US service members test their mettle during a military biathlon at AASAM 2012

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth | U.S. Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Zachary A. Whitman, 3rd Marine Expeditionary Force combat shooting team member, lifts ammo cans into the back of a seven-ton vehicle during a military biathlon competition at the 2012 Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) May 14 in Puckapunyal, Australia. AASAM is an international marksmanship competition consisting of 16 different countries. This year is the fifth iteration of AASAM in Puckapunyal and the third consecutive year that United States forces have been invited to participate. In addition to being a marksman competition AASAM is a multinational event allowing international service members to exchange skills, tactics, techniques and procedures with their counterparts.  

PUCKAPUNYAL, VI, AUSTRALIA

05.14.2012

Story by Tech. Sgt. Michael Holzworth  

DMA Pacific - Hawaii Media Bureau   

PUCKAPUNYAL, Australia – U.S. Marines and soldiers participated in an international military biathlon May 14, during the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM) in Puckapunyal, Australia.

The military biathlon consisted of 10 different sections, all executed while wearing a full combat load and carrying a service rifle and pistol. The Marines are with Marine Corps Combat Development Center, Quantico, Va., and III Marine Expeditionary Force, Okinawa, Japan. The soldiers are with 25th Infantry Division, Hawaii.

The first section was a 200-meter sprint to a firing line where competitors attempt to shoot five falling metal plates from a distance of 200 meters. A 30-second penalty was assessed for each plate left standing.

Competitors were then required to complete a 3.2 km run in less than 16 minutes or incur another 30-second penalty

“It wasn’t easy, in the beginning I thought it was going to be a little bit shorter of a course and then, as I went down the road and I realized the first marker I saw wasn’t the marker for the turnaround point and said to myself that is really far away,” said U.S. Army Sgt. Christopher Adams, 2nd Brigade, 25th infantry Division.

Waiting for the competitors next was the 400-meter deliberate practice section. This included firing the rifle at 400-meter targets, made more difficult by the high heart rate and breathing from the run.

“It was really grueling, as the stress of the run really made the shooting that much harder,” said U.S. Army Spc. Ellis Montoya, 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. “When I got up to the 400-meter deliberate practice, I had to really focus on keeping a steady position. I had never fired a deliberate practice after that much activity; it was definitely a big challenge.”

The competitors then came to a harsh realization; they were only one third of the way complete. They still had to move two jerry cans full of water 100 meters, fire their service pistol at 20-meter targets and fire on 100-meter moving targets from a standing, unsupported position. This was followed by lifting ten ammunition cans in and out of a seven-ton vehicle and finally finishing with a 50-meter sprint.

“It was no joke, it was a good physical endurance test, you had to reach deep to finish it,” said U.S. Marine Cpl. George K. Johnson, III MEF AASAM team member. “I would like to bring this type of training back to my unit. I think it would benefit us to practice these types of scenarios.”

Adams emerged victorious at the end of the day with a time of 31 minutes and 21 seconds. New Zealand Defense Force competitors came in second and third. Adams said AASAM has been an experience he will never forget.

“I didn’t know much about AASAM before I got here and then I realized this is a pretty big deal. All of these countries have learned from each other while still keeping the professional competition real,” Adams said. “I assumed the competition aspect would keep everyone apart from each other, but that hasn’t been the case, after the teams finished shooting everyone laughed and joked with each other and shared pointers on how to shoot better.”

Even though AASAM is an international marksmanship competition consisting of 16 different countries, it also serves as a multinational event allowing service members to exchange skills, tactics, techniques and procedures with their counterparts.

“It has been very positive, broadening experience and we have built on the relationships with some of our partner countries in the region,” said U.S. Army Maj. Brett Panter, shooting team officer-in-charge with 2nd Brigade, 25th Infantry Division. “I think it is very important that we build those relationships and it has been fun not only talking to the Australian team captain but getting to know some of the other team captains and getting their perspectives on marksmanship.”

• Date Taken: 05.14.2012
• Date Posted: 05.25.2012 02:17
• Story ID: 88987
• Location: PUCKAPUNYAL, VI, AU