The “Excellent Shooter” badge was established by order of the Revolutionary Military Council on July 10, 1922. It was presented for successful combat training to Red Army officers and soldiers.
Its predecessors were the “1st-class Intelligence Officer” badge which was considered very prestigious in the Imperial Russian Army, as well as the “Excellent Rifle Shooter” badge, which was awarded between 1879 and 1917 and was divided into three classes during the reign of Nicholas II. Similar badges were also awarded in other countries to honor good shooters in cavalry and infantry troops.
The “Excellent Shooter” badge had the shape of a five-pointed star with elongated lower rays. It was painted with red enamel. In the center, there was an image of a hammer and sickle. On top of the star, there was an image of a Red Army soldier wearing a Budyonovka and an overcoat and holding a rifle. Behind the Red Army soldier, there was an image of a mounted machine gun. The lower rays of the star were connected by a ribbon with the inscription “Excellent Shooter”.
In 1928, the system of military awards and decorations was updated in the Soviet Union. New designs of badges were approved. Badges were divided into two classes, which corresponded to the first and second years of military service. The awards were presented based on the results of summer or winter training.
In 1938, by order of the People’s Commissar of Defense, the badge received a new design. It had the shape of a figured shield with a round white target on it. Above the target, there was a red five-pointed star with a hammer and sickle. The target was flanked by laurel branches.
The laurel branch was used on many military badges and medals: it symbolized the highest military glory. Behind the target, two crossed rifles were depicted on the badge. The reverse side was smooth and had an engraved inscription in five lines indicating the date and name of the recipient.
The “Excellent Shooter” badge from the museum’s collection used to belong to Nonna Alexeyevna Smirnova. She donated badges and medals, as well as her materials and archives, to the Tyumen Museum in 1989.
Its predecessors were the “1st-class Intelligence Officer” badge which was considered very prestigious in the Imperial Russian Army, as well as the “Excellent Rifle Shooter” badge, which was awarded between 1879 and 1917 and was divided into three classes during the reign of Nicholas II. Similar badges were also awarded in other countries to honor good shooters in cavalry and infantry troops.
The “Excellent Shooter” badge had the shape of a five-pointed star with elongated lower rays. It was painted with red enamel. In the center, there was an image of a hammer and sickle. On top of the star, there was an image of a Red Army soldier wearing a Budyonovka and an overcoat and holding a rifle. Behind the Red Army soldier, there was an image of a mounted machine gun. The lower rays of the star were connected by a ribbon with the inscription “Excellent Shooter”.
In 1928, the system of military awards and decorations was updated in the Soviet Union. New designs of badges were approved. Badges were divided into two classes, which corresponded to the first and second years of military service. The awards were presented based on the results of summer or winter training.
In 1938, by order of the People’s Commissar of Defense, the badge received a new design. It had the shape of a figured shield with a round white target on it. Above the target, there was a red five-pointed star with a hammer and sickle. The target was flanked by laurel branches.
The laurel branch was used on many military badges and medals: it symbolized the highest military glory. Behind the target, two crossed rifles were depicted on the badge. The reverse side was smooth and had an engraved inscription in five lines indicating the date and name of the recipient.
The “Excellent Shooter” badge from the museum’s collection used to belong to Nonna Alexeyevna Smirnova. She donated badges and medals, as well as her materials and archives, to the Tyumen Museum in 1989.
