By: Tech. Sgt. Aaron Perkins, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center
CAMP GUERNSEY JOINT TRAINING CENTER, Wyo. – Not even the blazing heat of the Wyoming sun could stop Army Reserve Soldiers along with Army and Air National Guard teams from Arkansas, Idaho, Kansas, Montana, North Dakota, South Dakota, and Wyoming, from persevering in the National Guard’s Marksmanship Advisory Council (MAC Six) Region VI Marksmanship Championships over a three day period, from Aug. 13-16, 2020.
A newcomer to the competition, South Dakota Army National Guard Sgt. Dawn Nordquist, a medic with the South Dakota Medical Command, was one of only two female competitors to take part in the Marksmanship competition.
“I’ve been trying to get onto this team for some time, and luckily there was an open spot this year so it was a perfect opportunity for me to sneak in and come to Wyoming,” she said.
“I grew up playing in the dirt, as well as shooting guns with my father. Since he had competed in this competition in the past, and always shared with me all of his fun stories from this event, he passed along to me some tips beforehand with what to expect,” Nordquist said, as she explained her desire to be part of the three day event. “We got to come out here and shoot with the rifle and pistol at various distances and positions that you normally don’t get to do. It was really fun to follow in his footsteps.”
Nordquist stated that she would love to come back again, as it really helped her get to know other Guard members in her state. Being one of just two women in this year’s competition, she hopes other women in the Guard will give it try and not be intimidated by what tends to be a male dominated sport.
In lieu of world events, the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center’s (NGMTC) MAC Six competition, was conducted and hosted by the Wyoming National Guard.
Even after three days of shooting in the intense sun, all the competitors kept a positive attitude till all their rounds were spent.
“The MAC Six competition was a good success this year. With all the things going on in the world, they’re still able to hold the competition here,” said Oregon Army National Guard Sgt. 1st Class Micheal Marugg, the Oregon state Marksmanship Coordinator.
“Soldiers and Airmen from our region MAC Six showed up, we got to shoot nine different courses of fire. We got to compete each and every day whether it was individual pistol, and rifle, or team pistol and rifle,” said Marugg, describing the various aspects of the three days of competition. “It was hot here at Camp Guernsey, but we had a really good time shooting, and there were plenty of smiles on faces. A number of individuals and teams took home quite a few awards at the awards ceremony.”
As the Oregon state marksmanship coordinator, Marugg really wants to let Soldiers and Airmen know the value of this competition, and how you don’t have to be an expert to compete in it. The extra training competitors receive at the contest is a huge educational resource to help improve one’s marksmanship.
“Some individuals here who have been doing this a long time are a great resource for newcomers, in that they get to learn from them best practices that they can take home and share, but also get to form new relationships with other states and state marksmanship coordinators.”
Results:
Pistol & Rifle Team Champions
1. North Dakota Alpha – 980-2x-9v
Sgt. Tyler Goldade; Cpt. Thomas Gross; Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook; Staff Sgt. Joshua Renville
2. Idaho Alpha – 871-1x-6v
Spc. Wesley Carerra; Sgt. Jared Crossman; Sgt. Dino Vidal; Sgt. 1st Class Michael Bautista
3. South Dakota Alpha – 855-1x-6v
Spc. Noble Lacroix; Spc. Aric Johnson; Sgt. 1st Class Clint Sandness; Staff Sgt. Jory Rogers
Overall Individual Aggregate Champion
1. Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook, North Dakota Air National Guard; Score 1041-19x
2. Sgt. Tyler Goldade, North Dakota Army National Guard; Score 1030-17x
3. Staff Sgt. Patrick Well, Montana Army National Guard; Score 999-24x
Individual Rifle Aggregate Champion
1. Sgt. Tyler Goldade, North Dakota Army National Guard; Score 664-13x
2. Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook, North Dakota Air National Guard; Score 633-12x
3. Staff Sgt. Patrick Crisswell, Montana Army National Guard; Score 616-16x
Individual Pistol Aggregate Champion
1. Staff Sgt. Gavin Rook, North Dakota Air National Guard; Score 408-7x
2. Staff Sgt. Jared Bloom, Kansas Air National Guard; Score 393-10x
3. Senior Master Sgt. Wade Swenson, North Dakota Air National Guard; Score 384-6x
Novice Individual Overall Aggregate Champion
1. Staff Sgt. Jared Bloom, Kansas Air National Guard; Score 930-15x
2. Cpt. Thomas Gross, North Dakota Army National Guard; Score 904-13x
3. Staff Sgt. Joshua Renville, North Dakota Air National Guard; Score 862-14x
Novice Individual Rifle Aggregate Champion
1. Sgt Nicholas Steinmetz, South Dakota Army National Guard; Score 570-4x
2. Staff Sgt. Hunter Martineau, North Dakota Air National Guard; Score 541-8x
3. Staff Sgt. Jared Bloom, Kansas Air National Guard; Score 537-5x
Novice Individual Pistol Aggregate Champion
1. Staff Sgt. Jared Bloom, Kansas Air National Guard; Score 393-10x
2. Cpt. Thomas Gross, North Dakota Army National Guard; Score 381-5x
3. Spc. Aric Johnson, South Dakota Army National Guard; Score 370-9x
Additional scores can be found at https://wpwafsam.weebly.com select MAC 6 Results.
For more photos from this event visit us on Flickr: NGMTC PAO.
About Us: Established in 1968, the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC) is the National Guard Bureau’s (NGB) center for managing marksmanship training courses and competitive marksmanship programs. It serves all 54 states and territories and is located on Robinson Maneuver Training Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The NGMTC is headquarters for the “All Guard” service rifle, service pistol, multi-gun, and international combat teams. The NGMTC is also home to the annual Winston P. Wilson National Championships, where guardsmen may earn the NGB Chief’s 50 Marksmanship Badge. For more information call 501-212-4531/4549, visit us at https://ngmtc.wordpress.com or www.facebook.com/NGMTC.
| Date Taken: | 08.19.2020 |
| Date Posted: | 09.04.2020 16:27 |
| Story ID: | 376626 |
| Location: | GUERNSEY, WY, US |
| Web Views: | 21 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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