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Title 36 — Patriotic and National ObservancesRelease 119-73not60

§40725 National Matches and Small-arms Firing School

Title 36 › Subtitle Subtitle II— Patriotic and National Organizations › Part B— Organizations › Chapter 407— CORPORATION FOR THE PROMOTION OF RIFLE PRACTICE AND FIREARMS SAFETY › Subchapter II— CIVILIAN MARKSMANSHIP PROGRAM › § 40725

Last updated Apr 5, 2026|Official source

Summary

The Secretary of the Army must hold the annual National Matches, which are rifle and pistol contests awarding a national trophy, medals, and other prizes. The Matches are open to members of the Armed Forces, the National Guard, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps (including Air Force ROTC), Citizens’ Military and Air Training Camps, rifle clubs, and civilians. A small-arms firing school must be held alongside the National Matches. Competitions with trophies and medals provided by the National Rifle Association of America must also take place during the National Matches.

Full Legal Text

Title 36, §40725

Patriotic and National Observances — Source: USLM XML via OLRC

(a)An annual competition called the “National Matches” and consisting of rifle and pistol matches for a national trophy, medals, and other prizes shall be held as prescribed by the Secretary of the Army.
(b)The National Matches are open to members of the Armed Forces, National Guard, Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Air Force Reserve Officers’ Training Corps, Citizens’ Military Training Camps, Citizens’ Air Training Camps, and rifle clubs, and to civilians.
(c)A small-arms firing school shall be held in connection with the National Matches.
(d)Competitions for which trophies and medals are provided by the National Rifle Association of America shall be held in connection with the National Matches.

Legislative History

Notes & Related Subsidiaries

Historical and Revision Notes

Revised SectionSource (U.S. Code)Source (Statutes at Large) 4072510:4312. In subsection (a), the provision for the National Matches to be held as prescribed by “the Secretary of the Army” is retained notwithstanding section 1612(d) of The National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 1996 (Public Law 104–106, 110 Stat. 517) which transferred the Civilian Marksmanship Program, including the National Matches, from the Secretary of the Army to the corporation. The conforming

Amendments

in section 1624 of the Act (110 Stat. 522) did not repeal the authority of the Secretary of the Army to prescribe National Matches under 10:4312 or to prescribe subsistence and travel allowances for competitors under 10:4313.

Reference

Citations & Metadata

Citation

36 U.S.C. § 40725

Title 36 — Patriotic and National Observances

Last Updated

Apr 5, 2026

Release point: 119-73not60