What is The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program?

It’s a three-part program that combines the Basic Marksmanship Course, Qualification Awards, and Air Rifle Competition. During the past decade of this program’s continued fast growth, thousands of male and female junior shooters have participated, with a perfect safety record of no reported gun-related injuries. Participants in The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program can be of any gender, through the age of 18. Handicapped youth are encouraged to participate. To learn more, download our new Shooting Sports information pdf here.

Basic Marksmanship Course

The Basic Marksmanship Course is a comprehensive instruction package for the beginning shooter that has little or no marksmanship experience. The course insures understanding by the student and easy use by the instructor. Gun safety and marksmanship fundamentals are taught through a balanced mix of short lecture or discussion followed by hands-on activity. The package of instruction and support materials include:

• INSTRUCTOR’S GUIDE - Detailed information for the instructor to teach the course.
• STUDENT HANDBOOK - Now in its third edition, this popular handbook is a comprehensive reference text for beginning shooters, thoroughly covering the fundamentals of position shooting.
• LEARNING TOOLS - Six quizzes and a final exam.

Qualification Awards

If an effective job is done presenting the Basic Marksmanship Course, most graduates will want to keep improving their marksmanship skills. The National Rifle Association and the Civilian Marksmanship Program provide MARKSMANSHIP QUALIFICATION COURSES for AIR RIFLE. These courses offer personal skill developments ladder where individual shooters work to achieve established performance standards. Marksmanship Qualification Courses offer family fun and enjoyment that can last a lifetime. Junior shooters may enroll in these programs upon graduation from the Basic Marksmanship Course.

Competitive Shooting

Is not a sport, which gives an advantage to individuals of great size or strength. Physical fitness and stamina are important, but it is mental toughness and self-discipline, which determine success. Competitive shooting is also one of the few sports where men and women can compete as equals. It is truly a sport which is OPEN TO ANYONE willing to practice and to test his or her shooting skills on the firing line.

Air Rifle 3-Position National Championship

The 19th annual Junior Air Rifle 3-Position National Championship is a shoulder-to-shoulder match that will be held at the USA Shooting Range Facilities at the Olympic Training Center, Colorado Springs, CO., August 4 - 9, 2009. The National Champions in both categories receive $2500.00 college scholarships generously donated by the Sons of The American Legion.

2008 Junior Air Rifle National Championship Final Results

UPDATE 

The results listed here are from the 18th annual Junior Air Rifle National Championship.

For information about this event, please contact Mike Buss, program coordinator at (317) 630-1249 or click here to contact Mike online.

Organizations we work with to make the Junior Shooting Sports Championship a reality:

Army Cadet Command (Army JROTC)
Civilian Marksmanship Program
Daisy/U. S. Jaycees Shooter Education Program
Naval Education and Training Command (Navy JROTC)

Marine Corps Training and Education Command (USMC JROTC)
Junior Shooting Sports Program Affiliation Program