RI Distinguished Shooters
The Distinguished Rifleman or Distinguished Marksman, and Distinguished Pistol Shot Badges are awarded to members of the Armed Forces, or civilians, in recognition of a preeminent degree of achievement in target practice with the service rifle or pistol.
The Distinguished Marksman Badge and the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge were created by the War Department in 1884 and 1891 to recognize and reward members of the U.S. Army for Excellence-in-Competition (EIC) with the service rifle and service pistol. Other Services of the Armed Forces adopted a similar program about the same time and in 1926 civilians were authorized to participate in the program.
When, in 1962, the National Board for the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice (NBPRP), the predecessor of today’s Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP), proposed new measures directed at regaining America’s lost marksmanship prestige they created the Distinguished International Shooter Badge with a goal of stimulating U. S. shooters not only to “participate in international shooting" at home, but to strive to win medals in international championships abroad. Accordingly, the Board approved a medal design and criterion for awarding the Badge.
In 1965, The National Rifle Association (NRA) established a series of Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman awards modeled after those awarded to service rifle and pistol shooters. In many respects it is one of the best-kept secrets in smallbore competition. The details are listed in the final pages of the NRA Smallbore Rule Book. Earning this award brings to the shooter self-satisfaction as well as a number of more tangible awards.
Upon earning the title Distinguished the NRA issues a gold plated medallion, a brassard, and a lapel pin. In addition, the shooter's name is added to a trophy plaque and the record book that is displayed in the NRA Awards Room, at Camp Perry.
The NRA Distinguished Revolver/Pistol Program recognizes excellence in Police Combat competition. It is similar to the Distinguished Program of the various military services and the Civilian Marksmanship Program and follows the same 30 point format
RI Distinguished list updated May 1, 2015
