Rifle Small Arms Firing School Draws 615 Participants; Brian Williams Tops EIC Competitors with a 394-12X

CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Brian Williams, 37, of Granby, Massachusetts, wasn’t the only shooter who was happy with his score at the 2011 Small Arms Firing School Excellence-In-Competition match, but he had reason to be the happiest, firing a record-setting score of 394-12X.

Basic and Advanced SAFS students assembled at Hough Auditorium to receive introductory instruction on safe handling and operation of the M16A2/AR15 service rifle in preparation for live firing later in the day and the following morning.

Williams led all 539 non-distinguished shooters in the match and earned his first four “leg points” toward his Distinguished Rifleman badge. Fifty-four other eligible competitors earned introductory EIC points with Williams on Sunday, 31 August. Points were awarded only to the top 10 percent of competitors who were not already Distinguished and had no EIC points already.

Williams fired 100-5X and 100-4X in the prone slow-fire and rapid-fire phases. He followed with a 99-3X in the rapid-fire sitting stage and 95-0X in slow-fire standing stage. All four stages were fired from 200 yards on Viale Range.

John Dowell, 60, of LaVale, Maryland, placed second in the EIC points-eligible group with an aggregate score of 391-9X. Emily Hogg, 17 of Kennard, Texas, placed third with a total score of 390-10X.

SGT Kristoffer Friend, U.S. Army Reserve, demonstrates a primary rule of firearms handling – checking the chamber to ensure the rifle is unloaded. SGT Friend and his team of instructors worked hand in hand with dozens of instructors in small groups on Viale Range during the practical instruction phase of SAFS Rifle.

The SAFS school, in existence since 1918, teaches civilians to safely and proficiently handle and fire small arms, such as the Army’s M16 service rifle and M9 service pistol. The program is mandated by Federal law to be conducted during the National Matches. The SAFS pistol program was conducted at the outset of the National Matches in July.

The school culminates in an Excellence-In-Competition Match which enables non-distinguished rifle shooters to earn four introductory “leg” points toward a Distinguished Rifleman Badge, considered a high level of achievement in shooting sports. Shooters must accumulate 30 leg points to receive Distinguished shooter status.

Maj J.R. Treharne, U.S. Air National Guard, discusses proper set-up and alignment for the offhand shooting position. All military instructors are competitive rifle shooters who participate in the National Matches and share valuable time as SAFS instructors.

Shooters enjoyed both the clear, sunny weather and 150 new Rock River Arms National Match AR15 rifles that were used for the first time at the SAFS school. Traditionally the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit provides rack grade M16 service rifles but this year the Civilian Marksmanship Program provided new rifles to take some of the burden off the AMU.

“We felt both the AMU and CMP participants would benefit from new rifles on the firing line,” said Christie Sewell, CMP North General Manager. “The Army’s rifles get a substantial workout each year at SAFS in addition to other training events, so we felt it would be a win-win if we provided new rifles – it’s great for the shooters and the AMU’s equipment gets a rest,” she said.

Scores across the board improved in 2011 compared to last year. The points cut- off was 372-8X, with 57 shooters receiving EIC credit. In 2010 the cut-off was 345-3X. A total of 615 basic and advanced class students attended this year’s school, 504 of which were first-timers.

The SAFS rifle program and M16 EIC Match attract new and veteran shooters alike. Attendees are provided with outstanding instruction in the classroom by members of the US Army Marksmanship Unit shooting team and approximately two hours of highly-individualized instruction on the firing line by USAMU, regular Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard and Reserve shooting team members.

During the SAFS basic program, USAMU instructors discussed safe handling and the characteristics of the M16/AR15 service rifle, including clearing instructions and function. USAMU also covered range procedures and operations, range commands and scoring.

Upon completion of the basic class, attendees received hands-on instruction in rifle handling, position work, dry-firing drills and live-firing practice on Viale Range. On Sunday morning all basic course students were encouraged to fire the EIC match, also on Viale Range. Advanced SAFS students received more detailed instruction at Hough Auditorium all day Saturday and were able to fire in the M16 EIC match Sunday morning on Viale Range.

Don Myers, SSgt Brady Westling and Micki Marciniak are all Project Appleseed participants who came to SAFS Rifle to pick up on skills training and teaching methods.

Don Myers, 58, of Waterville, Ohio, and Micki Marciniak, of Macomb, Michigan, both participated in their second SAFS Rifle school this year. Myers and Marciniak are active in Project Appleseed, a non-profit marksmanship activity of The Revolutionary War Veterans Association, dedicated to teaching America’s heritage and history as well as traditional rifle marksmanship skills.

SSgt Brady Westling, 26, of Atkinson, Nebraska, is an Air National Guard highpower competitor and Project Appleseed instructor who wanted to see what SAFS was all about.

“This is great, I’m really happy to be out here with all these competitors and thankful we have this opportunity,” SSgt Westling said.

George Planeta, 54, of Portland, Connecticut, attended his first ever SAFS Rifle this year.

George Planeta, 53, of Portland, Connecticut, shares a fun moment with this SAFS instructor during position and dry-firing practice.

“My sons are into highpower and I have to stay ahead of them,” he said jokingly.

Planeta said he’s a self-taught shooter and is always looking for help in filling holes in his shooting knowledge and thought SAFS would be beneficial. He has shot smallbore since 1974 and has competed at Camp Perry for four years.

Sam San Filippo is joined by his mom, Beth and dad, Paul during a break in SAFS practical instruction on Viale Range.

Sam San Filippo, 15, of Cary, Illinois, had been looking forward to coming to Camp Perry for the past couple of years according to his parents, Paul, 51, and Beth, 45.

“Coming to Camp Perry is the only thing he’s been talking about for two years,” Beth said. “It’s the Mecca of shooting.”

Sam Moser, left, and Sam San Filippo teamed up at the 2011 SAFS event. Both are members of the Illinois State Rifle Association “Hard Dogs” shooting team. It was Moser’s and San Filippo’s first trip to Camp Perry.

Sam is a member of the Illinois State Rifle Association Junior Highpower Team, known as the Hard Dogs. He partnered with another Hard Dog named Sam – Sam Moser, 17, of Peoria. San Filippo and Moser came to shoot the team match and National Trophy Individual Match during highpower week.

SAFS students begin to assemble in the early morning of Sunday, 31 July in preparation for the Excellence-In-Competition service rifle match. Fifty-four competitors earned their introductory EIC points during the match.

For complete results of the M16 EIC Match, log onto http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_eventAward.cgi?matchID=6544&eventID=4&awardID=2. To view, download or order photos from the event, log onto our photo Web site at http://cmp1.zenfolio.com.

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