Marksmanship Park: The 500-

New Shooters
acre outdoor marksmanship facility in Talladega,
Alabama, is the first of its kind in the country –
housing electronic targets similar to those used in
the CMP air gun ranges. The facility also contains
pistol and shotgun opportunities, including a
5-Stand and Sporting Clays Field.

Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools is there not only to compete, but also to help the other CMP Sanctioned Clinics
One of the oldest and largest CMP programs for shooters on his/her firing point. Many Garand, Springfield Many CMP-affiliated clubs also conduct special
teaching effective marksmanship skills to new shooters and Military Rifle Matches also start out with clinics. Two- clinics for new shooters. These clinics are taught on
are the Small Arms Firing Schools (SAFS) that take hour clinics are offered during the National Matches at local ranges by club instructors; many offer excellent
place during the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio. Camp Perry for shooters who compete in the CMP Games opportunities to learn gun safety and basic target
Small Arms Firing Schools began in 1918. Besides being Events that take place there. Many CMP-affiliated clubs shooting skills. To find out if any clubs in your area offer
conducted at the National Matches, SAFS events have also sponsor local CMP Games Events that are sanctioned sanctioned clinics, check the Upcoming Events listings
been added to the Eastern, Western, Oklahoma and New by the CMP. at http://ct.thecmp.org. Rifle, pistol and shotgun
England CMP Cup and CMP Games Matches, along with The Vintage Sniper Rifle Team Match is conducted clinics are held twice a week at the CMP Talladega
the Talladega 600. More than 1,000 new shooters attend as a dual match, where two riflemen work as a team to Marksmanship Park.
these schools each year to learn basic marksmanship reproduce long-range military sniper operations. With
under the direction of some of the country’s finest Rimfire Sporter matches offer parent-child pairs a perfect growing numbers, the match has quickly become a favorite
shooting instructors and coaches. The schools start with a venue for working together to introduce junior shooters to in the CMP Games community.
the target sports. Check out http://thecmp.org/competitions/club-
half-day classroom session taught by the U. S. Army Rifle
Team and/or CMP Master Rifle Instructors, followed by involved in traditional target shooting. All that is required sanctioned-events/matches/ for more information on
sessions on the range, firing M16/AR15 rifles under the for Rimfire Sporter shooting is to have a smallbore sporter- these events.
tutelage of Army Reserve and National Guard, Marine type rifle weighing 7.5 pounds or less. Except for a sling,
Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard marksmanship no other special gear is required or permitted. There are Eastern, Western and State
team members, as well as CMP Master Rifle Instructors. divisions for telescope sights, open sights and tactical rifles. CMP Games Matches and Clinics
Attending a Small Arms Firing School is one of the best Firing is done at 50 and 25 yards in prone, sitting/kneeling The CMP recognizes that not everyone can get to Camp
ways for new shooters to learn real marksmanship skills and standing positions. There’s both a slow-fire series and a Perry, Ohio, where its headquarters is located. For this Those wanting to learn more about pistol shooting and
and to get a good start in competition shooting. rapid-fire series. competition can sign up for the CMP Pistol Small Arms
reason, the CMP inaugurated the Western CMP Games Firing School, held annually at the National Trophy Pistol
To learn more about the annual Small Arms Firing The CMP hosts a National Rimfire Sporter match at
in 2005 to offer Garand, Springfield and Military Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.
Schools, visit http://thecmp.org/training-tech/small- Camp Perry. The CMP Rimfire Sporter event is preceded
Matches to shooters in the Western USA, while the Eastern
arms-firing-school-training/. by a clinic that is especially designed to give first timers the
Games (which began in 2006) accommodates shooters to CMP Pistol Opportunities
basic knowledge of range procedures, competition rules The CMP offers growing opportunities for pistol
the East. Western Games has been held at Camp Pendleton,
and shooting techniques that they need to successfully shooters to compete in local, regional and national
California, in the past and most recently Phoenix, Arizona.
complete the Rimfire Sporter course of fire. Matches are competitions. A Pistol Small Arms Firing School is
Eastern Games are held at Camp Butner, North Carolina.
also conducted at the Eastern, Western, Oklahoma and New held each year at the National Trophy Pistol Matches
Giving shooters even more competitive opportunities
England CMP Cup and CMP Games Matches, along with at Camp Perry, where students may attend in-class
are the State CMP Games conducted at the Oklahoma
the Talladega 600. training as well as hands-on time on the range. Shooters
City Gun Club in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, and Camp
A number of CMP-affiliated clubs around the country with little or no previous pistol experience handle M9
Ethan Allen in Jericho, Vermont. All of these matches
also sponsor Rimfire Sporter Matches for shooters in their Pistols, while being coached by members of the military
feature clinics for new shooters and a match organization
areas. Find more information on the Rimfire Sporter match Pistol Team. A M9 EIC Pistol Match is also conducted
that strives to be “new-shooter-friendly.” Visit http://
at http://thecmp.org/competitions/club-sanctioned- during the school. Pistol matches are also held at the
thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-travel-games/ for more
events/rimfire-sporter/. Eastern, Oklahoma and New England CMP Cup and
information.
New shooters at the annual Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools CMP Games Matches, along with the Talladega 600.
at Camp Perry, Ohio, receive instruction and then fire on the CMP Games Events and Clinics More information on pistol opportunities can be
famous Camp Perry ranges while being instructed by the Another great way to get started in the challenging sport found at http://thecmp.org/competitions/cmp-pistol-
country’s top coaches and military marksmen. of target shooting is to shoot in the National CMP Games program/.
Rimfire Sporter Matches and Clinics Events or in sanctioned club matches. CMP Games Events
The CMP developed Rimfire Sporter specifically to are great events for new shooters because the course of fire
appeal to the large population of potential new shooters can be completed without extensive prior experience. The Contact us for more on these and
as-issued M1 Garand, M1903 Springfield or other manually-
who own smallbore sporter, hunting or plinking rifles
operated military rifles used in these matches are available other CMP Programs at
and who are interested in an accessible, yet challenging
shooting game that can be fired with commonly owned
rimfire rifles. Most of these people have not been
just about anywhere and coaching is allowed during the
match. Indeed, most of these matches are squadded so that
there is an experienced shooter on every firing point who
All competitors in the CMP Games Matches must shoot with
commonly-available “as-issued” service rifles. info@thecmp.org