JOINT BASE MCGUIRE-DIX-LAKEHURST, N.J. (May 6, 2011) " With more than 300 people attending, Operation Knight Shot showcased the U.S. Army Golden Knights, the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit and local high school bands.
Hosted for the second time by the U.S. Army Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion, Operation Knight Shot (May 3-5) combined the efforts of different services and involved Army Advocates from the Northeast region.
Lt. Col. Harry Woodmansee, battalion commander, said the event educated the community on military efforts and talents.
A joint services swear-in of new enlistees, hosted by Maj. Gen. David Mann, commander, U.S. Army Recruiting Command involved more than 30 students taking the oath of enlistment.
“They are the future,” Woodmansee said. “I’m proud to be part of this moment.”
During the three days, groups of Army Advocates took part in tandem jumps with the Golden Knights, demonstrations by the Army Marksmanship Unit and UH-60 Blackhawk helicopter rides around the area. Junior Reserve Officers’ Training Corps drill teams put on demonstrations and Army recruiters set up a rockwall. Servicemembers from the joint base military police also demonstrated the training of military working dogs and their handlers.
“This is a great event for the community,” Ken Wong, Philadelphia Advisory Board member said. “People really enjoy this type of event.”
On Wednesday, Mann presented the General William E. DePuy award, a top Reserve Officers’ Training Corps award, to Dr. Greg Weisenstein, president of West Chester University for his support of the university’s ROTC program.
“We clearly have the world's best military, and the ROTC programs spanning the country contribute to that reputation and build on it," Weisenstein said. "I'm honored to receive this award."
Although the weather interfered with tandem jumps on two days, Army Advocates enjoyed learning about and talking with the Golden Knights, the Army’s parachute team. Attendees learned about the harnesses and parachutes used for tandem jumps, as well as personal stories from the Golden Knights, including the thousands of jumps team members have completed.
Staff Sgt. Mark Weeks and Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond, members of the Army Marksmanship Unit, put on a show for gathered Army Advocates. After being wowed by the skills of Weeks and Richmond, individuals were given the chance to shoot clay targets with shotguns, coached by Weeks, a former National Shotgun Team coach. Richmond, the current world champion in men’s double trap, answered questions from the crowd about techniques and their training.
After the event, Army Advocate Alan Krutchoff said although the weather interfered with his jump, he enjoyed being with the Golden Knights and had a great time at the range with the Army Marksmanship Unit.
The Mid-Atlantic Recruiting Battalion is one of eight battalions in the 1st Recruiting Brigade and is headquartered at Joint Base McGuire-Dix-Lakehurst.
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