Arctic infantryman shines at the US Army Long Range Championships

Photo By Staff Sgt. Brian Ragin | Staff Sgt. Matthew Thompson (right), an infantryman with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division, stands on the podium during an awards ceremony in September at the 2014 U.S. Army Long Range Championship at Fort Benning, Ga. Thompson placed third overall at the competition which featured more than 50 contestants from not only the Regular Army, but also from the Army National Guard and the Army Reserves. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Steven McKinney/Released)  

JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, UNITED STATES

11.17.2014

Story by Sgt. Brian Ragin 

2nd Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 11th Airborne Division Public Affairs

JOINT ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska - Staff Sgt. Matthew Thompson, a native of Anchorage, Alaska and infantryman with the 1st Battalion (Airborne), 501st Infantry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th Infantry Division competed at the 2014 U.S. Army Long Range Championships at Fort Benning, Ga., placing third overall.

The U.S. Army Long Range Championship is an advanced combat live-fire training event which is hosted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. The U.S. Army Long Range Championships fire at ranges of 800, 900 and 1,000 yards. Soldiers either fire the M24 Sniper Rifle .308 or the XM 2010 Sniper Rifle .300 WIN MAG. The competition consisted of individual and two-man team events.

Thompson, an accomplished shooter, was the only competitor in the top 10 who used the .300 WIN MAG. Adding to Thompson’s challenges at the competition, the weapon he used was loaned to him from a unit at Fort Benning, and because he was a last-minute addition to the team, he had little time to prepare.

Thompson and several other Spartans from the 4/25 were among more than 50 contestants who traveled from across the U.S. who were representing units from the National Guard, The Army Reserves, and the Regular Army.

Thompson said he looks forward to more competitions like this in the future, so that arctic paratroopers can demonstrate their abilities in an Army-wide competition.

• Date Taken: 11.17.2014
• Date Posted: 11.18.2014 21:48
• Story ID: 148208
• Location: JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, AK, US
• Hometown: ANCHORAGE, AK, US