The NGA Drill Class Ranks (by order of merit, lowest to highest)
Rifleman Recruit
The Drill Class Rank of 'Rifleman Recruit' is bestowed upon all drillers who join NGA as a rifleman*, and remain so until their first public performance before an audience of 100 or more.
Rifleman
The Drill Class Rank of 'Rifleman' is achieved after the first public performance as an NGA rifleman.
Senior Rifleman
The Drill Class Rank of 'Senior Rifleman' is achieved after 3 public performances in a team drill (tetrad or higher) before an audience of 1000 or more, or a 1st placement** performance in a national, international, or world championship competition in a team category (tetrad or more) as a NGA rifleman.
Soloist
The Drill Class Rank of 'Soloist' is achieved after any public performance as a solo or in a tandem rifle exhibition drill as a NGA rifleman who has achieved the drill class rank of 'Senior Rifleman'.
Master Soloist
The Drill Class Rank of 'Master Soloist' is achieved after 3 public performances as solo or tandem rifle exhibition drill before an audience of 1000 or more as a NGA rifleman after achieving the drill class rank of 'Senior Rifleman'. Up to one solo or tandem category first, second, or third placement** in a national, international, or world competition may qualify as a requisite performance for this ranking.
The Distinguished Master Soloist Drill Class
The DMS Drill Class is the elite class of NGA. It can only be achieved through diligent training, perseverance, and dedication to the Team and rifle exhibition drill; upholding the highest standards of excellence, dignity, and honor for themselves, the Team, and our great country; being the quintessence of what it means to be an American: championing individual rights, freedoms, and liberty; forwarding American Exceptionalism; proudly defending our Constitution and our Christian heritage.
Only 5 members in the history of NGA has achieved the Drill Class rank of DMS:
Constantine H. Wilson (2001);
Abraham C. Robbins (2001);
Joshua D. Fischer (2008);
Andres Ryan (2012);
Samuel Gozo (2015).
All drill class ranks must be achieved while proudly representing NGA as an NGA rifleman, and doing so with dignity, excellence, and honor.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 1LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 1st Level Honors (DMS1) is achieved after a NGA rifleman has:
achieved the drill class rank of 'Master Soloist';
AND, been a NGA rifleman for a minimum of 3 continuous years;
AND, completed a combination of 5 or more total qualifying events from the list outlined below as an NGA rifleman:
performances before an audience of at least 1000 persons per performance;
performances before a (video taped or live) broadcast audience of at least 1 million, that:
at least 50% of the total qualifying performances are before a live studio (or equivalent: arena, stadium, theater, etc.) audience of at least 1000 persons;
Setting, breaking, or matching World Records, recognized by Guinness, in a team OR solo event, in the category of Rifle Exhibition Drill; (this event is a 2 country performance if performed outside of England)
a 1st placement**, in a national, international, or world championship rifle exhibition drill competition, in any category (solo††, tandem, tetrad, overall);
AND, at least one solo performance, as an NGA rifleman, either integrated with the Team, or a stand alone solo, performed by the NGA rifleman seeking 'DMS1' ranking, that:
is NOT a rifle exhibition drill competition performance;
is NOT divorced from a Team performing event;
is before an audience of at least 1000 persons.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 2LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 2nd Level Honors (DMS2) is achieved after a NGA rifleman has:
achieved and held the drill class rank of 'DMS1' for at least 2 years;
AND, been a NGA rifleman for a minimum of 5 continuous years;
AND, completed a combination of 8 or more total qualifying events from the list outlined below as an NGA rifleman:
performances before an audience of at least 1000 persons per performance;
performances before a (video taped or live) broadcast audience of at least 1 million, that:
at least 50% of the total qualifying performances are before a live studio (or equivalent: arena, stadium, theater, etc.) audience of at least 1000 persons;
Setting, breaking, or matching World Records, recognized by Guinness, in a team OR solo event, in the category of Rifle Exhibition Drill; (this event is a 2 country performance if performed outside of England)
AND, a 1st placement**, as an NGA rifleman, in a national, international, or world championship rifle exhibition drill competition, in the categories of:
solo††, AND:
tandem OR tetrad;
AND, at least 5 solo or tandem (or combination of the two) performances, either integrated with the Team, or stand alones, performed by the NGA rifleman seeking 'DMS2' ranking, that:
is NOT a rifle exhibition drill competition performance;
is NOT divorced from a Team performing event;
is before an audience of at least 1000 persons;
