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Some of Canada’s best teenage shooters have been at CFB Edmonton vying for top awards at the Junior Canadian Ranger’s National Marksmanship Championships.

“Marksmanship is one of the key components of the Junior Canadian Ranger Program,” said Capt. Scott MacDonald, director of the National Marksman Championship 2016.

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“One of the aims is to have the JCRs feel comfortable living off the land (and) part of that is using firearms to hunt. If they are able to hunt successfully in a safe manner, using appropriate, safe marksmanship skills, then we have done our job in the JCR program.”

The Junior Canadian Rangers program is offered to teens aged 12 to 18 who live in remote, isolated communities that are served by Canadian Rangers, a branch of the Canadian Forces.

Through the program, teens learn skills that will help them survive in the wilderness and thrive in their communities.

“From personal experience, having joined army cadets at the age of 12, it is a life changer. It opens up your horizons to a whole other world out there. It gives you tremendous life skills in terms of dealing with people, leadership and broadening your horizons to what is possible,” said Brig.-Gen. Wayne Eyre, commander of 3rd Canadian Division.