- Marksmanship Medal
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Marksmanship Medal 
Navy and Coast Guard Marksmanship MedalsAwarded by United States Navy Type Ribbon Status Current 
ribbons: Navy (left), Coast Guard (right); rifle (above), pistol (below)
Midshipmen aboard the USS Nassau train with M16s
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 foxtrot must be obtained on an approved weapons qualification course. The standard weapons qualification course normally consists of several courses of fire from one-handed kneeling, double-handed standing, and (in the case of the M16), firing from a crouched position. A superior score, qualifying for the Marksmanship Medal, is typically 285 points out of a 300 point scale. This varies slightly depending on the awarding authority and the military command which is running a particular qualification course.
Those qualifying as an expert marksman are presented the Marksmanship Medal which is awarded as two separate decorations for both 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, but when worn on a duty uniform the award is displayed as the standard Marksmanship Ribbon with Expert Device. Those qualifying for the sharpshooter version are wearing a bronze device in shape of an "S" on their ribbon.
In the U.S. Navy, the Marksmanship Medal is considered a successor decoration to the Distinguished Marksmanship Ribbon. Both the Coast Guard and Navy Marksmanship Medals were first issued in 1969.
Qualification Scores
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 M9 or P229R DAK Qualification M16A2, M4 or M14-T Rifle 114-128 Marksman 140-166 129-143 Sharpshooter 167-174 144-150 Expert 175-200 See also
References
Meritorious medals Expeditionary medals Good Conduct medals Unit awards _
Presidential Unit Citation · 
Navy Unit Commendation · 
Navy Meritorious Unit Commendation · 
Navy E RibbonRibbons Marksmanship __ 
Navy Expert Rifleman Medal · _
Navy Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon · 
Navy Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon · __ 
Navy Expert Pistol Shot Medal · _
Navy Sharpshooter Pistol Shot Medal · 
Navy Pistol Marksmanship RibbonDecorations Lifesaving Medals Unit Awards Conduct Medals Service Awards _
Combat Action Ribbon · 
· Enlisted Person of the Year Ribbon · 
Coast Guard Arctic Service Medal · 
Special Operations Service Ribbon · 
Sea Service Ribbon · 
Restricted Duty Ribbon · _
Overseas Service Ribbon · 
Basic Training Honor Graduate Ribbon · 
Recruiting Service RibbonMarksmanship __ _ _ _ 
Distinguished Marksman Ribbon · __ _ _ 
Silver Excellence in Competition Rifle Ribbon · __ _ 
Bronze Excellence in Competition Rifle Ribbon · __ 
Expert Rifle Ribbon · _
Sharpshooter Rifle Ribbon · 
Rifle Marksmanship Ribbon · __ _ _ _ 
Distinguished Pistol Shot Ribbon · __ _ _ 
Silver Pistol Excellence in Competition Ribbon · __ _ 
Bronze Pistol Excellence in Competition Ribbon · __ 
Expert Pistol Ribbon · _
Sharpshooter Pistol Ribbon · 
Pistol Marksmanship RibbonCategories:- Military awards and decorations of the United States
- Awards and decorations of the United States Navy
- Awards and decorations of the United States Coast Guard
- Awards established in 1969
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