CMP announces the mission and vision of the new corporation

To better reflect its nationwide responsibility for excellence in marksmanship, the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) has updated its mission and vision.

While the previous mission and vision have served the CMP well, the recent change in corporate leadership led by new board president and CEO Jerry O’Keefe provided an opportunity to renew the direction of the organization through of its core values.

“When there are significant changes in an organization, a Mission/Vision review is prudent,” said O’Keefe, who took office as president in September 2022. “In the case of CMP, the organization has grown significantly since we the above mission and vision were established. determined, and CMP is poised for further growth. These two things in combination made it the perfect time to do this review.”

“New leadership often brings new ideas and a new approach that could result in change,” O’Keefe continued. “Especially the Vision.”

Updated view of CMP – Lead the nation in marksmanship excellence by providing safe, innovative, high-quality programs with a focus on youth.

“A vision statement is a future or aspirational vision of where an organization hopes to be,” O’Keefe said. “There are several keywords or parts of the new CMP Vision Statement that are important.”

Essential principles that the CMP aspires to express through its Vision:

  • CMP as a national organization/leader – The CMP stands out in all corners of the country with the promotion of marksmanship through affiliated clubs, training programs and competitions. Additionally, future plans to leverage technology, expand programs, and add physical locations will solidify CMP’s national presence, impact, and leadership.
  • Excellence in marksmanship and safety – As CMP continues to grow, maintaining the high standard of excellence in marksmanship and safety that has been the hallmark of CMP since its inception 26 years ago is critical to the organization.
  • Innovation – Technology is changing rapidly in the firearms industry and in marksmanship sports. To be a national leader, CMP must anticipate trends and provide new and exciting opportunities, especially with youth programs.
  • Youth – As stated in our enabling legislation, Youth Programs will remain a CMP priority as stated in our mission and going forward as reflected in our vision.

As important as the vision, CMP’s new mission directs the corporation to focus on the core tasks of the organization.

Updated CMP Mission – Promote marksmanship through firearms training, safety, competitions and youth programs

“The Mission drives everything the organization does by focusing on the essential tasks we must accomplish. It is the starting point of our strategic planning and the basis for any decision,” explained Lt. Gen. Gary Cheek, US Army (Retired), Chairman of the CMP Strategic Planning Committee. “Our plan begins with the mission and vision and, by evaluating mission-related strategic indicators, proposes long-term goals and resource decisions to guide us toward our vision.”

Cheek and members of the CMP Board Strategic Planning Committee were initially tasked with reviewing the mission and vision. In addition, the committee is also charged with developing a strategic plan for the organization to guide future decisions through a holistic assessment of the organization’s mission and business areas.

“We evaluate these areas to understand our current strengths, weaknesses and trends to make decisions about future programs, investments, capital improvements and technology,” Cheek said. “In considering the mission review, the Strategic Planning Committee focused on the key tasks of CMP. At the core of this is our enabling legislation and what the US Congress ordered the CMP to do.”

“While the previous mission has served CMP well, the new mission integrates critical aspects of how we promote marksmanship. We believe this continues the best parts of the previous mission with greater clarity of purpose,” he added.

After multiple meetings and iterations, the committee proposed several competing mission options and O’Keefe shared them with senior CMP employees at an off-site location in early October 2022. Ultimately, with input from CMP staff members CMP, a final version was ready for corporate board approval. Knowing that the proposed mission included input from CMP employees ultimately made the decision easier for the board.

“The board places a high value on the experience and talent of our employees and having their buy-in for the new mission was critical. We know that success requires collaboration and transparency throughout the CMP, as we value the input of every employee and constituent,” said O’Keefe.

Following staff input, the board voted on and approved the new mission and vision later that month. The mission and vision will guide CMP’s daily dedication to excellence in marksmanship and provide an aspirational goal for future innovation.

“These are exciting times for the CMP. The previous leadership built an incredibly strong organization with a reputation for excellence, a talented and loyal workforce, and the resources to positively impact the future,” concluded O’Keefe. “We seek to carefully analyze data and trends to make major strategic decisions in a collaborative and transparent manner. I am honored to be a part of this.”

The Civilian Aim Program is a federally chartered 501(c)(3) non-profit corporation. It is dedicated to firearms safety and marksmanship training and the promotion of competitive marksmanship for United States citizens. To learn more about the CMP and its programs, log on to www.TheCMP.org.