Troops hit bullseye at TQ

Photo By Sgt. Jason Mikeworth | Sgt. Chad Littlejohn, left, and Staff Sgt. Bill Brewer work to repair several donated arrows at the indoor archery range at Camp Al Taqqadum  

AL TAQADDUM, IRAQ

06.03.2006

Courtesy Story

DVIDS Hub       

CAMP AL TAQQADUM, Iraq - Servicemembers at Camp Al Taqqadum have a unique way to unwind after work " archery.

While some Soldiers choose to read books, watch movies or play their favorite video games, the members of the TQ Archers Club hone their marksmanship skills at the indoor archery range, located here.

Sgt. Todd Moffat, from the 694th Maintenance Company, is the range NCOIC. He has 15 years of archery experience and is an Army-qualified range safety.

"It gets people into a sport that's growing back home," said Moffat. "It's also a place to come relax and talk to other troops from around the base."

Moffatt added everyone is welcome to use the range.

"We cater to everyone," Moffat said. "We don't care, it's open to any servicemember, any branch."

Club membership isn't formal, Moffat said. All that is required to join is a smile and an interest in archery.

Sgt. Chad Littlejohn, from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2-130th Engineers, met Moffat about five months ago. He said he fell in love with the range and has volunteered his time as a range safety ever since.

"I come over here and shoot every night. It's a way to pass time and have something to look forward to every day," said Littlejohn. "I honestly think it's a big stress reliever. You can be madder than a hornet at the world, but when you walk in there, there is no Iraq. It's great."
Fellow engineer Staff Sgt. Bill Brewer, also donates time to run the range.

"When we first came to TQ, I had just bought a bow and planned to set up a target in the desert and shoot arrows, but we heard there was already an archery range here," Brewer said. "Sergeant Littlejohn and I got in the truck one day and started looking for it. That's how we met Sergeant Moffat."

Brewer said a common interest in archery has formed a strong friendship between the three NCOs and dividing up responsibilities to maintain the range hasn't been a problem.

"I come over here about five or six times a week to help out Sergeant Moffat with the general upkeep of the equipment," said Brewer, "we all kind of work together on that."

Combined, the three Soldiers have 44 years of archery experience that they enjoy sharing with people new to the sport.

"Introducing new people to shooting arrows is a perk," Brewer said. "Between the three of us we've probably introduced 20 to 25 people to archery."

Littlejohn agreed with Brewer.

"When you get a new guy in, and he's not real sure, you show him the ropes and walk him through things. One night we had a guy who"d never shot before, and by the end of the night he was busting chips," Littlejohn said in reference to poker chip targets used to test accuracy.

Spc. Emily Bevel from the 694th uses the range about three times a week.
"It's a nice way to get rid of stress, and it's fun to listen to all the stories," said Bevel. "It reminds me of home."

Bevel said she got her first bow from her uncle when she was 17. She said using the range has exposed her to sides of the Army she wouldn't have seen without it.

"I get to meet people not in my unit and learn about what they do. It's nice to be able to get out of my room more, to have somewhere to go," Bevel said. "[The range safeties] have a lot of responsibility, and they enforce the rules so nobody will get hurt. I think it's great that they'll give up their time so we can have fun."

Safety is incorporated in every aspect of the range.

"Everyone is a safety in there. We have our risk management matrix up on the wall, and we go over everything with the new people coming over to shoot," said Brewer

"It's a good, safe environment for people to learn."

Moffat, who runs a range at Camp Buckner, N.C., said they have never had an accident at the archery range.

"We've got bows, arrows and targets for everyone to use," Moffat said. "Most importantly, we have time for them. We always have time to teach new people."

Moffat said the range was already in place when he arrived at Camp Al Taqqadum, and that he, along with fellow volunteers, have made some improvement to the facility to promote safety.

"It was already built when we got here, we just made some modifications to the building," said Moffat. "We put in range lines to keep people from moving ahead of other users, and beefed up the backstop."

He noted that operating the range, as well as the improvements, has been done at no cost to the government.

"We had a windstorm that blew a lot of stuff over this way," Moffat said. "We added a bunch of Styrofoam to the backstop to improve safety."

The equipment hasn't touched the Army's pocket book either.

"We have several bows donated from companies and sporting groups," said Brewer. "There are a lot of people back in the States that volunteer their time and supplies to make sure we have everything we need to do it properly."
The facility benefits the Army as well as individual Soldiers, Littlejohn said.

"It helps sustain marksmanship training," he said. "The fundamentals of shooting bows and
rifles aren't very different."

Brewer said the intangible benefits are the most important aspect of the range to him.
"It's an escape. Some people prefer video games, but my love in life is archery. When you go through the door, there is no Iraq," said Brewer. "It's two of my favorite things'talking and shooting my bow."

• Date Taken: 06.03.2006
• Date Posted: 06.03.2006 03:15
• Story ID: 6652
• Location: AL TAQADDUM, IQ