From Garands to Olympians: How the CMP Trains the Nation’s Best Shooters

On this episode of the No Lowballers podcast, host Logan Metesh of High Caliber History dives deep into one of the most historically significant and community-focused organizations in the shooting sports world — the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP). Joined by CMP leaders Jerry O’Keefe, Christie Sewell, and Brad Donoho, plus a surprise appearance from Olympic legend Gary Anderson, this episode explores the roots, growth, and enduring mission of CMP. From the historic grounds of Camp Perry to the cutting-edge shift to electronic targets, the crew covers everything from vintage Garands to youth outreach. Whether you’re a seasoned competitor or just curious about how to get started, there’s something here for everyone. 🔍 Episode Highlights: • What the CMP really is and how it was born from federal legislation in 1996 • Why the U.S. Army sends M1 Garands to CMP — and how those sales fund the mission • The National Matches at Camp Perry: history, scope, and why it’s called the “Super Bowl” of shooting sports • Camp Perry’s unique range experience — including delays caused by boats, bald eagles, and even the Goodyear blimp • Commercial Row and the shooting sports vendor scene during matches • How the Small Arms Firing School brings beginners shoulder-to-shoulder with Olympians and world champs • New shooter access: training, clubs, and junior programs that make CMP uniquely welcoming • The growing popularity of vintage military rifle competitions — Garands, Springfields, Carbines and more • Growth of the air gun and smallbore rifle programs, including major junior participation • The end of an era: saying goodbye to the Camp Perry “pits” and moving fully to electronic targets • How CMP is driving participation nationwide through traveling games, club outreach, and range partnerships • The origins of the National Matches at Sea Girt, NJ and how Camp Perry became their permanent home • Gary Anderson’s legacy, from Olympic gold medals to shaping the CMP’s modern identity Listen now on your favorite platform and don’t forget: If you’re already a subscriber, make sure to re-subscribe using the updated links below to keep receiving new episodes. Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/4UoPXevKfKwruKcEcV4ir3 Apple Podcasts: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/no-lowballers/id1812452370 Amazon Music: https://music.amazon.com/podcasts/0f74f614-ea1c-4ca6-abd4-cfaf5135bf8e/no-lowballers iHeart: https://iheart.com/podcast/274120614/ Castbox: https://castbox.fm/channel/id6595321 Rumble: https://rumble.com/c/NoLowballersPodcast/videos To stream directly or learn more, visit www.gunbroker.com/c/podcast Follow No Lowballers on Instagram and Facebook for behind-the-scenes content, historical deep dives and weekly drops every Thursday.