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| Distinguished
Rifleman and Pistol Shot Program
Texas National Guard |
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| The
Distinguished Badge is perhaps the most prestigious award in the shooting
sports. |
| The
program was administered for many years by the Office of the Director
of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM), a branch of the US Army, and now by
its successor, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Military or
civilian personnel can earn points toward "becoming Distinguished"
only by competing in "Excellence in Competition"(E.I.C.)
matches in conjunction with State or Regional (Multi-State) Championships
or the National Matches. This insures a high turnout of better shooters,
raising the bar of competition to a more difficult level. |
| Points are awarded
to the top finishers in a rather complicated system. A 1st place finish
is a 10 point "Leg" in a journey of many steps to become
distinguished, thus the term "Leg Match". Awards of 8 and
6 points are awarded to lower finishes. A shooter must earn a minimum
of 30 points for the presentation of the gold, numbered Distinguished
Rifleman’s Badge but there’s a catch. He must have at
least one 8 or 10 point leg and cannot earn the award with 6 point
wins alone. |
| Leg matches are
few and far between, often only one per state per year so they draw
good shooters from hundreds of miles away in search of the gold. Competitors
must use U.S. Service Rifles such as the M1 Garand, M14, M16 or their
civilian equivalents, the M1A or AR15. This increases the difficulty
since most shooters have a tough time mastering such rifles and their
post front sights as opposed to a fine target rifle with micrometer
or telescopic sights. Strict limitations are imposed on modifications
or tuning. |
| The course of
fire is the standard NRA National Match Course consisting of 10 rounds
Slow Fire Standing from 200 yards, a Rapid Fire 10 round string from
sitting, a 10 round Rapid Fire string from prone at 300 yards and
20 rounds Slow Fire Prone at 600 yards. There is no coaching, the
shooter is on his own and there are no sighting or zeroing shots.
Thousands of shooters every year are out of contention after only
2 or 3 shots because they didn’t have a good zero or they failed
to properly read the conditions (light, wind, etc.). |
| The quest for
the gold Distinguished Badge is spread over many miles and after many
years for those that even attempt the challenge. How hard is it? Since
its’ inception in 1891(that’s right 1891!), there have
been roughly 3400 Distinguished Rifleman medals awarded military members
and civilians. It is said that fewer than 3% of those who seek to
becoming distinguished ever realize success. Success goes only to
the most proficient and persistent. |
According to
Mrs. Nancy Pool, Custodian of the Army’s Excellence in Competition
awards, 362 Army marksmen have earned both the rifle and pistol badge.
As of February 6, 2006 the rifle badge has been awarded to 3,220 Soldiers.
Regular Army shooters have earned 2254 rifle badges but, as noted
earlier, some Reservists and Guardsman are carried on the Regular
Army rolls. Army Reserve soldiers have earned 359 and Guardsmen 607
rifle Badges. The Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge has been awarded
to 1,689 with Army personnel earning 971-with the same caveat as rifle,
Reservists 243, while the Guard accounts for 475 badges.
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