| Marksmanship Medal | |
|---|---|
 Navy and Coast Guard Marksmanship Medals | |
| Awarded by United States Navy | |
| Type | Ribbon |
| Status | Current |
|
  ribbons: Navy (left), Coast Guard (right); rifle (above), pistol (below) | |
Midshipmen aboard the USS Nassau train with M16s
The Marksmanship Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy and the Coast Guard and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification. The Marksmanship Medal is the equivalent of the Expert Marksmanship Badge in the United States Army and Marine Corps.
The Marksmanship Medal is awarded for qualifying as an expert marksman on either the 9 mm M9 pistol (Navy), .40 S&W SIG P229 DAK (Coast Guard), or M16 rifle. To qualify at the expert level, a superior score must be obtained on an approved weapons qualification course. The standard weapons qualification course for pistol normally consists of several courses of fire from strong-side supported (standing), weak-side supported (standing), strong-side supported (kneeling). For the rifle, qualification course consists of firing from a position sitting on your back foot and from a prone position.[1][citation needed]
Those qualifying as an expert marksman are authorized to wear the Marksmanship Medal, awarded as two separate decorations for rifle or pistol qualifications. Those having qualified on both pistol and rifle may receive both medals for simultaneous wear. The Marksmanship Medal is worn as a full-sized medal on a dress uniform. On a duty uniform all successful qualifiers may wear the award as the standard Marksmanship Ribbon. Those qualifying as an expert are authorized to affix the Expert Device and those qualifying as a sharpshooter are authorized a bronze device in shape of an "S" on their ribbon.[1][2][3] The Navy Marksmanship Medals were first issued in 1969.[4]
Qualification Scores[]
| Navy[1] | ||
|---|---|---|
| M9 Service Pistol | Qualification | M16 Rifle or M4 Carbine |
| 180-203 | Marksman | 140-159 |
| 204-227 | Sharpshooter | 160-169 |
| 228-240 | Expert | 170-200 |
| Coast Guard[citation needed] | ||
| M9 or P229R DAK | Qualification | M16A2, M4 or M14-T Rifle |
| 114-128 | Marksman | 140-166 |
| 129-143 | Sharpshooter | 167-174 |
| 144-150 | Expert | 175-200 |
See also[]
References[]
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 OPNAVINST 3591.1F, Small Arms Training and Qualification, Department of the Navy, dated 12 August 2009, last accessed 18 February 2013
- ↑ U.S. Navy Uniform Regulations: Chapter 5, Section 3 Identification Badges/Awards/Insignia, Navy Personnel Command, updated 27 July 2011, last accessed 4 October 2011
- ↑ U.S. Coast Guard Uniform Regulations COMDTINST M1020.6G, Commandant United States Coast Guard, dated March 2012, last accessed 4 June 2012
- ↑ Navy Rifle Marksmanship Medal, by Military Medals, last accessed 18 February 2013
| ||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||
The original article can be found at Marksmanship Medal and the edit history here.