Photo By Master Sgt. Robin Brown | Master Sgt. Kendra Owenby, a public affairs specialist with the Tennessee Air National...... read more read more
Subscribe
TULLAHOMA, Tenn. – The Tennessee National Guard's annual TAG Pistol Match took place Aug. 15-17 at the Volunteer Training Site in Tullahoma, hosting about 15 teams, or roughly 60 individuals, representing major commands from the across the Tennessee Army and Air National Guard.
"The purpose of the exercise is to promote marksmanship skills and training. This exercise offers service members from the Army and Air National Guard an opportunity to test their marksmanship skills and weapon systems in a competitive and battle-focused environment," said 117th Military Police Battalion member Capt. Timothy Butler, who is a range officer in Tullahoma and serves as the assistant marksmanship coordinator for the state.
"In the military, marksmanship is a cornerstone of what we do. The focus is to leave here having learned something that they can take back to their units," he said. "We focus on training, not winning. Competition makes it fun."
Participants were allowed to use either an M9 or a SIG M11.
"Every Soldier leaves with a weapons qualification that is good for 18 months," said Butler.
The Friday before the competition days is spent registering and in class. Participants get the opportunity to perform weapons checks and go to the range to learn the fundamentals of marksmanship and conduct shooting drills in various positions. "It's a good warm-up before the competition day as well," said Butler.
Four-man teams, representing every Major Supported Command from across Tennessee, participated in the event. Teams were comprised of three different participant classifications: Pro, Open, and Novice. A Novice participant is one who has never participated in any discipline at the TAG match or higher before. An Open participant is one who has participated at the TAG match in prior years. A Pro is one who has shot on the "A" team at Winston P. Wilson match, a national competition held every year pitting National Guardsmen from across the country against each other. Any participants who have fired at the WPW previously are considered old participants. Teams were required to be 50 percent Novice, with no more than one Pro per team.
The match was structured for both individual and team competition. Participants had to shoot from a variety of positions, including standing, kneeling, crouching, and prone. As well as from various distances, approximately 15 to 30 yards.
Individual Pistol Champion went to Tech. Sgt. James Rice, of the 164th Airlift Wing. Staff Sgt. Mark Prince of the 1175th Transportation Company took second place, and Staff Sgt. Chris Smith, Range Control for the Volunteer Training Site in Tullahoma took third.
Individual "Pro Class" Pistol Champion was awarded to Staff Sgt. Scott Cavin, of the 134th Air Refueling Wing. Second place was Sgt. 1st Class David Keenom, 194th Engineer Brigade, and third was Maj. Demetrius Ritt, of the 118th Wing.
Pistol Team Champion was awarded to the 118th Wing: Maj. Demetrius Ritt, Master Sgt. Mike Brumer, Tech. Sgt. Mike Carey, and Tech. Sgt. Kermit Purcell. Coming in second place was the 164th Airlift Wing: Lt. Col. Keith Stiles, Master Sgt. Jason Crawford, Tech. Sgt. James Rice, and Staff Sgt. Jeffrey Deutsch. Taking home third place was the 1175th Transportation Company: 1st Lt. Kevin Wittwer, Chief Warrant Officer 3 David Hollis, Staff Sgt. Mark Prince and Sgt. Terry Musick.
Several members also received Expert and Sharpshooter ratings. Expert is 38 to 40 targets hit during the pistol competition. Sharpshooter is 33 to 37. The Marksmanship rating is 26 to 32, and anything less than that is considered unqualified.
The top Soldiers and Airmen who participated in the event will move forward to regional and national matches.
| Date Taken: | 08.16.2014 |
| Date Posted: | 12.15.2014 16:48 |
| Story ID: | 150356 |
| Location: | TULLAHOMA , TN, US |
| Web Views: | 167 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, 2014 Tennessee Adjutant General Pistol Match, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT