2008 Army Rifle and Pistol Championships
 

The Army Rifle and Pistol Championships will be hosted by the US Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Georgia from 7-15 March.

The All-Army is 4 days of M16 training from 50 to 500 yards, 3 days of M9 training from 7 to 50 yards, and 3 days of M24 training at 600, 800, and 1,000 yards (16-18 March). Instruction is by the best shooters in the Army, Army Reserve, and Guard.

It's open to all Soldiers of all branches and components (Active, Guard, Reserve, ROTC, West Point, and Soldiers, NCOs, and officers). If you don't have weapons they'll issue them to you. If you can't afford a motel room they'll assign you to a free barracks room. As an E4 the All-Army qualifies you for 4 promotion points.

If your command won't pay for it take leave and go -- you'll never get better shooting training in the service for free, along with the chance to win the High Joe (E1-E4) Trophy (last year taken by Specialist Wofford, a Fort Monroe MP in his first-ever competition. Wofford won a pistol).

The All-Army is also the Army Shooting Teams' scouting event for the summer. If invited/selected you'll shoot on the Army Rifle or Army Pistol Team for three months, TDY (on the AMU's dollar). If you show exceptional promise at the end of the summer you may be reassigned to the Shooting Teams.

"Special Award Categories:

a. CADET CATEGORY SCHOLARSHIP AWARDS. The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) will award up to $6,000 in scholarships for the top competitors in the Cadet Category in Match 604. A $2,000 CMP ROTC Scholarship will be awarded to the High Cadet. One additional $1,000 CMP ROTC Scholarships will be awarded if there are 10 or more Cadet Category competitors, two additional $1,000 scholarships will be awarded if there are 15 or more Cadets; three additional $1,000 scholarships will be awarded if there are 20 or more cadets and four additional $1,000 scholarships will be awarded if there are 25 or more cadets. To count, Cadets must fire in and complete the Match 604 aggregate. Scholarship checks will be made out to the Cadet and the financial aid office of the college or university they are attending. Scholarships must be used to pay expenses incurred through the school and cannot be used to pay personal expenses. Scholarship winners must have a minimum 2.5 GPA to be eligible to receive the scholarship.

b. High Drill Sergeant: Will be awarded from match 604 if 10 or more NCOs on Drill Sergeant Status participate.

c. High RA Soldier: Will be awarded to the high E1 – E4 from match 604.

d. High Guard Soldier: Will be awarded to the high E1 – E4 from match 604.

e. High Reserve Soldier: Will be awarded to the high E1 – E4 from Match 604."

www.usaac.army.mil/amu/OPERATIONS/2008%20all%20army%20program%20v1.htm

:( sigh, if only I could go...

shameless plug
 

The folks from NGCSU did very well.

Congratulations to cadet Smolucha for winning the novice division ( also overall winner of Audie Murphy Combat Match defeating the pro division competitors) and to SFC Leid for winning the open division.

The three cadets trained hard, were determined, and professional in their conduct. The hard work finally paid off. I wish them all the best. Hopefully, they would pass the skill sets in the unit they're assigned to.

Curious....
 

What kind of Rifles and Pistols did the competitors shoot with?

I mean were these "rack grade" guns, or does the AMU team have their "hot rod" M16's while the rest of us have our rack grade war clubs? Did all competitors shoot with 2" MOA rifles?

Photos and Scores -- 2008 Army Rifle and Pistol Championships
 

Everyone shoots arms-room "Rack grade" rifles and pistols. Shooters wear their MICH and vest.

Lots o' M16 and M4 photos:

www.odcmp.com/Photos/08/AllArmy/index.htm

http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/repor...i?matchID=3308




The annual match bulletins are usually the same and describe the uniform and matches:

http://www.usaac.army.mil/amu/OPERAT...ogram%20v1.htm

Dang!

After looking at the winners I am surprised that AMU didnt clean house at this championship.

JGarcia, SSG Praslick told us at the long range match last year that the purpose of these events (Benning pistol, rifle, and All-Army Small Arms) is to encourage any regular Joe to become more interested in marksmanship and ultimately improve their skills, pass those down to their units and so on. For $30, you get to shoot from multiple positions and scenarios with provided ammo, and you also get top notch instructions from USAMU and have the chance to win many prizes at different categories. It doesn't get any better than that IMHO (well...except when you shoot with and/or get taught by QP)

Consequently, AMU folks (and other pros) either don't compete or only allowed to compete in the pro class, in which they are not eligible for the prizes.

IIRC, all competitors were also given mk262 as opposed to M855. That's how some of those high scores were achievable, even with rack-grade rifles.

More about the All-Army