Back to First Shot Front Cover!   
CMP Home Page TFS Articles Archives CMP Competitions Home Page CMP Forum CMP Sales  SEPT-2010

Click here to sign up to receive CMP Shooters' News Email Updates

Click here to go to the CMP Forum to read & post questions.


We want your feedback! Please let us know what you think about TFS. Do you have an interesting story or article that you would like to share? If so, please let us know!


Upcoming CMP Events:
Tuesday & Thursday Night Open Public Shooting
CMP Marksmanship Centers,
Port Clinton, OH
Anniston, AL
Shooters, including aspiring new shooters are invited to take advantage of a new opportunity to do practice shooting.  Both ranges consist of 80-point, 10-meter air gun range and are fully equipped with electronic targets that accommodate air rifle, air pistol or National Match Air Rifle shooting.  Instruction and equipment are also available.  Visit http://www.odcmp.com/MarksmanshipCenters.htm for additional information.

 

CMP iPhone App - CMP is the official app for keeping score at Civilian Marksmanship Program sponsored shooting events. It features an easy to use interface that allows for quick recording of your score after each string. The CMP app calculates your shooting percentages automatically to let you know how you are doing throughout the event. You can also enter notes and record conditions so that you have a permanent record of details of each event.  This application is sponsored and endorsed by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this software are donated to the CMP.  The CMP app is designed for both the iPhone and iPad.  This application is sponsored and endorsed by the Civilian Marksmanship Program and a portion of the proceeds from the sale of this software are donated to the CMP.  Visit http://itunes.apple.com/us/app/cmp/
id379873392?mt=8# to view and purchase the CMP app.

 

2010-2011 JROTC Air Rifle Postal Competition Now Open for Registration.  The 2010-2011 JROTC three-position air rifle competition program starts in September with Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force postal competitions. All JROTC units that offer rifle marksmanship training for their cadets are encouraged to shoot in these popular matches. Indeed, a major objective this year is to increase participation by JROTC units and individual cadets. All firers in the open postal competitions will fire a 3x10 air rifle course of fire. The deadline to enter the JROTC Postal Competition is 12 November.  Visit http://www.odcmp.com/3P/JROTC.htm for additional information and on-line registration.
 


CMP North Store Celebrates Appreciation Day and Open House on 2 October - CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Plan to join us at the CMP North store for our Customer Appreciation Day and Open House with complimentary coffee and donuts in the morning and hot dogs and chips in the afternoon on Saturday, 2 October. The store opens at 8:30 a.m. and closes at 4 p.m.


2010 Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches Ready for Entries.  It’s time to think about highpower rifle shooting - “Western Style” at the 2010 Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Matches at the Ben Avery Shooting Facility North of Phoenix, Arizona, on 16-24 October. Registration for the 2010 Western CMP Games and Creedmoor Cup Match is now open. The CMP and Creedmoor Sports of Oceanside, California, together with the Arizona State Rifle & Pistol Association, will host the matches and festivities. Sign up today and plan to be a part of this exciting event! Visit http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/
WesternGames.htm  to read the complete Match Program and register online.


Air Rifle and Air Pistol Marksmanship Competitions - Camp Perry, Ohio and Anniston, Alabama.  The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites you and your club rifle team to participate in the CMP’s Monthly Matches. The matches will take place on the above dates at the CMP’s Marksmanship Centers North and South. The competitions will feature a Junior Air Rifle 3x20, 60 Shots Air Rifle Standing, 60 Shots Air Pistol, a 20 shot Novice Prone stage a National Match Air Rifle 20 Shot Standing, Garand Course and 3x20 events.  Monthly Match Dates are 16 October and 20 November.  Visit http://www.odcmp.com/
MarksmanshipCenters.htm to view the CMP Monthly Match Program or to register for the Match. 


 Dixie Double, Anniston, AL.  The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) invites you to participate in its second annual Anniston Marksmanship Center Dixie Double. This match offers 60-shot international air rifle standing and 60-shot air pistol events for open men and women and junior men and women. USA Shooting is sanctioning this match as a PSA/PSI match sanctions; it is also sanctioned as a PTO.  Members of the National Rifle and Pistol Teams will attend.  National Rifle Coach David Johnson will present a coaching clinic for all interested persons on Saturday afternoon, 13 November.  The match is a two-day event where competitors will fire one 60-shot event on each of two days, 13 & 14 November 2010.   Visit http://www.odcmp.com/3P/DixieDouble.htm for additional information.
 


