They were never offered free to individuals, and the clubs eventually had to return the Garands.
When Bill Clinton was cutting up all sorts of Model 52 Win., 1903 & A3 Springfields (including some A4's), and many other fine, collectable old firearms, the DCM did everything they could to get rifles out to the shooting clubs/individuals, or so it seemed. They expedited (to the extent they were allowed) delivery to individuals and also offered to sell the rifles each affiliated club had on loan to those clubs for a very reasonable price. IIRC, the M1's were offered @ just under $100 ea. and the Mod. 44 (or is it 144) Mossberg target .22's were about $50 each.
The rifles could have remained on loan so long as the club filed their annual reports, could be purchased or could be returned at such time as the club elected, or at such time as the DCM ceased to exist (There was considerable pressure being exerted in congress to abolish the DCM at that time.).
I do not know if this program is still in effect, or not, since our club purchased all the rifles we had on loan when the sale was offered,
DCM was removed from dept. of the Army but survived to be re-organized as a civilian corporation in spite of attempts by anti-gunners in Washington to destroy the program. Hopefully it will be able to survive any such future attempts. DCM support was a great assist to local clubs in conducting their junior marksmanship programs.
Regards,
hps