Camp Perry
| Company type | Military installation |
|---|---|
| Industry | Military training |
| Founded | 1906 |
| Headquarters | Port Clinton , United States |
Area served | United States |
| Products | Military training, marksmanship competitions |
Camp Perry is a training installation operated by the United States National Guard situated along the shores of Lake Erie near Port Clinton, Ohio. It boasts the world's second-largest outdoor rifle range, surpassed only by the NRA Whittington Center in New Mexico, with shooting directed over the water past an earthen embankment.
History
The site for Camp Perry was secured in 1906 and named in honor of Commodore Oliver Hazard Perry, celebrated for his leadership during the Battle of Lake Erie in the War of 1812. Early facilities were designed to accommodate participants in National Matches as well as transient military personnel. Throughout World War I, it functioned as a training ground for Army officers and marksmanship instructors. Around 1918, neighboring land was developed into the Erie Army Depot to store artillery ordnance.
In the 1920s, Camp Perry hosted the Special Police School, operated jointly by the National Rifle Association and the Army’s National Board for the Promotion of Rifle Practice. This facility, known as "Hogan's Alley," provided law enforcement officers with tactical training through simulated urban combat scenarios aimed at improving marksmanship skills.
By 1924, police forces from cities with populations exceeding 10,000 were invited to participate in national shooting competitions held at Camp Perry.
During World War II, the Special Police School ceased operations, and Camp Perry was repurposed as a prisoner-of-war camp housing German and Italian captives. Italian prisoners worked locally under minimal supervision and returned to camp each evening. The site also served as a testing ground for artillery weapon durability by firing into Lake Erie and assessing barrel wear to estimate service life.
Following the war, former prisoner accommodations were converted back to transient military housing. In 1946, Ohio Governor Frank Lausche proposed using Camp Perry temporarily as a college campus. The Special Police School resumed activities in 1956 but experienced a decline during the 1960s. The Erie Army Depot was closed in the mid-1960s and subsequently transformed for industrial purposes. Numerous original structures at Camp Perry remain operational today.
On June 24, 1998, a tornado caused damage to several buildings within the facility.
Present use
At present, Camp Perry serves as home to multiple units including the 213th Ordnance Company (Missile Support, Corps), Detachment 1 of the 372d Missile Maintenance Company (DS), the 200th RED HORSE Civil Engineering Squadron (Ohio Air National Guard), U.S. Coast Guard Port Security Unit 309, along with elements of the Ohio Naval Militia and the Ohio Military Reserve.
Civilian Marksmanship Program
Since its inception in 1907, Camp Perry has been the venue for events organized by the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) alongside NRA-sponsored National Rifle Matches, often referred to as America’s "World Series of the Shooting Sports." These competitions draw participants globally, ranging from novices to highly skilled marksmen. The National Matches encompass Small Arms Firing Schools, CMP National Trophy Rifle and Pistol Matches, CMP Games Events, and NRA national championships. These are conducted collaboratively by CMP, the Ohio National Guard, and the NRA.
The camp also hosts the Small Arms Firing School, which provides expert instruction aimed at improving marksmanship proficiency. Established by the Department of Defense in 1918 as part of National Matches programming, it now trains over a thousand pistol and rifle shooters annually. Instruction is delivered by members of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) alongside qualified personnel from various branches including Army, Air Force, Coast Guard, Marine Corps, Navy, National Guard, and Army Reserve. These courses welcome all U.S. citizens meeting minimum age requirements and emphasize firearm safety and shooting fundamentals. Additionally, Camp Perry contains CMP’s northern administrative office.