R 251454Z FEB 20
MARADMIN 108/20
MSGID/GENADMIN/CG TECOM QUANTICO VA//
SUBJ/EXCELLENCE IN COMPETITION CREDIT FOR ACTION SHOOTING MATCHES//
REF/A/MSGID: DOC/CMC/4 SEP 14//
NARR/REF A IS MCO 3574.2L, MARINE CORPS COMBAT MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAMS.//
POC/O’DRISCOLL, M. R./MAJ/OIC USMC SHOOTING TEAM/TEL: DSN 278-5450/COMM: (703) 784-5450/EMAIL: MARK.ODRISCOLL@USMC.MIL//
POC/SCOTT, C. D./CAPT/OIC ACTION SHOOTING TEAM/TEL: DSN 278-5275/COMM: (703) 784-5275/EMAIL: CHRISTOPHER.D.SCOTT@USMC.MIL//
GENTEXT/REMARKS/1.  Purpose.  Competitive shooting provides unique opportunities for Marines to push the limits of their skills and equipment in order to gain higher standards of proficiency, confidence, and lethality.  For decades, traditional precision bulls-eye competitions had been the only venues to push marksmanship limits and enhance proficiency.  Recently, however, the action shooting disciplines have grown in both popularity and applicability to enhancing lethality in a dynamic environment.  Consistent top competitors strive to be recognized as Distinguished Shooters.  This MARADMIN recognizes the importance of the action shooting disciplines and offers Marines the ability to earn recognition in this category.
2.  The Competition in Arms Program (CIAP) awards Excellence in Competition (EIC) credits to Marines who place within the top 10 percent of non-distinguished competitors at Marine Corps, Civilian Marksmanship Program, and National Rifle Association rifle and pistol matches.  Once a Marine accrues 30 EIC credits at sanctioned matches, they earn the coveted title of Distinguished Rifleman or Distinguished Pistol Shot which is also signified by the corresponding marksmanship medal for wear on their uniform.
3.  The awarding of EIC credit and the distinguished classification does not easily translate between precision shooting disciplines and action shooting disciplines.  Training to succeed in the precision shooting discipline allows a Marine to perfect the application of fundamental marksmanship techniques in a fast-paced and dynamic environment.  Training to the action shooting discipline allows a Marine to perfect the application of dynamic, fast-paced, and complex practical shooting skills.  The spirit of competitive marksmanship remains the same between disciplines, but the evolving nature of practical shooting has outpaced the legacy award system resident within the CIAP.
4.  The Captain of the Marine Corps Shooting Team (MCST), Commanding Officer, Weapons Training Battalion, Marine Corps Base Quantico, maintains responsibility, oversight, and execution of the CIAP and awarding of associated marksmanship medals.  In order to modernize the CIAP, the MCST Captain is authorized to award Marines who placewithin the top 15 percent of competitors within their respective equipment division in action shooting matches per the instructions below.
5.  Coordinating Instructions
5.a.  The competition must be managed or hosted by an established organization or club, such as, but not limited to:  United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), 3-Gun Nation, United Multi-Gun League, United Shooting Sports Leagues, International DefensivePistol Association, International Practical Shooting Confederation,Steel Challenge Shooting Association, or local rod and gun clubs.
5.b.  The competition must be governed by current rulesets to ensure safety, organization, stage design, and scoring, such as those foundin paragraph 5.a.
5.c.  Action shooting matches that clearly dictate the weapon system required, such as USPSA for pistol matches or Strategic Match Design carbine matches for the rifle, will receive the associated EIC credit and medal for that weapon system.  For multi-gun matches that utilize the rifle and pistol, the competitor may receive credit for only one weapon system.  It is the competitor’s responsibility to declare which weapon system they are seeking EIC credit when submitting match results to the MCST.
5.d.  The top 15 percent of shooters is calculated from the number of competitors within their respective division and not the overall match results.  For instance, a Marine must place within the top 15 percent of competitors within the production division of a USPSA match and not the total number of competitors.
5.e.  EIC credit and Marksmanship medals will only be awarded for the rifle and pistol.  Ineligible weapon systems include, but are not limited to the:  revolver, .22 caliber rimfire, lever action rifles, shotgun, precision scoped rifles, or pistol caliber carbines.
5.f.  There is no change to the legacy award system for the Distinguished Marksman or Distinguished Pistol Shot badges.  The Distinguished Action badge does not exist nor does this MARADMIN authorize it.  A Marine cannot become distinguished twice for one weapon system.  Marines may combine EIC points from precision and action matches, but once they accrue 30 total points they will become distinguished.
5.g.  Competitors are limited to one marksmanship medal per competition.  They may claim EIC credit in a total of five matches per weapon system, per calendar year.
5.h.  Competitors who place in the top 15 percent of matches with 150 or fewer competitors within their equipment division will receive Marine Corps division-level individual rifle or pistol medals.  Competitors who place in the top 15 percent of matches with 151 or more competitors within their equipment division will receive Marine Corps championships-level individual rifle or pistol medals.
5.i.  In computing EIC credit, fractions of 0.6 or higher are rounded to the next higher number.  An action match with 89 competitors will yield 13 EIC medals:  89 x .15 = 12.6 rounded to 13.  Of those 13 medals, one-sixth will receive gold medals, the next third will receive silver, the remaining half will receive bronze medals.
5.j.  For a Marine to become distinguished from action EIC credit they must acquire 30 total points.  However, a minimum of 10 points must still come from Marine Corps matches under the CIAP.  A maximum of 10 points may come from action matches with 150 or fewer competitors.  A maximum of 20 points may come from action matches with 151 or more competitors.  All 30 points may come from Marine Corps matches under the CIAP.
5.k.  There is no change to the CIAP with respect to the awarding of team medals, which are limited to Marine Corps matches.
6.  Questions on the validity of club affiliation, rulesets, or the match they host may be forwarded to the Officer in Charge, MCST, Weapons Training Battalion, 27211 Garand Road, Quantico, Virginia 22134, or COMM (703) 784-5275.
7.  Authority to award EIC credits for action shooting matches is effective upon publication of this message and Marines may submit requests for credit to the Captain of the MCST back-dating to matches fired no earlier than 1 October 2019.
8.  This message is applicable to all Active and Reserve Marine Corps Commands.
9.  Release authorized by Major General William F. Mullen III, Commanding General, Training and Education Command.//