Team Army zeroes in on shooting at Warrior Games

Photo By EJ Hersom | Army Staff Sgt. Gregory Quarles prepares his air rifle for the shooting competition in the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games at the U.S. Military Academy in West Point, N.Y. June 19, 2016. (Department of Defense photo by EJ Hersom)  

WEST POINT, NY, UNITED STATES

06.19.2016

Courtesy Story

Army Recovery Care Program

By Sameria Zavala,
Womack Army Medical Center Public Affairs

WEST POINT, N.Y. (June 19, 2016) – Team Army won four medals in the 2016 Department of Defense Warrior Games shooting competition, June 19, at the United States Military Academy at West Point held in the Tronsrue Marksmanship Center.

The categories of shooting are adapted to the abilities of the athletes. SH1 is for athletes who have lower limb injuries and need to sit and shoot. The SH2 category is for athletes who cannot support the rifle and need the assistance of a loader to load the air pistol.

U.S. Army 1st Lt. Michael Matthews, from the Warrior Transition Battalion, Fort Stewart, Georgia, and a 2014 graduate of West Point, won the gold medal in the air rifle standing open category. He also won the gold medal in the archery competition.

“Once the match starts I have a process that I write in my shooting journal and I pretty much focus on doing that process when I am shooting,” said Matthews. “What helps with that is just giving your mind something to focus on other than past or present actions. I don’t want to focus on what place I get because that just causes anxiety, which increases your heart rate and your sights are going to be moving. When I do win, I like to tell my mom, ‘see, look what I won for you.’”

U.S. Army Veteran Staff Sgt. Gregory Quarles, of Ringgold, Georgia, won the silver medal in air rifle prone SH1 and bronze in SH1 pistol. He also won gold in the field event for shot put, and silver in seated discus.

“I dedicated everything today to my wife,” he said. “If it wasn’t for her, I wouldn’t be where I’m at today; in life and with the Warrior Games. She has been my backbone and advocate.”

U.S. Army Capt. Justin Decker, representing the Warrior Transition Unit, Fort Hood, Texas, won a silver medal in rifle standing SH2.

“It was mentally exhausting, but it was a really good competition,” said Decker. “I just went in and focused on doing as well as I could do and that’s about it. I have improved a lot from where I was before. Whenever I find myself getting frazzled, I just stop, think about my family and it helps me to calm down a lot.”

West Point shooting coach Web Wright, a commentator throughout the event, gave some insight into the competition.

“Its competitive and it’s rehabilitative,” he said. “They are going out there and having fun and enjoying themselves. Shooting really tests your mental stamina and your ability to stay calm under pressure. Just like in the military, that’s an important skill.”

Shooting competitors use air pistols and air rifles to fire a series of shots at a stationary, electronic target. Shooting categories include: air pistol, air rifle (standing) and air rifle (prone), all at a distance of 10 meters. The 10 ring (center) is 11 mm, the width of a No. 2 pencil.

The visually impaired shooters used an air rifle fitted with a special scope resembling a normal telescopic scope. The scope contains electronics that coverts the amount of light it receives into a varying pitch tone.

To help with the athletes’ concentration, spectators were able to watch the athletes through a live feed in nearby Gillis Hill Field House. There, screens were mounted and bleachers were set for spectators’ use.

• Date Taken: 06.19.2016
• Date Posted: 06.22.2016 08:49
• Story ID: 202038
• Location: WEST POINT, NY, US