INDIANAPOLIS— Indiana National Guardsmen and Slovak soldiers turned an enduring partnership into results on the range, earning top honors during a weeklong national marksmanship competition that tested rifle, pistol, machine gun and combined arms skills.
The combined Hoosier and Slovak team competed in the Winston P. Wilson Championship at Camp Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
"By integrating our forces in this battle-focused marksmanship competition, we continue to enhance our shared readiness, build combined lethality and strengthen the enduring professional relationship between our militaries," said Master Sgt. Thuc Tran, the operations sergeant for the Indiana State Partnership Program.
"Marking a historic first for our Slovakian partners, their participation alongside Indiana National Guardsmen at the Winston P. Wilson Championship exemplifies the strength of a State Partnership that has thrived since 1993," Tran said.
Slovak Sgt. Ondrej Macak placed first among novice firers in the special zero rifle match and ninth overall among more than 200 competitors. Macak also placed ninth in the novice division of the pistol barricade match.
Indiana’s Alpha Team placed first out of 53 teams in the Know Your Limits Barricade Rifle Match. In the match, all four team members must run an unknown distance and strategically plan how to engage four targets from an unknown distance behind a wobbly, unsecured barricade.
Indiana’s team comprised two four-person teams: Alpha and Bravo. In addition to Alpha Team’s win, individual honors included Capt. Jacob Teuschler earned the Chief’s 50 Badge, awarded to the top 20 participants, and 1st Lt. Joshua Price earned a silver marksmanship badge in the Excellence in Competition Rifle Match.
"Team Indiana had the honor of including two Slovakian soldiers on our Bravo Team. They proved to be very eager to succeed and great additions to the team,” said Teuschler, the Indiana Marksmanship Team captain. "They fit the mold of what I would expect from competitive marksmen. It was a privilege to compete with them, and against them, on the national stage. I hope we are able to partner with them in future matches."
In the end, Hoosier and Slovak soldiers left the range not only with accolades but also a stronger, more capable partnership that will strengthen lethality and prepare them for successful missions together.
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