Marksmanship Badge (United States)

Above is an example of U.S. Marksmanship Competition Badges as worn on a U.S. Marine Corps dress uniform as seen from left to right: Distinguished Marksman Badge, Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, and Inter-Division Pistol Competition Badge.

A Marksmanship Badge is a military badge of the United States Armed Forces or a U.S. Civilian badge which is presented to personnel upon successful completion of a weapons qualification course (known as Marksmanship Qualification Badges) or high placement in an official marksmanship competition (known as Marksmanship Competition Badges). The U.S. Military's and Civilian Marksmanship Program's (CMP) Marksmanship Qualification Badges are awarded in three grades (highest to lowest): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman while their Marksmanship Competition Badges are typically awarded in gold, silver, and bronze or silver and bronze (service dependent). The National Rifle Association's (NRA) Marksmanship Qualification Badges are awarded in six grades (highest to lowest): Distinguished Expert, Expert, Sharpshooter, Marksman First-Class, Marksman, and Pro-Marksman. The NRA's Marksmanship Competition Badges are only awarded at one level (gold) with the exception of their Law Enforcement Distinguished Program which awards a Silver Excellence-in-Competition Badge before earning one of the Law Enforcement Distinguished Pistol Badges.

Today, the United States Army and the United States Marine Corps are the only military services that issue Marksmanship Qualification Badges. However, Marksmanship Medals and/or Marksmanship Ribbons are issued by the United States Navy, United States Coast Guard, and United States Air Force for weapons qualifications. All of the U.S. Armed Forces awarded CMP Marksmanship Competition Badges to service members who succeed in official competitions. The U.S. Army issues Marksmanship Qualification Badges for a variety of weapons while the U.S. Marine Corps only issues Marksmanship Qualification Badges for rifle and pistol. For U.S. Civilians, the CMP issues Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges as well as its own air rifle badges while the NRA issues Marksmanship Qualification Badges for different types of rifles, pistols, and shotguns. For Marksmanship Competition Badges, the CMP awards badges for rifle and pistol to the U.S. Armed Forces and air rifle, rifle, and pistol badges to U.S. Civilians while the NRA awards badges for smallbore rifle to U.S. Civilians and a variety of pistol badges to U.S. Law Enforcement.

Marksmanship Qualification Badges

Starting in the late 19th Century, the U.S. Army began issuing Marksmanship Qualification Badges to those Soldiers that met specific weapon qualification standards. In the early 20th Century, the U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Navy also began issuing Marksmanship Qualification Badges to their service members. The Marine Corps began by issuing Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges but eventually developed their own design, which is based on the older Army badges. The Navy developed its own short lived badge, known as the Sharpshooter's Badge, but retired it after only ten years liou of awarding Marksmanship Ribbons and Medals.

For U.S. Civilians, the Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship, now known as the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearm Safety (CPRPFS), and the National Rifle Association (NRA) began promoting civilian marksmanship in 1903. The CPRPFS's Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) awards U.S. Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges to U.S. Civilians and foreign military personnel who meet Army weapon qualification standards as well as its own badges to youth for air rifles. The NRA began awarding its own Marksmanship Qualification Badges and awards to U.S. Civilians in 1918 and today's Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program is one of NRA's flagship programs.

United States Army

United States Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges

The United States Army and the CMP award Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges to enlisted Soldiers, U.S. Civilian, and foreign military personnel who qualify at three different qualification levels (highest to lowest): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. Suspended from the badge are Army Weapon Qualification Clasps that indicate the type of weapon the individual has qualified to use. The following Army Weapon Qualification Clasps are currently authorized under AR670-1 (listed with exact inscription):

RIFLE	PISTOL	AA ARTILLERY	AUTO RIFLE
MACHINEGUN	FIELD ARTILLERY	TANK WEAPONS	FLAMETHROWER
SUBMACHINE GUN	ROCKET LAUNCHER	GRENADE	CARBINE
RECOILLESS RIFLE	MORTAR	BAYONET	SMALL BORE RIFLE
SMALL BORE PISTOL	MISSILE	AEROWEAPONS

Former Army and Marine Corps Rifle Marksmanship Badges, retired from the Army in 1921 and from the Marine Corps in 1958

The Army began using marksmanship qualification devices in 1881 starting with the Marksman Button, which lead to the Rifle Marksmanship Badges in 1897 as well as the Pistol Marksmanship Badges in 1907. Clasps were added to the Sharpshooter and Expert badges indicating each requalification date of the Soldier. In 1915, the Army changed the design of their Expert Pistol Qualification Badge, which lives on in today's Marine Corps Expert Pistol Qualification Badge. Additionally, the Army had a shot-lived series of Artillery Qualification Badges from 1891 through 1913. All of these badges were combined into today's Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges in 1921. Prior to 1951, the names of the qualification levels for these new badges were known as (highest to lowest) Expert, Sharpshooter or First Class Gunner, and Marksman or 2d Class Gunner. Also, prior to 1972, these new badges had many different types of weapon qualification clasps. According to The Institute of Heraldry, the following is a list of previously awarded Army Weapon Qualification Clasps:

