Group Photo- The first class of G-S-M Master Instructors at Camp Perry 8-9 April 2006. Photo courtesy of John Mitchell.

The G-S-M Master Instructor Clinic was led by CMP Director Gary Anderson, who worked with students on the range and provided demonstrations of the shooting positions.

Providing qualified marksmanship instruction is a top priority for the Civilian Marksmanship Program, and this begins at the top with the CMP’s Master Instructor Training Programs. The CMP Master Instructor certification program trains and certifies advanced shooters and instructors as Master Instructors who are then qualified to teach specific marksmanship instructional topics. The CMP already has two of these programs in place, the JROTC Marksmanship Master Instructor Course which trains instructors who then teach marksmanship instruction to JROTC instructors, and the CMP Military Rifle Instructors course which trains instructors to teach U.S. Army Squad Designated Marksman instructor courses. This past weekend the CMP added a new class of instructors to their list as the first Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Master Instructor clinic was completed by 30 participants.

Clinic participants alternated time between the classroom and range where they assisted each other with the shooting positions. This hands-on classroom environment mimicked the format of the clinics the new Master Instructors will teach once they return to their local ranges and clubs.

CMP’s newest class of instructors are trained to teach and organize G-S-M Rifle Clinics. These clinics, often called “Garand Clinics,” are designed to teach beginning and intermediate rifle marksmanship to shooters who plan to participate in Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Matches. Participation in these clinics and matches fulfill the CMP marksmanship requirement for individuals who wish to become eligible to purchase CMP rifles. These clinics are sanctioned by the CMP when a club submits an application and a $20 sanctioning fee. In turn the CMP provides instructional material, low-cost ammunition and posts the clinic on the CMP website.

Students selected to attend the Master Instructor course have experience in John C. Garand and Springfield matches, they also have experience working with beginning shooters.

Now with the new G-S-M Master Instructor Program, CMP is also providing highly qualified instructors. In addition to certified teachers, the new program offers slides, lesson plans and instructor notes to aid in course instruction. CMP is also preparing a new Guide to Garand, Springfield and Vintage Military Rifle Shooting that can be used by clinic Master Instructors as student text.

Topics covered in the two-day G-S-M Master Instructor Clinic ranged from CMP History and Range Procedures, to Techniques of Firing an Accurate Shot and Position work. The clinic alternated between classroom and dry-fire instruction, which allowed the new instructors to practice the techniques they learned in a range setting.

The first class of G-S-M Master Instructors were awarded their certificates by CMP Director Gary Anderson at the conclusion of the clinic at Camp Perry on 9 April. Photo courtesy of John Mitchell.

The next G-S-M Master Instructor clinics will be held 10-11 June at Camp Perry, and 3-4 November at Camp Pendleton in California. Additional clinics will be added to the schedules during the course of the coming year. Applicants must be associated with a shooting club where a Master Instructor will have opportunities to teach S-G-M Rifle Clinics, and have experience teaching rifle marksmanship. Also required is experience competing in John C. Garand and Springfield Matches and the desire to teach marksmanship to new shooters. If you feel you meet these requirements and seek more information, visit http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/GSMClinic.htm or download the application at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/GSMClinicApp.pdf.  If you have questions about the G-S-M Master Instructor clinics, you may contact Shannon Hand at shand@odcmp.com or call (419) 635-2141 ext. 1101.

For photos of this past weekends event visit the CMP website at http://www.odcmp.com/Photos/06/GSM_Clinic/index.htm.