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Photos by Tony Keisman

Club Member, Will Martin, regularly presents Boy Scout Merit Badge training at Southport.  He brings with him the experience of a trained military marksman as well as a background in civilian high power rifle competition and wildlife conservation in the field. Although the “movies make it look easy” Will explained, he was almost forced to recycle through Army basic training because he could not even zero his rifle. But perseverance paid off. He figured it out, and is now classified as an Expert Rifleman and has actually been through sniper school on the M21 system. As an Army reservist, Will has just been attached to Ft. Sheridan’s 5150th Special Marksmanship Unit. He will be instructing other reservists in the fine art of rifle shooting.

Will has been teaching the Boy Scout Rifle Merit Badge program for about four years. He sponsors an average of three groups annually. Earning the badge requires 16-20 hours of instruction, including both classroom work and live-fire range time. Where the BSA program recently required only merit badge counselor training and a good background in rifle shooting, instructors must now hold NRA’s formal “Certified Rifle” credentials as well. Will brings his own equipment, including the recommended single-shot, bolt-action 22 and an 1891 Argentine Mauser for demonstration purposes. Up until recently, he also provided all the ammo necessary for qualification shooting. He schedules the classes around the regular Southport events, generally using the facility on weekends.

The badge can be earned in air-rifle, modern cartridge, or “black powder” disciplines, each having its own set of achievement goals. Will teaches “modern cartridge” using the 22 rimfire.

Minimum requirements include general firearm safety, proper handling and use, as well as competency on the range. The program is embellished to help the scouts determine what firearm they want, for what purpose and even purchasing options. It covers compliance with the laws of both Illinois and Wisconsin, particularly firearms ownership and transport. It includes dealing with peers who want to “see your gun”, and covers such diverse topics as identification of rimfire vs centerfire ammunition, appreciation of wildlife conservation, cleaning up after yourself and being respectful of others on the range and in the field. Each scout must be able to reiterate the lesson material and demonstrate competency in both the prone and bench-rest positions, firing five 3-round groups and then five 5-round groups within the diameter of a quarter at 50 feet! Will feels that, ”the Boy Scouts is a wonderful program - all boys should be in it.”