RIFLE-A	RIFLE-B	RIFLE-C	RIFLE-D
MINE GUNNER	C.A. GUNNER	INF HOWITZER	F.A. GUNNER
SWORD	PISTOL-M	PISTOL-D	MACHINE RIFLE
C.W.S. WEAPONS	AERIAL GUNNER	AERIAL BOMBER	SMALL BORE MG
ANTITANK	81MM MORTAR	60MM MORTAR	TD 75MM
TD 57MM	TD 3INCH	MINES	SUBMARINE MINES

The level at which one qualifies is dependent on the weapon, firing range, and the course of fire. For example, to earn an Army Marksmanship Qualification Badge for Pistol at the Combat Pistol Qualification Course, one must have a combined hit count of 26 out of 30 for Expert, 21 out of 30 for Sharpshooter, and 16 out of 30 for Marksman on firing tables one through five. Regardless of the Soldier's overall score, everyone must get a hit count of three out of seven while wearing a gas mask and two out of five while shooting at night for the Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) and night firing tables respectively. To earn the same qualification with the same weapon at the Alternate Pistol Qualification Course, one must have a hit count of 36 out of 40 for Expert, 29 out of 40 for Sharpshooter, and 24 out of 40 for Marksman on firing tables one through four and get a perfect hit count on the CBRN and night firing tables regardless of the Soldier's overall score. Each firing table tests the shooter on different aspects of combat shooting (shooting from a concealed position, speed loading, shooting on the move, etc.) while engaging human silhouettes at varying distances within an allotted time.

Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges are not permanent awards. When a Soldier re-qualifies with their weapon at a different level, the Soldier replaces their qualification badge with a new badge that reflects their current level. Only three Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges are authorized for wear on Army dress uniforms and each may have no more than three Army Weapon Qualification Clasps.

United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps Marksmanship Qualification Badges

Former USMC Basic Badge (Clasps hung between the brooch and the pendent.)

The United States Marine Corps award two types of Marine Corps Marksmanship Qualification Badges, one for the service rifle and one for the service pistol, to all Marines who qualify at three different qualification levels (highest to lowest): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. These qualification badges are suspended beneath a brooch which bears the name of the type of weapon (rifle or pistol) and the qualification level earned. Some of these badges are different in appearance, depending on the type of weapon and qualification level.

According to the Marine Corps History Division, the Marine Corps use to award three different styles/types of Marksmanship Qualification Badges. Starting in 1912, the Marine Corps began awarding the Army Rifle Marksmanship Badges to Marines who qualified with the service rifle. As with the Army, the Marine Corps awarded these Rifle Marksmanship Badges at three qualification levels (highest to lowest): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. Clasps were added to the Sharpshooter and Expert badges indicating each requalification date of the Marine. The Army Expert Rifle Marksmanship Badge is almost identical to the current version of the Marine Corps Expert Rifle Qualification Badge, but used crossed M1903 Springfield Rifles vs. M1 Garands with slings. In 1924, the Marine Corps replaced these badges with the Army Marksmanship Qualification Badges, which are still in use by the U.S. Army. However, the Marine Corps decided to bring back the older Army Rifle Marksmanship Badges in 1937. That same year, the Marine Corps introduced the Basic Badge for marksmanship qualifications with other weapon systems. Clasps were hung from the Basic Badge indicating the type of weapon and level of qualification. The clasps indicated the degree of proficiency by using the letters "SS" for Sharpshooter or "EX" for Expert, followed by the name of the weapon. The exception to this rule was a U.S. Marine Corps Reserve clasps for the .30 caliber Rifle Course D ("RIFLE-D") which included "MM" for Marksman. The Army Rifle Marksmanship Badges were replaced by the current Marine Corps Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badges in 1958. That same year, the Marine Corps adopted the Army's 1915 design of the Army Expert Pistol Qualification Badge and created it own Marine Corps Pistol Qualification Badges, which are still in use by the U.S. Marine Corps. The Basic Badge remained in use until 1968 when it was declared obsolete. Much like the Army Weapon Qualification Clasps, the clasps of the Basic Badge fluctuated with additions and deletions in 1949 and again in 1954. The following clasps were authorized for wear on the Basic Badge under the 1937 Marine Corps Uniform Regulation (listed with exact inscription):

Expert Clasps	Sharpshooter Clasps	Marksman Clasps
EX-RIFLE-D	SS-RIFLE-D	MM-RIFLE-D
EX-SMALL BORE	SS-SMALL BORE
EX-PISTOL	SS-PISTOL
EX-AUTO-RIFLE	SS-AUTO RIFLE
EX-MACH. GUN	SS-MACH. GUN
EX-HOWITZER	SS-HOWITZER
EX-T.S.M.G.	SS-T.S.M.G.
EX-BAYONET

