Every summer, the Civilian Marksmanship Program’s National Matches at Camp Perry, Ohio, bring together the country’s best rifle shooters. In July 2026, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s International Rifle Team owned the CMP National Smallbore and Air Gun Championships. About 300 athletes competed, according to the Army.
Individual results
- Air Rifle (10 meters): Staff Sgt. Sagen Maddalena won gold with 250.5. Spc. John Blanton III took silver with 248.9.
- Smallbore (50 meters): Staff Sgt. Ivan Roe won gold with 352.0. Maddalena took silver with 342.0.
- Air Rifle and Smallbore Aggregate: Maddalena won by one point over Roe.
Both Maddalena and Roe are 2024 Olympians, and Maddalena won an Olympic silver medal in 2024.
Team results
- National Air Rifle 4-Member Team: USAMU won with 5,008.7, ahead of 35 teams.
- Smallbore 4-Member Team: USAMU won with 4,600-177x, by 104 points.
- Air Rifle 2-Member Elimination: Maddalena and Muske won gold.
The Smallbore 2-Member Elimination event was canceled because wildfire smoke from Canada created safety and visibility problems.
Giving back
USAMU soldiers also instructed 55 participants at the CMP Smallbore Small Arms Firing School, part of the Army’s mission to support marksmanship training for civilians.
Why air rifle and smallbore matter
These are the disciplines of the Olympic Games. Air rifle is shot at 10 meters with .177-caliber pellets. Smallbore uses .22 rimfire rifles at 50 meters, often in three positions: kneeling, prone and standing. Both demand extraordinary control. Scores are counted in tenths of a point, and a single shot can decide a championship.
They are also among the most accessible shooting sports for young people. Junior air rifle programs through 4-H, JROTC, American Legion and Boy Scouts operate in gyms and basements across the country, with low cost and very little noise.
Get involved
If you have a young shooter at home, look for a junior air rifle club. CMP supports junior programs nationwide, and many North Carolina high schools have JROTC marksmanship teams that compete in air rifle. It’s one of the safest, most disciplined introductions to shooting there is.
