Range coach, passing shooting on to the next generation

By Wesley Elliott, MEDCOM Public Affairs SpecialistApril 10, 2017

Range coach, passing shooting on to the next generation
1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class, Robert G. Roberts, III shoots in the air pistol competition at the Warrior Care and Transition's Army Trials as Fort Bliss Texas, April 3, 2017. 79 wounded, ill and injured active-duty Soldiers and veterans are competing in... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Range coach, passing shooting on to the next generation
2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class, Robert G. Roberts, III shoots in the air pistol competition at the Warrior Care and Transition's Army Trials as Fort Bliss Texas, April 3, 2017. 79 wounded, ill and injured active-duty Soldiers and veterans are competing in... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Range coach, passing shooting on to the next generation
3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption – U.S. Army, Sgt. 1st Class, Robert G. Roberts, III prepares for the air pistol competition at the Warrior Care and Transition's Army Trials as Fort Bliss Texas, April 3, 2017. 79 wounded, ill and injured active-duty Soldiers and veterans are competing... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

Fort Bliss, Texas -- At the Warrior Transition Unit at Fort Carson, Colorado, Sgt. 1st Class Robert G. Roberts, III, teaches and mentors wounded, ill, or injured Soldiers on shooting and archery.

Roberts enter the military as a U.S. Marine and later switched to the Army where he served as a Cavalry Scout (19D) and shooting has always been a part of his career.

In the WTU, the sports coordinators knew that Roberts was an avid outdoorsman and marksmen, so they approached him to train Soldiers going to the Army Trials.

"I started doing that and this year they asked if I would be willing to represent the WTU because we only had a few people [this year]."

Roberts describes shooting as relaxing. "Large calibers are different but the fundamentals are still the same. I still do what I was taught in my Marine Corps days and just breathe, relax, aim, sight, squeeze and you become one with the weapon, the target, and you go to a happy place."

Instruction and mentoring is something he enjoys; over his career he has taught basic rifle and pistol marksman, combat shooting, shotgun, and machine gun.

For new shooters he explained that they should, "be prepared to learn all your bad habits and then try and correct them."

Roberts is competing in the Warrior Care and Transition's 2017 Army Trials in the air rifle, air pistol, archery, and field events. He plans to resume competitive shooting after leaving the military.

"The camaraderie between all the shooters at the Army Trials is something I will never be able to replace with anything. It's fun and relaxing, you'll learn a lot, and I hope to see you all out here," said Roberts.