Weapons Qualification Badge

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Weapons Qualification Badge

A Marksmanship Badge is a military badge

Military badges of the United States

Military badges of the United States are awards authorized by the United States armed forces that signify rating, qualification, or accomplishment in several career fields, and also serve as identification devices for personnel occupying certain assignments....
of the United States Army

United States Army

The United States Army is the branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for Army operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S....
and United States Marine Corps

United States Marine Corps

The United States Marine Corps is a branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for providing Military power projection from the sea, using the mobility of the United States Navy to rapidly deliver Marine Air-Ground Task Force....
which is presented to service members upon successful completion of a weapons qualification course. It is issued in the following three grades (highest first): Expert, Sharpshooter, and Marksman

Marksman

A marksman is a person that is skilled in precision shooting, using projectile weapons, such as with a rifle but most commonly with a sniper rifle, to shoot at small long-range targets at a considerable distance away from the target....
. Marine and Army recruits can not exit initial training until a qualification of at least Marksman has been obtained.

The Marine Corps presently issues marksmanship badges for the pistol and rifle only, while the Army issues the same badges for a variety of weapons.

The Army and Marine Corps are the only services that issue marksmanship badges, for non competition qualification.

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Encyclopedia

A Marksmanship Badge is a military badge

Military badges of the United States

United States Army

United States Marine Corps

Marksman

Marksmanship Ribbon

A Marksmanship Ribbon is an award of the United States Navy, United States Air Force, and United States Coast Guard which is issued to service members who pass a weapons qualification course and achieve an above average score....
and Marksmanship Medal

Marksmanship Medal

The Marksmanship Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy and the United States Coast Guard and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification....
are issued by the remainder of the United States military branches to denote weapons qualifications.

United States Army

The United States Army issues marksmanship badges for expert, sharpshooter and marksman qualifications. Suspended from it are component bars that indicate the specific weapons the soldier is qualified for. Only three marksmanship badges are authorized for wear at one time, and each may only have up to three component bars.

Component bars are authorized in the following weapons (listed with exact inscription): Rifle

Rifle

A rifle is a firearm designed to be fired from the shoulder, with a barrel that has a helical groove or pattern of grooves cut into the barrel walls....
, Pistol, AA Arty, Auto Rifle

Automatic rifle

Automatic rifle is a term generally used to describe a self-loading rifle chambered for a rifle cartridge, capable of delivering both Semi-automatic firearm- and Automatic firearm fire....
, Machinegun, Field Artillery

Field artillery

Field artillery is a category of mobile artillery used to support army in the field. These weapons are specialized for mobility, tactical proficiency, long range, short range and extremely long range target engagement....
, Tank Weapons, Flamethrower

Flamethrower

A flamethrower is a mechanical device designed to project a long controllable stream of fire.Some flamethrowers project a stream of ignited liquid fuel; some project a long Liquefied petroleum gas flame....
, Submachine Gun

Submachine gun

A submachine gun is a firearm that combines the automatic firearm of a machine gun with the cartridge of a pistol, and is usually between the two in weight and size....
, Rocket Launcher

Shoulder-launched missile weapon

A shoulder-launched missile weapon is a weapon that fires a projectile at a targeting , yet is small enough to be carried by a single person, and fired while held on one's shoulder....
, Grenade, Carbine

Carbine

A carbine is a firearm similar to a rifle or musket, but generally shorter and of lesser power. Many carbines, especially modern designs, were developed from rifles, being essentially shortened versions of full rifles firing the same ammunition, although often at a lower velocity....
, Recoilless Rifle

Recoilless rifle

A recoilless gun or recoilless rifle is a lightweight form of weapon that allows the firing of a heavier projectile than would be practical with a recoiling weapon....
, Mortar

Mortar (weapon)

A mortar is a Muzzleloader indirect fire weapon that fires shell at low velocities, short ranges, and high-arcing Ballistics trajectories. It typically has a barrel length less than 15 times its caliber....
, Bayonet

Bayonet

A bayonet is a knife-, dagger-, sword-' or spike-shaped weapon designed to fit on or over the muzzle of a rifle barrel or similar weapon, effectively turning the gun into a spear....
, Small Bore Rifle, Small Bore Pistol, Missile

Missile

A guided missile is a self-propelled projectile used as a weapon. Missiles are typically propelled by rockets or jet engines. Missiles generally have one or more explosive warheads, although other weapon types may also be used....
, and Aero-weapons

United States Marine Corps

Marine Corps marksmanship badges are suspended beneath a bar reading the type of weapon and qualification received. The badge is also different in appearance, depending on which weapon qualification has been obtained.

For a marksmanship badge to be obtained, a service member must obtain a passing score and will receive a qualification level depending on the score obtained. As of October 1, 2007, the Marine Corps has implemented a scored, Field Fire (aka Table 2, from 25-100m) portion to the established Known Distance (aka Table 1, or 'KD' from 200-500m) course of fire. This is the tactical counterpart to the competition style shooting of Table 1. The Table 2 fire is based on a 100 point scale and is additional to the legacy 250 point scale for Table 1. Scores for marksman range from 250-279, 280-304 for sharpshooter, and 305-350 for expert. If a Marine fails to qualify on the Field Fire portion, the individuals score will be dropped to 250 regardless of their actual score on the Known Distance course. Qualifying on the Known Distance course is a prerequisite to continue to Field Fire.

Once a qualification has been obtained, and the marksmanship badge issued, the badge may be worn for the remainder of a 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 score of Expert multiple times in his or her career, an additional "rung" may be added to the badge denoting the number of awards earned.

Weapons attachments, such as the RCO and vertical foregrip, are permitted.

Distinguished Shot Badge

The Distinguished Shot Badge is a military badge of the United States military which was first created in 1903. The badge is intended to recognize those members of the military who have obtained an exceptional score at an official weapons shoot competition.

Issued for both the rifle and pistol, to obtain the Distinguished Shot Badge a service member must be awarded thirty credit points when competing in the authorized excellence category of competition matches. The badge is a one time decoration and may be worn for the remainder of an individual’s military career.

The decoration may be worn simultaneously with the standard marksmanship badge. Subdued and miniature versions are not authorized.

United States Air Force

USAF Individuals will receive a US Air Force Non National Marksmanship Bronze Badge after earning four points in an Elementary Match.

Elementary matches are any matches sponsored by Headquarters, United States Air Force and approved by Headquarters Air Force Services Agency, Air Force Fitness and Sports Branch (HQ AFSVA/SVPAF), the United States Army, or the National Guard.

USAF personnel are allowed to wear both the USAF Small Arms Expert Marksmanship Ribbon & USAF Non National Marksmanship Bronze Badge simultaneously.

Distinguished International Shooter Badge

The U. S. Government established the Distinguished Rifleman, Distinguished Pistol Shot and Distinguished International Shooter Badges as its highest awards for marksmanship excellence. The1996 Federal Law that created the Civilian Marksmanship Program

Civilian Marksmanship Program

The Civilian Marksmanship Program is a U.S. government-chartered program that promotes firearms safety training and rifle practice for all qualified U.S....
as a “federally-chartered” corporation authorized the CMP to promote “practice and safety in the use of firearms” through the conduct of matches and competitions and “the award to competitors of trophies, prizes, badges and other insignia.” This authorization carried with it the responsibility to administer the Distinguished Badge program. Since 1996, the CMP has fulfilled this responsibility by conducting EIC matches, maintaining records of EIC credit points earned by shooters and by presenting badges to shooters who earn them.