Marksmanship Medal



The Marksmanship Medal is a decoration of the United States Navy and the Coast Guard and is the highest award one may receive for weapons qualification. The Marksmanship Medal is the equivalent of the Expert Marksmanship Badge in the United States Army and Marine Corps.

The Marksmanship Medal is awarded for qualifying as an expert marksman on either the 9 mm M9 pistol (Navy), .40 S&W SIG P229 DAK (Coast Guard), or M16 rifle. To qualify at the expert level, a superior score must be obtained on an approved weapons qualification course. The standard weapons qualification course for pistol normally consists of several courses of fire from strong-side supported (standing), weak-side supported (standing), strong-side supported (kneeling). For the rifle, qualification course consists of firing from a position sitting on your back foot and from a prone position.

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 a dress uniform. On a duty uniform all successful qualifiers may wear the award as the standard Marksmanship Ribbon. Those qualifying as an expert are authorized to affix the Expert Device and those qualifying as a sharpshooter are authorized a bronze device in shape of an "S" on their ribbon.

The Navy Marksmanship Medals were first issued in 1969.