United States Army Marksmanship Unit
established in March 1, 1956
- at the direction of Dwight D. Eisenhower
- with the mission of winning international competitions
- 1964 Summer Olympics (Tokyo), the United States won seven medals in shooting, of which six were won by Army Marksmanship Unit members
- unit’s mission expanded to facilitate Army recruiting
- 2009 to 2012, the AMU maintained a constant presence in Afghanistan by deploying multiple marksmanship training teams
- five competitive shooting sections
– Service Rifle
– Action Shooting
– International Rifle
– Service Pistol
– Shotgun - Shotgun and International Rifle teams have earned 24 Olympic medals
United States Army Marksmanship Unit
Fort Benning, Georgia
About the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU, often called the AMU) was established on March 1, 1956 at the direction of President Dwight D. Eisenhower. Its first job was to win international shooting competitions, which the Soviet Union dominated at the time. The approach worked quickly: at the 1964 Summer Olympics in Tokyo, the United States won seven shooting medals, and six of them went to AMU soldiers. The unit’s motto is “Home of Champions.”
Based at Fort Benning, Georgia, the AMU is now part of the Army’s Marketing and Engagement Brigade under U.S. Army Recruiting. Its mission covers small arms marksmanship training for soldiers and support for Army recruiting. The unit fields Action Shooting, International Rifle, Service Pistol, Service Rifle and Shotgun teams, along with a Custom Firearms Shop and an Instructor Training Group. AMU shooters have trained Army snipers and helped develop weapons, and the unit remains one of the most respected training schools for competitive shooters in the country.
Key Facts
- March 1, 1956: Established at the direction of President Eisenhower
- 1964: AMU members won six of seven U.S. shooting medals at the Tokyo Olympics
- 2008: Described by The New York Times as the country’s premier training school for competitive shooters
- Today: Part of the Army’s Marketing and Engagement Brigade, based at Fort Benning, Georgia
Sources
Profiles on Minuteman University.com are editorial content compiled from public sources. Inclusion does not imply endorsement of, sponsorship by, or affiliation with this site or the Gun Websites Firearms Network. Corrections and removal requests are welcome through Contact Us.