Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Hamlin | Rifles, shooting jackets, medals and other artifacts are displayed in the “Home of...... read more read more
A new exhibit at the National Infantry Museum is shining light on one of the Army’s most unique organizations — the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit — and the Soldiers whose skill, innovation, and competitive spirit have shaped its 70-year legacy.
The “Home of Champions” display, unveiled Oct. 3, celebrates both the historic and modern impact of the unit known across the world for producing champion shooters and advancing small-arms development for the Army.
For Brig. Gen. (Ret.) Pete Jones, president and CEO of the National Infantry Museum Foundation, the exhibit perfectly aligns with the museum’s purpose.
“The USAMU exhibit aligns with the museum’s broader mission of honoring and educating because the exhibit not only honors AMU and its Soldiers, past, present, and future, but it educates the public that the Army is also comprised of Soldier-Athletes: strong, lethal, and precise,” Jones said. “It highlights how individual talents can be applied in numerous venues within the Army.”
Jones said the greatest challenge was telling a complex story in a limited space, while ensuring the AMU’s legacy fit seamlessly into the broader story of Fort Moore. “It was easy to coordinate across stakeholders because we shared the common goal of illustrating in a meaningful and professional manner the USAMU legacy,” he said.
He added that bridging the gap between the Army and the public is central to the museum’s mission. “That is the goal of every exhibit in our museum — to provide accurate and digestible information for the public — and the ‘Home of Champions’ exhibit does just that,” Jones said. “The public doesn’t realize the world-class athlete program that exists within the U.S. Army, and now the USAMU has a permanent place in the #1 Best Free Museum in America, visited by more than 170,000 guests annually.”
Looking ahead, Jones said the Foundation welcomes future initiatives that highlight the intertwined nature of marksmanship and the Infantry. “Marksmanship and the Infantry are inextricably linked,” he said. “From the musket to the Next Generation Squad Weapon, the relationship between training and weapons is woven throughout Infantry history. Every Infantryman is a marksman to some degree.”
For the museum’s arms curator, Christopher Goodrow, the display represents years of collaboration and a chance to connect Soldiers and civilians to a deeper story.
“The idea started several years ago when the museum acquired a world-record rifle and other artifacts that once belonged to Maj. Ernest Vande Zande, a former member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit,” Goodrow said. “Over time the project gained traction until the Military Marksmanship Association took on the task of fundraising for a new exhibit case.”
Goodrow said the vision was straightforward but challenging — to explain both sides of the USAMU’s mission: the elite competition shooters who win at national and international levels, and the researchers and instructors who make the Army more lethal. “We wanted to blend contemporary and historical examples that show how the USAMU fulfills its mission with absolute devotion,” he said.
He added that the display fits naturally into the museum’s broader story. The National Infantry Museum tells the 250-year story of the American Infantry through the Army Values and tactical excellence. “Basic Rifle Marksmanship is a core skill for every Infantry Soldier,” Goodrow said. “By highlighting the USAMU as the epicenter of Army precision marksmanship, the exhibit reinforces our mission to tell the story of the Infantry through the lens of excellence and readiness.”
Among the artifacts is the .22 caliber rifle once fired by Maj. Ernest Vande Zande, who set a world record in 1981 by shooting a perfect 600 in international competition. That same rifle, built decades earlier inside the AMU’s custom shop at Fort Benning, has a history as remarkable as its performance .
Maj. (Ret.) Steve Goff, vice president of the Military Marksmanship Association, said the rifle symbolizes the standard every USAMU competitor strives for. “It represents the absolute perfection that is sought after by every champion of the USAMU,” Goff said. “It reminds us what’s possible when discipline and craftsmanship come together.”
Goff, who spent 16 of his 20 Army years with the AMU, said the exhibit is more than a collection of weapons. “I want visitors to see the people behind the artifacts,” he said. “The AMU isn’t just ranges and firearms — it’s about the Soldier-athlete, their dedication to the sport, and the drive that lets them win on national and international stages.”
He added that the Military Marksmanship Association continues to keep that spirit alive, connecting former and current members, honoring outstanding shooters each year, and helping fund projects like this one.
For Lt. Col. Chris Thielenhaus, commander of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, the new display is personal. “This exhibit is a welcome recognition of the Soldier-shooters who built the astonishing reputation of the AMU,” Thielenhaus said. “It honors legendary competitors of the past and our current world-class shooters, while also recognizing the lesser-known research and development side of our mission.”
Balancing that history with innovation, he said, is at the heart of the unit’s culture. “The USAMU occupies a historic headquarters full of mementos that honor past victories and legendary members,” he said. “But our research and development section and custom firearms shop are laser-focused on finding cutting-edge techniques and technologies to win more — and to make the Army more lethal. Honoring the past and driving innovation are both core aspects of who we are.”
Thielenhaus hopes the display inspires everyone who passes through the museum’s doors — especially new Infantry Soldiers beginning their careers just across post. “This is a celebration of everything USAMU has achieved since President Eisenhower stood up the unit in 1956,” he said. “I want every young infantryman and every family who visits to feel pride that the Army cares enough about winning on the world stage to create a world-class shooting organization dedicated to that goal.”
The commander said USAMU’s contributions to Army readiness come down to three things: winning, innovating, and educating. “We win competitions on the national and world stage, proving to the world that the Army is a world-class organization,” Thielenhaus said. “We make the Army more lethal by developing weapons systems and training the force on proven marksmanship techniques. And we tell the Army’s story to the American people, bridging the gap between civilians and the military.”
That reputation is backed by results. Thielenhaus noted that the unit currently has the world’s top-ranked male and female skeet shooters, an international rifle team preparing for multiple global competitions, and service rifle and pistol teams that have swept interservice events over the past year. The action shooting team also continues to dominate in every major competition it joins.
“With that level of subject-matter expertise, it’s no surprise we’re in high demand to train Soldiers — from basic rifle marksmanship to advanced competition techniques, even applying shotgun skills in counter-drone efforts,” he said. “Winning matters. It’s what gives our message credibility, builds confidence, and helps the Army fight and win.”
Goodrow said he hopes the new display does more than showcase hardware; he wants it to motivate Soldiers passing through the museum before they step onto the range for the first time. “Our goal is to instill a sense of Infantry history and heritage,” he said. “This exhibit introduces them to the USAMU story — how Soldier-athletes compete on the interservice, national, international, and Olympic levels while embodying Army Values.”
For the public, the exhibit reveals the human side of marksmanship. Visitors can see how precision shooting and innovation go hand in hand, and how one unit’s expertise has strengthened the Army for generations.
Maj. (Ret.) Goff said that legacy continues to matter. “The AMU’s future should always be about competing and winning while supporting the warfighter,” he said. “That’s the tradition we built, and it’s one worth carrying forward.”
| Date Taken: | 10.03.2025 |
| Date Posted: | 11.13.2025 13:51 |
| Story ID: | 550073 |
| Location: | FORT BENNING, GEORGIA, US |
| Web Views: | 599 |
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