the performances in total took place in 3 different countries.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 3LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 3rd Level Honors (DMS3) is achieved after a NGA rifleman has:
achieved and held the drill class rank of 'DMS1' for a minimum of 4 years;
AND, been a NGA driller for a minimum of 7 continuous years;
AND, completed a combination of 8 or more total qualifying events from the list outlined below as an NGA rifleman:
performances before an audience of at least 1000 persons per performance;
performances before a (video taped or live) broadcast audience of at least 1 million, that:
at least 50% of the total qualifying performances are before a live studio (or equivalent: arena, stadium, theater, etc.) audience of at least 1000 persons;
Setting, breaking, or matching World Records, recognized by Guinness, in a team OR solo event, in the category of Rifle Exhibition Drill; (this event is a 2 country performance if performed outside of England)
AND, a 1st placement**, as an NGA rifleman, in a national, international, or world championship rifle exhibition drill competition, in the categories of:
solo††, AND
tandem, AND
tetrad;
AND, at least 5 solo or tandem (or combination of the two) performances, as an NGA rifleman, either integrated with the Team, or stand alones, performed by the NGA rifleman seeking 'DMS3' ranking, that:
is NOT a rifle exhibition drill competition performance;
is NOT divorced from a Team performing event;
is before an audience of at least 1000 persons; AND, that at least 1 of the 5 performances is before and audience of 3000 persons or more.
the performances in total took place in 4 different countries.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 4LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 4th Level Honors (DMS4) is achieved after a NGA rifleman has:
achieved and held the drill class rank of 'DMS1' for a minimum of 6 years;
AND, been a NGA driller for a minimum of 9 continuous years;
AND, completed ALL of the qualifying events from the list outlined below as an NGA rifleman:
at least 10 team (tetrad or more) performances before an audience of at least 3000 persons per performance; AND, that at least 5 of those performances are before an audience of 6000 persons or more;
Setting, breaking, or matching at least 1 World Record, recognized by Guinness, in a team OR solo event, in the category of Rifle Exhibition Drill; (this event is a 2 country performance if performed outside of England)
at least 4 1st placements**, in any combination that include all three categories in a world championship rifle exhibition drill competition of:
solo††, AND
tandem, AND
tetrad;
at least 4 performances before a video taped, or live, broadcast audience of at least 1 million, that:
at least 3 of the total qualifying performances are before a live studio (or equivalent: arena, stadium, theater, etc.) audience of at least 3000 persons;
at least 10 solo or tandem (or combination of the two) performances, either integrated with the Team, or stand alones, performed by the NGA rifleman seeking 'DMS4' ranking, that:
is NOT a rifle exhibition drill competition performance;
is NOT divorced from a Team performing event;
is before an audience of at least 3000 persons; AND, that at least 5 of those performances are before an audience of 6000 persons or more.
the performances in total took place in 5 different countries.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 5LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 5th Level Honors (DMS5) is achieved after a NGA rifleman has:
achieved and held the drill class rank of 'DMS4' for a minimum of 2 years;
AND, been a NGA driller for a minimum of 12 continuous years;
AND, completed ALL of the qualifying events from the list outlined below as an NGA rifleman:
at least 15 team (tetrad or more) performances before an audience of at least 3000 persons per performance; AND, that at least 5 of those performances are before an audience of 6000 persons or more;
Setting, breaking, or matching at least 1 World Record, recognized by Guinness, in a team AND solo event, in the category of Rifle Exhibition Drill; (this event is a 2 country performance if performed outside of England)
6 1st placements**, in any combination that include all three categories in a world championship rifle exhibition drill competition of:
solo††, AND
tandem, AND
tetrad;
6 performances before a video taped, or live, broadcast audience of at least 1 million, that:
at least 3 of the total qualifying performances are before a live studio (or equivalent: arena, stadium, theater, etc.) audience of at least 3000 persons; AND that at least 1 of the 6 qualifying broadcasts are on live television.
at least 15 solo or tandem (or combination of the two) performances, either integrated with the Team, or stand alones, performed by the NGA rifleman seeking 'DMS5' ranking, that:
is NOT a rifle exhibition drill competition performance;
is NOT divorced from a Team performing event;
is before an audience of at least 3000 persons; AND, that at least 5 of those performances are before an audience of 6000 persons or more.
the performances in total took place in 6 different countries.
