FORT BENNING, Ga. (Army News Service, Feb. 16, 2006) - The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and U.S. Army Infantry Center will host the 2007 Army Rifle and Pistol Championships March 2-10 and the U.S. Army Long-Range Championships March 11-13.
The competitions are open to all Soldiers, as well as West Point and ROTC cadets. Participants have until Feb. 23 to sign up.
"The All-Army is an advanced combat marksmanship training event and competition," said USAMU Sgt. Maj. Vidal Ybarra. "The All-Army Matches are designed to raise the shooting proficiency of Soldiers and units across the Army by teaching advanced combat marksmanship techniques using issue rifles and pistols."
All Soldiers will fire both the M-16 rifle and M-9 pistol in helmet and load-bearing equipment (body armor optional) from 25 to 500 yards with the M-16 and 7 to 25 yards with the M-9. Battalion-level teams will compete for unit recognition and team awards.
Participants will also receive advance marksmanship instruction and training materials to conduct Train-the-Trainer clinics on return to their home station. The Long-Range Championships will provide M-24 long-range shooting training from 600 to 1,000 yards.
Soldiers will compete in separate Novice and Open divisions based on their competition experience. The USAMU has a limited number of weapons available for Soldiers and cadets who do not have assigned weapons.
At the matches, coaches and noncommissioned officers in charge of the U.S. Army Rifle and Pistol Teams, Army Reserve and All-Guard Teams will scout, identify and invite selected Soldiers to compete at the Interservice Championships and the National Matches.
Champions will be awarded All-Army Trophies and Excellence-in-Competition Marksmanship Badges, which are permanent-wear Army awards as described in Army Regulation 600-22, and are above the standard marksman, sharpshooter and expert qualification badges. Among the awards are the Secretary of the Army Trophy M-1 Garand Rifle and Drill Sergeant Champion Award.
Team representatives should fax a letter of intent with a squad/team roster listing all competitors to Clarence Fedrick at (706) 545-6252 or e-mail Clarence.fedrick@usarec.army.mil by Feb. 23. The schedule is available at USAMU's Web site, <a href="http://www.usaac.army.mil/amu"target=_blank> www.usaac.army.mil</a>.
(Paula J. Randall writes for the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Accessions Support Brigade.)
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