Increasing readiness levels through use of the CNGB Postal Matches

Photo By Maj. Theresa Austin | Spc. Jennifer Trotnow with the 132nd Army Band, Wisconsin National Guard, loads a slug round into a shotgun during the 3 Gun Match, of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) Phase III Postal Matches hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC) held at Robinson Maneuver Training Center, Ark. May 21-25, 2017. The 3 Gun Match requires competitors to run over a hill to shoot with a pistol at steel targets, then run up hill to shoot with the rifle at long range paper targets, run down hill to shoot the shotgun at steel targets, and then run back up hill, climb in a helicopter and shoot with a rifle at long range paper targets all in effort to achieve the quickest time and best accuracy.  

NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, UNITED STATES

05.25.2017

Story by Capt. Theresa Austin 

National Guard Marksmanship Training Center

ROBINSON MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ark. – Over 50 excited shooters gathered from across the nation to compete in the phase three portion of the Chief of the National Guard Bureau (CNGB) Postal Matches hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC) held at Robinson Maneuver Training Center, Ark. May 21-25, 2017.

Competitors were selected from state OML results from Phase I and II, which resulted in a variety of shooters ranging from state trainers, to those far outside the scope of their MOS.

Almost every Soldier and Airmen interviewed, said they were excited to be here, because they learn so many valuable skills and techniques that they are able to take back to their state and share with others.

Sr. Airman Nathan Smyly with the 142nd Special Forces, Oregon National Guard, said “I’m getting paid to shoot; can’t get any better than that!”

One tip he offers up to all service members is to be familiar with your gear, so you don’t have to look at it in combat.

“Being familiar with your gear is an important part, because you need to quickly access different pieces and some can get in the way of others,” said Smyly. “ In real life, where you could get injured, you don’t have time to take your eyes off of your target, so you have to learn your equipment to reload quicker.”

He continued, “If anyone has the opportunity to come out here, it’s a good test with your weapon and to keep up your weapon skills.”

To provide the best weapon skills training while in a competition setting is why the National Guard All Guard Team served as the range staff for the CNGB, according to Maj. Dwayne Page, NGMTC chief of competitions.

“The All Guard Team is important, because they are comprised of the best shooters in the world,” said Page. “Having them running the competition provides the opportunity for them to train others and make on the spot corrections to improve the competitors techniques.”

“Competitions are good to have, because we gain knowledge to take back to our state,” said Sgt. 1st Class Edward Cole, with the Small Arms Readiness Training Section (SARTS) in the Kentucky National Guard, who is a first time competitor at the CNGB. “All of our team, here, are SARTS trainers in Kentucky, and being here gives us good info to take back for training other new shooters.”

Here for the second year in a row is an all female team from the Wisconsin National Guard’s 132nd Army Band, and they said they attend training, here, because they are trying to improve in marksmanship.

Spc. Jennifer Trotnow with the 132nd said, “It is fun to keep learning and improving in something we don’t get to do all the time and is a lot different from our MOS.”

Trotnow is a middle school band instructor on the civilian side. She said, “the students know I’m in the National Guard, but were surprised that I shoot, and that we have an all girl team.”

“When shooting we are all held to the same standard,” says Trotnow.

Regardless of gender or military job, service members must be able to shoot to maintain readiness.

“Learning known and unknown distance training, how to properly hold the weapon and shoot from a stable platform and varying weight platforms, all help with first time go’s when qualifying with your weapon,” said Cole.

The bottom line, as Cole said, “Competitions help us with our readiness levels.”

At the end of a long week, all competitors, instructors, and staff gathered to see who are the top CNGB shooters.

Results:
CNGB Postal Match Overall Individual
Champion: 2nd Lt. Jonathan Lintz, Nebraska National Guard, combined score of 2525-31X
Overall 2nd place: Staff Sgt. Micah Fulmer, Colorado National Guard, combined score of 2474-28X
Overall 3rd place: Sgt. 1st Class William Thorpe, Illinois National Guard, combined score 2460 24X

CNGB Individual Rifle
Champion: Capt. Andrew Hahn, Tennessee National Guard, combined score of 1538-9X
2nd place: Staff Sgt. Micah Fulmer, Colorado National Guard, combined score of 1519-16X
3rd place: Spc. Austin Norcross, Colorado National Guard, combined score of 1513-19X

Individual Pistol
Champion: 2nd Lt. Jonathan Lintz, Nebraska National Guard, combined score of 1650-12X
2nd place: Spc. Thomas Carpenter, South Dakota National Guard, combined score of 1577-17X
3rd place: Sgt. 1st Class Edward Cole, Kentucky National Guard, combined score of 1523-12X

For information about getting involved, visit us on the web at https://ngmtc.wordpress.com.

• Date Taken: 05.25.2017
• Date Posted: 06.06.2017 18:34
• Story ID: 236063
• Location: NORTH LITTLE ROCK, AR, US