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Marksmanship...
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Air Cadet marksmanship has been taught since the the ATC was created in 1941. Obviously the reasons for marksmanship in the
Corps have changed. No longer are cadets learning in order to be able to be better servicemen and women, but rather to
learn what they can achieve if they apply self-discipline and control.
All cadets are required to undergo a full course of training with each and every rifle before they are allowed to live fire. Firing
takes place only on approved ranges under the careful supervision of suitably qualified staff. All cadets and staff are
subject to regular refresher and requalification training.
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Development & Progression
The ATC uses several rifles specially designed or modified for cadet use. The rifle most cadets will use first is the Lee-Enfield
No8 Rifle, which is derived from the classic .303" No4 of WWII fame. The No8 is a small-bore rifle however, using 0.22" ammunition.
Some units also use 0.177" Air Rifles for initial training. 2499 is currently (July 2006) developing its Air Rifle scheme, to hopefully be
fully operational by the Autumn.
Cadets learn the basics of marksmanship with the No8 at ranges of 15 and 25m. The No8 is also used for some competitions such as the
Green Howards / Country Life and the South-West Region Inter-Squadron Competition.
A basic standard of marksmanship must be shown with the No8 at short ranges before cadets can progress onto full-bore rifles at longer
ranges.
Cadets progress onto the L98A1 Cadet General Purpose (GP) Rifle, our version of the full-bore regular service rifle. Different types of shooting ranges
are also used to increase the distance up to 500m.
The increased range means cadets must perfect their application of the principles of marksmanship as errors are magnified. A 25mm grouping
at 25m has an equivalent grouping size of 100mm at 100m and so on. It follows that a "pulled" shot which lands, for example, 50mm out of the
group will be a full 20cm off at 100m, 40cm off at 200m and so on. Concentration and discipline are paramount.
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Markmanship Scheme
The Marksmanship Scheme allows cadets to gain marksman badges regardless of the rifles available to them. The four levels of qualification are
Squadron, Wing, Region and Corps Marksman. The scheme requires cadets to progress from basic grouping practices, the foundation of good shooting,
through to deliberate, rapid and snap shooting practices. These last three types require cadets to to be trained to be able to zero their rifles correctly.
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Squadron Marksman
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Wing Marksman
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Region Marksman
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Corps Marksman
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