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By Michael Molinaro USAMU PAO

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Cpl. Josh Webb, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, assists an Army advocate, commonly known as a Center of Influence, Jan. 5 at the San Antonio Gun Club. The COIs were invited guests of the Army and took part in the festivities leading up to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl.

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Shotgun team started off the New Year in Texas displaying their skills as part of the week’s long worth of activities leading up to the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Jan. 3-7.

The team hosted dozens of civilian Army advocates, commonly known as Centers of Influence, at the San Antonio Gun Club. COIs guide young people down the right path towards their future and provide them with all of the information that the Army and ROTC offer our nation’s youth.

“The COIs are some of the most influential people students, juniors and those thinking about their future look to for advice and guidance,” said Cpl. Josh Webb. “It’s important that we display the professionalism of the Soldier so these influencers can go back to their local areas and provide all of the answers to the questions those contemplating a future with the military are asking.”

First-time and experienced shotgun shooters received instruction from USAMU Soldiers, including 2008 Olympic Gold Medalists Sgt. Glenn Eller and Sgt. Vincent Hancock. Soldiers urged the importance of safety and assisted them in establishing a proper firing position before allowing the spectators the opportunity to pull the trigger and have some fun on the range.

“It was very cool,” said Pete Anders, the Chief of Police at Millersville University, Pa. “They asked me what I did for a living and knew that I have shot a lot of targets, but this was a different style of shooting. I got a rhythm going but lost it before the friendly competition they had for us. They were fantastic instructors.”

Staff Sgt. Josh Richmond, already a qualifier for the 2012 Olympic Games, and Staff Sgt. Mark Weeks performed their jaw-dropping shotgun demonstration, blasting everything from six or seven clay targets at a time to heads of lettuce, tomatoes and shaving cream out of the sky.

Amid the demo and clay pigeon shooting under the direction of Olympic Champions, Anders’ said that his long-standing appreciation for the Army grew even fonder.

“I continue to be impressed with the great young men and women of America and that is just reinforced by coming down here,” he said. “Going to see some of the wounded warriors, with their spirit and drive to continue on, is humbling.

“In talking to these guys from the USAMU, they showed us what they are teaching those headed over to combat, and it’s awesome. It’s a statement of America-we’re in good shape.”

While training the war fighter, researching and developing new weapons initiatives, and competing at the highest levels are the foundations that distinct the USAMU from other units in the military, Soldiers understand how important their reach into communities across the country is to Army accessions.

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Staff Sgt's Josh Richmond and Mark Weeks, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, perform a shotgun demonstration Jan. 5 at the San Antonio Gun Club. The USAMU hosted dozens of civilians from around the country as part of the U.S. Army All-American Bowl Week festivities. Besides the demo, Soldiers assisted civilians on the firing line, providing instruction to experienced and first-time shotgun shooters.(Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

“It’s really simple-recruiting and accessions enhance the combat readiness of our Army,” Webb said. “Who knows when we may help recruit the next great leader, Olympian, or war fighter and ensure that our future Army is as strong as it is today?”

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By Michael Molinaro USAMU PAO

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Col. (P) Walter Piatt (left), commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School, attaches the Army Superior Unit Award streamer to the colors of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Jan. 28 as Lt. Col. Dan Hodne (right), commander, USAMU, looks on. The Army awarded the ASUA to the USAMU for distinguishing itself for extraordinary accomplishments in raising the Army's overall combat readiness through outstanding devotion and superior performance in executing its wide-ranging mission.(Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Even for the “Home of Champions,” the Army’s prestigious Marksmanship Unit where achieving the highest degrees of sustained excellence is expected, 2010 proved to be a year like no other, marked by historic firsts and bests.

Volunteering to embark upon its first sustained deployment of unit personnel since Vietnam and its first effort to train indigenous Soldiers; greatly expanding its marksmanship training program; and showcasing the very best of Army Soldier skills at unprecedented levels in marksmanship competition, winning an unparalleled 27 championship titles in world, national, and interservice matches are just some of the accomplishments made by the Soldiers of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in 2010, earning the Army Superior Unit Award, a first for one of the military’s most unique units.

