ANNISTON ARMY DEPOT, Ala. -- Unlike many of the men and women lining the field for the final shoot off of the President's Hundred rifle competition July 22 in Camp Perry, Ohio, Stephen Reed was not a current or former military sniper. He hasn't had any military marksmanship training.
Reed, a small arms repairer for Anniston Army Depot, discovered his passion for competitive marksmanship in church 25 years ago.
"My Sunday School teacher was a former sniper and he shot competitively," said Reed. "He mentioned it to me one day and that got me started."
In 1997, he placed in the President's Hundred for the first time.
The President's Rifle Match is part of the National Matches, hosted each year by the Civilian Marksmanship Program. The top 100 competitors overall in the President's Rifle Match are given the designation as one of the Presidents Hundred.
For members of the U.S. military, this honor comes with a patch authorized for wear on uniforms.
Civilians, like Reed, receive patches and pins which may be worn on their shooting jackets.
Reed has entered the competition and been within the top 100 numerous times, but this year was his best ever.
"This is the highest I have ever placed and the first time I have made it to the shoot out," he said.
Competitors make 30 shots during the regular rounds of the match -- 10 standing at 200 yards at a slow rate of fire, 10 while lying prone at 300 yards at a rapid rate of fire and 10 at a slow rate of fire while lying prone 600 yards from the target. Once scores are tallied, the top 20 competitors are given 10 additional timed shots at 600 yards to advance their placement.
All of the shots are taken with open sights and no scopes.
"At the end of the 30 shots this year, I was in 17th place. I did pretty well in the shoot off," said Reed, who placed 12th at the end of competition, third among the civilians.
In addition to being a competitor, Reed also coaches the Alabama Long-range Service Rifle Team, which is comprised of six competitors who work as a team during a 50-shot match.
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