I was in the first GSM Master Instructor class. It was taught at Camp Pendleton in November
2006 as part of the CMP Western Games.
It was a three-day class by then head of the Civilian Marksmanship
Program, Gary Anderson. We were guinea
pigs for an experiment. Our mission
would be to take what we learned back to our clubs and create programs to teach
the sport of high power riflery to Americans, most of whom, were unfamiliar
with shooting, let alone the firearms of Games competition. It was one of the most rewarding shared
experiences of my life and it began a 10-year journey that both my love for the
sport. The class was truly experimental.
Gary spent lots of time not only teaching his prepared material but
working with us on feedback about how to alter and improve the curriculum. If you have copies of the early teaching
materials for the GSM course, the photos were of people I knew taken during
that first Western Games.
I took what I learned back to the Burbank Rifle and
Revolver Club (BRRC) and, working with Wayne Fenner, my friend and fellow
sponsor of the California Grizzlies Junior Rifle Team, adapted BRRC’s training
match program to the CMP’s approach. Over the course of almost a decade, I taught a battalion of
Americans from every walk of life and every political and ethnic background
that is the landscape of Southern California how to operate and compete with
the U.S. Rifle M-1 Garand. It defined
one weekend of every month of my life.
We experimented with every CMP match format that came out, often
discussing concepts with Gary and the CMP team.
It was a second hand deja vu process of sorts. Somewhere along the way I obtained a copy of Edward C. Crossman's book, "Military and Sporting Rifle Shooting: A Complete and Practical Treatise Covering the Use of Modern Military, Target and Sporting Rifles". It was written in the 1930's and the modern rifle being alluded to was the U.S Rifle M1903 Springfield. In it were a series of exploratory letters about the vision and implementation of competitive shooting. Ed Crossman was a founding member of the Burbank Rifle and Revolver Club. At one time he oversaw the development of BRRC's riflely program, the same job I had as the club's Activities Chairman and GSM Master Instructor. Funny how things go in cycles.
It was a second hand deja vu process of sorts. Somewhere along the way I obtained a copy of Edward C. Crossman's book, "Military and Sporting Rifle Shooting: A Complete and Practical Treatise Covering the Use of Modern Military, Target and Sporting Rifles". It was written in the 1930's and the modern rifle being alluded to was the U.S Rifle M1903 Springfield. In it were a series of exploratory letters about the vision and implementation of competitive shooting. Ed Crossman was a founding member of the Burbank Rifle and Revolver Club. At one time he oversaw the development of BRRC's riflely program, the same job I had as the club's Activities Chairman and GSM Master Instructor. Funny how things go in cycles.
Looking back, I trained a hell of a battalion. Many of the students I taught went on to become accomplished
competitors in their own right. I’ve
watched them win metals, major tournaments, become distinguished riflemen. Some set national records. One made it to the
Olympic Trials. I beamed with pride like
a proud papa at all of it; ok, sometimes like a benevolent drill instructor. The true reward was to hear from all of them again
and again over the years. I’ve never
been to a match since then where someone doesn’t call out my name to say hello, often to
say thank you, I wouldn't be here if it weren't for you. It humbles me.
I’m from the old school that says you pass on what you have
learned because you pay forward in gratitude to those who taught you; and so it
was the decade I was BRRC’s GSM Master Instructor of record. I did it for free
as gratitude to those who taught me. And there have been many. My first line
coach was a steely eyed woman named Noma. My last line coach, at another
Western Games/Creedmoor Cup, has the same first name that I do. I remember when
I got my State of California Firearms Instructor license. I submitted my CMP GSM Master Instructor
certificate as proof of competency.
CA-DOJ licensing had never seen one before. They were delighted. I was beyond proud.
If you want to make a difference to the growth of our sport,
consider taking the time to become a GSM Master Instructor. Set your goal the same as I did. Teach another battalion of Americans what it
means to be the caretakers of our heritage from behind every blade of grass.
No comments:
Post a Comment