During the pistol phase alone, there are 145 volunteers that take part in a large contribution effort to administrate the National Championships. Volunteers usually lodge at Camp Perry for one of the three disciplines which include pistol, smallbore, and high power rifle.
The volunteers’ primary duty is to ensure that the shooting line is safe. All range operations are conducted by the volunteers who hold positions such as range directors, block officers, line officers and chief range officers.
NRA Volunteer Coordinator, Beth Epley, said that the volunteers donate their time to show their support to the 2nd Amendment as well as competitive shooting alive for generations to come.
“It’s like an extended family,” said Epley. “A lot of them are retired competitive shooters, avid firearms owners or members of the NRA who want to be involved in the sport.”
Stephen Hogan has been volunteering for eight years and is one of four chief range officers during the pistol phase. Hogan is from Cranston, R.I. where he is also a Chief Range Officer at the Newport Rifle Club, one of the oldest continuous gun clubs in the United States. Stephen and his wife traveled a few days before the matches began to assist in the setup for the pistol phase.
Then there’s 18-year-old Karl Hoffman who first came to Camp Perry when he was five-years-old. Hoffman has been a volunteer for five years and is currently a block officer during the pistol phase. His interest in competitive shooting began when his father was involved in bullseye shooting. Hoffman shot three-position smallbore and air rifle in high school and is also involved in the Newport Rifle Club.
Once he became involved in the administrative side of firearms competitions, he prefers volunteering more than competing. Traveling from his hometown in Portsmouth, R.I., the overall atmosphere at Camp Perry has brought him back to the post year after year.
“I enjoy the camaraderie between the competitors and volunteers. Some of the competitors are very appreciative of what the volunteers do; they make it worth it. To be able to work with them is awesome,” said Hoffman.
Hoffman will be a second year college student and is a political science major. He plans enroll in law school and concentrate on constitutional law.
At the NRA Store, also located on base, Susan Smyth has been a volunteer for six years. Smyth is in charge of retail and selling at the store during the pistol phase. At her residence in Burlington, Ontario, Smyth is a member of the Canadian Shooting Sports Association and Range Burlington, a rifle and revolver club. She ventured to Camp Perry this year with her husband who is a chief range officer.
“The people are my favorite thing about Camp Perry. The shooters are wonderful, very friendly and they each have a story to tell,” said Smyth.
Volunteers are also involved in other aspects of the National Matches such as working in the trophy display room, the statistical office and the awards office.
Many of them make this an annual tradition. Volunteers Doug Walters, from Port Clinton, Ohio; and Arthur Mueller, from West Seneca, N.Y.; were recognized for 25 years of service at a Volunteer Awards Banquet on Tuesday. Pierce Johnson, from West Port, N.Y.; works in the trophy display room and has been volunteering at Camp Perry for 38 years.
Showing that the firing line is safe, 18-year-old Karl Hoffman, from Portsmouth, R.I., serves as block officer during the National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry.
Stephen Hogan, from Cranston, R.I., inspects the competitor’s equipment on the firing line, which is a main duty of a chief range officer.
Susan Smyth, from Burlington, Ontario, is at the cash register at the NRA Store and assisting customers with their purchases.
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