Well, there IS the matter of completing the marksmanship
program before purchase eligibility. That will stretch
the time line out a little.
My gun club participated in CMP for years and it was quite
successful. Of personal interest is what might have
become of the Garand my WWII paratrooper dad left behind
when he was carried from the field of battle after a
head wound during the liberation of Manila in early 1945.
Find a local appleseed. Appleseedusa.org Attend and join it. They’ll give you all you need to buy one.