AND, coach/instruct (in team, tandem, AND solo exhibition drills) either a high school, college, armed service, and/or professional rifle exhibition drill team, gratis, for at least three years; this requisite can NOT be fulfilled with a team that the NGA rifleman seeking qualification for, was currently a member (driller) of while the coaching/instructing was taking place.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 6LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 6th Level Honors (DMS6) is achieved after a NGA rifleman has:
achieved and held the drill class rank of 'DMS5' for a minimum of 2 years;
AND, been a NGA driller for a minimum of 14 continuous years;
AND, completed ALL of the qualifying events from the list outlined below as an NGA rifleman:
at least 21 team (tetrad or more) performances before an audience of at least 3000 persons per performance; AND, that at least 7 of those performances are before an audience of 7000 persons or more;
Setting, breaking, or matching at least 2 World Records each, recognized by Guinness, in a team AND solo event, in the category of Rifle Exhibition Drill; (this event is a 2 country performance if performed outside of England)
7 1st placements**, in any combination that include all three categories in a world championship rifle exhibition drill competition of:
solo††, AND
tandem, AND
tetrad;
7 performances before a video taped, or live, broadcast audience of at least 1 million, that:
at least 5 of the total qualifying performances are before a live studio (or equivalent: arena, stadium, theater, etc.) audience of at least 3000 persons; AND that at least 1 of the 7 qualifying broadcasts are on live television.
at least 21 solo or tandem (or combination of the two) performances, either integrated with the Team, or stand alones, performed by the NGA rifleman seeking 'DMS6' ranking, that:
is NOT a rifle exhibition drill competition performance;
is NOT divorced from a Team performing event;
is before an audience of at least 3000 persons; AND, that at least 7 of those performances are before an audience of 7000 persons or more.
the performances in total took place in 7 different countries.
AND, coach/instruct, in exhibition drill, either a high school, college, armed service, and/or professional rifle exhibition drill team, that has, as a direct result of the coaching/instructing of the NGA rifleman seeking qualification for, earn a total 7 national, international, or world titles in a team rifle exhibition drill event; this requisite can NOT be fulfilled with a team that the NGA rifleman seeking qualification for, was currently a member (driller) of while the coaching/instructing was taking place.
AND, be recognized, on a national or international level, in the United States, by a non NGA entity for positive contributions made for the drill community by the NGA rifleman seeking DMS6 ranking.
Distinguished Master Soloist - 7LH
The Drill Class Rank of 'Distinguished Master Soloist' - 7th Level Honors (DMS7)
Distinguished Master Soloist - 7th Level Honors is the highest ranking any NGA rifleman can achieve; it can only be achieved posthumously by a majority vote of the surviving DMS cadré.
Upon the death of a NGA rifleman who has achieved the Drill Class Rank of DMS6, the surviving DMS cadré may convene at their earliest convenience to evaluate the totality of the life's work for the drill community of the DMS6 in consideration for DMS7; and if deemed worthy of advancement by majority vote, the advancement shall take effect immediately.
*A rifleman (that is, distinct from "Rifleman") is anyone who performs, or currently training to perform, a complete routine, with the team designated weapon, and with the prescribed drill. Anyone who joins NGA for another position may change their position if they so choose, but at appropriate times that are conducive to the team.
**All placements for ranking requisites are NGA uncontested; i.e., if a NGA member who is seeking qualification for a higher ranking takes third place behind two other NGA members who placed 1st and second, the third placing NGA member will be counted as a 1st placement; or, if a NGA member places third behind a NGA member who placed 1st and a non NGA member who placed 2nd, the third placing NGA member will be counted as a 2nd placement. NGA does NOT compete against itself for ranking.
‡All qualifying performances by a rifleman seeking advancement must be cleanly executed with NO DROPS.
††A "Grand Champion" win shall be counted as a qualifier for this requisite.