Competition breeds confidence, confidence breeds better training

Photo By Timothy Hale | Master Sgt. Russell Moore, left, with the 416th Theater Engineer Command and a member of the U.S. Army Reserve Marksmanship Team, engages targets with his M9 pistol during the Dot Torture event on the final day of the U.S. Army Forces Command Weapons Marksmanship Competition Sept. 23, 2015, at Fort Bragg, N.C. The three-day FORSCOM competition features 27 marksmen from the U.S. Army, U.S. Army Reserve and the National Guard in events for the M9 pistol, the M4A1 rifle and the M249 SAW, or Squad Automatic Weapon, to recognize Soldiers who are beyond expert marksmen. The multi-tiered events challenge the competitors' ability to accurately and quickly engage targets in a variety of conditions and environments. (U.S. Army photo by Timothy L. Hale/Released)  

FORT BRAGG, NC, UNITED STATES

09.25.2015

Story by Timothy Hale  

U.S. Army Reserve Command

FORT BRAGG, N.C. - The U.S. Army Reserve Marksmanship Team and Competitive Program has a long and storied tradition of winning competitions.

Consisting of Combat Team, Service Rifle Team, Service Pistol Team, and Mobile Training Team, the teams collectively represent the forefront of small arms skill and are the only formally proven and acknowledged experts on the proper use and training of small arms across the U.S. Army Reserve.

Team officials say the shooter-instructors are some of the world’s best-trained small arms marksmen, conducting small arms training, hosting marksmanship events, and competing at major venues throughout around the world.

But it’s not about just competing and winning like they did at the U.S. Army Forces Command Marksmanship Competition – it’s about making better marksmen out of every U.S. Army Reserve Soldier.

By Army Regulations 350-66 and 140-1 (Chapter 7), units are directed to conduct small arms programs and competitions.

“In order for our Soldiers to become better marksmen, our team can offer training to all of our units across the force, by the regulations, down to the company level,” said Sgt. Maj. James Mauer, the ARMT sergeant major.

Mauer said on average, 120-150 Soldiers are trained during regional or national events.

As an example, in 2012 members of the team traveled to Fort Bragg to train 2nd Battalion, 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment, 82nd Airborne Division troopers on the M14 Enhanced Battle Rifle within days of their deployment to Afghanistan.

Team members said that better training comes from competing in marksmanship competitions.

“The importance of having our own marksmanship team is we’re able to take the best of the best from all of our units and send them to compete and win,” said Brig. Gen. Michael J. Warmack, U.S. Army Reserve Command deputy chief of staff for the G-3/5/7.

“Then we’re able to take them and send them back down to our units and build Soldier Readiness and do some great, innovative training,” Warmack said.

To find out more about the U.S. Army Reserve Marksmanship Team and Competitive Program, visit them online at http://armyreservemarksman.info or http://www.usarshooters.org/History.html.

• Date Taken: 09.25.2015
• Date Posted: 09.25.2015 14:49
• Story ID: 177242
• Location: FORT BRAGG, NC, US