An official website of the United States Government 
Here's how you know

Official websites use .gov

A .gov website belongs to an official government organization in the United States.

Secure .gov websites use HTTPS

A lock ( lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .gov website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

Soldiers Assigned to the ‘Home of Champions’ Train the Military’s Best

Fewer than 100 soldiers, all with expert marksmanship skills, make up this elite unit. They are the best of the best, not just in the military, but throughout the competitive shooting world. Founded in 1956, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit exists to increase lethality throughout the Department of War via mobile training teams, doctrine development and conducting research and development in concert with small arms development centers.

A montage of Army marksmen aiming their weapons.A montage of Army marksmen aiming their weapons.A montage of Army marksmen aiming their weapons.A montage of Army marksmen aiming their weapons.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit demonstrates America’s military marksmanship prowess by winning national and international shooting competitions, and enhances Army recruiting efforts through shooting demonstrations, public engagements and providing clinical marksmanship instruction.

We exist to fight and win. … We can win silver and bronze medals in training. There is no silver medal and bronze medal in combat. Training hard, failing, getting better at those basics, always holding yourself to that standard — that’s good training management because second place in combat is living with regret."
~ Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer

Soldiers Assigned to the ‘Home of Champions’ Train the Military’s Best

Fewer than 100 soldiers, all with expert marksmanship skills, make up this elite unit. They are the best of the best, not just in the military, but throughout the competitive shooting world.

Founded in 1956, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit exists to increase lethality throughout the War Department via mobile training teams, doctrine development and conducting research and development in concert with small arms development centers.

... loading ...

The unit demonstrates America’s military marksmanship prowess by winning national and international shooting competitions, and enhances Army recruiting efforts through shooting demonstrations, public engagements and providing clinical marksmanship instruction.

Keep Up With USAMU
We exist to fight and win. … We can win silver and bronze medals in training. There is no silver medal and bronze medal in combat. Training hard, failing, getting better at those basics, always holding yourself to that standard — that’s good training management because second place in combat is living with regret."
~ Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer

Training for Lethality

The Instructor Training Group soldiers serve as the primary instructors in support of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s mission to improve small arms lethality. Made up of combat veterans with a wealth of knowledge and first-hand experience, the group conducts tailored marksmanship training courses for more than 4,000 service members across the Department of War each year. These mobile training teams provide effective marksmanship training courses and subject matter expertise to assist commanders in achieving their mission.

Listen to leaders explain why lethality is so important and how USAMU training increases readiness.

The unit offers several proven programs designed to meet soldiers’ needs, from drill sergeants conducting initial military training to special operations assets across all military branches. Each class of students conducts a baseline course of fire. The baseline average is 18 to 22 hits on target out of 40, less than 50%. The percentage of hits that would be lethal to an adversary is even smaller. After a one-week course with unit instructors, those same soldiers have a 30 to 40% increase in hits and a 40 to 50% increase in lethality.

Every year, the unit supports the U.S. Army Cadet Command’s summer training program. Soldiers train U.S. Military Academy instructors and Army Cadet Command ROTC instructors in marksmanship with the sole goal of these newly anointed trainers passing along the information to their students.

However, West Point and the cadet command aren’t the only groups the unit supports. It provides marksmanship education to the officer corps through training programs for the Infantry Basic Officer Leader Course, Armor Basic Officer Leader Course, Maneuver Captain's Career Course and Reserve Maneuver Pre-Command Course.

The unit’s expertise has impacted an innumerable number of soldiers. It’s responsible for the development of the original Marksmanship Master Training Course, the Army’s first institutional marksmanship course. It also authored evergreen training publications and assisted with doctrine updates for both the M7 service rifle and M17 service pistol.

To remain combat-ready, our soldiers must shoot, move, communicate and bond through tough training and learning to overcome adversity.”
Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer

Perfection in Action

Training Special Forces

Building Future Lethal Force

Fostering Readiness Through Competition

Army Lt. Gen. Floyd L. Parks, a decorated soldier and internationally recognized advocate for American marksmanship, recognized the danger a force weak in shooting presented. His suggestions to President Eisenhower prompted the formation of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. In a 1958 address to the Department of Defense Subcommittee of the Senate Appropriations Committee, Parks stated, “Marksmanship training is an essential element of readiness for combat. The crying need in each of our wars has been a demand for better individual marksmen.”

This remains true today. In an article for the Army University Press, Sgt. Maj. of the Army Michael Weimer asserted, “The consequences of artificial readiness are the difference between life and death, success and failure, and winning or losing. Are you ready, or do you need a warm-up target? The enemy doesn’t plan on giving you one!” The unit has been tasked for decades with conducting several time-honored national-level training events and maintaining excellence-in-competition records. The U.S. Army Small Arms Championships, All-Army, is an annual series of matches that fosters an intense and unique training environment. Army soldiers and cadets of all skill levels can attend. Competitors not only learn from the Olympians and national champions at the competition, but from one another while under stress.

Armed forces international pistol matches foster competition among the services and small arms firing schools offer yet another opportunity for anyone, military or civilian, to learn basic marksmanship skills. The goal of the congressionally mandated firing schools is to encourage the development of American marksmanship, passing along skills to encourage the next generation of America’s warfighters.

