The 2002 CMP-USMC Junior Service Rifle Clinic

One of the highlights of the National Matches, at least for younger competitors, was the three day CMP and USMC sponsored junior highpower rifle camp. 163 young shooters attended this year's camp with ages ranging from 12 to 20. The camp is designed to instruct junior shooters of all skill levels. Some shooters are new to highpower while some of the teens who participate come with at least some experience. A few are already high masters or even national champions. SSGT Rodney Abbott was in charge of the camp and led a group of seven USMC instructors. The entire USMC Service Rifle Team was onhand to act as coaches on the firing line. The first day is spent providing instruction on the basics and fundamentals: effects of the weather, how to properly use and modify equipment, the rulebook requirements for shooting positions. Days two and three are spent shooting. As an instructor, Abbott sees real improvement in the shooters. For example, he pointed out 13-year-old Daniel Atkins, a newcomer. "We worked with him yesterday and changed his positions some, especial for standing in the wind. His first shot was an X." According to Abbott, the same rules apply to adults as they do kids. In his experience, Abbott finds teaching the kids is easier, "They won't try to overanalyze it. And they're not afraid to ask questions." Abbott also gives his students a checklist of steps that he himself follows. He emphasized the fundamentals--"step one, this is what I do, step two... you go through 10 to 13 steps, whatever your checklist is, nine times out of ten they hammer it." On the third day of camp, the students fired from the 600 yard line. On this day, the big issue was weather. The effects of weather were broken into two parts: (1) what affects the bullet, and (2) what affects the shooter. Per Abbott, for the shooter, it's psychological--"I'm cold, I'm wet, I want to get this over with." What Abbott and the Marines teach is that all of the shooters are cold and wet. The match winner is the shooter who doesn't let the weather bother him or her. Anyone familiar with shooting at Camp Perry also knows about making adjustments for wind. "A lot of people agree that the wind blowing right now, the wind blowing on me, affects the bullet the most. As described by Abbott, the wind begins to have an effect on the bullet the moment it leaves the barrel. At the end of the day, the "pizza detail" served up a seemingly endless amount of pizza, The happy campers received t-shirts and certificates for their efforts. But more importantly they received a lot of valuable instruction that will almost certainly help them advance faster in their future competition shooting. Special thanks goes to SSGT Abbott and the USMC Weapons Training Battalion from Quantico, VA, as well as the USMC Rifle team for conducting another successful and educational camp this year. Information and application forms for attending next year's camp can be requested from CMP Competitions, competitions@odcmp.com or 419-635-2141, ext. 1132.

How much pizza do you buy for 163 teens? And how long does it last? Junior shooter, Daniel Atkins