Civilian Training for Our Troops

craigp40

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I also posted this over at SniperHide, but thought is was just as good to post here. There is plenty of knowledge/skill here that could definitely be used to help our troops. Please read below.


Civilian Instructors to Support Army Marksmanship Training


The U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit and the Civilian Marksmanship Program are developing a new program that utilizes outstanding civilian service rifle marksmen to assist USAMU instructors as they train Soldiers in advanced service rifle marksmanship skills. Highly qualified civilian marksmanship experts will be selected for training and service as CMP Military Rifle Instructors. The USAMU will train these instructors who will then be assigned duties with USAMU Mobile Training Teams conducting 'Train-the-Trainer' courses throughout the United States.

The Global War on Terrorism has reinforced the need for advanced rifle marksmanship training. Lessons learned in Iraq and Afghanistan reinforces accurate rifle fire as one of the most critical components of combat operations. To respond to this battlefield requirement the Army is establishing a new Squad Designated Marksman (SDM) program to place a rifleman trained in accurate long-range precision fire in each combat squad. This has created a rapidly growing requirement for Army small unit leader advanced rifle marksmanship training. The Army intends to expand the number of its combat brigades and the number of Soldiers requiring advanced training.

The demand for trained and proficient instructors for these specialized skills exceeds the supply, and the Army has requested CMP assistance to augment USAMU Mobile Training Teams.

The competition program fostered by the National Matches and the service rifle Excellence-in-Competition program has produced large numbers of civilian Distinguished Riflemen and marksmanship experts who have the knowledge and instructional skills needed by the Army for the SDM program. The program developed by the CMP and USAMU is designed to tap into this pool of highly trained and talented civilian rifle experts to help the Army meet its new requirements. In the past year (2004-2005), civilian riflemen in Texas, Tennessee, and Kentucky provided advanced marksmanship instruction for soldiers at Fort Hood, Texas; Fort Riley, Kansas; and Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and have repeatedly demonstrated how effectively civilian Distinguished Riflemen can support military marksmanship training.

As part of the Army-wide Designated Marksman Strategy the USAMU Custom Firearms Shop has developed an improved DM version of the M16A4 service rifle featuring a free-float rail system, an improved trigger, and ACOG rangefinder telescope. A large number of these rifles already are deployed in Iraq. CMP Military Rifle Instructors will teach the use of this rifle system to make accurate long-range shots at distances from 100 to 600 yards.

The CMP Military Rifle Instructor program is unique not only because it gives civilians an opportunity to directly contribute to the national defense, but it also fulfills the original purpose of the CMP when the Congress and President Theodore Roosevelt founded the program in 1903. They envisioned that the National Matches and the "civilian marksmanship program" would be a means of preparing young Americans to serve more effectively in the Armed Services.

The initial group of CMP Military Rifle Instructors will be selected in the next few weeks and will receive training from USAMU instructors as early as mid-June. CMP Military Rifle Instructors selected for the program must meet the following qualifications:

Have earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge or have other similar competitive accomplishments in service rifle shooting.
Have prior experience as a marksmanship instructor or coach.
Ideally, have prior service in the U. S. Armed Services.
Be physically fit and capable of working and instructing in outdoor environments for one- week assignments with 10-12 hour workdays.
Have sufficient time available to attend an initial one-week training session and to work in one or two one-week training courses per year.
Military Rifle Instructors will serve on a volunteer basis, but their travel expenses will be reimbursed while they are on assignments. Military Rifle Instructors will be assigned to work as members of instructional teams that will travel to military installations to conduct SDM courses. Military Rifle Instructors will work under the direction of an Army NCO team leader.

The CMP is now accepting applications from qualified individuals who are interested in serving in the new Military Rifle Instructor Program. You may download the application form by clicking on http://www.odcmp.com/Programs/MRIApp.pdf. Complete the form and fax it to 419-635-2565 or mail it to Sheri Judd, CMP SDM Program, P. O. Box 576, Port Clinton, OH 43452 or email [email protected]. Additional information about the program will be available in a few days.
 
Texas State Rifle Team and other top shooters in TX have already trained troops out of Ft. Hood TX. I believe this is where they learned that it can work really well. Unfortunately I was in a job situation that did not allow me to instruct also but thats life.

This is a super program and one that can be and will be a plus on the pro gun side. It has no negatives that I can see.

Jeff
 
It is really a shame that this lesson had to be "re-learned". The Army had many good marksmanship programs pre-RVN and recognized that in the end it comes down to the guy (or girl - the world has changed! ) on the ground and what he can do with what he has in his hands.

I think back on the Sarge who was my coach on the Univ. of Ala. rifle team and his patience with me and all of my squirrel hunting shooting techniques. He did his very best to teach me things that I that I needed to know. I can remember laying on that ole green canvas mat and hearing his footstep coming my way and I would know he was going to tap the sole of my left shoe because I didnot have it correctly rested but cocked over and under tension. I was the worst shot on the team but he spent just as much, if not more, time with me as anyone else.

A very nice post about an effort that will help some of the kids get back home safely.
 
The Army should look at what the Marines are doing. The CMP matches are for the most part the same as the USMC shooting qualification. The Marines only shoot to 500 yards, but they still build the foundation for shooting longer ranges. Even without the freefloat tubes and a better trigger, Marines still hit the 500 yard man-sized target well. I could only imagine that what I would have shot at my last qualification with match ammo and a tuned up gun. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
Too bad the Army will only be giving this to 1 person out of a squad - everyone gets that training in the Marines. The Armed Forces decision to go with a 16" barrel doesn't help long range accuracy, so hopefully the squad marksman would get a rifle with a 20" barrel.

Ooh-Rah!
 
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