MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines with Marine Corps Air Station New River’s Headquarters and Headquarters Squadron competed in a skeet-shooting competition aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, April 26.
More than 28 Marines paid $5 each per round of skeet shooting, with the winning team earning 50 points toward the H&HS Commander’s Cup competition.
“Everybody does the car washes and all those other fundraisers every year for the Marine Corps Ball,” said Gunnery Sgt. Curtis Ross, H&HS squadron gunnery sergeant. “We wanted to do something different this year.”
The Commander’s Cup is a competition between all the sections of H&HS to see which section can earn the most points. The team that wins the most receives part of the total proceeds earned toward its section’s Marine Corps ball tickets. The rest of the money is used to fund the event.
Many Marines are unaware that Camp Lejeune has a skeet range because it is fairly new, said Ross. He said it gave the Marines an opportunity to have fun together outside of work.
“This is pretty cool,” said Cpl. Joseph Peluso, Aircraft Rescue and Firefighting Marine. “This is something to do besides hanging out at the barracks and the day-to-day job. It’s good to see the camaraderie of the squadron.”
The Marines took turns shooting clay pigeons as they flew in the air. After several rounds and a few hundred targets destroyed, Master Sgt. Guy Doughty, ARFF staff noncommissioned officer in charge, and Gunnery Sgt. Kenneth Aldredge, ARFF fire inspector, emerged the victors, earning ARFF several points to help secure their sections’ triumph in the Commander’s Cup.
“I had a lot of fun,” said Lance Cpl. Tyrone Comer, air traffic control maintenance technician. “I enjoyed coming out here and competing.”
He said he has made plans to return to the range with some of his friends again soon.
The competition raised more than $100 for the ball.
“The best shot today by far was Master Sgt. Doughty but the real winners here today are the Marines who participated in the event,” said Ross.