2022 Oregon TAG Match

Photo By 2nd Lt. Bailey Breving | An Oregon Army National Guard Soldier prepares to shoot his M9 pistol during the Combat Pistol event while participating in the 2022 Adjutant General’s (TAG) Match, held at Camp Rilea Armed Forces Training Center, Warrenton, Oregon, April 30. Oregon Army and Air Guard members participated in the annual TAG Match to promote marksmanship training and compete for Distinguished Pistol Badges and Distinguished Rifleman Badges. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Cadet Bailey Breving)   

WARRENTON, OR, UNITED STATES

05.01.2022

Story by Pfc. Bailey Breving 

115th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment

WARRENTON, Oregon — Oregon National Guard Soldiers and Airmen competed in the annual Adjutant General’s Combat Marksmanship Training Exercise, or “TAG Match” at Camp Rilea Forces Training Center, Ore., April 29 - May 1, 2022.

The TAG Match is a shooting competition open to any Army or Air Force National Guard member that aims to promote marksmanship training. It also offers National Guard members the opportunity to compete for distinguished pistol and rifle badges to wear on their military dress uniforms.

This year’s competition drew a record-breaking 125 individual competitors composed of 27 teams of 2-4 members each. Each participant competed in five combat-focused courses of fire that demonstrated their marksmanship skills: Combat Pistol Excellence in Competition (EIC), Reflexive Fire, Speed Steel Pistol, Practical Rifle, and 3 Gun. Only the top 10 pistol and top 10 rifle performers in the state of Oregon qualified for the coveted Governor's 20 Tab. The Governor’s 20 Tab is worn on the left sleeve of the combat service uniform and positioned below other tabs such as Special Forces, Sapper, Ranger, or Honor Guard.

In preparation for this record-breaking competition, more than 22 thousand rounds of 5.56mm ammunition and 12,900 rounds of 9mm ammunition were requested. Each competitor demonstrated their skill and knowledge of their service-issued weapons like the M4 carbine rifle and the M9 pistol. The 3 Gun event added an additional M500 shotgun to round out the three necessary weapon systems.

Each course of fire is designed to assess a competitor's skill in engaging targets quickly and accurately under intense stressors like quick time constraints and physical exhaustion. While the scoring and standards for most of the events remain consistent each year, unique challenges can be added to courses that mimic real-life firing scenarios while also keeping the competition fresh from year-to-year. A new element in this year’s program appeared in the Speed Steel Pistol event which required competitors to pull a 90-pound sled for 20 meters before loading and engaging their steel targets with their M9 service pistol. The best performance would have the fastest time and the most confirmed target hits.

The annual TAG Match offers both novice and experienced shooters a series of challenging courses of fire to test their marksmanship capabilities. Sgt. 1st Class Michael Marugg, the TAG Match Director, encourages all participants to carry the knowledge gleaned from the competition back to their home units.

“I think it’s really great to come and shoot a competition like this, but it’s even better to take what you learned, or even one of the courses of fire, and go back and train soldiers,” said SFC Marugg.

Of the 125 participants, 68 were classified as ‘novice’ competitors meaning they’ve never competed in any discipline at a previous TAG Match or high-level competition. Command Sgt. Major James Lindseth, Joint Force Headquarters, douses feelings of intimidation and encourages all levels of shooters to attend next year’s challenge.

“It was a tough competition believe it or not. Even for those who have never done anything like this before, I think you’ve surprised yourselves,” CSM Lindseth said. “I hope they go back to their units and tell them about this [opportunity] and bring more people next time.”

For competitors like Sgt. Avery Chitwood, 2-218th Field Artillery Battalion, 41st Infantry Brigade Combat Team, this was a fun competition that catered to all types of shooters but also allowed him to comfortably demonstrate his skills.

“Everybody should volunteer for this. A lot of people have a stigma about the military shooting but here it’s not aggressive - it’s like a gentleman’s course. I did not feel pressured by anybody, instead, I was allowed to perform,” Sgt. Chitwood said. The comfortable atmosphere and his practice paid off as he received 6 of the top performance awards including Pistol Excellence in Combat (EIC), High Novice Rifle Shooter, and High Novice Pistol Shooter, High Overall Novice Shooter, and the highly competitive Governor’s 20 Tab for both pistol and rifle.

The Dude Bros, composed of Sgt. Dustin Davis, 1st Lt. Marcus Briggs, Sgt. Lance Pierce, and Spc. Michael Cline, from Bravo Troop, 1st Squadron, 82nd Cavalry Regiment, walked away with the Overall Team award.

“Prepare them for the next TAG Match,” SFC Marugg said. “Even if they don’t come to the next TAG Match, I guarantee each and every person in here learned something.”

• Date Taken: 05.01.2022
• Date Posted: 05.17.2022 16:35
• Story ID: 420550
• Location: WARRENTON, OR, US