Not Your Normal Shooting Badges

In 1887, the U.S. Secretary of War started the Distinguished Marksman Badge program to award service members in rifle, revolver and carbine. Since then, the National Rifle Association (NRA) and the government have come up with tons of badges like the NRA Distinguished Smallbore Rifleman Badge Prone, Law Enforcement Semi-Automatic Pistol, Rifle Team Match, Interservice Marine Corps Rifle, President’s Hundred and Governor’s Twenty, just to name a few.

We’ve always thought these looked cool and once you research them, you will find that the badges listed below are only representing the surface of military competition badges.

Distinguished International Shooter Badge

Awarded by the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice for outstanding performance in major international competition. It may be awarded to any US citizen who places first, second, or third in rifle, pistol, or shotgun competition (individual or team). Also awarded to members of U.S. international teams who place in the top 15 percent of all competitions in the Olympic Games, International Shooting Union, World Championship, Pan American Games, or the Championship of the Americas. The reverse is blank engraving of the recipient’s name and date of award

Army Distinguished Rifleman Badge

Awarded to Army personnel in recognition for outstanding achievement in competitive target practice firing with the military service rifle; the award requires a specified number of points (30) attained from competition matches, basically this meant winning three team badges. Badge is gold, shield-shaped with a black and white target in the center; the shield is attached to a suspension bar that contains the words “U.S. Army.” The reverse is blank engraving of the recipient’s name and date of award.

Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge

Army personnel are recognized for outstanding achievement in competitive target practice firing with the military service pistol with the Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge; the award
requires a specified number of points (30) attained from competition matches. Usually awarded to a winner of three team badges. It is a gold, shield-shaped badge with a black and white target in the center and the words “U.S. Army” on the suspension bar.

Team Marksmanship Badges (Obsolete)

This badge was awarded to members of Army marksmanship teams. There are three parts to this badge; pendant, clasp, and top bar. The pendant has a bow with arrows within the annulet with thirteen stars encircled by an oak wreath. The team disk is bronze with the annulet enameled in the appropriate branch color such as blue for the infantry, yellow for the cavalry etc. Team clasps are in the form of rifles, pistols or automatic rifles. Clasps are in gold, silver or bronze. Different bars could be used to indicate Corps level or Army level.