NJROTC Aims For Excellence

NJROTC Aims For Excellence With Marksmanship Program

Story Number: NNS100212-24Release Date: 2/12/2010 7:07:00 PM

By Michael F. Miller, Naval Service Training Command Public Affairs

GREAT LAKES, Ill. (NNS) -- The Navy Junior Reserve Officers Training Corps (NJROTC) marksmanship program is gaining in popularity among cadets and non-cadets at high schools across the United States.

This sport is popular among high school students and cadets because of its individual and team accomplishment opportunities and continues to thrive as more and more NJROTC units join the program.

The Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) is a nationwide program offered to JROTC units associated to all four branches of the military and allows for many competition opportunities throughout the school year.

The NJROTC program has conducted a marksmanship postal competition for many years. A postal competition is a competition where cadets fire at their targets then mail in their results to be scored. NJROTC uses its postal competitions to qualify teams for shoulder-to-shoulder competitions where the cadets compete alongside cadets from other units.

With 2,423 competitors in this year's postal event, NJROTC has the largest number of competing individual cadets and teams from the other military services' JROTC programs. NJROTC has risen to the top of the JROTC championship with JROTC records being broken by some cadets.

In 2003, the NJROTC program hosted its first shoulder-to-shoulder championship and has each year since. Two divisions of competitors, Sporter and Precision, vie for gold, silver and bronze medals. Sporter-class target air rifles are designed for junior competitors and are characterized by their light weight, low cost and outstanding accuracy for basic marksmanship training. Precision-class target air rifles are higher in cost and require additional specialized clothing to be worn by the competitor.

The top 10 sporter and top five precision teams and individuals from the postal competition qualify to compete in the Secretary of the Navy (SECNAV) JROTC Air Rifle Championship. Additionally, to ensure balanced representation from all NJROTC areas and provide more opportunities for cadets, each area manager may select one additional sporter and precision team and one additional sporter and precision individual to compete. The SECNAV competition will be held Feb. 11-13 at Camp Perry, Ohio.

Teresa Casey, program analyst with the operations department of Naval Service Training Command's citizenship development office in Pensacola, Fla., looks forward to the start of the marksmanship season each year.

"Observing the numerous teams and individual accomplishments of thousands of cadets just enjoying the sport or pursuing higher educational goals through marksmanship scholarship opportunities are among the most rewarding benefits of my career thus far," Casey said.

Today, students are benefiting from the general safety training, individual and teamwork accomplishment, improved concentration, mental focus and the many college opportunities available for marksmen. Marksmanship opportunities are available regardless of gender or stature.

NJROTC is a citizenship program that instills service to the United States, personal responsibility and a sense of accomplishment in students in United States secondary educational institutions. The NJROTC program teaches cadets self-discipline, self-confidence and leadership skills to help meet life's challenges, and helps prepare them for life after high school, regardless of what career path they decide to take.