The [Queen's Medal for Champion Shots in the Military Forces|]Army Operational Shooting Concentration, is the British Army's premier shooting competition. Part of the Defence Operational Shooting Competition, it is based at the headquarters of the National Rifle Association at Bisley Camp, in Brookwood, Surrey. It also uses Ministry of Defence ranges in the vicinity, such as Ash and Pirbright.
History
Competition shooting in the British Army started in 1874 with 'non-central' matches on unit ranges. The 'Army VIII' was formed in the same year, its purpose was to select a team for Inter-Service matches organized by the National Rifle Association. The Army Rifle Association which was founded in 1893, became the governing body of service shooting. It was formed to encourage interest in service shooting to "promote interest in small arms shooting for service purposes by means of collective competitions, matches being framed to induce practice in methods which led to increased efficiency on the battlefield". By the 1970s, all three services had established their own competitions and associations, the army's going under the name of 'Regular Army Skill at Arms Meeting' or RASAM,. As part of constant up-dating, the event's name was changed to the 'Army Operational Shooting Competition' in 2009. Figure targets were first used in 1908. The electric target range came on stream in 1967. A moving target match was introduced in 1974 with two infantry night shooting matches being competed-for initially in 1982. Firing in respirators and a 'march and shoot' competition was introduced in 1986. Casualty recovery and the carrying of 15 kilogrammes of personal equipment was brought in 2009.
Operational Shooting Policy
Operational Shooting Policy for the UK Armed Forces has two chapters dedicated in assisting units in the planning and conduct of Operational Shooting Competitions. One chapter contains information and rules on planning considerations, dress and equipment, targets and scoring, penalties, timings and ammunition. The second chapter contains all the details required to plan and conduct the rifle, pistol, machine gun and sniper matches. Historically, this information was contained in a separate publication known as: Infantry Training, Volume IV, Ranges, Pamphlet No. 20, Competition Shooting or 'Pamphlet 20' for short or informally the 'bible' of competition shooting.
Prize categories
Prizes are awarded to teams and individuals. The most prestigious individual prize is the Queen's Medal. The Final Round of Competition for the Queen's Medal Usually takes place in late June or early July each year. The top 100 competitors earn the right to wear the coveted 100 badge on the left fore arm.
