CMP Announces Advanced Maintenance Class Schedule for 2027
November 3, 2026
The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is excited to release upcoming dates for the 2027 Advanced Maintenance Class!
The Advanced Maintenance Class (AMC) is a three-day course in Anniston, Ala., for those who wish to take their passion for the timeless M1 Garand rifle to the next level.
Set within CMP’s Custom Shop, the AMC offers participants the chance to receive unparalleled, one-on-one training from experienced CMP armorers on head space, barrel installation, component function, maintenance and more – all absorbed as students construct personal rifles from CMP’s array of M1 Garand parts!
Additionally, students will receive a guided tour of the Anniston Armory to view the refurbishing process of the M1 Garand as well as other U.S. GI firearms. On the last day of the course, students will have the chance to fire their newly crafted rifles at the Talladega Marksmanship Park.
Registration period is from Oct. 19 to Dec. 19, 2026.
NOTE: Due to popularity of the classes, registration for the AMC will be based on a random drawing system.
Registering for multiple classes is permitted, but no applicant will be selected for more than one slot. Former AMC participants are welcome to sign up for 2027.
The 2027 Individual Class Dates:
- March 9-11
- April 6-8
- May 18-20
- June 8-10
- Aug. 17-19
- Sept. 7-9
- Oct. 12-14
Outside of individual course days, the CMP has reserved Buddy Classes for applicants wishing to attend with a designated partner of their choosing.
The 2027 Buddy Class Dates:
- March 12-14
- April 9-11
- May 21-23
- June 11-13
- Aug. 20-22
- Sept. 10-12
- Oct. 15-17
Those interested in the AMC may find more information or enter into the random drawing through the CMP website at https://thecmp.org/training-tech/advanced-maintenance-class/.
Very interested in this opportunity to attend this class
Thank you for your interest! Registration for the 2027 Advanced Maintenance Classes is currently open through December 19, 2026. Due to limited class sizes and high demand, participants will be selected through a random drawing, with notifications sent on January 8, 2027. We encourage you to review the available dates and submit your registration during the open enrollment period. We hope to see you in Anniston!
https://thecmp.org/training-tech/advanced-maintenance-class/
hello there, i am very interested in this class. i’m a little worried about the “advanced” part. i have several US military rifles including my treasured M1 Garand. i would love to learn all about mechanical intricacies of these firearms. i have worked on my my hunting rifles but not my M1. just want u to be aware of my novice status. wanted to check before i applied for a class, thank you!
The class is an in depth dive into the history and workings of the M1 Garand. You will pick your receiver and some of the other major parts of the rifle. You will lap your bolt, install your barrel and cut the headspace. You will then assemble the rest of the rifle with the instruction and assistance of our instructors. The vast majority of the work on your rifle will be done using simple and some specialized hand tools, so no machining experience is needed. At the end of day two you will have a completed rifle that you built from the receiver up. You will then meet on day three at our Talladega Marksmanship Park for a special store visit and then to the range where your rifle will be function fired. You can then enjoy shooting your rifle and have a free pass to the range for the rest of the day.
What prior experience is required to take the AMC course?
No prior experience is required to take the Advanced Maintenance Class. The class is designed for individuals of all skill levels, and no machining experience is necessary. Participants build their rifle using primarily simple hand tools while receiving step-by-step instruction and assistance from CMP instructors throughout the process. By the end of the course, you’ll have built your own rifle and will function-fire it at Talladega Marksmanship Park.
I’ve attended a previous AMC session and build the M1 I shoot today. It was a great experience. Before I put my name in to purchase a 1903 next year I was wondering if CMP will someday hold an AMC class for those 1903 rifles. If so I’d wait to attend that class because building the rifle is much more satisfying than simply having one shipped to you!
Thank you for your kind words about the Advanced Maintenance Class and for sharing your experience. We’re glad to hear you’re still enjoying the M1 Garand you built during the class.
We are currently working on a class for the 1903A3, along with several other future projects at the CMP. While we don’t have any dates to announce yet, it’s definitely something we’re exploring. We encourage you to keep an eye on the CMP website and AMC announcements for future updates.