American Legion Post 731 Youth Air Rifle Program (Photo: American Legion HQ)

When members of American Legion Post 731 in San Diego noticed a drop in youth involvement in the air rifle programs within their post and District 22 five years ago, they decided to take action. Financially stable, Post 731 began sponsoring the program for all 29 posts in San Diego County to boost engagement.

Chuck Camarato, Post 731 finance officer, stated that their financial strength enabled them to provide this opportunity for youth across the county. Five local posts participate, and the program has inspired other California posts to revitalize their air rifle teams.

“We took it on for San Diego County for all of our American Legion posts here to give them an opportunity to send shooters and participate because we’ve just been very blessed financially,” said Camarato.

The program’s director, Francis Hall, stated that other posts are trying to replicate the program’s success due to the increased interest. Around 35 youth have participated since the program’s inception, with team sizes varying between six and twelve annually. The team practices every Saturday morning at a local gun range, which has helped with liability coverage. The range allows exclusive use for the first two hours, charging a minimal fee per student, making it affordable for the post.

To attract participants, Post 731 recruits from its other youth programs and distributes marketing materials to JROTC units, Boy Scout councils, and American Legion district meetings.

NRA-certified Legionnaires from Post 731 and surrounding posts serve as instructors, and Post 731 covers the cost of additional training if needed, encouraging member participation.

Post 731 has invested around $50,000 in building and maintaining the program, including purchasing necessary materials and providing guidance to other posts interested in starting similar programs. Camarato acknowledges the learning curve involved in establishing the program, from selecting the right rifles to training youth in safety and marksmanship. The Civilian Marksmanship Program and resources from The American Legion National Headquarters Junior Shooting Sports web page have been instrumental in this process.

Building trust with instructors and parents has been vital. The program emphasizes safety, with NRA-qualified instructors and comprehensive youth training on sexual abuse prevention. Initially, parents were invited to observe the range practices to ensure a safe environment, which led to word-of-mouth recruitment. Hall emphasized that trust from parents and professionalism from instructors were key to the program’s success.

The program also teaches Americanism, one of the pillars of The American Legion, and provide opportunities for youth who may not excel in traditional sports. Hall believes it offers a chance for young people to be part of a team and develop skills in concentration, commitment, and teamwork. Camarato stressed the importance of educating youth on firearm safety, countering the negative publicity surrounding firearms by promoting safe handling and marksmanship.

Next April, at the end of the program year, Post 731 will host a capstone event featuring firearms training and an awards ceremony, which participants eagerly anticipate. This fall, three participants from the program will attend West Point as cadets, demonstrating the program’s impact. Hall sees this as an opportunity to build the next generation of American Legion members and increase awareness of the organization’s contributions to the community.

Author: Rikki Almanza

Rikki is a Web Content Coordinator for the American Legion, Department of California. With a deep-rooted connection to the military, a spouse who is a Navy veteran, a father who served in the Air Force for 25 years, and a grandfather who proudly served, Rikki is committed to using her skills and knowledge to provide valuable assistance and resources to servicemembers and veterans.