Syracuse American Legion - Junior Shooting Sports

The American Legion's Junior Shooting Sports Program is a gun safety education and marksmanship competition open to anyone under 18 (or high school seniors up to 20). Both males and females compete equally—disabled youth are specifically encouraged, as air rifle shooting creates a level playing field regardless of physical ability.

Competitors shoot .177 caliber air rifles in postal matches that determine local, state, and regional champions. Winners advance to qualify for the national championship held each July at the USA Shooting Olympic Training Center in Colorado Springs.

Competition Categories: - Sporter class - Precision class

The 2024 national championship winners each received $5,000 college scholarships (plus an expense-paid trip to the American Legion National Convention), while second-place finishers received $1,000 scholarships from the American Legion Auxiliary.

Onondaga/Syracuse hosts one of the most active programs in New York. The yearly state championship is held at James Harvey Spire American Legion Post 787 in Cicero, NY. Ten communities across the region field teams and individual competitors:

Mexico, Camden, LeRoy, Wyoming, Hopewell Junction, Alexandria Bay, Baldwinsville, Batavia, Middletown, Maritime, and Central Square.

Participation requires Legion sponsorship. Start by contacting your local American Legion post, Sons of the American Legion squadron, or the Auxiliary unit. The program emphasizes safety alongside competition—marksmanship fundamentals and disciplined shooting are more important than physical size.

Contact: - Lawrence Behling - New York State Junior Shooting Chairman - Email: [email protected] - Tom Green - Registration coordinator

The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program has produced Olympic medal recipients, demonstrating the program's track record of developing serious competitive shooters.