Small Arms Firing Schools

Instruction And Range Firing For Shooters Of All Levels

PISTOL SMALL ARMS FIRING SCHOOL, 7-8 JULY, 2013 (Registration is 7 July, SAFS & M9 EIC Match is 8 July) New start time is 7:00 AM. There will be a break for The First Shot Ceremony.

• Basic instruction and firing practice for new shooters
• Competition skills instruction and range firing for intermediate shooters
• School concludes with special M9 Pistol EIC Match

ADVANCED PISTOL COURSE FOR EXPERIENCED SHOOTERS, 8 JULY, 2013 11:30 AM – 5:30 PM in the Theatre

• Advanced class instruction
• Question and Answer panel with Pistol Champions
• Course concludes with Service Pistol Warm-Up Match

RIFLE SMALL ARMS FIRING SCHOOL, 26 - 28 JULY, 2013 (Registration is 26 July, SAFS & M16 EIC Match is 27 - 28 July)

• Basic instruction and firing practice for new shooters
• Competition skills instruction and range firing for intermediate shooters
• School concludes with special M16 Rifle EIC Match

ADVANCED SERVICE RIFLE COURSE FOR EXPERIENCED SHOOTERS, 26 - 28 JULY, 2013 (Registration is 26 July, SAFS & M16 EIC Match is 27 - 28 July)

• Advanced class instruction
• Course concludes with special M16 EIC Match

Small Arms Firing Schools

The Department of Defense first conducted the Small Arms Firing Schools (SAFS) as part of the National Matches at Camp Perry in 1918. Federal law continues to require the annual conduct of Small Arms Firing Schools, which now instruct over one thousand pistol and rifle shooters a year in firearms safety and fundamental marksmanship skills. The Pistol and Rifle Schools are conducted by the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) and sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). The Schools are open to all U. S. citizens who are over the minimum age. Firearms are provided, students must bring eye and ear protection. In the Schools, USAMU instructors, assisted by Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine and Navy Active, National Guard and Reserve shooting team members teach basic marksmanship techniques geared to meet the needs of new and less experienced shooters as well as shooters who want to learn new ways to improve their scores.

There are three courses available: Rifle SAFS, Pistol SAFS, and an Advanced Pistol Marksmanship Course that is part of the Pistol SAFS. Both the Rifle and Pistol SAFS offer beginning shooters special hands-on instruction that starts from the beginning with safety, nomenclature, clearing, loading and unloading, shot technique and basic firing positions. Intermediate SAFS instruction focuses on teaching and practicing competition techniques. The Advanced Pistol Course is open to any competitor who has a minimum of 10 EIC points or at least an Expert NRA classification. In this course participants can expect to focus on the fundamentals, understanding training methods, and building a mental approach to competitive shooting. For advanced Service Rifle shooters, separate Advanced Adult Service Rifle and USMC Junior Service Rifle Clinics are available.

Rifle students fire prone, sitting and standing position slow or rapid-fire exercises. On the second day, Rifle SAFS students, while still being assisted by their coaches, have a unique opportunity to test their new marksmanship knowledge and skills by firing an M16 Rifle EIC Match that uses the course of fire practiced on the range the previous day.

Pistol students fire slow, timed and rapid-fire stages at 25 yards. Upon the completion of pistol training Pistol SAFS students, while still being assisted by their coaches, have a unique opportunity to test their new marksmanship knowledge and skills by firing an M9 Pistol EIC Match that uses the course of fire practiced on the range.

The top 10 percent of all SAFS students in either the M9 EIC Match or the M16 EIC Match who have not earned any EIC points are awarded “introductory” 4-point legs to start them on their quest for the prestigious Distinguished Badge.
The Pistol SAFS, including the firing of the M9 EIC Match, will be completed in one day, on Monday, 8 July. The SAFS schedule will give beginning shooters approximately six hours of hands-on training and time on the range. The SAFS Advanced Pistol Class will begin at 11:30 AM on 8 July and conclude with the firing of the Service Pistol Warm-Up Match on 9 July. The Advanced Course is geared to competitive shooters who wish to enhance their competitive and training edge. In addition, participants will have the opportunity to question a panel of pistol champions. Pistol competitors who are interested in the Advanced Pistol Course should register for the Advanced SAFS with Warm-Up Match.

Rifle students who want either beginning shooter instruction or intermediate instruction and who wish to fire in the M16 Rifle EIC Match should register for the Rifle SAFS. Advanced junior rifle competitors should register separately for the USMC Junior Service Rifle Clinic. Advanced adult competitors should register for the Advanced Adult Highpower Service Rifle Clinic.

The Pistol and Rifle Small Arms Firing Schools offer U. S. citizens at all levels of shooting experience, from new and beginning shooters to advanced competition shooters, outstanding opportunities to receive top class marksmanship instruction from many of the country’s best instructors in one of shooting’s most historic settings.

EIC MATCH INFO

SAFS instruction and hands-on coaching provided by Army Pistol and Rifle Teams and supported by coaching from Army, Marine Corps, Navy, Air Force and Coast Guard team members has long been regarded as some of the best available anywhere. Students in the 2013 Small Arms Firing Schools (SAFS) will do range firing practice with their coaches and then complete their schools by firing in an exciting EIC match. These “Special EIC Matches” offer competitors who have not earned any EIC credit points a chance to compete for 4-point “introductory legs” that are awarded to the top 10% of these shooters. Competitors may count no more than one 4-point leg towards the 30 points that are required to earn a Distinguished Badge. Detailed rules for these matches are in the CMP Competition Rules for Service Rifle and Service Pistol (see Rule 9.0), posted on the CMP web site at http://www.thecmp.org/Competitions/Rulebook.htm.

