Open to all Soldiers -- Register by Feb 16
All-Army Small Arms Championships set for Mar 6-18
By Paula J. Randall
U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, Accessions Support Brigade
FORT BENNING, Ga. - The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit will host the 2007 Army Rifle and Pistol Championships in conjunction with the U.S. Army Infantry Center from March 6 to 15 and the U.S. Army Long-Range Championships March 16 to 18.
Training and competitions are open to all Soldiers of all Army components, of any rank, with of any military occupational specialty, including West Point and college ROTC cadets. Approximately 200 Soldiers are expected to compete.
Soldiers will fire both the M-16 rifle and M-9 pistol in helmet and load-bearing equipment from 25 to 500 yards with the M-16 and 7 to 25 yards with the M-9. Teams from battalion-level compete for unit recognition and team awards.
All Soldiers will receive advance marksmanship instruction and training materials to conduct Train-the-Trainer clinics on return to their home station. The U.S. Army Long-Range Championships will provide M-24 long-range shooting training from 600 to 1,000 yards.
Soldiers will compete in separate Novice, Open and Pro divisions based on their competition experience. The USAMU has a limited number of weapons available for Soldiers and cadets who do not have assigned weapons.
"The All-Army is an advanced combat marksmanship training event and competition," said USAMU Chief of Competition Michael J. Behnke. "The All-Army Matches are designed to raise the shooting proficiency of Soldiers and units across the Army by teaching advanced combat marksmanship techniques using issue rifles and pistols."
At the matches, coaches and noncommissioned officers in charge of the U.S. Army Rifle and Pistol Teams, Army Reserve, and All-Guard Teams will scout, identify and invite selected Soldiers to compete at the Interservice Championships and the National Matches.
The All-Army Matches consist of Small Arms Firing Schools, the Secretary of the Army Matches, Chief of Staff of the Army Matches, Sergeant Major of the Army Team Matches, Excellence-in-Competition Matches and special combat matches.
Champions will be awarded All-Army Trophies and Excellence-in-Competition Marksmanship Badges, which are permanent-wear Army awards as described in Army Regulation 600-22 and are above the standard marksman, sharpshooter and expert qualification badges. Among the awards are the Secretary of the Army Trophy M-1 Garand Rifle, Drill Sergeant Champion Award and scholarships for eligible cadets.
The schedule of events is as follows:
March 6:
Aca,!Ac 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - Squaded practice at Easley/McAndrews Ranges
March 7:
Aca,!Ac 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. - In-processing at Phillips Range
Aca,!Ac 5 to 6 p.m. - Team Captains and Competitors meeting at Phillips Range
March 8:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 to 8 a.m. - Opening Ceremony at Easley Range
Aca,!Ac 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. - Class portion of Rifle Train the Trainer at Infantry Hall
Aca,!Ac 1 p.m. - Rifle positions training with dry firing, 300 yard zero 20 shots at Easley/McAndrews Range
March 9:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Secretary of the Army Rifle Match (Match #308) at McAndrews Range
Aca,!Ac 2:30 p.m. - Commanding General U.S. Army Infantry Center Infantry Trophy Team practice at McAndrews Range
March 10:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Chief of Staff of the Army Rifle Match (Match #309) at McAndrews Range
Aca,!Ac 2:30 p.m. - Audie Murphy Combat Match (Match # 311) at McAndrews Range
March 11:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Sergeant Major of the Army Rifle Team Match (Match #315) at McAndrews Range
Aca,!Ac 2:30 p.m. - CG, USAIC Infantry Trophy Individual Match (Match #310) at McAndrews Range
March 12:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. - Rifle Excellence in Competition Match (Match #322) at McAndrews Range
Aca,!Ac 2:30 p.m. - CG, USAIC Infantry Trophy Team Match (Match #318) at McAndrews Range
March 13:
Aca,!Ac 7 to 8:30 a.m. - Class portion of Pistol Train the Trainer at Infantry Hall
Aca,!Ac 8:30 a.m. to noon - Live-fire portion of Pistol Train the Trainer at Parks Range
Aca,!Ac Noon to 4 p.m. - Secretary of the Army Pistol Match (Match #208) at Parks Range
Aca,!Ac 4 p.m. - General George Patton Combat Pistol Team Match (Match #240) practice at Parks Range
March 14:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 to 11 a.m. - Chief of Staff of the Army Pistol Match (Match #209) at Parks Range
Aca,!Ac 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. - General George Patton Combat Pistol Team Match (Match #240) at Parks Range
Aca,!Ac 1:30 p.m. - Pistol Excellence in Competition Match (Match #221) at Parks Range
March 15:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. - Rifle Long Range match registration at Phillips Range
Aca,!Ac 7:30 to 10:30 a.m. - Sergeant Major of the Army Combat Team Match (Match #215) at Parks Range
Aca,!Ac 10:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Assault Team Pistol Match (Match #219) at Parks Range
Aca,!Ac 5 p.m. - All-Army Small Arms Championships Awards Ceremony at Phillips Range.
March 16:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. - Rifle Long Range 600-yard training and Long Range Rifle 600-Yard Match (Match #501) at Maertens Range
March 17:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. - Rifle Long Range 800-yard training and Long Range Rifle 800-Yard Match (Match #502) at Maertens Range
March 18:
Aca,!Ac 7:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. - Rifle Long Range 1,000-yard training and Long Range Rifle 1,000-Yard Match (Match #503) at Maertens Range
Aca,!Ac 5 to 6 p.m. - Rifle Long Range Awards Ceremony at Phillips Range.
Team representatives should fax the registration form for each team member to Clarence Fedrick at (706) 545-6252 or e-mail Clarence.Fedrick@usaac.army.mil by Feb. 16. A copy of the program/schedule is available on the USAMU website at www.USAMU.com.
Media are invited to cover the matches and ceremony but should coordinate with the Fort Benning Public Affairs Office before coming to post. For more information on the matches, call the USAMU Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436 or e-mail Paula.Randall@usaac.army.mil.
(Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. The Marksmanship Unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Paula.Randall@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com.)
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