CMP Offers Quality Junior Marksmanship Events Throughout The Year
November 20, 2015
By Ashley Brugnone, CMP Writer
One of the missions of the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is to educate junior marksmen and provide them with opportunities to enhance their individual skills. With the CMP’s many programs provided all year round, juniors are given a variety of competitions to fire in at one or each of the CMP’s world-class facilities.
The South CMP Competition Center in Anniston, Ala., and the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center at Camp Perry, Ohio, both hold 80, 10-meter firing points within its air range. Each point is equipped with state-of-the-art electronic targets, which allow instant shot displays to both competitors and spectators.
The new CMP Talladega Marksmanship Park is one of the most advanced outdoor facilities in the world – unlike any other. Boasting the latest technological advances in the realm of marksmanship, each firing point of the 500-acre facility is equipped with an electronic target and scoring monitor – just like the air ranges.
Juniors may also find events or clubs available in their areas by contacting their CMP State Directors. The State Directors are dedicated to providing leadership and motivation to shooting programs within his/her individual state. A list of State Directors and their contact information can be found at https://thecmp.org/training-tech/state-director/.
The following is just a few of the exciting CMP events held throughout the year open to new and experienced juniors alike.
Dixie Double – Anniston, Ala.
The Dixie Double Air Rifle and Pistol Competition is fired in November at the South Range in Anniston, Ala. The match is a two-day, 60 Shot Standing competition, and is available to both men and women, as well as junior competitors. With regular participation from the Army Marksmanship Unit, the Dixie Double is an opportunity to stand on the firing line amongst some of the best marksmen in the country.
A new, fun addition to the match is the Target Sprint competition. During the event, participants run along a path, occasionally stopping to fire air rifles at five, 10-meter collapsible targets – knocking all over before continuing on. The first to cross the finish line, wins.
Talladega 600 – Talladega, Ala.
The Talladega 600 at CMP’s Talladega Marksmanship Park is held in December. The event schedule is designed to appeal to rifle, pistol and shotgun enthusiasts alike in order to provide an even wider variety of marksmanship opportunities to competitors from around the country.
Events fired at the Talladega 600 include popular CMP Games Matches, such as the Garand, Springfield, Vintage Military and Rimfire Matches, as well as versions of prestigious National Trophy Matches.
Gary Anderson Invitational – Camp Perry, Ohio; Anniston, Ala.
One of the CMP’s most popular events of the year is the Gary Anderson Invitational, held in December at the CMP South Range in Anniston, Ala., and at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center in Camp Perry, Ohio.
The match is a three-position air rifle tournament that follows the 3×20 course of fire. Each shooter fires 20 record shots from prone, standing and kneeling positions. Winners are determined overall, from scores comprised from the CMP North and CMP South competitors.
JROTC and CMP Three Position Air Rifle Postal Competition
The JROTC Postal Competition is usually held in October for young cadets in Army, Navy, Marine Corps and Air Force JROTC programs. The CMP National Postal Championship traditionally begins in November for any junior shooter involved in 4-H, Scouts, American Legion, club or JROTC air rifle programs.
Registered shooters receive official CMP targets by mail to fire record shots upon at their home ranges from each of the three positions: prone, standing and kneeling. Targets are then mailed back to CMP for scoring. The top shooters of the Postal competition qualify for the CMP Regional Championships and from there will qualify for Nationals.
Camp Perry Open – Camp Perry, Ohio
The Camp Perry Open is fired in January at the Gary Anderson CMP Competition Center. Some of the best marksmen in the country – including members of the Army Marksmanship Unit and the USA Shooting team, fire in the competition. Events include the Men’s and Women’s 60 Shot Air Rifle and Pistol matches and 3×20 Junior Air Rifle individual and team matches.
The highlight of the Camp Perry Open that sets it apart from other matches is the highly anticipated Super Final – which breaks from the traditionally quiet, concentrated finals administered during marksmanship events and is arguably the most unique finals system in the arena of competitive shooting.
For more information on the CMP and its programs, visit www.TheCMP.org.