The objective of this training event is to promote the growth and development of state level marksmanship training, as well as evaluate individual and collective tasks pertaining to that training.  The first WPW Rifle and Pistol Matches were conducted at Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas on 4 - 9 September 1971. Thirty-two states and Puerto Rico each participated that year.  During the 1976 matches, the light machine gun was added as a discipline and in 1991, a sniper competition was added to the match program.

For the first time since its' beginning, the Winston P. Wilson Championship was cancelled in 2005 due to the nationwide mobilization of military troops and equipment in support of Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, and the championship matches held in November 2006 contained only the pistol and rifle disciplines. 

In January 2007 the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, after much consideration, began to re-evaluate the matches. New courses of fire were implemented to enhance combat survivability, and for the purpose of evaluating the capability of Soldiers and Airmen to effectively employ their individual and crew served weapons.  This new direction is intended to assist Commanders nationwide by giving them statistical data on the capabilities and limitations concerning marksmanship training in their particular state. 

The 2008 Winston P. Wilson Exercise reflects this new direction in training by combining marksmanship evaluation with related individual and collective tasks in order to give participants an overall combat training experience.  

2008 WPW/AFSAM Official Program

2008 Range Commands (Draft)

2008 WPW Official Results Bulletin