Grayling, Michigan – Who is the most lethal Soldier in Michigan? If steel on target equals lethality, Spec. Gregory Burr, is the service member to beat. The Wyoming, Mich. based infantryman scored 1218 points in the Adjutant General’s Combat Rifle and Pistol Competition at Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center on September 27-30 2018, outshooting 114 other Michigan National Guardsmen.
Of the 115 Soldiers and Airmen who signed up for the four day marksmanship competition, the top twenty percent earned the honor of being recognized as “The Governor’s Twenty”. For this achievement, they were presented with a Governor’s Twenty tab to be worn above their unit patch on their military uniform.
Members of the Michigan National Guard's Small Arms Readiness Training Section led the Adjutant General's Match and Governors 20 competition after months of planning. The Small Arms Readiness and Training section (SARTS) spends countless hours training service members in basic and advanced marksmanship tactics in order to provide subject matter experts to units throughout the state.
The competition tests the marksmen’s abilities in a number of scenarios or drills to include; Cover to Cover, Clock Work Drill, the 4” drill, Pistol get together, and 9 hole pistol drill which tested each competitors marksmanship skills.
Brigadier General Lawrence Schloegl, Michigan National Guard, Land Component Commander; Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Clarmont, Michigan National Guard State Command Sergeant Major; and Command Sgt. Maj. John Engel, Camp Grayling Joint Maneuver Training Center’s Post Command Sergeant Major were on hand to congratulate the winners of this year’s Adjutant General’s Combat Rifle and Pistol Competition 2018. Both 1st Sgt. Shawn Menard and 1st Sgt. Scott Watkins were the organizers of this year’s great event.
Burr was presented with the award of Top Shooter from Michigan National Guard’s Land Component Commander, Brigadier General Lawrence Schloegl. Burr placed third in the competition two years ago, but through focused training, tightened with shot groups and increased his response time to allow for the top finish in this year’s competition.
He was followed by 1st Lt. Marshall Halas who was awarded 2nd place in this year’s Adjutant General’s Combat Rifle and Pistol Competition 2018 where he received a congratulating handshake and the State of Michigan’s Command Sgt. Maj. Coin of Excellence from Michigan National Guard State Command Sergeant Major, Command Sgt. Maj. Dale Clarmont.
The annual competition has been held in Michigan for more than 20 years. The Governors 20 tab is a state award. The tab is one of only five permanent patches authorized for wear on the Army Combat Uniform, preceded by the President’s One Hundred, Special Forces, Ranger and Sapper tabs. The competition was started in 1968 by the Missouri National Guard and has been adopted by numerous other states to recognize excellence in marksmanship.
The Michigan National Guard's Small Arms Readiness Training Section is enhancing the combat readiness of Soldiers and Airmen in the Michigan National Guard. Our Michigan National Guardsmen are always ready, always there.
Earning the Michigan Governor’s Twenty were:
Spc. Gregory Burr
1st Lt. Marshall Halas
Staff Sgt. Andrew Hart
Spc. Sameer Kabban
1st Sgt. Kenneth Boyd
Staff Sgt. Christopher Reed
Spc. Zachary Murphy
Spc. Jacob Tow
Private 1st Class Nicholas Hunt
Staff Sgt. Matthew Rogalski
Spc. John McCoy
Spc. Gabriel Couturier
Spc. Kyle Maki
Sgt. 1st Class Darrin Schultz
Sgt. Joshua Sauve
Staff Sgt. Michael Draper
Spc. Michael Leason
Sgt. William Lodewyk
Spc. Scott Limon
Sgt. Dylan Kolberg
Spc. Joshua Wilderson
Sgt. Branden Brown