SAFS at Camp Perry

[Sterling Shooter]

Where were you? Coaching at this years rifle phase of the United States Army Marksmanship Unit's Small Arms Firing School I expected to see some posters here taking advantage of an opportunity to get off to a really good start in their quest of good shooting.

As I understand it 750 folks signed up for this event and since there are only enough coaches and staff to accommodate 700 students some folks had to be turned away.

For those who were able to enter, they had two days of Service Rifle training including the opportunity to participate in an M16 EIC match, which, for those finishing in the top 10 percent, would see them earn 4 leg points toward the Distinguished Rifleman badge.

At any rate, for any here interested in a really good start on mastery of shooting fundamentals, the USAMU's SAFS is something that you just don't want to miss. Put it on your things to do list for next year and make reservations in April.

 

[kraigWY]

Re: SAFS at Camp Perry

I think SS is underestimating the value of the Small Arms Firing School.

Lets look at the SAFS a bit.

In 1903 at the insistence of Teddy Roosevelt had Congress pass an Act Creating the National Matches and the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (the DCM which we now call the DCM)

The first SAFS was conducted in 1920.

What is the SAFS and where did it come from?

During WWI Gen. Pershing was somewhat disturbed with the quality of marksmanship of the soldiers being sent to Europe. He had Col. A.J. Macnab develop a program of instruction to rectify the marksmanship deficiency.

This if you can find it is T.R. 150-5.

Prior to adopting Macnab’s program of instruction, the average qualification of a company of 65 men was:

Expert 4
Sharpshooter 7
Marksmen’s 15
Unqualified 40

After the program of instruction:

Expert 14
Sharpshooter 20
Marksman 31
Unqualified 0

Col. Macnab’s program of instruction was the beginning of the Small Arms Firing School conducted by the Civilian Marksmanship Program at the National Matches. The SAFS is well worth attending, for new and old shooters alike.

 

[taliv]

Re: SAFS at Camp Perry

i went twice in the previous decade. was a great experience and very entertaining. definitely worth the time. my most prominent memory of it is Praslik's discourse on the relative size of "coastal plains heads" vs the "corn fed midwestern heads" used to hold the stock down.