27 April 2006

THE FIRST SHOT ON-LINE MAGAZINE FEATURES

One new article is posted on The First Shot On-Line, the CMP’s electronic newsletter.  Check The First Shot front page at http://www.odcmp.org/0406/default.asp to see summaries of all recent articles with links to the full articles.  The First Shot On-Line front page also displays readers’ comments and a link to the popular CMP Forum.  The latest articles posted are described below.

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New Rimfire Sporter Guide and National Rimfire Sporter Match Program Available - The 2006 version of the CMP Guide to Rimfire Sporter Shooting is now available. The new guide includes the official 2006 CMP Rimfire Sporter Rules, detailed instructions on how to shoot Rimfire Sporter, instructions for match sponsors on how to conduct Rimfire Sporter Matches and the official match program for the 2006 National Rimfire Sporter Match at Camp Perry.

 

More Details

In Memoriam:  SSgt Abraham G. Twitchell, USMC, is remembered by many who competed in the National Matches highpower rifle events.  SSgt Twitchell was an armorer for the U.S. Marine Corps Rifle Team who attended the National Matches and provided outstanding armorer support for the team during the 2003 and 2004 National Trophy Rifle Matches. 

SSgt Twitchell was subsequently assigned to the Combat Service Support Group-1, 1st Marine Logistics Group, I Marine Expeditionary Force, in Twenty Nine Palms, CA.  There, he also worked as an armorer customizing pistols and rifles for action in Iraq.  On February 8th, he was deployed with the Combat Logistics Battalion 7, supplying ammunition and weapons in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom.  He died on April 2, 2006, near al Asad, Iraq.  Prior to being assigned to the USMC Weapons Training Battalion, SSgt Twitchell attended the Precision Weapons School at Quantico Virginia.  When he graduated from that program he was assigned to the Marine Corps Rifle Team.  During his tour with the rifle team, he was in charge of research and development for advanced upgrades to National Match M-16 rifles.  His work assisted Marine Corps Rifle Team members in winning the National Trophy Individual, National Trophy Team and National Trophy Infantry Team Matches during the 2003 National Matches.  Abe also worked with several junior highpower rifle teams that attended marksmanship clinics at Quantico by giving the juniors and their coaches insight into weapons maintenance and accuracy improvements that could be made to AR-15 match rifles.  Abe never shot competitively, but as a skilled armorer he became an esteemed and invaluable member of the competition service rifle family.  A memorial fund is being set up for the benefit of Abe’s children.  Contact Sgt. Clinton Ziadeh via email at CAZiadeh@Inbox.com.

2006 National Matches and Small Arms Firing Schools.  The CMP on-line entry system for the 2006 National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Matches, the Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools and the National Rimfire Sporter Match have been open for just three weeks and entries are coming in at a very fast pace.  So far over 1,000 shooters have entered the CMP highpower rifle events that include the new Hearst Doubles and M1 Carbine Matches as well as traditional events like the President’s, National Trophy Individual and John C. Garand Matches.  Pistol entries are well over 100 and Rimfire Sporter entries are just below 100.  To plan your 2006 trip to Camp Perry and make your entries, you may download the Official Match Programs at  http://www.odcmp.com/NationalMatches.htm or register on-line at http://clubs.odcmp.com/matches. 

 

Display of CMP Rifles.  Don Frenzl, an accomplished gun collector from Brandenburg, Kentucky, has assembled an impressive collection of rifles that were sold by the Army’s Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship as well as by the current CMP.  Frenzl will display his collection during the Ohio Gun Collectors Association Annual Display Show that will take place at the Roberts Convention Center near Wilmington, Ohio on 13-14 May.  OGCA gun shows are members-only shows, but any OGCA members who plan to attend the 13-14 May show are encouraged to stop by Don Frenzl’s table to inspect his collection of DCM/CMP rifles that were sold through sales programs that date from the present to well before WWII.

 

CMP to Hire New Program Manager.  The CMP is now conducting a search to hire a new Program Manager who will work as a member of the CMP program staff at Camp Perry.  CMP program managers report to the DCM and are responsible for planning, organizing, promoting and conducting specific CMP programs under the direction of the DCM and CMP Board of Directors.  This position will be responsible for programs that include the new Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Clinic Program, special CMP junior camps and clinics, Regional CMP Games planning and operations and CMP rules coordination.  The person selected to fill this position should have a bachelor’s degree from a four-year accredited college or university together with extensive experience as a shooting sports instructor, match official and competitive shooter.  Experience in making effective written and oral communications is important; management experience in other fields is also relevant.  Qualified individuals who are interested in applying for this position may submit resumes and/or request a detailed job description by contacting Kathy Williams at kwilliams@odcmp.com. 

 

CMP Garand-Springfield-Military Rifle Master Instructor Clinic Full.  The CMP’s G-S-M Rifle Military Instructor Clinic which will be held 10-11 June at Camp Perry, OH is now full.  The CMP plans to hold another G-S-M Clinic this fall at Camp Perry  and full details and registration information will be announced as soon as possible.  There are still openings for the G-S-M Master Instructor Program which will be held in conjunction with the Western CMP Games at Camp Pendleton, CA on 3-4 November.  Please visit http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/GSMClinic.htm or download the application at http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/GSMClinicApp.pdf.  If you have questions about the G-S-M Master Instructor clinics, you may contact Shannon Hand at shand@odcmp.com or call (419) 635-2141 ext. 1101.

 

Muskegon Pistol & Rifle Club in Holton, MI will hold a sanctioned CMP John C. Garand  Match on Saturday, May 13, 2006.  This match will be governed by CMP Competition Rules and is open to all U.S. citizens 12 years of age or older.  You do not need to be a member of a club or the NRA.  There are club owned M1 Garand rifles that are available for use by competitors, but it is expected that the rifles used for the match will be cleaned by the competitor after the match.  Contact Jeff Humble, Match Director, at humblej@gdls.com or (231) 798-4283 for more information.

How I became a Distinguished Pistol Shot by Charlie Fletcher.  To view this story go to, http://clubs.odcmp.com/

cgi-bin/distinguishedStory.cgi?distID=10800.  CMP has been collecting stories from Distinguished shooters following their journey to receiving their Distinguished Badge.  If you would like to share your story, contact us at swood@odcmp.com.  More stories can be viewed by clicking on the “View Story” link beside a shooters name on the Distinguished list at, http://clubs.odcmp.com/cgi-bin/report_distinguished.cgi.

NEWS FROM THE CMP

John Gemmill and Charles Fletcher after the 2004 New Jersey State Service Pistol Championship.