[rayb]

Pretty much every Fort or Base had their own Rod and Gun Club - and they all had patches.

At least, they did until it became no longer popular, and they started closing the golf courses and amalgamating the various Clubs and minimizing the shooting sports, entirely.

At one time, you could always find the Old Man and the Top or the CSM out at the Trap Range on a weekend - just like you saw John Wayne doing in 'The Green Berets'.

Today, those activities are suspect - and this from Combat Arms guys...

It was a great time to serve, though - no political correctness, no 'real' chickenshit - everybody had a focus, and knew what they were about.

Today - not so much, as too many became 'self-polishing apples' and would game the system in order to advance.

But I digress...

The old Rod and Gun Clubs were where you could order all manner of guns and fishing 'stuff' and get a bargain in the process, they were a perk of military service that civilians didn't enjoy, and a lot of 'business' and mentoring could be discussed at the Club or Range or on the links that wasn't 'official' - and there was great value in that.

Excellent summary of what I saw happening 1960's-1990's. By the time I retired, the Rod & Gun clubs were being dissolved and their activities taken over by the PX / BX system. Maybe the marines & Navy had a different experience. I don't know if there are even any Rod & Gun Clubs in operation any more.

I also recall with great joy the practice of issuing ammunition of certain calibers for markmanship practice. I used to go to a pistol range at Ft Sill over lunch hour, draw a box of .22 LR and/or a box of .38 Special. I didn't have a .45 so didn't draw any of that. All ammunition had to be expended on the range, none was to leave the range, all brass was turned back in. I think those days are probably gone.

rayb

 

[rayb]

I do have one patch from my HQ at Fort Belvoir, VA...



FORMIDOLOSUS VENATORS = FEARLESS HUNTERS

FT Belvoir had a small rod & gun club, down at the basin. My company did some work on the pistol range there the second time I was stationed there, ca 1972-73. I will look for a patch, but don't remember one.

rayb