What is a "LEG" Match

[jcramin]

What is a "LEG" Match ?

And what does "LEG" stand for ?

Thanks,
J

 

[TimRB]

A leg match is a US service rifle match put on by the CMP. Also called Excellence in Competition (EIC) match. Shooting in leg matches is how people obtain points toward earning a distinguished rifleman's badge. I have no idea how it came to be called a "leg" match.

Tim

 

[Jim Watson]

There are also EIC pistol matches, shot with hardball ammo in the Service Pistol, either 1911 or M9. The guns can be accurized and have adjustable sights but no other visible modifications.

I think they are called leg matches is because every time you earn some points it is a leg on the journey to a distinguished marksman's badge.

 

[Howard Roark]

What is a "LEG" Match ? And what does "LEG" stand for ?

In the early days, when one had to win three prizes at division,
department, or Army level matches, it could be done using the rifle, carbine,
revolver, or a combination of all three. Some believe that the three prize
regulation may be the origin of the term “leg”, used to describe either a match
that awards points or the points themselves. Late 19th century America was still
an agrarian culture and the three legged milk stool was a common enough sight.
A milk stool needs all three legs to be of any value and the same could be said of
the legs needed to earn Distinguished.5 Others say it is because trophies were
often displayed on a tripod stand and in order to take possession one had to take
all three legs.6 Today one must accumulate the 30 leg points needed to earn the
badge through participation in Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) matches
sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) and the various military
services. This can take as little as three matches for the gifted and fortunate or a
lifetime for the most persistent.

Sourses: http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/Distinguished_History.pdf

http://www.odcmp.com/Competitions/In_Distinguished_Company_Culver_2000.pdf

The above is from the CMP web page under competitions.

Earning a distinguished badge is a very rewarding journey that I recommend to anyone.

 

[Jim K]

A "leg" in general is any advancement toward a goal, like "winning the divisional championship was the first leg of the trip to the Super Bowl."

In shooting, a "leg" match is one that counts toward the Distinguished award. A competitor can shoot any matches but only certain matches count toward that goal.

Jim

 

[Jim K]

That meaning of "leg" comes from "straight leg", a soldier who wears his dress (greens) pants legs outside his shoes. Airborne troops wear their trousers tucked into their boots, or "bloused". At one time, they were the only troops authorized that mode of dress, but that may have changed.

Jim

 

[Superlite27]

I always thought a leg soldier was considered a "leg" becuase that's what we used to walk to the battlefield.....

......as opposed to airborne infantry who use airplanes to get there, and "mech" or mechanized who use APC's.

 

[dogrunner]

Just remember, only TWO things come out of the sky................ALWAYS good for a fight with any AB trooper in my day!

 

[Killermonkey21]

You're right. Only two things fall from airplanes.
Bird-s*** and paratroopers.
Chicken-s*** stays on the ground.

But yes, I believe it is a combination of those two definitions for the description of a non-airborne soldier.

The idea of a "leg" match with the above descriptions sounds about correct as well.

Ex-82nd Airborne, Paratrooper for life.
Airborne Artillery.