CMP Develops New JROTC Marksmanship Instructor Course – There are over 2,400 Army, Navy and Marine Corps JROTC units in the USA.  Statistics kept by JROTC commands and the CMP indicate that at least two-thirds or approximately 1,600 JROTC units offer rifle marksmanship programs to their cadets.  Most of those JROTC units have rifle teams and many actually provide basic safety and marksmanship training to all of the cadets in their programs.  The CMP has been working with the Army, Navy and Marine Corps JROTC programs to develop a new JROTC Marksmanship Instructor Course.  The one-day course teaches JROTC instructors about the sport of shooting and how to implement an air rifle marksmanship program in their schools.  Since the course was first introduced in February 2005, CMP-certified Master Instructors have already trained over 1,000 JROTC instructors.

Western CMP Games:  CMP Gold Medals to be Had in California May 14-15 –  In an effort to give more shooters from the western part of the USA an opportunity to participate in the CMP’s popular and challenging John C. Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches, the CMP will hold the 1st Western CMP Games at Camp Pendleton, California May 14-15.  Find out how you can shoot in one of these matches and be part of the camaraderie and fun that comes from a Garand Match experience.

U.S. Military Match and Marksmanship Automatic Pistols by Bill Jenkins - For those interested in military match pistols that were used at the National Rifle and Pistol Matches and other pistil competitions, the search for well-researched and interesting source material just became much easier.  Recently published, U.S. Military Match and Marksmanship Automatic Pistols by Bill Jenkins of Medina, Ohio is an interesting and informative reading experience for anyone who has ever fired in the National Pistol Matches or other pistol competition as well as to collectors of the pistols and equipment that go along with that competition.   

Distinguished Shooters of Florida - Recently, the Florida State Rifle Association published a 48-page book titled Distinguished Shooters of Florida.  It is a detailed, up-to-date list of Florida residents who earned Distinguished Badges in the various shooting sports disciplines, including the prestigious Distinguished Rifleman, Distinguished Pistol Shot and Distinguished International Shooter Badges.  This publication is the product of fifteen years of work and research done by the author, Jim Perkins.  A total of 113 photographs and biographies of Distinguished shooters are included.  The individual listings have brief biographical data, Distinguished badge numbers and dates when they were earned.  This paperback book is an invaluable resource for anyone interested in the history of competitive shooting in Florida .  It will also be of interest to shooters and shooting history buffs from other states who would like to create something similar for their home states.

Army Competitions Keep Soldiers’ Skills Sharp - The month of March saw the U.S. Army holding its annual Small Arms Championships as well as their Long-Range Championships at Ft. Benning , Georgia .  The 2005 All-Army Rifle and Pistol Championships were hosted by the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit.  Through the competitions, Army soldiers sharpened their own skills and learned new ones that they will in turn teach to other soldiers in their units…skills that could save lives in combat.  The CMP would like to congratulate all the winners of these exciting matches.  

Fall Creek Valley Conservation Club Takes a Field Trip…
and Brings Home a Few Rifles - When Don Williams of the Fall Creek Valley Conservation Club in Anderson, Indiana visited the CMP Store at Camp Perry, Ohio in September 2004, he knew right away the other members of his club would be interested. Heading home with his rifle, he made plans to bring it up at the next meeting.

Army Wins NCAA Rifle Championship
First NCAA Championship for U. S. Military Academy in 50 Years - March may be associated in most people’s minds with the NCAA basketball tournament, but the NCAA sport of rifle has its own annual sports drama in March. The 2005 NCAA Rifle Championship was concluded this past weekend at Colorado Springs and the results proved to be every bit as dramatic, surprising and interesting as NCAA basketball tournaments.

CMP in the Lone Star State - The Houston Gun Collector’s Association held the first of their three gun shows this year on January 22-23 at the Reliant Center Complex (formally called the Astrodome Park Complex) in Houston, Texas. The HGCA, organized in 1950, has held three gun shows annually for the past 30 years at the same complex. It is the largest gun show in Texas.  The Civilian Marksmanship Program sent several staff members, along with 475 rifles, to Houston for the January gun show.