To earn a Marine Corps Marksmanship Qualification Badge, a Marine must obtain a passing score at an annual weapons qualification event. To earn a Mairne Corps Rifle Qualification Badge, a Marine must successfully complete multiple tables of fire to include Fundamental Rifle Marksmanship, Basic Combat Rifle Marksmanship, Intermediate Combat Rifle Marksmanship, and Advanced Combat Rifle Marksmanship tables. These tables require a Marine to engage human silhouettes at varying distances, positions, and scenarios within an allotted time. To earn a Marine Corps Pistol Qualification Badge, a Marine must successfully complete three phases of fire which include weapons handling, stationary target engagement, and scenario based target engagements. Similar to the rifle tables, the pistol phases require a Marine to engage human silhouettes at varying distances and scenarios within an allotted time. After qualifying, a Marine will receive a marksmanship badge commensurate with the score they obtained. For annual qualification with the service rifle, scores range from 305–350 for Expert, 280–304 for Sharpshooter, and 250–279 for Marksman. For annual qualification with the service pistol, the scores range from 345-400 for Expert, 305-344 for Sharpshooter, and 245-304 for Marksman.

Marine Corps Marksmanship Qualification Badges may be worn on Marine Corps dress uniforms for the remainder of a Marine's military career, or until a different level of qualification (higher or lower) is achieved. Typically, all Marines qualify with the rifle on an annual basis. The most recent qualification score determines the badge that is worn. If a Marine achieves the qualification of expert multiple times, a clasp is hung between the brooch and the pendent of the appropriate badge denoting the number of subsequent awards. If that same Marine then qualifies as a sharpshooter or marksman at a later date, they will wear that respective badge until they again qualify as an expert.

United States Navy

Former U.S. Navy Sharpshooter's Badge with Qualification Year Clasp and 1911 Year Disk

For a decade, from 1910 to 1920, the United States Navy awarded a marksmanship badge called the Navy Sharpshooter's Badge or Navy Sharpshooter's Medal to Sailors and Naval Officers who qualified with the service rifle and/or service pistol. According to the 1913 Uniform Regulations for the United States Navy, the Navy Sharpshooter's Badge outranked all other marksmanship badges on the Navy uniform. Verbiage from this regulation also suggest that the Army's and Marine Corps's Rifle Marksmanship Badges were once authorized for wear on the Navy uniform, as were Navy and Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Badges. The Navy Sharpshooter's Badge was awarded at two qualification levels, Expert (highest qualification level) and Sharpshooter.

The Navy Sharpshooter's Badge was made of antique bronze with a rectangular brooch that had the word "SHARPSHOOTER" embossed in its center with circling serpent bookends. Below the brooch hung two types of clasps, an Expert Qualification Clasp and a Qualification Year Clasp. From those clasps hung the badge's pendent.

The Expert Qualification Clasp is identical in design to the brooch but with the word(s) "EXPERT," for the service rifle, or "EXPERT PISTOL SHOT," for the service pistol. The Expert Clasps signified the highest qualification level possible with the service rifle and service pistol. Each time a shooter requalified as Expert, another Expert Qualification Clasp was hung from the badge. If no Expert Qualification Clasp was suspended from the badge, then the shooter qualified as a Sharpshooter with the service rifle and/or service pistol. The Qualification Year Clasp is different in design from the brooch which incorporated three ovals along its access for the placement of Year Disks. The Year Disk was made of silver and embossed with the year the shooter qualified/requalified. On the fourth requalification year, another Qualification Year Clasp was hung from the badge with a fourth Year Disk embossed with the year of requalification. There was no limit to the number of clasps that could be hung from the badge.

Hanging from the clasp(s) was the badge's pendent, which is the design basis for today's Navy Marksmanship Medals. The only difference between the pendent of the Navy Sharpshooter's Badge and the Navy Marksmanship Medals is the metal color (from antique bronze to gold), the deletion of the crossed rifles from behind a replica of a rifle target, and the addition of the words "EXPERT RIFLEMAN" or "EXPERT PISTOL SHOT" embossed above the rifle target.

Starting in 1920, Navy Marksmanship Ribbons replaced the Navy Sharpshooter's Badge. There are two types of Navy Marksmanship Ribbons, one for the service rifle and one for the service pistol. Each can be embellished with a Marksmanship Device to denote the shooter's qualification level. An "E" Device is awarded to those who qualify as Experts (the highest qualification level) while an "S" Device is awarded to those who qualify as Sharpshooters (second highest qualification). If no Marksmanship Device is displayed, the shooter qualified as a Marksman (lowest qualification level). Starting in 1969, the Rifle Marksmanship Medal and Pistol Marksmanship Medal were introduced and are awarded to Sailors and Naval Officers who qualify as Experts along with the "E" Device.

