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| The 160 Navy JROTC cadets who participated in NJROTC Basic Leadership Training at Camp Perry, Ohio are shown assembled during their closing formation when awards were presented. |
For four days in mid-June, 160 Navy JROTC cadets who participated in the 2006 NJROTC Area 3 Basic Leadership Training (BLT) course received rifle marksmanship training from CMP instructors. Air rifle marksmanship was one of several cadet training activities that included orienteering, drill and ceremony, a leadership challenge course and watercraft operation.
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| CMP instructor Robert Sherer, Middle Point, Ohio, supervises NJROTC cadet firing in the supported position. The cadet in the center of the photo is inserting a CBI (clear barrel indicator) in her rifle after completing a practice series to confirm that the air rifle is unloaded. |
Cadets were selected to attend the BLT at Camp Perry, Ohio to prepare them for leadership positions in their JROTC units next fall. NJROTC Area 3 encompasses the states of Indiana, Michigan, Ohio, Pennsylvania and West Virginia. All BLT cadets participated in the air rifle program and were divided into groups with and without prior marksmanship training. 40 cadets were in the advanced group while the other 120 cadets had received no previous marksmanship training. Daily marksmanship sessions for each group lasted two hours for a total of eight hours of instruction during the week.
The air rifle marksmanship course was led by CMP Director Gary Anderson and a group of volunteer instructors who recently completed CMP Master Instructor training for conducting Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Clinics. They were Keith Custard, Beaver, PA; LCDR Dan Hoey, Aberdeen, MD; Clint Lovell, North Smithfield, RI; Robert Sherer, Middle Point, OH and Raymond Vaughn, Baltimore, MD.
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| Cadets without previous marksmanship training did their initial firing from supported positions. |
The first-timers’ instruction began with safety and range procedures and a safety examination. BMC targets were used for all range firing which began with firing from supported positions on benches. Within two or three days almost all cadets were firing dime-sized groups and adjusting sights to place their groups in the ten ring. Standing position instruction for the new shooters began on the second day. The instructional sequence used for standing progressed from dry firing on blank targets to shooting groups on blank targets to dry firing on bulls-eye targets and finally to shooting groups on bulls-eye targets. From the start, all cadets were able to keep all of their shots well within the BMC target scoring rings and by the fourth day several were keeping five shot groups in the black (9 & 10 rings on the BMC target).
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| Cadets without previous marksmanship training also received considerable training in standing. Half of their end-of-camp match was fired in standing where results were impressive for new standing position shooters. |
The advanced group included some cadets with previous rifle team experience and others who had received safety instruction and some basic marksmanship training. Their instruction included a review of basic shot technique and sight adjustment. Their training focused on improving their standing position skills including pre-shot preparation.
All of the NJROTC cadets participated in a 20-shot competition on the fourth day that counted in overall rankings for the “best platoon award.” Novice cadets fired 10 shots from the supported position and 10 shots standing. The advanced cadets fired 20 shots standing. Individual award winners in the competition were:
Novice—10 supported, 10 standing:
1st Savanna Shinault, Rhodes H. S., Cleveland OH, 195
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| Gary Anderson, CMP Director, and Capt. Tom Lennon, NJROTC Area 3 BLT Commander present awards to the top advanced cadets: 1st Katie Inman, Grove City OH; 2nd Charlie Kreger, Englewood OH; 3rd Carl Gamero, Euclid OH. |
2nd Jacob Cook, Ogemaw Heights H. S., West Branch MI, 192 (93)
3rd Adam Burgett, Admiral King H. S. Elyria OH, 192 (92)
Advanced—20 shots standing
1st Katie Inman, Grove City H. S., Grove City OH, 190
2nd Charlie Kreger, Northmont H. S., Englewood, OH, 189
3rd Carl Gamero, Euclid H. S., Euclid OH, 187
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