I am not at all familiar witht the Civilian Marksmanship Program.  I just know it by name.  It is my understanding that DCM is somehow attached to it.

thanks for the help, gremlin

Director of Civilian Marksmanship.

It was created after someone realized that not all Americans are born expert marksmen when everyone showed up for WWI. DCM allowed youths and others to learn/maintain their shooting skills, apparently with the idea that if there was another war, they'd be better shots. I believe the name changed when they privatized.

Used to mean the department of civilian marksmanship.. but is now defunct. ODCMP took over of all the programs...pat

Department Of Civilian Marksmanship. Or Bushmaster DCM rifle!

A bit more info...

http://www-acala1.ria.army.mil/LC/cs/csl/civilian_marksmanship_program.htm

The Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship was a branch of the US Army until about 1995.  It was usually headed by a full Col or Brig. General.  It was created because the level of marksmanship for the Spanish -American War was totally dismal and the military wanted a way to insure draftee and recuits had some shooting experience.
Besides selling some military guns to civilians, the support shooting programs with the 4H, Boy Scouts, ROTC and DCM/CMP affiliated clubs.
They also support the Excellance in Competition shooting programs, and the Distinguished Rifle and Pistol programs. If you really can shoot you should try these,they are hard and fun.  

The current Director of Civilian Marksmanship is Gary Anderson.  He is responsible for the operation of the Civilian Marksmanship Program.

Take a look at www.odcmp.com for the current organization.

DCM stood for "Director ..." not "Department ..." as there was no Department.  It was dissolved in '95 and there is no current Director.  The function was taken over by a civilian non-profit corporation which runs the  "Civilian Marksmanship Program"  i.e CMP.  They do all of the functions listed above.  

Their website will tell all.

From the NRA site at http://www.nraila.org/FactSheets.asp?FormMode=Detail&ID=104

In 1903, the War Department Appropriations Bill authorized the establishment of the National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice as well as the National Rifle and Pistol Trophy Matches, a concept strongly supported by President Theodore Roosevelt, an avid rifle shooter. The measure provided a great boost to civilian marksmanship training, an effort begun a generation earlier by the National Rifle Association.1

At its first meeting, the Board determined "That every facility should be offered citizens outside of the Army, Navy, Marine Corps, and organized militia [National Guard] to become proficient in rifle shooting, and that this purpose can best be accomplished by means of rifle clubs."2

In 1905, another step forward was taken, when President Roosevelt signed Public Law 149 into effect, authorizing the sale, at cost, of surplus military rifles, ammunition, and related equipment to rifle clubs meeting requirements specified by the Board and approved by the Secretary of War.

The National Defense Act of 1916 authorized the War Department to distribute arms and ammunition to organized civilian rifle clubs under rules established by the Board, provided funds for the operation of government rifle ranges, and opened all military rifle ranges to civilian shooters. Today, many military base rifle, pistol and shotgun ranges are used by civilian shooting clubs and associations, providing excellent opportunities for training, practice and competition.

The National Defense Act also created the Office of the Director of Civilian Marksmanship (DCM), under the Board. For many years, the DCM’s programs were managed by the Army. However, the National Defense Authorization Act of 1996 (Public Law 104-106, effective date: 2/10/96) transferred the DCM’s function to a new, private, non-profit corporation chartered specifically for this purpose. The new entity, the Corporation for the Promotion of Rifle Practice and Firearms Safety, Inc., is directed by a nine-member board of directors initially appointed by the Secretary of the Army. The restructuring of the CMP, earnestly supported by the NRA, was opposed by anti-gun Members of Congress, who would prefer to abolish the program entirely, eliminating its firearm safety training activities and destroying its rifles and ammunition.

The CMP continues to administer the historic Excellence-in-Competition program and to sponsor the National Trophy Matches, which include the President’s Rifle and Pistol Matches, fired with Service Rifles (such as the AR-15) and Service Pistols. Congress has directed the Corporation to give priority to programs that reach as many young Americans as possible.

The CMP has no future federal funding and the Corporation must rely entirely upon income generated through sales of rifles, ammunition and related equipment; affiliation and match fees; etc. The Corporation is tax-exempt and may solicit funds and services by donation or request. All funds collected by the Corporation may be used only to support the official functions of the CMP. The DCM is a civilian employed by the Board of Directors and is the chief administrative officer for the daily operations of the CMP.

NormG,  As I stated before, there is a current Director of Civilian Marksmanship and his name is Gary Anderson.  See the link for confirmation.

www.odcmp.com/director1.htm