USAMU - Part 4

USAMU Soldiers Excel at Pan Am Games

Monday, October 24th, 2011 at 9:39 AM

USAMU Soldiers Excel at Pan Am Games
By Michael Molinaro USAMU PAO

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Soldiers from the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit showed the world a glimpse into what next year’s Olympic Games could be like with a dominating performance at the Pan American Games in Guadalajara, Mexico Oct. 16-22.

U.S. shooters earned ten gold and 18 overall medals during the competition. USAMU Soldiers accounted for five gold and six overall medals, and broke or tied three Pan Am Games records. Showcasing the very best of Soldier skills, every Soldier from the unit who competed in the games brought home a gold medal.

Leading the way was Sgt. 1st Class Jason Parker. The only Soldier to compete in two events, Parker won medals in both. He earned gold in the three position rifle match, which brought with it the second and final Olympic country quota slot for the U.S. team in that event.

He shot a 1155-49x and 94.1 final in blustery conditions to win the match.

“Out on the range it was a fairly disappointing day in terms of scores, but at the end of the day, it was nice to come home with a gold medal and a quota for our country,” said Parker.

Parker won bronze in Men’s Prone Rifle, losing out to fellow USAMU Soldier Staff Sgt. Michael McPhail. McPhail shot a 591-35x in the qualification round and closed it out with a 102.2 final to win gold. Parker shot a 588-35x in the qualification and fired the high final, shooting a 102.8.

In Men’s Air Rifle, Cpl. Matthew Rawlings won the gold medal and set a new Pan American Games record. Rawlings, the current U.S. National Champion, shot a 595 qualification round, setting a new record for that round and fired a final of 101.7 to set the new record of 696.7, besting the former high score of 695.8, set by Parker in 2007.

“I’ve been training hard and working towards this all season long,” Rawlings said.

Not to be outdone by their fellow rifle shooters, two USAMU shotgun shooters came to the games and left with two gold medals, something they are used to doing in international events.

Sgt. Glenn Eller was the first to shoot, competing in Men’s Double Trap, the same event in which he won gold at the 2008 Olympics. Eller shot a qualification round of 147, a new Pan Am Games record, and a final of 48 to set a new record in the event with a overall tally of 195, blitzing the field.

Eller completed his “International Slam,” winning his fifth major international gold medal. Besides his Olympic Gold medal, Eller has also won a World Cup, World Cup Final, and World Championship over his distinguished career.

Closing out the games was the gold medal-winning performance of Sgt. Vincent Hancock. The 2008 Olympic Champion in Men’s Skeet, Hancock shot a 122 to head into the final round tied for first. With the pressure on, Hancock shot a perfect 25 to win the gold and tie the Pan Am Games record in the process.

“It was a great feeling to get back onto the podium,” said Hancock. “It was a good stepping stone as I prepare for the second part of our U.S. Olympic Trials and gives me the confidence that I will need on my personal journey to London.”

All of the Soldiers who competed in the games will be in the hunt for Olympic team berths in the coming months. The first leg of the Shotgun Trials is complete and next up is the first Air Rifle and Pistol Trials, slated to be held the first weekend in December.

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.

Tags: Competitive Shooting News, United States Army Marksmanship Unit, USAMU, Winners

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Spirit of Fort Benning Alive & Well

Thursday, October 13th, 2011 at 8:56 AM

Spirit of Fort Benning Alive & Well
By Michael Molinaro USAMU PAO

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- Olivia Jackson, a student from Harris County High School, assists a shooter while he gets in position prior to a match Oct. 5 at Pool Indoor Range. volunteers from Harris County High School, Gameday for Heroes, American Red Cross, Soldiers and others all pitched in to make the first-ever International Paralympic Committee Shooting World Cup on U.S. soil a huge success. (Photo by Michael Molinaro, USAMU PAO)

United States Army Marksmanship Unit

FORT BENNING, Ga. --(Ammoland.com)- Hosting a successful world-class event requires the strength of an entire community, and the joint-effort between Fort Benning and the Chattahoochee Valley left a lasting impression on hundreds of people from around the world.

The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit hosted the first-ever International Paralympic Committee Shooting World Cup held in the Western Hemisphere Oct. 4-9 here and while several deserving athletes left with medals around their neck, the teamwork between the military and civilian community was a true victory in itself.
“This event was a great opportunity to show the visitors from around the world what right looks like – what a winning combination of partnership between a military installation and the community looks like,” said Maj. Gen. Robert Brown, commander, Maneuver Center of Excellence.
“The Chattahoochee Valley has a heart for the military, more so than any other place I have been and I am not just saying that. It’s evident by the outstanding community support we have from so many organizations. The relationships are mutual too, as our Soldiers get great enjoyment in rolling up their sleeves and volunteering in the community through programs like Partners in Education and supporting local organizations through the Combined Federal Campaign. It is a win-win for the military and our community outside the gate.”

A number of organizations reached out to the USAMU, lending their services for the week. Students from Harris County High School received permission to volunteer their time while navigating around their test week. Gameday for Heroes and Soldiers from 1st Battalion, 29th Infantry Regiment teamed together all week and The American Red Cross had volunteers on the grounds throughout the event.

“We feel that helping our military is a priority,” said Michelle Walton, Fort Benning manager for the Red Cross. “Helping out with events such as this are our ‘feel good’ moments.”

Volunteers served food to the athletes, assisted them in traveling from their hotels to the range, helped those in wheelchairs get around the range, and even helped them during their matches by handling their guns while they adjusted their shooting positions or providing a quick rubdown in between rounds.

“By volunteering at this event my daughters, 10 and 14, have been able to do things that many people have not,” said Jana Tarleton, director of Gameday for Heroes. “Not only have they been able to meet others from around the world, they have been able to meet individuals that have a disability do the same things that able bodied individuals can do and more.
“I have met friends that I know will be friends for life. I don’t think people understand everything that goes on at Fort Benning-it’s not just a military base with Soldiers, helicopters, tanks and guns-it is our community with events that have visitors from all over the world and experiences that no other community has to offer.”
By hosting two World Cups alone in 2011, more than a thousand people from the international community have stayed in local hotels, ate their meals at local restaurants, and purchased items from merchants to take back to their countries, pumping dollars into the local economy, Tarleton said. It leaves a positive impact on everyone.
“Having world-class events like the IPC Paralympic World Cup is one of many examples of the high-caliber of activities that happen at Fort Benning, in addition to the world-class training and leader development we do 365 days a year,” said Brown. “There is so much happening at Fort Benning that it is hard to not be a little excited and inspired by the spirit of enthusiasm you see. Having all of these people from around the world come to Fort Benning is a great way to showcase this installation and the impact it makes on the Army and the world.”