AFSAM 2017 Results ~ Cross-training & exposure

CAMP JOSEPH T ROBINSON, AR, UNITED STATES

04.28.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Adrian Borunda 

National Guard Marksmanship Training Center

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 5, 2017

Contact/ Release Authority: “Released”
Capt. Reese Walker
Public Affairs Officer
National Guard Marksmanship Training Center
[phone]
[e-mail]
AFSAM 2017 Results ~ Cross-training & exposure
~ 26th AFSAM Small Arms Championship Results
by Staff Sgt. Adrian Borunda, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center
ROBINSON MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ark. —Sixty-four soldiers and airmen from across the country and from allied nations took aim at being the top shot at the 26th annual Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting (AFSAM) here April 23-28.
Top marksmen from the United States, Canada, Italy, and the United Kingdom competed shoulder-to-shoulder on four-man teams testing their skills with multiple matches and different weapons systems to include pistols, rifles and shotguns.
The National Guard Marksmanship Training Center hosts the annual training competition to continue emphasis on basic and advanced marksmanship at all levels of the armed forces. The AFSAM, also, helps build working relationships with our allied nations.
“It's not every day that we get to train with internationals in an International competition,” said Lieutenant Matthew Clancey a marksman from the Canadian Armed Forces shooting team. “So, it's a great opportunity for us to come to a different environment, see different match conditions, and the way that you handle and use the weapons.”
The range of knowledge found at this high level of competition is as vast and teeming to be tapped into.
“It’s out here that the marksmanship training center pits those top-notch shooters from all the states, military branches and other countries,” said Col. Dennis Humphrey, Director of the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center.
“It's a privilege,” Clancey said. “They get an an opportunity to train at a level that they otherwise wouldn't otherwise get to train in their homelands.”
Opportunities to train with our allies is rare, however critical when in a combat situation.
“We operate in a joint environment when we are down range,” Humphrey said. “It’s important that these branches and partner nations get together to build relationships, so you can trust the soldier or airmen to the left and right of you.”
Competitors from other nations also appreciated this opportunity to train in a joint environment.
“Working together gives us exposure to them,” said Clancey. “Talking about the way we use our tactics, the way we use our firearms, and and the different ways that we operate in a combat environment. The cross training and working with other countries at such a professional level allows us to up our game.”
Competitors and coaches worked their way through a variety of matches that challenged every shooter from veteran to newcomer.
“When you see the level of competitors out here, the Americans and Canadian, they are taking it proper seriously, it does get a little nerve racking,” Daniel Jenkins, a marksman with the United Kingdom Royal Air Force Regiment shooting team, and first time competitor in the AFSAM.
Long days on the range and thousands of rounds expended, all the marksmen came together to find out who were the top shooters.
RESULTS:
Overall Individual
Champion: Senior Master Sgt. Edward Altmeyer, U.S. All Guard Team Alpha, combined score of 1375 17x’s
Overall 2nd place: Sgt. Justus Densmore, U.S. All Guard Team Alpha, combined score of 1371 13 x’s
Overall 3rd place: Sgt. Brandon Swanson, U.S. All Guard Team Bravo, combined score 1350 18 x’s

Individual Rifle
Champion: Corporal Michael Aube, Canadian Armed Forces, combined score of 837 with 8x’s
2nd place: Corporal Jean Fancois Doucet, Canadian Armed Forces, combined score of 818 with 5 x’s
3rd place: Sgt. David Fenwick, British Army Reserve Operational Shooting Team, combined score of 815 5x's

Individual Pistol
Champion: Senior Master Sgt. Edward Altmeyer, U.S. All Guard Team Alpha, combined score of 767 13 x’s
2nd place: Sgt. Justus Densmore, U.S. All Guard Team Alpha, combined score of 759 11 x’s
3rd place: Sgt. Brandon Swanson, U.S. All Guard Team Bravo, combined score of 739, 10 x’s

Overall Team Rifle
Champion: Canadian Armed Forces Team Alpha (Cpl. Michael Aube, Cpl. Jean-Francois Doucet, Cpl. Jonathan Palmer, Cpl. Matheu Valcour) combined score of 2444
2nd place: Canadian Armed Forces Team Bravo (Warrant Officer Luke Foster, Sgt. Jesse Hall, Cpl. John Herriot, Cpl. William Rayment) combined score of 2213
3rd place: U.K. British Army Reserve Operational Shooting Team Red (Maj. Michael Oliver, Sgt. David Fenwick, Cpl. James Deville, Cpl. Lisa Ingram) combined score of 2204

Overall Team Pistol
Champion: U.S. All Guard Team Alpha (Sr. Master Sgt. Edward Altmeyer, Pennsylvania. NG; Staff Sgt. Michael Richey, Missouri NG; Staff Sgt. Jacob Blount, Illinois NG; Sgt. Justus Densmore, Texas NG) combined score of 3031
2nd place: U.S. All Guard Team Bravo (1st Lt. Garrett Miller, Pennsylvania. NG; Sgt. 1st Class Paul Deugan, Iowa NG; Sgt. 1st Class David Keenom, Tennessee NG; Sgt. Brandon Swanson, Wisconsin NG) combined score of 2981
3rd place: U.S. Army Reserve Team Blue (Lt. Col. Scott Klawon, New York; Master Sgt. Lance Espinosa, Washington; Staff Sgt. Chris Kizanis, Idaho; Sgt. Benjamin Mercer, Arkansas) combined score of 2728
For the full results, and more information about AFSAM and the NGMTC visit ngmtc.wordpress.com.
For more information about getting involved, contact Maj. Dwayne Page 501-212-4531 or visit us on the web at https://ngmtc.wordpress.com.
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• Date Taken: 04.28.2017
• Date Posted: 06.07.2017 10:10
• Story ID: 233298
• Location: CAMP JOSEPH T ROBINSON, AR, US