USAMU Soldier Wins Silver Medal, Paralympic Quota

Courtesy Photo | Chateauroux, France --Staff Sgt. John Joss, a native of Corsicana, Texas and a 2016 Paralympic competitor won the Silver Medal in the R6 (Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1) event, helping USA Shooting collect its second medal of the WSPS World Cup in Chateauroux, France. In addition to his Silver-Medal win, Joss also earned the United States its first Paralympic quota for 2020. A Paralympic quota is essentially a country’s ticket to compete in a specific event in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.  

CHATEAUROUX, 36, FRANCE

10.01.2018

Courtesy Story

U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit

Courtesy USA Shooting

Chateauroux, France – Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) competed at the 2018 World Shooting Para Sport (WSPS) World Cup in France from September 24 to 29. The WSPS World Cup stood as an opportunity for USA Shooting, which is the national governing body of shooting sports in the United States, to earn coveted Paralympic quota spots. And with an outstanding performance, a USAMU Soldier helped Team USA gain a “ticket” to the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

Staff Sgt. John Joss, a native of Corsicana, Texas and a 2016 Paralympic competitor won the Silver Medal in the R6 (Mixed 50m Rifle Prone SH1) event, helping USA Shooting collect its second medal of the WSPS World Cup in Chateauroux, France.

In addition to his Silver-Medal win, Joss also earned the United States its first Paralympic quota for 2020. A Paralympic quota is essentially a country’s ticket to compete in a specific event in the 2020 Paralympic Games in Tokyo, Japan.

“My goal was the quota, and I was determined to earn it,” said Joss. “I had been shooting very well in difficult conditions and the first two days of training were abysmal – wind would keep switching directions and was very difficult to read. Today was a little less windy.”

Joss entered the Final with the lowest Qualification score of 616.5. Once in the Final, Joss found himself in second place after the first series of five shots and stayed in the second position until the end with his score of 245.5, unable to catch Gold Medalist Juan Antonio Saavedra Reinaldo of Spain, who led from the start of the Final. Matt Skelhon of Great Britain won the Bronze Medal.

Also competing in R6 was Joss’ USAMU teammate Staff Sgt. Kevin Nguyen from Westminster, California who finished in 12th place with a score of 613.7. Taylor Farmer (Castalia, Ohio), who won Bronze yesterday in R2 (Women’s 10m Air Rifle Standing SH1), finished in 43rd place with a score of 599.0.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit wins national and international shooting competitions, supports Army accessions, and advances small arms lethality to demonstrate Army marksmanship capability, enhance recruiting and increase marksmanship effectiveness in combat. USAMU is part of the U.S. Army Marketing Engagement Brigade and the U.S. Army Training and Doctrine Command.

• Date Taken: 10.01.2018
• Date Posted: 10.04.2018 11:22
• Story ID: 295396
• Location: CHATEAUROUX, 36, FR