FORT BENNING, Ga--On a cool, crisp morning in April, Pfc. Katie Harris, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Action Shooting Team member, drove to a gun range in Valdosta, Ga., to compete in an International Defensive Pistol Association match.
It was her first IDPA match in six years.
"The match today went very well for me," Harris said. "I was only a couple of points down, but since it was my second match in IDPA, I was very happy with it."
Harris normally shoots in U.S. Practical Shooting Association and 3-gun competition matches that focus on competitive shooting.
IDPA is also a competitive shooting sport but is one that incorporates simulations of self-defense scenarios and real-life encounters.
"In USPSA, there are a lot of targets, and you don't have to worry about concealment," said Lee Turner, match director, Little River Sportsmans Association. "In IDPA, we have walls and barricades to conceal yourself behind as if it was a self-defense situation."
Harris started out working mainly on accurately hitting targets, but with Turner's direction, she began to work on speed as well.
"Katie was amazing," said Turner, who has been shooting in IDPA matches for three years. "Katie shot very accurately, and IDPA is a combination of speed and accuracy. It's something she has to get used to--balancing the speed and accuracy--but she has amazing skills and amazing talent."
Going in, Harris was still re-learning the rules of engagement, but with coaching from Lee, she quickly picked up the slight nuances of IDPA shooting.
"I didn't know anyone, and this was my first time here, Harris said. "Lee Turner helped me out tremendously in this match, and I think I learned a few things from him."
Harris, whose dad was in the Army, has been shooting since she was 3 years old. With her father's guidance, she began shooting steel challenge and 3-gun matches as she grew older. She started competing in national-level multi-gun matches when she was 13.
"I got high junior at the USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals matches in 2010, 2011 and 2012," Harris said.
She joined the Army in 2014 and, after military occupational skill training, was assigned to the USAMU Action Shooting Team.
Harris has won numerous titles since joining USAMU, including the 2014 3-Gun Nation Southwest Regional-High Lady; 2014 Surefire World Championship-High Lady; and 2015 USPSA Multi-Gun Nationals-High Lady.
After the recent match at the Little River Sportsmans Association, Harris now has one more title--overall winner of the club's April 2015 IDPA match.
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