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps

Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps Rifle Qualification Badges

The Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (JROTC) and the CMP have established a JROTC Rifle Marksmanship Training and Award Program to increase a cadet's knowledge and skill in handling rifles safely and proficiently. JROTC cadets who participate in rifle marksmanship instruction are eligible to earn a JROTC Rifle Qualification Badge. The badges designate three qualification levels (highest to lowest): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman. These badges signify that the cadets who earn them have demonstrated the knowledge and skill necessary to handle rifles safety and have mastered basic rifle marksmanship skills needed to achieve required scores in qualification firing tests.

The CMP have set standards that apply to the conduct of weapon qualification events. All qualification events must be done with sporter-class air rifles, such as the Daisy M853/9753/953 pneumatic rifles or Daisy M887/888 CO2 rifles, that were issued through the military supply system. Qualification tests must be conducted at a distance of ten meters (33 feet). Qualification tests may be done on either the basic marksmanship course (BMC) targets or AR-1 competition targets. During qualification tests, a sling, glove, and kneeling roll may be used. To receive a qualification badge, cadets must attain the following scores that is supervised or observed by a qualified instructor:

• Expert: 220-300 (AR-1 Target), 290-300 (BMC Target)
  • 10 shots standing, 10 shots prone, and 10 shots kneeling
• Sharpshooter: 130-200 (AR-1 Target), 188-200 (BMC Target)
  • 10 shots standing, 10 shots prone
• Marksman: 110-129 (AR-1 Target), 175-187 (BMC Target)
  • 10 shots standing, 10 shots prone

JROTC cadets are authorized to wear JROTC Air Rifle Marksmanship Qualification Badges, as well as other CMP or NRA awarded badges, on their dress uniforms. Cadets may earn more than one badge, but may only wear the highest-ranking badge earned for a given weapon.

National Rifle Association

National Rifle Association Marksmanship Qualification Badges

The National Rifle Association (NRA), in partnership with numerous other shooting organizations, has established the Winchester/NRA Marksmanship Qualification Program to help encourage and develop U.S. Civilian marksmanship through the awarding of NRA Marksmanship Qualification Badges. The program is also designed to help marksmanship instructors and coaches train their shooters through a published set of guidelines that apply to both juniors and adults. Despite its similarities, the NRA's marksmanship program does not compete with the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The NRA issues Marksmanship Qualification Badges for air rifle, light rifle, rifle, high-power rifle, air pistol, pistol, and shotgun. Performance is measured against established par scores and any shooters who meet or exceed those scores are entitled to a corresponding NRA Marksmanship Qualification Badge. The courses of fire in the qualification program are designed to take shooters from beginning skill levels (Pro-Marksman and Marksman) through intermediate levels (Marksman First-Class, Sharpshooter, and Expert) up to a nationally recognized skill level (Distinguished Expert). Qualification tests can be conducted anywhere and is based on the honor system. However, to earn the Distinguished Expert Badge, a NRA instructor or certified coach must witness and officially record the course of fire. Those who participate in formal competition can use the tournament results bulletin as validation for the Distinguished Expert Badge. Each skill level requires that a shooter achieve a score more than once to earn a specific Marksmanship Qualification Badge. However, they do not have to be fired consecutively or in the same session.

When the shooter reaches Sharpshooter, depending on the weapon and course of fire, the shooter will earn clasps that represent shooting positions or courses of fire. There are nine different gold clasps that can be suspended between the brooch and the sharpshooter shield. Likewise, the Distinguished Expert Badge uses gold clasps, which are suspended in the same manner as the sharpshooter clasps, to identify the type of weapon (rifle, shotgun, or pistol) for which the badge has been earned. If the shooter has earned the Distinguished Expert Badge for more than one type of weapon, multiple clasps are suspended from the badge.

Marksmanship Competition Badges

The 1996 U.S. federal law established the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearm Safety as a “federally-chartered” corporation and is authorized to promote practice and safety in the use of firearms through the conduct of competitions and the awarding of prizes, trophies, badges, and other insignia to high performing competitors, which it carries out through its Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). This authorization carried with it the responsibility to administer the Distinguished Shooter program. The CMP maintains records of points earned by shooters and presents appropriate prizes and badges to those who earn them.

In conjunction with the U.S. Armed Forces, the CMP has a point system that U.S. competitors use to work their way towards "Distinguished" status. Depending on the service, U.S. competitors must earn between one and six credit points, referred to as leg points, when competing in the authorized excellence category of competition to be awarded their first Excellence-in-Competition Badge. Everyone must earn at least 30 leg points to reach "Distinguished" status and be awarded a Distinguished Shooter Badge. Leg points are awarded on the basis of an individual's placement among the top ten percent of competitors in an authorized match. Typically, the first one-sixth are awarded ten leg points, the next one-third get eight and the remaining competitors earn six. Leg points accumulate throughout a competitor's lifetime until "Distinguished" status is attained. Thus, leg points earned as a member of the U.S. Armed Forces will transfer toward distinguished status as a civilian, and vice versa.

