Master Marksman

The GCA is excited to announce the creation of the “Master Marksman Program”. This is an extension of the joint partnership between the Garand Collectors Association and the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

One of the tenets of the GCA Mission is “to encourage competitive and recreational safe shooting of the rifle”. The “Master Marksman Program” is a great way to motivate GCA members to participate in CMP matches. As a part of GCA’s continuing efforts to maximize its long-term relationship with CMP for the benefit of the GCA Membership, a new award program has been created.

To acknowledge those who consistently score well in the John C. Garand Match with As-Issued M1 Rifles at designated Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) competitions, the Garand Collectors Association (GCA) has designed a new GCA Master Marksman Program.

The GCA Master Marksman program is set to begin in January 2023. Like the CMP’s established Distinguished Badge Program, the new addition will work on an Achievement Award point system, based on performance at designated CMP events.

Points will be awarded based on cut scores and presentedasgold(10pts),silver(8pts.)andbronze (6 pts) levels. Competitors must reach a total of 40 points overall, with one gold and one additional gold or silver required. All other points may be bronze or greater. The first points to be awarded will be at the 2023 Western Games, held in Phoenix in March. You can find out more about the exact dates of the matches by visiting www.thecmp.org. Click on the Competition Tracker tab to find out details of each of the CMP sponsored matches.

Matches

• CMP Eastern Games
• CMP Talladega D-Day Match
• CMP National John C. Garand Match at Camp Perry
• CMP New England Games
• CMP Western Games
• CMP Talladega 600

Any Other Event that the CMP Designates

Rules

• Competitor must be a current member of the GCA every time they shoot for their scores to be valid.
• All matches are managed by the CMP and they may add or subtract matches as desired. The CMP holds the sole authority for availability, schedule, and who may or may not participate.
• As-Issued Military Rifle Course A (30 Shot) only
• Competitor must fire an As-Issued Garand, per current CMP Competition Rules – No                 Unlimited Garand
• Current GCA members can compete and earn points in as many as of the listed events as they wish each year.
• Competitors are permitted to fire a re-entry during a particular match event and may utilize the highest score acheived.
• Competitors may join the GCA the day of the match in order be considered a valid member. This must be done by going to the GCA website (www.thegca.org). Paper mail-in forms are not valid for day-of registration.    

How Points will be Award

• Current 30 Shot Garand Cut Scores will be used
• Points will be awarded based solely on current year cut scores as determined by the CMP for gold (10 pts), silver (8 pts.) and bronze (6 pts). 
• A minimum accrued total of 40 points is required. 
• One must be Gold.
• One additional Gold or Silver.
• All other points can be earned by bronze or greater.
• If a GCA Member/competitor fires in an event in 2023 and is eligible for points they may also be eligible for points if they fired in the same event in 2022 and would have been eligible for points.  For example if Joe Smith fired in the Western Games Garand Match and is eligible for 8 points per current cut scores and Mr. Smith also fired in the 2022 Western Games and would have been eligible for 6 points (per 2022 cut score) he will be awarded both sets of points. (We will only back date points for the 2023 shooting season if they fired in the match in 2022).