“This unit has made a profound and lasting impact on the readiness of the war fighter,” said Col. (P) Walter Piatt, commandant, U.S. Army Infantry School. “In earning the Superior Unit Award, it reflects the readiness and relevancy that the (USAMU) brings to the Army. The contributions of this generation of Soldiers in our Army in Iraq and Afghanistan and their success have been in large part due to this unit and how they have instilled readiness throughout our force.”

The unit distinguished itself for extraordinary accomplishments in raising the Army’s overall combat readiness through outstanding devotion and superior performance in executing its wide-ranging mission. 2010 also saw a continuation of its nearly half-century tradition of leaving its stamp on the Army’s precision long-range small arms. With its proven track record of the M21 and M24 sniper rifles, the USAMU Custom Firearms Shop enabled its rapid provision of technical and user evaluation feedback that assisted the Army in adopting a new sniper weapon system capability.

Its Squad Designated Marksman Rifle emerged as the unanimous top choice during the Maneuver Center of Excellence Rifleman Configuration Study. To add to these achievements, the unit coached, mentored, and produced the 2010 Army Soldier of the Year, who also served as the Army’s first-ever female Soldier to earn this prestigious title.

“This unit’s efforts to obtain the highest degrees of precision and accuracy in world-class marksmanship competition directly translate to our efforts in raising Army marksmanship proficiency and supporting broader Army small-arms research and development initiatives,” noted Lt. Col. Dan Hodne, USAMU Commander. “When it comes to all aspects of marksmanship, our Army needs and expects us to be the absolute best in the world.” The unit continues to aspire to new heights and expectations. In 2011, the USAMU hosted the first International Paralympic Committee World Cup to ever take place in the entire Western Hemisphere that brought hundreds of Paralympic athletes from around the world to Fort Benning to showcase courage, determination, inspiration and equality in shooting sports.

Earlier in the year, the unit hosted its second consecutive World Cup in two years which stood as the largest international shooting sports event to ever take place on the continent as dozens of shooters earned coveted quota slots to the 2012 Olympic Games. By dramatically expanding its marksmanship training outreach, the unit established itself as a primary source and main proponent for marksmanship training in the Army.

In 2012, the unit looks to take it a step even farther. In Afghanistan, the unit is prepared to assist in the creation of the Afghan National Army Marksmanship Instructor Branch. A handful of Soldiers will represent the unit, the Army and their country at the Summer Olympic Games in London followed by the very first active-duty Soldier to ever compete in the Paralympic Games.

In March, the unit will host the annual U.S. Army Small Arms Championship, the premier marksmanship training event in the military, and the inaugural Army Strong Collegiate Shooting Championships. The USAMU intends to make this innovative event the largest multi-discipline, shoulder-to-shoulder collegiate and junior shooting sports championship event to ever take place in the United States as it brings four prestigious competitive shooting sports championship venues to the USAMU’s world-class facilities simultaneously.

In addition to the increasing number of Soldiers it will train in 2012 the USAMU is preparing to welcome 24 new members to the family with the creation of the Wounded Warrior marksmanship instructor group and Paralympic section upon approval by Army headquarters as part of the “Total Army Analysis.” This novel approach to giving the Army’s wounded combat veterans a chance to continue to serve will enhance the combat readiness of the Army, highlight the notion of ability rather than disability, and serve as an inspiration for those who relish the chance to continue service to their country as a Soldier.

“I am grateful to the Army for bestowing the Army Superior Unit Award on this extraordinary unit made up of remarkable people,” concluded Hodne, “I am even more grateful for the opportunity to serve with such an incredible team of Soldiers, Civilians, and Family members who enable this unit to accomplish its wide-ranging mission in a manner and with a strength like no other.”

About USAMU:
The USAMU enhances the Army’s recruiting effort, raises the standard of the Army’s marksmanship proficiency, and supports the Army’s small arms research and development initiatives in order to raise the Army’s overall combat readiness. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Michael.Molinaro@usaac.army.mil or www.USAMU.com.

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