Similarly, the National Rifle Association (NRA) has an almost identical Distinguished Marksmanship Program using the same point system that focuses on areas not covered by the CMP.

Excellence-in-Competition Badges

U.S. Civilian Marksmanship Program's Civilian Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badges

U.S. Navy's National Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Gold)

Replaced by the U.S. Army Excellence-in-Competition Badge in 1958

The CMP awards Excellence-in-Competition (EIC) Badges to U.S. Armed Forces personnel per the individual shooter's service regulation. For example, in accordance with U.S. Army Regulation 350–66, the Army awards their Bronze EIC Badge when a Soldier earns his or her first leg points when competing in an authorized excellence category of competition and the Silver EIC Badge when 20 leg points have been earned. For U.S. Civilian competitors, the CMP awards Bronze EIC Badges when a shooter earns three leg points for junior air rifle competitors and six leg points for adult rifle/pistol competitors. U.S. Civilian Silver EIC Badges are awarded upon achieving 15 leg points for junior air rifle and 20 leg points for adult rifle/pistol competitors.

There are three levels of EIC competition, installation or unit level competitions (level 1), region or command level competitions (level 2), and service, interservice, or national competitions (level 3). All five of the military services have uniquely designed EIC Badges that are awarded to their members. EIC Badges awarded at these different levels of competition are the same with a few exceptions. For EIC Badges awarded at national competitions, the Navy and Coast Guard emboss the word "NATIONAL" at the top or bottom of their EIC Badges respectively to distinguish them from other Navy and Coast Guard EIC Badges. Also, the CMP awards slightly modify Navy and Marine Corps EIC Badges to those who have earned sufficient points at a Navy Fleet or Marine Corps Division (level 1) EIC match. The Navy emboss the word "FLEET" at the top of the Navy EIC Badge while the eagle, globe, and anchor on the Marine Corps EIC Badge is replaced with the word "DIVISION."

With the exception of the U.S. Army, the CMP award EIC Badges to the military services at three levels; gold, silver, and bronze for the maritime services, and silver with wreath, bronze with wreath, and bronze for the Air Force. However, only the Coast Guard's National EIC Badges are awarded in gold, silver, and bronze while their other EIC badges are awarded in silver and bronze. For the Army, the CMP awards EIC Badges in silver and bronze.

The U.S. Air Force and the CMP use to award Silver and Gold EIC Badges (without wreath) and Gold EIC Badges with Wreath to Air Force competition shooters. The EIC Badges without wreaths were known as EIC Non-National Badges while those with wreaths were known as EIC National Badges. With changes in Air Force Instructions (AFI), the term Non-National was replaced with Elementary. In today's AFI, the EIC Elementary Badges are formally known as Bronze EIC Badges while the EIC National Badges are formally known as either Bronze or Silver EIC Badges with Wreath. However, Air Force competitors still refer to these badges using there old designations (Elementary and National).

Prior to 1958, the U.S. Army EIC Badges was known as the Team Marksmanship Badges. The original Team Marksmanship Badges were gold disks with enameled targets in the center that were superimposed over crossed rifles or placed between two pistols which hung from an angular broach which bared the name of the Army Corps Marksmanship Team that had earned the award. In 1923, the Army updated the Team Marksmanship Badge with a new three peace design which was awarded in three grades; gold, silver, and bronze for pistol, rifle, and automatic rifle. There were four components to this new badge; the brooch, clasp, Team Disk, and pendant. A plain brooch with a circular center device was used to identify an Army Corps or Department level award. A wreath laden brooch was used to identify a National or Army level award. A gold, silver, or bronze (score dependent) replica of either crossed Flintlock Pistols, Muskets, or M1918 Browning Automatic Rifles (BARs) hung from the brooch which supported the badge's bronze pendent. The pendant had a bow with two crossed arrows at its center surrounded by a ring of 13 stars which was encircled by an oak wreath. For National and Army level awards, an enameled ring, known as the Team Disk, was placed behind the pendent's ring of 13 stars and was colored to match the Branch of Service color of the awarded team. Today's Army EIC Badges is almost identical to the Team Marksmanship Badges with the following exceptions: only one version of the brooch exists and bears the name "U.S. ARMY;" the crossed BARs, Team Disks, and gold version of the crossed weapons have been deleted. Also, the entire EIC Badge is now cast in either bronze or silver, vise having just the crossed weapons being cast in the medal earned by the shooter.

According to the October 1943 addition of National Geographic, a photograph of the U.S. Navy Expert Team Rifleman Badge was shown in-line with the Navy's EIC Badges. Little is known about this badge; however, due to its design and placement in the magazine it is assumed to be related to the Navy's EIC program prior to and/or during World War II.

