GLENGARY, W.V. (Sept. 12, 2016)--Two Soldiers won top spots in a field of more than 300 participants during the 2016 FN 3-Gun Championship Sept. 1-3 at the Peacemaker National Training Center here.
Staff Sgt. Joel Turner, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), was first in the tactical limited division. Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner, USAMU, finished second in the tactical scope division, missing the top spot by only five points.
The event consisted of 10 stages spread over the venue in the West Virginia mountainside that required speed, agility and accuracy. Some stages used all three firearms--rifle, shotgun and pistol--and others one or two.
Horner said this type of shooting sport can hone skills that can enhance Soldiers' combat abilities.
"It involves target transitions, moving from one gun to another, close-quarter-battle-type shooting to longer-range shooting and gaining the confidence that you can hit targets at 400-plus yards with your M-4 (rifle)," he said.
Turner said their choice of optics--tactical scope for Horner and tactical limited for Turner--prove that Soldiers can have the same proficiency whether using variable optics, one-power optics or iron sights.
"This shows we have the same capabilities, although it may take longer for someone to sight in on the target with iron sights or one-power," Tuner said.
Turner said his assignment at USAMU has made him a better shooter in a short amount of time.
"Five years ago I thought I was a halfway decent shooter until I got to AMU, and I realized I had a lot of work to do," he said.
Horner said the Army provides him with everything he needs to compete and pass on his knowledge to his fellow service members.
"The Army gives me the range time, the facilities, firearms and ammunition, and the Soldiers I shoot with so I can be a better shooter and be better prepared to train other Soldiers," he said.
Participating in shooting sport competitions gives USAMU marksmen insight into what it takes to win and provides information about firearms and ammunition capabilities.
These takeaways are incorporated into courses like the Marksmanship Master Trainer Course, created by USAMU and currently available in Army Training Requirements and Resources System, and into firearms and ammunition research and development, which is conducted by the USAMU Custom Firearms Shop.
For more information about USAMU, visit the U.S. Army Marksmanship website.
Editor's Note: The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit's mission is winning national and international shooting competitions and advancing small-arms lethality to demonstrate Army marksmanship capability and enhance marksmanship effectiveness in combat. USAMU is part of the U.S. Army Accessions Brigade and Army Marketing and Research Group.
Social Sharing