Marksmanship Awards

NRA Marksmanship Classifications
The National Rifle Association awards classifications to competitors based upon the percentage of possible points they achieve in NRA Tournaments for which their scores are reported. The competitor's initial classification is based upon his first 120 shots in matches. Thereafter, reclassification occurs after every 240 shots. Each shot in an NRA match is worth a maximum 10 points, thus, for example, a 50-shot match has a possible 500 points. Classifications are shown below.

High Master -- 97% and higher
Master -- 94%-96.99%
Expert -- 89%-93.99%
Sharpshooter -- 84%-88.99%
Marksman -- under 84%

Distinguished Marksman and Distinguished Pistol Shot

Military personnel and civilians who participate in Excellence-in- Competition (EIC) Matches can obtain Gold, Silver, and Bronze Badges worth, generally, ten, eight, or six points, respectively towards the 30 points required to become a "Distinguished Marksman" (Rifle, Navy and Marine Corps), Distinguished Rifleman (Army and Air Force) or "Distinguished Pistol Shot." Generally, a competitor may participate in a maximum of four EIC matches during a year, with the stipulation that if he competes in four, one must be the National Trophy Individual Match during the annual Civilian Marksmanship Program National Matches, conducted by the NRA, at Camp Perry, Ohio. History of the Distinguished Marksman Badge (by Culver). History of the Distinguished Marksman Badge (by Rocketto).

The Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbon is a military decoration of the United States Navy which was first created in 1942. Originally known as the Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon, the decoration recognized those who had been presented a Distinguished Marksman Badge through exceptional scoring at a professional military shooting competition. The Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon was issued for receipt of either a Pistol or Rifle Distinguished Marksman Badge.

In 1952, the Secretary of the Navy ordered that the Distinguished Marksman and Pistol Shot Ribbon be divided into two new decorations, one for rifle distinguished marksmanship and the other for distinguished marksmanship on a pistol weapon. The new awards were known respectively as the Distinguished Marksman Ribbon and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon.

The Distinguished Marksman Ribbon and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon were issued until 1959 when the Navy Department ordered the awards discontinued as of July 13th of that year.

To request award of Distinguished Badge, send a letter and copies of match results to

Department of the Navy, Chief of Naval Operations, 2000 Navy Pentagon DNS -35 Attn: Ms. R. Edwards, Awards Section Code 09B, Washington, DC 20350-2000.

See example letter.

You can also pdf the file and

email to rita.edwards@navy.mil, copy to LCDR Lyda: kd4kty@excite.com

Points are awarded as follows: In any EIC match, the top 10% of scorers, among non-Distinguished competitors, are awarded points, commonly called "legs" or "leg points." A small number will be awarded Gold, a larger number Silver, and the largest number receive Bronze. EIC matches are held during the Atlantic Fleet Rifle and Pistol Matches, the Pacific Fleet Rifle and Pistol Matches, the All Navy Rifle and Pistol Championships; the Interservice Matches, the National Matches, and and at civilian shooting clubs throughout the country.

Navy personnel wear Distinguished Badges, and/or Gold, Silver, and Bronze EIC badges on their uniforms, under Navy Regulations. To request to be issued a National or Interservice Badge earned send an email to the USNMT EIC POC (located under "Contact USNST" link).

Navy Marksmanship Medals and Corresponding Ribbons
Sailors who fire qualifying scores in matches, or in qualification courses of fire, are entitled to wear marksmanship medals and their corresponding ribbons on their uniforms under Navy Regulations. A rifle ribbon/medal has precedence over a pistol ribbon/medal. Qualifications are categorized as Expert (with an "E" affixed to the ribbon), Sharpshooter ("S" on ribbon) or Marksman (plain ribbon) according to the Sailor's score, based upon a percentage of the total points possible in the course of fire.
President's 100 Competitors make the "President's 100" by scoring among the top 10% of competitors, not to exceed 100, in the President's Match, held during the National Matches. Sailors making the President's 100 must contact Director, Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) to receive a brassard. Enlisted personnel alone may wear the brassard on their uniforms, and do so as a rocker, at the top of the sleeve. By traditional practice, initiated by President Theodore Roosevelt, the President of the United States sends a letter of congratulation to the match winner. However, that tradition has not been kept up since President Clinton.