Marksmanship Medal should not be confused with Marksmanship Ribbon.
| Marksmanship Medal | |
| Presenter: | Department of the Navy and Coast Guard |
| Type: | Ribbon |
| Status: | Current |
| Firstawarded: | 1969 (U.S. Navy) |
The Marksmanship Medal is a United States Navy and the U.S. Coast Guard military award and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification. The Marksmanship Medal is the equivalent of the Expert Marksmanship Badge in the U.S. Army and U.S. Marine Corps. Additionally, select State National Guard organizations award marksmanship medals to guardsmen who achieve some of the highest aggregate scores at state-level marksmanship competitions.
The Marksmanship Medal is awarded for qualifying as an expert marksman on either the Sig Sauer M18 (Navy or Coast Guard), 9×19mm Beretta M9 (Navy or Coast Guard), .40 S&W SIG P229 DAK (Coast Guard only), or M16 rifle. To qualify at the expert level, a superior score must be obtained on an approved weapons qualification course. The standard Navy weapons qualification course for pistol normally consists of several courses of fire from strong-side supported (standing), weak-side supported (standing), and strong-side supported (kneeling) positions. For the rifle, the Navy qualification course consists of firing from a sitting and prone positions.[1] [2] [3]
Those qualifying as an expert marksman are authorized to wear the Marksmanship Medal, awarded as two separate decorations for rifle or pistol qualifications. Those having qualified on both pistol and rifle may receive both medals for simultaneous wear. The Marksmanship Medal is worn as a full-sized medal on dress uniforms. On a duty uniform all successful qualifiers may wear the award as the standard Marksmanship Ribbon. Those qualifying as an expert are authorized to wear the Expert device on the ribbon and those qualifying as a sharpshooter are authorized a "S" device (Navy-bronze and Coast Guard-silver) for that ribbon.[1] [4] [5]
The Navy Marksmanship Medals were first issued in 1969.[6] [7]
| Navy | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| M9 Service Pistol | Qualification | M16 Rifle or M4 Carbine | |
| 180-203 | Marksman | 140-159 | |
| 204-227 | Sharpshooter | 160-169 | |
| 228-240 | Expert | 170-200 | |
| Coast Guard | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| P229R DAK | Qualification | M4 Carbine Rifle | |
| 114-128 | Marksman | 140-166 | |
| 129-143 | Sharpshooter | 167-174 | |
| 144-150 | Expert | 175-200 | |