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Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition

By Sgt. 1st Class Javier OronaMarch 22, 2022

Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
1 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Cody Law, a 98th Training Division Soldier, fires her weapon at a target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
2 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Brian Peters, a 412th Theater Engineer Command Soldier, fires his weapon at a target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
3 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Cody Law, a 98th Training Division Soldier, scores a Soldier firing his weapon during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
4 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 416th Theater Engineer Command Soldier loads his pistol prior to engaging a target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
5 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 98th Training Division Soldier fires his pistol at a target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
6 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – An 86th Training Division Soldier simulates firing his weapon at a target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
7 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A 416th Theater Engineer Command Soldier cleans his weapon after completing a match during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
8 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Anthony Harrison, 98th Training Division operations officer, views where his rounds struck his target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
9 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Dispensed rounds lay on the ground after being fired from weapons at the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
10 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Maj. Anthony Harrison, 98th Training Division operations officer, fires his weapon at a target during the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022 (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
11 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Liechar Velazquez, a 412th Theater Engineer Command Soldier, prepares to engage a target at the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
12 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Cody Law, a 98th Training Division Soldier, gets familiarized with her target prior to conducting a pistol event at the 2022 United States Army Small Arms Championship at Fort Benning, Georgia, March 16, 2022. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL
Army Reserve Soldiers Compete in USAMU Small Arms Competition
13 / 13 Show Caption + Hide Caption – The United States Army Marksmanship Unit at Fort Benning, Georgia, along with the Maneuver Center of Excellence and U.S. Army Recruiting Command marketing, is hosting the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship in mid-March. The Army Reserve has four teams (16 Soldiers) participating this year. (Photo Credit: U.S. Army Reserve photo by Sgt. 1st Class Javier Orona) VIEW ORIGINAL

The Maneuver Center of Excellence, in partnership with U.S. Army Recruiting Command marketing and the United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU), is hosting the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship this week at Fort Benning, Georgia.

The Army marksmanship event allows Soldiers to compete with, interact with, and learn from the top marksmen from the USAMU and other units.

This year, the United States Army Reserve has four teams (16 Soldiers) participating in the competition.

“I love shooting,” said Staff Sgt. Liechar Velazquez, 382nd Engineer Company (Sapper). “We don’t get to fire our weapons as often as the active component does, but this competition gives us the opportunity to show that we are still just as trained and combat ready.”

“Many of the Soldiers that attend this competition are selected to represent their units at U.S. Army Small Arms Championship,” said Michael Buss, USAMU competition chief. “Most have gone through local and regional competitions to earn their slot for this match.”

The competition provides Soldiers with a platform to showcase their unit’s marksmanship skills while gaining notoriety for their command.

Buss said about 50 percent of the Soldiers participating this year are competing at the match for the very first time.

Participation in military- and civilian-sponsored small arms marksmanship competitions offers Soldiers the opportunity to refine marksmanship skills and compete against other military and civilian marksmen.

They can also earn superior marksmanship awards in addition to the Army basic marksmanship awards available through annual qualification standards.

“Participants will walk away better-trained marksmen with increased skills and understanding of marksmanship,” said Roscoe Castle, the USAMU program coordinator. “The challenging courses of fire allow them to fully explore both the capabilities of their weapons for themselves at ranges from 5 to 500 meters.”

Rifle and pistol marksmanship clinics, along with all ammunition, are provided as part of the championship.

During the Army Small Arms Championship, there is also a separate event, the Excellence in Competition (EIC) Program.

The EIC was implemented in 1884 by Gen. Phillip Henry Sheridan to recognize top marksmanship performers throughout the Army.

The program encompasses both rifle and pistol marksmanship skills and recognizes top performing Soldiers during competition. Soldiers may compete in up to five EIC competitions annually per weapon system; five matches with the rifle and five with the pistol.

The top 10 percent of highest scoring competitors in an EIC event are awarded credit points.

“Earning the distinguished shot badge lets other Soldiers know you are a subject-matter expert in weapons handling and control,” said Castle. “It also distinguishes them as being an above-average and lethal marksman.”

Fort Benning’s USAMU will host the awards ceremony for this event, providing awards to top performers during this competition.