The following is a list of current EIC badges that are awarded by the CMP to U.S. Civilians and U.S. Military awardees; these EIC Badges are listed in order of precedence by service:

National Rifle Association's Law Enforcement Excellence-in-Competition Badge

• U.S. Civilian EIC Badges
  • Civilian Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Silver)
  • Civilian Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Silver)
  • Civilian Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Bronze)
  • Civilian Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Bronze)
  • Junior Excellence-in-Competition Air Rifle Badge (Silver)
  • Junior Excellence-in-Competition Air Rifle Badge (Bronze)
• U.S. Army EIC Badges
  • Army Excellence In Rifle Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Army Excellence In Pistol Shot Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Army Excellence In Rifle Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • Army Excellence In Pistol Shot Competition Badge (Bronze)
• U.S. Marine Corps EIC Badges
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Rifle Competition Badge (Gold)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Pistol Competition Badge (Gold)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Rifle Competition Badge (Silver)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Pistol Competition Badge (Silver)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Rifle Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Pistol Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • Division Rifle Competition Badge (Gold)
  • Division Pistol Competition Badge (Gold)
  • Division Rifle Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Division Pistol Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Division Rifle Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • Division Pistol Competition Badge (Bronze)
• U.S. Air Force EIC Badges
  • Air Force Silver Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge with Wreath
  • Air Force Silver Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge with Wreath
  • Air Force Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge with Wreath
  • Air Force Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge with Wreath
  • Air Force Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge
  • Air Force Bronze Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge
• U.S. Coast Guard EIC Badges
  • National Rifleman Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Gold)
  • National Pistol Shot Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Gold)
  • National Rifleman Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Silver)
  • National Pistol Shot Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Silver)
  • National Rifleman Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • National Pistol Shot Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • Coast Guard Rifleman Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Coast Guard Pistol Shot Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Coast Guard Rifleman Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • Coast Guard Pistol Shot Excellence-in-Competition Badge (Bronze)
• U.S. Navy EIC Badges
  • National Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Gold)
  • National Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Gold)
  • Interservice/Navy Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Gold)
  • Interservice/Navy Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Gold)
  • Fleet Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Gold)
  • Fleet Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Gold)
  • National Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Silver)
  • National Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Silver)
  • Interservice/Navy Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Silver)
  • Interservice/Navy Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Silver)
  • Fleet Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Silver)
  • Fleet Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Silver)
  • National Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Bronze)
  • National Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Bronze)
  • Interservice/Navy Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Bronze)
  • Interservice/Navy Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Bronze)
  • Fleet Excellence-in-Competition Rifle Badge (Bronze)
  • Fleet Excellence-in-Competition Pistol Badge (Bronze)

These badges are onetime decorations and the military EIC Badges may be worn on each service's dress uniforms for the remainder of an individual’s career. These badges may be worn simultaneously with the U.S. Army's and U.S. Marine Corps's Marksmanship Qualification Badges and other authorized Marksmanship Competition Badges on dress uniforms not to exceed a total of three badges. The Navy and Marine Corps authorize the wearing of up to two EIC Badges for a given weapon while the other U.S. Armed Forces authorize the wearing of only the highest ranking EIC Badge for a given weapon on their service's dress uniforms. Subdued and miniature versions are not authorized.

Just like the CMP, the NRA has an EIC Badge which is awarded to Law Enforcement Officers that have earned their first leg point(s) toward NRA's "Distinguished" status with the revolver and/or pistol.

Distinguished Shooter Badges

The CMP's Distinguished International Shooter Badge (left) is awarded to civilian and military personal alike, as is the Distinguished Rifleman Badge (left of center) and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge (right of center); however these two badges are hung from service unique brooches (civilian brooches pictured above). The CMP's Junior Distinguished Badge (right) is awarded to non-adult U.S. Civilian air rifle competitors.

In 1887, the United States Secretary of War established the Distinguished Marksman Badge which was awarded to shooters who achieved "Distinguished" status using the rifle, carbine, revolver, or any combination of the three. This continued until the establishment of the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge in 1903 and the Distinguished Rifleman Badge in 1959. However, the Distinguished Marksman Badge is still awarded to distinguished rifle shooters of the sea services (U.S. Navy, U.S. Marine Corps, and U.S. Coast Guard). These three badges were the U.S. Armed Forces' highest awards for rifle and pistol marksmanship until 1962 when the CMP established the Distinguished International Shooter Badge. Today, the Distinguished International Shooter Badge is the highest award for marksmanship within the U.S. followed by the President's Hundred Tab/Brassard, the Distinguished Rifleman/Marksman Badge, the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge, and the Junior Distinguished Badge (established in 2001).

Starting in 1926, the U.S. Army Air Corps began awarding Distinguished Aerial Badges. The Air Corps held three gunnery matches; one for pursuit pilots, one for observation and attack pilots, and one for observers. They also held two bombing matches, one for heavier than air craft and one for balloons. Winners of these matches received either the Distinguished Aerial Gunner Badge or the Distinguished Aerial Bomber Badge. These matches were suspended in 1932; thus, it's assumed that these badges were retired sometime after 1932.

