U.S. Marine Sgt. Christopher Williams with Marine Corps Rifle Team sets national record – 2021 National Matches

PORT CLINTON, OH, UNITED STATES

08.11.2021

Story by Lance Cpl. Paige Verry 

Marine Corps Base Quantico

CAMP PERRY, Ohio -- The U.S. Marine Corps Rifle Team made their mark on the historic ranges of Camp Perry, Port Clinton, Ohio while competing in the 2021 National Matches, July 26 through Aug. 10. The team placed fourth out of 58 six-man teams comprised of U.S. service members, junior shooters and civilians.
The National Matches, also known as the “world series of shooting sports”, have been a tradition at Camp Perry since 1907 with more than 4,500 participants annually. Shooters compete in precision rifle and handgun competitions for five weeks.
U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Christopher Williams, a competitor with the Marine Corps Rifle Team, finished ninth out of 836 shooters in the Rifle President’s 100. His final over-all score of 1,283 – 51x is a combination of the National Trophy Individual Match, the Rifle President’s 100, and the National Team Trophy Match, awarding him with the Gunnery Sgt. Carlos Hathcock Trophy. Williams broke the previous national record set in 2013 by Master Sgt. Julia Watson by one point.
“This is my fifth season on the team, and my fourth time at nationals,” said Williams. “I go out there and do what I can do, some days it comes together and some days it doesn’t. This year it came together for all the big matches,” he continued. “If I produce a good score during a match, I am happy because I know that I pulled my weight for the team.”
The teams prepare extensively prior to the competition with several practice days, team meetings and weighing each individual round, separating them into boxes based on their weight.
“We weigh the ammo to create a perfect storm,” said Sgt. Mike Ogle, assistant coach and competitor. “We try to create every bit of accuracy that we can in order to succeed,” he continued.
While being a member of the rifle team is rewarding, it comes with challenges that require a resilient mindset to overcome mental and physical adversity.
“A lot of people may think that bullseye shooting is a relatively easy sport because they only ever see us sitting or lying down,” said Sgt. Patrick Moody, competitor with the Marine Corps Rifle Team. “It takes a toll on your body. Being out there for long days, you have to have a competitive mindset. As a team we always come together and make it happen,” he continued.
The team and its individual members take the marksmanship skills they learn and bring it back to their units, creating a larger sum of well-rounded and precision shooters.
The Marine Corps Shooting Team instructors provide other units training staff with advanced and practical marksmanship skills through the Mobile Training Team Program. This training can be requested by the unit by reaching out to the Marine Corps Shooting Team staff non-commissioned officer in charge. The seasoned and evolving knowledge provided by the Marine Corps Shooting Team works to create a more lethal and effective fighting force.
To request individual marksmanship training for your unit, or information on joining the Marine Corps Shooting Team, contact the teams’ staff non-commissioned officer in charge, Master Sgt. Nicholas Capko at 703-784-5104, or [e-mail].

• Date Taken: 08.11.2021
• Date Posted: 08.12.2021 10:55
• Story ID: 402879
• Location: PORT CLINTON, OH, US