Printable Version

Enthusiastic Junior Range Crew Keeps its Goal on Target

By Steve Cooper, CMP Writer


CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Pistol and highpower rifle shooters may not realize it, but there’s a dedicated crew of approximately 60 junior target workers who toil from May through mid-August each year, providing virtually all target-related services for competitors during the NRA National Rifle and Pistol Championships and CMP National Trophy Matches and Games Events.
 
Members of the NRA target crew prepare and pasted more than 5,000 Rimfire Sporter Match targets prior to the 2010 National Matches.

Employed by the NRA and working in conjunction with the Civilian Marksmanship Program and the Ohio National Guard, the summer range crew supplies most of the labor needed to set up, change and eventually dismantle the pistol and rifle ranges for thousands of shooters.
 
Workers apply a fresh coat of paint to pistol benches prior to the beginning of the 2010 matches.

From painting, surveying firing points, positioning pistol benches and preparing targets, these high school and college students who live primarily in the Port Clinton and Oak Harbor area, dedicate a big chunk of their summer to the National Matches.
 
At 78, Joe DeCosta says the secret of his success is surrounding himself with good people.

Led by NRA Range Engineer Joe DeCosta, Assistant Range Engineer Ralph Reichman and Range Supervisor Jen Rich, the crew is broken into two main groups – target pasting and everything else that’s target-related.


The younger members of the team, at ages 14 and 15, are assigned to target pasting duties and are limited to maximum of 40 working hours per week. Those 16 years of age and over handle jobs that require considerable physical labor and operation of motorized equipment. They are also permitted to work overtime.
Erica Lipstraw, a University of Toledo student, served as foreman of the target crew during this year’s matches.

Foreman Erica Lipstraw, 20, of Oak Harbor, supervised a crew of 29 workers who pasted more than 5,000 CMP Rimfire Sporter Match targets prior to the matches in July. Lipstraw said many members of the crew have been pasting targets each summer for three to four years.

DeCosta, 78, who just completed his 27th National Matches at Camp Perry, said the range crew is a story of family participation.
 
Katie Perry is one of six family members and three generations who have served on the Camp Perry range crew over the years.

“I hate to say this, but hiring is almost a closed house. Once I get a family, like Katie Perry – she’s the last of six family members who have worked for us every year. I worked with many of these kids’ fathers years ago – they have a great work ethic,” he said.

As a former competitor, DeCosta and his crew know what the shooters need and expect from the target crew, he said. “We do our best to give them the best targets and best service we can – that’s what I would want as a shooter.”

DeCosta has been a familiar face on the ranges of Camp Perry since 1969 as a Marine Corps shooter. He earned his Distinguished Pistol badge in 1972 and followed with a Distinguished Rifleman’s badge the following year.

“Even though the work is hard and the kids are out here pasting targets in the hot sun all the time, they seem to be having fun,” he said. It’s not unusual for some workers to begin working overtime three or four days into their seven-day workweek.
 
The 2010 NRA target crew gathered at their season-ending picnic for a final photograph prior to returning to school and other fall activities.
The range crew celebrated another successful year with a season-ending picnic on Friday, 20 August. Though many of the crew had already departed for family vacations or back-to-school prep, those who remained enjoyed a steak dinner and recreation as part of the celebration.

“My job over the years has been very easy,” DeCosta said. “Like I learned in the Marine Corps, if you surround yourself with good people, you’re going to be successful,” he added.
 
Ralph Reichman, Assistant Range Engineer, Christie Sewell, CMP North General Manager and Joe DeCosta, Range Engineer celebrated their partnership in another successful National Matches.

“It’s a pleasure now working with the CMP, together we work hard to get things done up here,” DeCosta said.

NEXT ARTICLE

Back to the Top


TO CONTACT THE CMP
PROGRAMS:  For marksmanship training, competitions, National Matches, safety information and youth marksmanship.

Email:  info@odcmp.com

Camp Perry Program Center
Phone: (419) 635-2141      Fax: (419) 635-2802

Mail & Shipping:
Civilian Marksmanship Program
P.O. Box 576 (mail)
Camp Perry Training Site, Bldg #3 (shipping)
Port Clinton, Ohio 43452
SALES:  For government surplus rifles and ammunition, CMP products and CMP memorabilia. 

Email:  custserve@odcmp.com

Anniston Distribution Center
Phone: (256) 835-8455     Fax:  (256) 835-3527

Mail & Shipping:
Civilian Marksmanship Program
1401 Commerce Blvd
Anniston, Alabama 36207
Spam and Virus Filtering Provided byISP Services