National Guard soldiers excel in national competition

Photo By Capt. Memory Burch | Staff Sgt. Daniel Griffin, instructor at the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Camp Robinson, Ark., keeps score for his teammate during the team match of the All Army Long Range Championship at Fort Benning, Ga., Sept. 11.  

FORT BENNING, GA, UNITED STATES

09.17.2014

Story by Officer Candidate Memory Burch 

National Guard Marksmanship Training Center

FORT BENNING, Ga. - National Guard soldiers excelled at the All Army Long Range Championship September 8-11 at Fort Benning, Ga.

The Arkansas team, Capt. Hunter Douglas and Staff Sgt. Daniel Griffin, took the championship in the team bolt category. Griffin is also an instructor at the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Robinson, Ark.

Griffin enjoys competing in the competitions to perfect his skills and then pass those skills on to his students at the training center.

"The NGMTC strives to employ the best shooters in the Guard as instructors. That lets us pass on that skill and knowledge to the students coming through our courses," said Lt. Col. Victor Marcelle, NGMTC- Air Commander.

"We have a two-fold mission at the NGMTC. We provide training to enhance battle-field effectiveness and we administer competitive programs that allow leaders to evaluate those same skills," said Maj. Donnie Crain, NGMTC training battalion commander.

The National Guard soldiers also took home several wins in the individual categories.

Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Mix and Chief Warrant Officer 3 Brandon Gibbs from Ill. took first and second overall in the service rifle category, while Capt. Hunter Douglas from Arkansas took second overall in the bolt category.

The competition is an advance combat live-fire training event open to active Army, National Guard and Army Reserve.

This year seven National Guard soldiers competed out of 32 competitors. The National Guard soldiers made up three two-man teams and one individual competitor.

There are two categories for this competition: Service Rifle (U.S. rifle, 7.62mm, M21 or M24) and Bolt (U.S. rifle, Caliber .300 Winchester Magnum M2010 or M-24). There were five matches, each match the firers shot at 800 yards, 900 yards and 1,000 yards. At each distance the competitor would have 15 shots for record.

Marksmanship is a fundamental skill that every soldier must have, but for soldiers competing in rifle competition it goes far beyond a fundamental skill.

“It’s fun,” said Maj. David Stapp, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center Sustainment
commander.

Even though many competitors enjoy competing they have to dedicate time to learning more than just pulling the trigger to be successful.

“I have to know the data and wind charts to prepare,” said Chief Warrant Officer 3 Ryan Landon, 3637th Support Maintenance Company, Springfield, Ill.

The soldiers have to know the data for their weapon and learn how the wind affects the distance and direction of their shot. This requires soldiers to practice on their down time.

I go to civilian ranges to practice on my own, said Sgt. 1st Class Tracy Mix, 404th Maneuver Enhancement Brigade, Chicago.

“I start going over my wind charts and data in advance to mentally prepare,” said Mix.

The dedication to mastering the skill of marksmanship paid off for the National Guard competitors by taking home several wins.

• Date Taken: 09.17.2014
• Date Posted: 09.17.2014 15:18
• Story ID: 142440
• Location: FORT BENNING, GA, US
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