Senior Chief Shoots for Excellence

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Navy News | PO1 Brianna K. Dandridge | July 16, 2007

Charlston, S.C. -- Navy Nuclear Power Training Command (NNPTC) Senior Chief Machinist's Mate (SS) Curtis Norris is heading to the 46th Annual Interservice Rifle Championship in Quantico, Va., after qualifying for the U.S. Navy marksmanship team during the Navy's annual Atlantic Fleet Rifle competition.

Norris along with the best active duty and reserve members of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and National Guard will take part in a ten-day marksmanship competition July 16.

Hunting and marksmanship is a long-standing family tradition for Norris.

“I started hunting with my dad as a kid,” said Norris. “My family is from pretty rural areas in Tennessee and Oklahoma and hunting is a big sport in my family.”

This year, Norris will compete at 200, 300, 600 and 1,000-yards for individual rifle events in the interservice games, as well as several other team rifle and handgun events.

Last year Norris competed in the Atlantic Fleet Rifle and Pistol matches. There, he competed in individual and team shooting events in several categories.

“During the competitions, I met some great people. Everyone is encouraging and trying to help each other become better,” said Norris.

He won a Secretary of the Navy Trophy Rifle with a score of 474-8x out of a possible 500.

“I won by achieving the second highest active-duty score during the excellence-in-competition [matches].”

According to Norris, three years ago NNPTC had an excellent rifle marksmanship team, but as Sailors transferred, the team disappeared.

“I thought it would be a shame to let the sport end and that motivated me to want to keep the sport alive and try to compete on a national level,” Norris continued.

“My ultimate goal is to become a ‘distinguished marksman.’ It is an elite group and it takes a lot to get there. Only the top shooters earn it and it is a huge challenge.”

Military personnel and civilians who participate in excellence-in-competition matches can obtain gold, silver, and bronze badges toward the points required to become a "distinguished marksman."

Each year, the U.S. Navy Marksmanship Team (USNMT) conducts the rifle and pistol matches for both the Atlantic and Pacific Fleets, in which hundreds of Sailors are trained in service-rifle and service-pistol marksmanship, small-arms safety, and marksmanship competition rules and procedures. Sailors participate in individual and team events, earn marksmanship medals and badges and qualify to stand armed watches.

According to Norris, there is one team to beat at this year’s match.

“At the interservice games, the Army always sets the standard and they are incredible,” said Norris. “I think that marksmanship is something that every service member should be trained in and I’d like to see the sport catch on with more of the younger Sailors.”

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