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The Badge

The Distinguished Marksman Badge is approximately 115 years old. The United States Army of “old” had very little interest in marksmanship; they just got up close where you couldn't miss. Custer's Last Stand may have had a different ending had his troopers had more than seven rounds of rifle practice during the year. If a soldier wanted more practice he had to buy his own ammunition and even then fifty rounds of practice for the entire year was enough.

By the year 1880 firearms technology had out paced the target practice and proficiency of most common soldiers.

General Phillip Sheridan had noticed the lack of marksmanship during the Civil War and came upon a plan to improve it. Each Army “department” would conduct matches and then “department” teams would advance to the Army “division” matches. To generate interest in this program the “department” winners were awarded medals. Course of fire with the 1873 “Trapdoor” Springfield Rifle was seven rounds “offhand” at 200 yds, seven rounds “kneeling” at 300 yds and seven rounds “prone” at 600 yards. The course was fired each day for three days and then the “medal” winners were announced. If a soldier made the “department” team three times he could no longer win a medal. He went into the “Distinguished Class of Marksman”.

Before long the “department” medal became know as “leg” medals and in 1887 three “leg” medals won you the “Distinguished Marksman Badge”. Captain Stanhope Blunt designed the first “Badge”; it had an elliptical bullseye instead of the round one on today's “Badges”.

Marines began competing for “leg” medals in 1908 and the Navy followed later. The Air Force program started around 1960.

Pistol “legs” were awarded from 1903 until 1911 as “revolver legs”, after the adoption of the 1911 .45 Colt they were just “pistol legs”. First Marine “pistol leg” was awarded in 1920.

“Leg” medals were awarded at the National Matches for service rifle and pistol in the early days of the Matches but were restricted to regular service or National Guard personnel. Civilians who had won “legs” while in the service were allowed to compete until they obtained the Distinguished Badge.

Several systems were used to determine how many “legs” to issue from a set number to 20% and finally 10% of the non-distinguished competitors as it is today.

With the formation of the National Rifle Association in 1871 and the advent of the Civilian Marksmanship Program in 1903, which was administered by the US Army, civilians could win “leg” medals and began competing for “legs” at Camp Perry in 1926.