All-Army Small Arms Championships Set For February 21-28
FORT BENNING, GEORGIA – The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit will host the 2009 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships in conjunction with the U.S. Army Infantry Center Feb. 21 to 28.
The Army Rifle and Pistol Championships 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. There is $6,000 available through scholarships for eligible cadets.
All 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.”
Competitors will fire both the M-16 and M-9 in helmet and body armor from 25 to 500 yards with the M-16 and seven to 25 yards with the M-9. Teams from battalion-level compete for unit recognition and awards. All Soldiers will receive advanced marksmanship instruction and training materials to conduct Train-the-Trainer clinics on return to home station.
The U.S. Army Long-Range Championships will provide M-24 long-range shooting training from 600 to 1,000 yards. 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.
To register, contact Clarence Fedrick at (706) 545-5279 or Clarence.Fedrick@usaac.army.mil. A copy of the program/schedule will be available on the USAMU website at www.USAMU.com .
Media Contact: Paula Randall (706) 545-5436, Paula.Randall@usaac.army.mil
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