According to the October 1943 addition of National Geographic, the U.S. Army and the CMP use to award the Distinguished Automatic Rifleman Badge. It is assumed that the same award criteria applied to this badge that applied to all other Distinguished Shooter Badges of the time. It is also assumed that this badge was retired at the same time the Army's Automatic Rifle Team Marksmanship Badges was discontinued (in the late 1940s or early 1950s).

Distinguished Shooter Badges may be either a U.S. Military award or a U.S. Civilian award. These badges are intended to recognize competitors who have obtained an exceptional score at multiple official marksmanship competitions against a field of their peers. Distinguished Shooter Badges can only be earned after a competitor has been awarded 30 leg points when competing in the authorized excellence category of competition.

Each of the CMP's Distinguished Shooter Badges hangs from a U.S. Armed Forces' specific brooch that is embossed with the name of their service or from a U.S. Civilian brooch which incorporates a modified shield from the Great Seal of the United States that's embossed with the letters "US." Like the U.S. Civilian brooch the U.S. Army's brooch also incorporates a modified shield, from the Great Seal of the United States, but has it perched above the words "U.S. ARMY." The rifle badge pendant of the U.S. Army, U.S. Air Force, and U.S. Civilians is a gold shield 1 1/2 inches in height and 1 13/32 inches in width, in the center of which is an enameled replica of a rifle target. Around the target are the words "DISTINGUISHED" and "RIFLEMAN," which is arched above and stretched below the target respectively. The sea service's pendant displays the word “MARKSMAN” vs. RIFLEMAN underneath the target. The pistol badge pendant is similar in design to the rifle pendant but is 1 1/4 inches in height and 1 3/64 inches in width and has the words "PISTOL SHOT" stretched below an enameled replica of a pistol target. The exception to this rule is the Air Force Distinguished Pistol Shot pendant, which is identical to the rifle badge pendant but with the words "PISTOL SHOT" stretched under the enameled replica of a rifle target. This larger pistol pendant was also awarded to U.S. Coast Guard shooters between 1993 and 1996, but was rescinded in favor of the more traditional pistol pendent.

These badges are onetime decorations and may be worn on military dress uniforms for the remainder of an individual’s career. These badges may be worn simultaneously with the U.S. Army's and U.S. Marine Corps's Marksmanship Qualification Badges as well as other authorized Marksmanship Competition Badges not to exceed a total of three badges. However, with the exception of the Distinguished International Shooter Badge, once a Distinguished Shooter Badge for a given weapon has been awarded, the EIC Badge for that weapon can no longer be worn on military dress uniforms. Subdued and miniature versions are not authorized.

The NRA has seven equivalent badges to the CMP's Distinguished Shooter Badges, three for smallbore rifle competitions, two for law enforcement handgun competitions, and two for civilian handgun competitions. The NRA's Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Badge (Prone), Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Badge (Position), and Double Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Badge were established in 1965 and are considered more difficult to earn than the CMP's equivalent badge. This is due to the fact that shooters who have already achieved NRA's "Distinguished" status are allowed to compete agents those that have not yet achieve the award, thus raising the bar for the would-be NRA Smallbore Distinguished Rifleman. The NRA established the Law Enforcement Distinguished Shooter Program in 1973 with the introduction of the Law Enforcement Distinguished Revolver Badge. In 1990, the NRA amended the program by introducing the Law Enforcement Distinguished Semi-Automatic Pistol Badge. The Distinguished Action Pistol Badge and Conventional Pistol Distinguished Badge were established for U.S. Civilian competitors in 1985 and 2005 respectively. Just like the CMP, a 30 leg point system is used to earn these NRA Distinguished Shooter Badges and similar rules apply for how leg points are earned.

U.S. Army Interservice Competition Badge, awarded at the Interservice Pistol Matches for 3rd Place at the .22 Caliber Team Match

Army Interservice Competition Badge

Unlike the other services, the U.S. Army has a unique Interservice Competition Badge which is awards to Soldiers and Army teams that place in the top three positions of an interservice match. These badges are separate awards from the CMP's EIC program, where a Soldier earns leg points towards "Distinguished" status. This pentagon shaped multicolored badge incorporates the emblems of the five military services which surround a modified shield from the Great Seal of the United States. The badge hangs from an elaborate brooch which bears the name of the event, the name of the match, and the Soldier's or team's ranking at that match.

Army Interservice Competition Badge is a onetime decorations and may be worn on dress uniforms for the remainder of a Soldier’s military career. These badges may be worn simultaneously with the U.S. Army's Marksmanship Qualification Badges as well as other authorized Marksmanship Competition Badges not to exceed a total of three badges. Subdued and miniature versions are not authorized.

Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Badges

Examples of U.S. Marine Corps Marksmanship Competition Badges

In addition to the marksmanship badges described above, the U.S. Marine Corps has numerous other Marksmanship Competition Badges that are authorized for wear on Marine Corps uniforms. These badges are awarded alongside trophies and other prizes that are presented to the top performing Marines at Marine Corps marksmanship competitions. The following Marksmanship Competition Badges are authorized for wear on Marine Corps dress uniforms and are listed in order of precedence:

• Distinguished International Shooter Badge
• Distinguished Marksman Badge
• Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge
• Lauchheimer Trophy Badge (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
• Marine Corps Rifle Championship Badge (McDougal Trophy)
• Marine Corps Pistol Championship Badge (Walsh Trophy)
• Service level Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Badges
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Rifle Competition Badge (Gold)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Pistol Competition Badge (Gold)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Rifle Competition Badge (Silver)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Pistol Competition Badge (Silver)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Rifle Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • National/Interservice/Marine Corps Pistol Competition Badge (Bronze)
• Inter-Division Rifle Competition Badge
• Inter-Division Pistol Competition Badge
• Fleet Marine Force (FMF) Combat Infantry Trophy Match Badge
• Annual Rifle Squad Combat Practice Competition Badge (Gold, Silver, and Bronze)
• Unit level EIC Badges
  • Division Rifle Competition Badge (Gold)
  • Division Pistol Competition Badge (Gold)
  • Division Rifle Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Division Pistol Competition Badge (Silver)
  • Division Rifle Competition Badge (Bronze)
  • Division Pistol Competition Badge (Bronze)
• San Diego/Wharton/Elliott/Wirgman/Lloyd/Smith Trophy Rifle Team Match Badges
• Holcomb/Edson/Shively/Pacific Trophy Pistol Team Match Badges

These badges are onetime decorations and may be worn on dress uniforms for the remainder of a Marine's military career. These badges may be worn simultaneously with U.S. Marine Corps Marksmanship Qualification Badges as well as other authorized Marksmanship Competition Badges not to exceed a total of three badges. Marines are authorized the wear of up to two Marksmanship Competition Badges for a given weapon. However, with the exception of the Distinguished International Shooter Badge, once a Distinguished Shooter Badge for a given weapon has been awarded, the EIC Badges for that weapon can no longer be worn on dress uniforms. Subdued and miniature versions are not authorized.

President's Hundred Tab/Brassard

President's Hundred Tab (USA)

President's Hundred Tab (USCG)

President's Hundred Brassard (USN)

Main article: President's Hundred Tab

The President's Hundred award is presented to the 100 top-scoring U.S. Military and U.S. Civilian shooters at the President's Pistol and President's Rifle Matches. All U.S. Military and U.S. Civilian personnel who earn this award are presented with a bronze President's Hundred Brassard. However, only the U.S. Navy has authorized the wearing of this metallic brassard by Sailors who have earned them; the brassard is worn on the upper-left sleeve of dress uniforms. A cloth tab, with the words "President's Hundred," is worn by U.S. Army Soldiers and enlisted U.S. Coastguardsman who have earned the brassard. An olive-drab version of the tab is worn on the upper-left sleeve of the Army Combat Uniform while a black and white version of the tab is worn on the upper-left sleeve of the Coast Guard Enlisted Service Dress Blue Uniform. Also, a smaller gold metal version of this tab, with green lettering, is worn on the left breast of the Army Service Uniform.

Governor's Twenty Tab/Badge

Governor's Twenty Tab

The Governor's Twenty Tab is a State level National Guard award that is awarded to the top 20 shooters in a state. Award criteria vary from state-to-state. For example, within the state of Texas, only eight Guardsmen are presented this award for rifle, eight for pistol, two for sniper, and two for machine gun each year. Texas Guardsmen compete against other National Guard Soldiers and Airmen who have already received the award; thus, there may be one or two new recipients of this award each year. This tab is worn on the upper-left sleeve of the Army Combat Uniform below individual tabs and above unit and honor guard tabs. Because this tab is a state award, Regular Army and Army Reserve Soldiers are not authorized to wear the tab.

Just like the National Guard's Governor's Twenty Tab, the National Rifle Association sponsors a Law Enforcement Governor's 20 Badge which is designed to recognize the top twenty Law Enforcement Officers from each state for excellence in police combat pistol competition. Each state's program is administered by their respective league or association. Typically, the top three scores of each Officer is averaged and the top twenty Officers are recognized with a Governor's 20 Badge.

See also

• Military badges of the United States
• Awards and decorations of the United States military
• Marksmanship Ribbons
• Marksmanship Devices
• Marksmanship Medals
• Former U.S. Navy Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbons
• Tabs of the United States Army
• German Armed Forces Badge of Marksmanship
• Civilian Marksmanship Program
• National Rifle Association

References

• All Air Force Sports Teams: USAF Shooting Program, USAFSports.com, last accessed 7 April 2013
• United States Navy Marksmanship Team, U.S. Navy, last accessed 7 April 2013
• United States Army Marksmanship Unit, U.S. Army, last accessed 7 April 2013
• Civilian Marksmanship Program Homepage, last accessed 7 April 2013
• National Rifle Association Homepage, last accessed 7 April 2013