Evening star., 1934-04-29
GUARD TO STRESS
RIFLE SHOOTING
Acting Commander of Mill
tia Outlines Seasons
Plans.

Vi JllC INdllOlldl VI
OF the District of Columbia who have
not yet qualified under any of the
various grades are facing an inten-
sive firing program on the rifle range
at Camp Simms, Congress Heights,
D. c. Col. John w. Oehmann, acting
commander of the local militia, it
was announced at Guard headquar-
terS, is taking a direct interest in the
matter to insure full compliance with
the details of his instructions. The
War Department has ruled, 1t was
said, that during the current year
personnel who qualified in either OF
the three grades in 1882 or 1888 will
not be required to fire. This, it was
added, has considerably lessened the
total numbers in the local Guard who
must fire during the coming target
season and permits the concentration
of effort on those not previously
qualified or who enlisted since the
last target season.
Col Oehmann has prepared forms
for weekly report of various units,
to show actual firing performed at
the range during the preceding week
The commanding officer expressed
himself as hopeful that through this
emphasis on target practice during
the current year the standard of
craftsmanship with the local Nation
al Guard will be greatly raised
The commanding officer called a
meeting of all the officers of the l2lst
Engineer Regiment and explained
his requirements in detail, and told
them Of the results that he expects
during the year.
The target season of the l2lst
Engineer Regiment has been divided
into two periods, the first, called the
regular season. which began on jan
uary l and continues until August
10. and the supplemental season,
which Is to run from August 20 to
September Is. All personnel is re-
Quired to finish the small-bOre course
before firing on the range with the
service rifle.
Those required to fire are: Officers
Of less than Is years service who have
not qualified with the rifle in either
1882 or 1888 are required to fire the
rife, except those who, as officers.
have qualified as expert rifiemen at
any time; all enlisted men of lettered
companies, armed with rifle or pistol,
and the Headquarters and Service
Company, armed with the rife who
have not qualified with the rife in
either 1892 or 1888. will fire the rife;
men In the Headquarters and Service
Company armed with the pistol win
not fire the rife
Officers and enlisted men of the
lettered companies and enlisted men
of the Headquarters and Service Com
pany armed with the rifle, who quail
fled in 1882 or 1888, will not be per-
mitted to fire for republication. Re-
qualification, however, is permitted
after the lapse of two practice sea-
sons, succeeding the last qualification.
Those required to fire the automatic
rife: Officers of lettered companies
who have less than IS years service,
except those who as officers have
qualified at any time as automatic
rife experts or as automatic rife
sharpshooters: eight enlisted men Of
each lettered company who have
have not qualified with the automatic
Tine IN 1857 or 1888.
Men assigned as automatic riflemen
must qualify as marksmen or better
with the service rifle before firing
the automatic rifle. Enlisted person.
mel who qualified in 1882 or 1888 with
the automatic rifle are not required
to fire in 1884, but may requalify if
and when the remaining automatic
rifiemen of the company have COM
pleted the record course
The pistol course is not be fired,
according to the program laid down.
The National Guard Bureau of the
War Department has pointed out that
the primary purpose of all known
distance firing is preparation for COM
bat firing. When a unit or organiza-
tion has demonstrated its proficiency
in the use of its primary weapon and
has attained a thorough knowledge of
the principles of musketry it may be
considered as being prepared for
progress to combat firing
The bureau says that this funda-
mental idea has generally been over
looked in the National Guard and
men have been permitted to engage in
combat firing without qualifying and
without even a semblance of musketry
training. This practice is declared by
the bureau to be uneconomical and is
dangerous from the point Of view Of
safety.
The transfer of men from the Ma
tional Guard Reserve to the active
list between the close of camp and
September is next is prohibited where
such men have not qualified during
the current or two preceding target
seasons. 1t was pointed out that this
requirement should be carefully OBJ
served as the transfer of unqualified
men from the reserve to the active
list of the unit increases that units
total number of men required to fire
and reduces it's percentage of quail
fications.
The schedule for firing has been
announced as follows:
Companies A and D, April 20,
May and 20; Companies B and
E. May 27, June l and 10. Companies
c and F fired earlier in the month.
Company commanders have been
reminded that this schedule provides
the only opportunity to fire the pre-
scribed course in rifle craftsmanship
before the annual encampment.
The following qualifications as gum
ners in the 260th Regiment of Coast
Artillery have been announced by
Maj. Walter w. Burns, commanding
the organization:
Headquarters Detachment and Com