The M9 Pistol EIC Match will be fired Monday, 8 July, immediately after SAFS practice. It will be fired with the M9 9mm service pistols that students used in SAFS practice. The M9 pistol match is fired at 25 yards. Competitors can fire with either a one-handed or two-handed stance. The pistol course of fire is 5 sighters, 10 shots slow-fire in five minutes, two 5-shot timed-fire series (20 sec. each) and two five-shot rapid-fire series (10 sec. each).

The M16 Rifle EIC match will be fired on Sunday morning, 28 July. The M16 EIC match will be fired with SAFS rack grade M16 rifles that use light-recoil 5.56mm cartridges. The M16 course of fire starts with five sighters. The record course continues with 10 shots for record in prone slow-fire, 10 shots rapid-fire prone in 60 seconds, 10 shots rapid-fire sitting in 60 seconds and 10 shots slow-fire standing, all at 200 yards on the SR target.

Important Information about the 2013 SAFS 

Pistol SAFS Dates. Check in Sunday, 7 July, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. No one is permitted to register or check-in on the day of the school. The school is on Monday, 8 July, from 7:00 AM until 5:30 PM.

Advanced Pistol Marksmanship Date. Check in Sunday, 7 July, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM, or Monday, 8 July, 8:00 AM to 11:00 AM. The school is on Monday, 8 July, from 11:30 AM to 5:30 PM. No one will be permitted into the class after 11:30 AM.

Rifle SAFS Dates. Check in Friday, 26 July, 9:00 AM to 9:00 PM. No one is permitted to register or check-in the day of the school. The school begins at 7:00 AM on Saturday, 27 July, and ends at noon on Sunday, 28 July.

Cost. $45.00 for adults ($30.00 for juniors) for the Pistol or Rifle School; $40.00 for adults ($25.00 for juniors) for the Advanced Pistol School. For their entry fee, students receive all instruction, an M9 9mm service pistol or an M-16 service rifle to fire, ammunition for the school, a USAMU Service Pistol or Service Rifle Guide, a SAFS T-shirt, SAFS certificate and handout materials. All SAFS students also receive automatic entry in the M9 Pistol EIC or M16 Rifle EIC Matches at no additional cost, a special EIC match pin and an opportunity to win four EIC credit points. Advanced pistol students will be entered in the Service Pistol Warm Up Match on 9 July. Advanced pistol students will not be entered into the M9 EIC Match.

Registration. The fastest and easiest way to register for either SAFS is to register on-line on the CMP web site (see links at the top of this page). Follow instructions to register. Your registration fee must be paid by credit card if you register on-line. The registration fee must be received by the CMP before your registration is complete.

Age Limits. The minimum age for Pistol SAFS students is 14; the minimum age for Rifle SAFS students is 12. An Age Waiver Request may be submitted to the CMP for younger participants only if evidence of previous range firing training and competition and the individual’s ability to safely handle center fire pistols or rifles is presented with the request.

Rifles for Rifle SAFS. Rifle SAFS students are required to use the M16 5.56mm service rifle or commercial rifles of the same type and caliber issued by the school. Personal service rifles may not be used in the Rifle SAFS.

Pistols for Pistol SAFS. Pistol SAFS students are required to use M9 9mm service pistols issued by the school. Pistol SAFS students may not fire personal service pistols in the Pistol SAFS and M9 EIC match on 8 July, but shooters with personal service pistols may fire them in the Service Pistol Warm-Up Match on the morning of 9 July (see the National Trophy Pistol Matches Program for information on this event).

Ammunition. 9mm pistol and 5.56mm rifle ammunition will be issued on the line and must be fired by all School students for both the practice session and the M9 or M16 EIC matches.

Other Equipment. All students must bring personal eye and hearing protection and wear them while on the range. Students should bring clothing suitable for wear on an outdoor firing range. Headgear, rain gear, sunscreen and insect repellant are highly recommended as all firing is done on open outdoor ranges. Students may bring additional items of competitive shooting gear that they normally use for bull’s-eye pistol or highpower service rifle shooting. Rifle shooters should bring shooting jackets and a shooting glove if they have them. Slings are provided with issued rifles and must be used in school events.

Entry Confirmation and Check-In. After the CMP receives your SAFS entry, it will be confirmed. When you arrive at Camp Perry, check in at the National Matches Welcome Center in Building #3, CMP Headquarters, open until 9:00 PM. If you have any questions regarding SAFS, please contact CMP Competitions at safs@thecmp.org or 419-635-2141, ext. 1114 or 1124.

Please Note. All Pistol and Rifle SAFS students, except Advanced Pistol course students, are REQUIRED to attend the safety briefing at the beginning of the first day of each class. Pistol SAFS instruction starts on 8 July at 7:00 AM. Rifle SAFS instruction starts on 27 July at 7:00 AM. Your SAFS scorecards will be stamped after the safety instruction. If you miss the safety briefing, you will not be permitted to fire in the school and no refund will be given.

Camp Perry Housing. The Adjutant General’s Department of Ohio offers housing for SAFS students at Camp Perry on a space available basis. SAFS students may reserve housing on-line at http://www.cplcc.com/nminfo.html. For further information, contact the Camp Perry Club House (888) 889-7010 or email info@cplcc.com.