There is no time in battle to become disciplined — it happens before or not at all.” Army Lt. Gen. Floyd L. Parks
Army Sgt. 1st Class Adam Sokolowski was assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit right out of basic training in 1999. Ever since, he’s been winning service pistol competitions and setting records, both individually and for the team. Most notably, Sokolowski won the 2018 Bianchi Cup Open championship, making him the first person to ever win three consecutive Bianchi Cups — a competition where there are three divisions, but you can only win one division per year. Video by Army Staff Sgt. Edwin Pierce, DOD Play
1:24
Best of the Best - Army Sgt. 1st Class Adam Sokolowski was assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit right out of basic training in 1999. Ever since, he’s been winning service pistol competitions and setting records, both individually and for the team. Most notably, Sokolowski won the 2018 Bianchi Cup Open championship, making him the first person to ever win three consecutive Bianchi Cups — a competition where there are three divisions, but you can only win one division per year. Video by Army Staff Sgt. Edwin Pierce, DOD

Best of the Best

Army Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Green has been a member of the Army Marksmanship Unit since 2004 and is one of its most distinguished soldiers, having won several competitions over the years. Most recently, he won the 2018 Civilian Marksmanship Program National Championship and set a record for the Presidents 100 rifle match, where he got a perfect score. Video by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley Guire Play
1:00
Aiming for Perfection - Army Sgt. 1st Class Brandon Green has been a member of the Army Marksmanship Unit since 2004 and is one of its most distinguished soldiers, having won several competitions over the years. Most recently, he won the 2018 Civilian Marksmanship Program National Championship and set a record for the Presidents 100 rifle match, where he got a perfect score. Video by Navy Petty Officer 2nd Class Ashley Guire

Aiming for Perfection

We need the best systems in the hands of warfighters where they need it, to the Cocoms to deter and send the signals that when that fight comes, we're ready to win and win decisively.”
Secretary of War Pete Hegseth

Research and Development

With resources not found anywhere else, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Custom Firearm Shop pushes the boundaries of what is possible, offering intense research and development with accelerated concepts to production.

Gunsmiths, machinists, range technicians and ammunition specialists, who could be called the backbone of the unit, customize competition arms and ammunition while standing on the forefront of innovation. The shop’s research, development, testing and evaluation efforts have led to enhanced accuracy, reliability and combat effectiveness across the War Department.

The M21 and M24 sniper systems, special-purpose rifles and squad-designated marksman rifles were developed and tested at the unit. It has also been involved with the M7 rifle and M17 pistol from the beginning and continues to conduct ballistic testing to ensure the weapon systems and ammunition meet capability requirements across the force.

Perfection in Action

Unit Earns Top GOAT

Small Arms Champs

Connection to the Public and Recruiting

In addition to improving lethality and dominating competition, the unit provides essential support to Army marketing efforts, serving as a unique and critical link to the American public to promote accessions.

Soldiers conduct clinics, junior camps and marksmanship demonstrations around the country through authentic, one-on-one engagements to tell the Army story and engage with potential future prospects.

The unit also attends various events with an advanced marksmanship training simulator and a variety of displays — Olympic, STEM, weapon — to engage the public and showcase the Army’s unique capabilities. Location dependent, the Shotgun and Action Shooting Teams provide crowd-pleasing trick shot demonstrations.

Competition

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit wins national and international shooting competitions, supports Army accessions, and advances small arms lethality to demonstrate Army marksmanship capability, enhance recruiting and increase marksmanship effectiveness in combat.

Action Shooting

Service Pistol

Service Rifle

International

Shotgun

Action Shooting

The Action Shooting Team specializes in three dynamic disciplines: action pistol, three gun, and long- range precision rifle. Each of these fast-paced competitions is designed to mimic real-world scenarios that warfighters may encounter, emphasizing speed, accuracy, and tactical decision-making. The skills gained by the Action Shooting Team directly translate into improved lethality and operational readiness on the battlefield through training elite units, making them an invaluable asset to military preparedness.

Service Pistol

The Service Pistol Team competes in bullseye/precision pistol and action pistol matches. This team specializes in both one-handed and two-handed pistol marksmanship and conducts the congressionally mandated Small Arms Firing School annually at the National Pistol Matches in Camp Perry, Ohio for the Department of Defense.

Service Rifle

The Service Rifle Team competes in open team matches and individual championships, state service rifle and highpower championships, interservice and national competitions and the Palma World Championships of International Long Range Rifle Shooting. In addition, Soldiers on this team compete in the National Rifle League Hunter Series in the two-man team class, which allows the team to not only display, but fine-tune, their mastery of basic rifle marksmanship that enhances lethality through training future marksmen/instructors.

The Service Rifle Team also conducts the congressionally mandated National Small Arms Firing School for the Department of Defense annually each summer during the National Rifle Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio.

International Rifle

The International Rifle Team competes in national, international, and Olympic competitions and conducts the Smallbore Clinic during the National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, every summer. Team members shoot both 10m air rifle and 50m smallbore, also known as 50m three-position rifle internationally.

Shotgun

The USAMU Shotgun Team competes in national, international, and Olympic competitions in both skeet and trap. The Shotgun Team also conducts trick shooting demonstrations during recruiting events. When not competing, these Soldiers support marksmanship training provided by the USAMU, such as the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships.

27 TOTAL

Olympic Medals

Won by USAMU Shooters 1964-Present

14 GOLD

7 SILVER

6 BRONZE

27 TOTAL

Olympic Medals

Won by USAMU Shooters 1964-Present

14 GOLD

7 SILVER

6 BRONZE

USAMU's Connection to the Olympic Games