Courtesy Photo | U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Service Pistol Team member Sgt. 1st Class Adam...... read more read more
By Arthur Rozier, match organizer, and Michelle Lunato, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit public affairs chief
Dawsonville, Ga. – The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit’s Service Pistol Team dominated the Lt. Joseph Helton Foundation Regional Outdoor Pistol Tournament at the River Bend Club in Dawsonville, Georgia April 6-8, while also extending the hand of friendship.
The tournament, one of the largest in the state, challenged more than 60 competitors in a variety of pistol disciplines: international precision pistol style, National Rifle Association style, and Civilian Marksmanship Program style matches. The various disciplines allowed the Soldiers to meet a variety of civilian competitors, some who had never met a U.S. Army Soldier.
The three-day, all-around experience kicked off with the international events. James Hall of Anniston, Alabama won the Free Pistol Match with a 537-7x while Jason Gregoire of Columbia, Tennessee fired a 557-0x to win the Standard Pistol Match. Outside of the excitement of shooting, pistol marksmen had the rare opportunity to meet Hershel Anderson of Tennessee. Anderson, who is hailed as one of the best pistol shooters in the United States, won three Pan Am Gold Medals, earned several U.S. Free Pistol Championship titles, represented the United States in two Olympic Games and set the current all-time record for NRA Precision Pistol Grand Aggregate. The Soldier and civilian marksmen all said it was like meeting a legend.
After the international events, came the NRA Regional 2700 Match where Soldiers from the USAMU claimed the top four rankings. Sgt. 1st Class Adam Sokolowski, who hails from Somerville, New Jersey, fired off a personal best of 2662-135x to take first place. Sgt. 1st Class Lawrence Cleveland, from Tacoma, Washington, also fired his personal best of 2660-141x to place second. Staff Sgt. Greg Markowski, a native of Poland, claimed the third with a 2650-149x. Spc. Christopher Hudock from Raleigh, North Carolina placed fourth with a 2642-150x. (A score of 2700-270x is the highest possible score in this match.)
Markowski wasn’t finished shooting when he placed third in the Regional 2700 Match, though. He went on to earn three more titles over the weekend. In the CMP Service Pistol Excellence in Competition Match, Markowski seized first with a 292-10x with two USAMU teammates following close behind: Hudock with a 290-11x and Sokolowski with a 283-11x. In the NRA Distinguished Revolver Championship, Markowski took his next first place title with a 285-8x. And in the CMP .22 Excellence in Competition Match, Markowski was at the top again with a 291-9xx. (A score of 300-30x is the highest possible score in each of these matches.)
With these top scores, the USAMU Soldiers are looking forward to the upcoming NRA Bianchi Cup in Columbia, Missouri. There, Soldiers compete for national titles while networking with more than 200 competitive shooters from across the United States. Moreover, in recent years, the well-known competition has drawn high-profile competitors from as far as Australia and Japan.
* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *
The U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) wins national and international shooting competitions, supports Army marketing engagements, and advances small arms lethality to demonstrate Army marksmanship capability, connect America to its Army and enhance marksmanship effectiveness in combat. USAMU is part of the U.S. Army Marketing Engagement Brigade and Army Marketing and Research Group.
| Date Taken: | 05.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 05.01.2018 10:25 |
| Story ID: | 275186 |
| Location: | DAWSONVILE, GEORGIA, US |
| Hometown: | RALEIGH, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Hometown: | SOMERVILLE, NEW JERSEY, US |
| Hometown: | TACOMA, WASHINGTON, US |
| Web Views: | 378 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, U.S. Army Soldiers win titles, make new friends in Georgia, by LTC Michelle Lunato, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
