Welcome to the CMP Web Site

Meet the Director of CMP

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) promotes firearms safety training and rifle practice for all qualified U.S. citizens with special emphasis on youth. The CMP operates through a network of affiliated shooting clubs and associations that covers every state in the U.S. The clubs and associations offer firearms safety training and marksmanship courses as well as the opportunity for continued practice and competition.

The CMP was created by the U.S. Congress. The original purpose was to provide civilians an opportunity to learn and practice marksmanship skills so they would be skilled marksmen if later called on to serve the U.S. military. Over the years the emphasis of the program shifted to focus on youth development through marksmanship. From 1916 until 1996 the CMP was administered by the U.S. Army. The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (TITLE XVI) created the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice & Firearms Safety, Inc. (CPRPFS) to take over administration and promotion of the CMP. The CPRPFS is a tax exempt not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization that derives its mission from public law.

Meet the CMP Board of Directors

The National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP), an advisory board to the Secretary of the Army, which was created in 1903, was disestablished by this law and replaced by the CPRPFS.  The initial board was appointed by the Secretary of the Army and is responsible to develop all policies and procedures for the implementation of all aspects of the CMP.

CMP Annual Report

No federally appropriated funds may be used by the Corporation to conduct operations; therefore, all funds must be generated through authorized sales, donations and fees charged. The Corporation may solicit, accept and retain funds and services from donations, bequests or gifts. All funds collected by the Corporation shall be used only to conduct the official functions of the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

The Corporation may charge fees for all competitive events authorized by the CMP. These events will continue to include all Excellence in Competition (EIC) matches and the National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Matches. The law authorizes the National Trophy Matches to continue to be conducted at Camp Perry, Ohio.

The CMP is authorized to provide support and encouragement to clubs and state associations with emphasis on strong junior programs. These programs will include instruction in the basics of marksmanship, firearms and range safety, competitive marksmanship and subjects related to firearms safety.

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