In 1903, the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP) was established to advise the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) on civilian marksmanship matters and to instruct U.S. citizens in small arms marksmanship skills. This initiative aimed to prepare civilians if later called to serve in the military. The NBPRP also facilitated annual National Matches where civilians could showcase their skills and compete against each other. In 1996, the NBPRP was redesignated as the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearm Safety, more commonly referred to as the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Federally chartered, CMP continues the legacy of instructing civilians in marksmanship, promoting firearms practice and safety, and conducting firearms competitions with a focus on youth. For nearly 30 years, the Administrative Assistant to the Secretary of the Army (AASA), on behalf of the SECARMY, has directed liaison activities with the CMP to sustain a collaborative partnership.
Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearm Safety (external link): https://thecmp.org/about
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Governing Statute
Title 36 United States Code Chapter 407, sections 40701-40733: https://uscode.house.gov/view.xhtml?req=granuleid%3AUSC-prelim-title36-chapter407&edition=prelim
Additional Related Policy
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Army Regulation (AR) 350-66(Small Arms Competitive Marksmanship Program)
Proponent: Deputy Chief of Staff (DCS), G-3/5/7
Purpose: This regulation establishes Department of the Army responsibilities and policy for implementing the Small Arms Competitive Marksmanship Program. Discusses National Matches and National Trophy Matches rules and regulations.
Link to AR: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1003751
AR 600-8-22 (Military Awards)
Proponent: DCS, G-1
Purpose: This regulation prescribes Department of the Army (DA) policy, criteria, and procedures for individual and unit military awards and foreign decorations and badges. Discusses wearing badges on the Army uniform awarded by the CMP and awards to civilians made by the CMP.
Link to AR: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1021147
AR 670-1 (Wear and Appearance of Army Uniforms and Insignia)
Proponent: DCS, G-1
Purpose: This regulation prescribes the uniforms, awards, insignia, and accoutrements authorized for wear on the Army uniform. Discusses wearing badges on the Army uniform awarded by the CMP.
Link to AR: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=1020639
AR 725-1 (Special Authorization and Procedures for Issues, Sales, and Loans)
Proponent: DCS, G-4
Purpose: This regulation prescribes procedures, establishes policies, and provides guidance for requisition, issue, sale, and loan of special authorized material. Discusses U.S. Army Materiel Command and U.S. Army Tank and Automotive Command’s role for coordinating the transfer of rifles and spare parts to the CMP.
Link to AR: https://armypubs.army.mil/ProductMaps/PubForm/Details.aspx?PUB_ID=4554
Historical References
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27 April 1903, General Order 61 (War Department) pursuant to the 1904 Army Appropriations Act (32 Stat. 941), 2 March 1903, authorized the creation of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP) and annual rifle matches for civilians.
1903 War Department General Order 61.pdf [PDF - 693.3 KB]
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Key National Defense Authorization Act (NDAA) changes that updated the governing statute, Title 36 United States Code, Chapter 407.
NDAA for Fiscal Year (FY) 1996: H.R.1530 - 104th Congress: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- Section 1614: Authorized the Secretary of the Army (SECARMY) to transfer surplus caliber .22 rimfire rifles, caliber .30 surplus rifles, air rifles, calibers .22 and .30 ammunition, repair parts, and other supplies.
- Section 1624: Created the private, nonprofit Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearm Safety, Inc. (more commonly referred to as the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP)) with the responsibility for the overall supervision, oversight, and control of the CMP.
NDAA for FY 2007: H.R.5122 - 109th Congress: John Warner National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2007 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- Section 354: Authorized the SECARMY to recover rifles, ammunition, repair parts, and other supplies loaned to foreign governments and transfer them to the CMP.
NDAA for FY 2016: H.R.1735 - 114th Congress: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2016 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- Section 1087: SECARMY authorized to initiate a 1-year pilot program to transfer up to 10,000 caliber .45 M1911/M1911A1 surplus pistols to the CMP. Up to this point, the Program only involved rifles.
NDAA for FY 2017: Text - S.2943 - 114th Congress: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2017 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- Section 1096: Authorized the SECARMY to recover of excess rifles, ammunition, repair parts, and other supplies granted to foreign countries and transfer to certain persons.
NDAA for FY 2018: H.R.2810 - 115th Congress: National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2018 | Congress.gov | Library of Congress
- Section 1091: Directed the SECARMY to transfer to the CMP 8,000 surplus caliber .45 M1911/M1911A1 pistols in Fiscal Year (FY) 2018, and in any FY not more than 10,000.
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Now rescinded, Army Regulations (ARs) with series number 920 included content on the promotion of civilian rifle practice, including matches and competition in the use of rifled arms; the organization, functions, and responsibilities of the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety and the Civilian Marksmanship Program; and the issue of arms, ammunition, and supplies to civilians and the procurement and award of trophies, badges, and medals.
AR 920-15: National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Office of Director of Civilian Marksmanship.pdf [PDF - 261.5 KB]
- Proponent: Secretary of the Army (SECARMY)
- Purpose: Rescinded January 1998, this regulation prescribed the mission, organization, and composition of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice as well as the responsibilities of the Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship.
AR 920-20: Promotion of Practice with Rifled Arms.pdf [PDF - 1.5 MB]
- Proponent: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Logistics, and Environment)
- Purpose: Rescinded January 1998, this regulation prescribed policies, responsibilities, standards, and procedures for the Civilian Marksmanship Program. It specified the types of organizations that could participate in the program; the procedures they must follow; and the privileges and responsibilities of membership.
AR 920-25: Rifles, M14M and M14N for Civilian Marksmanship Use.pdf [PDF - 85.3 KB]
- Proponent: SECARMY
- Purpose: Rescinded in October 1993, this regulation described the U.S. Rifles, caliber 7.62mm, M14M, and M14NM and sets forth policy on the issue thereof.
AR 920-30: Rules and Regulations for National Matches and Other Excellence-in-Competition (EIC) Matches.pdf [PDF - 168.1 KB]
- Proponent: Office of the Assistant Secretary of the Army (Installations, Logistics, and Environment)
- Purpose: Rescinded in January 1998, this regulation prescribed the rules and regulations for National Matches and other excellence-in-competition matches.
AR 920-35: National Match Fund.pdf [PDF - 231.5 KB]
- Proponent: SECARMY
- Purpose: Rescinded in January 1998, this regulation set forth basic policies and principles governing the National Match Fund of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice.
Questions can be emailed to the Civilian Marksmanship Program Manager at usarmy.belvoir.hqda-oaa.mbx.special-programs-directorate@army.mil