Photo By Angela Fry | Louisiana Army National Guardsman Sgt. Mark Hutcheson of Bossier City, La., competes...... read more read more
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MONROE, La. — Louisiana National Guardsmen from across the state gunned down the competition in the annual The Adjutant General Marksmanship Matches the weekend of May 30, at Camp Beauregard in Pineville, La.
More than 65 members from the Army and Air National Guard gathered to compete in seven total matches, including three team matches and four individual matches, to promote marksmanship training and to gauge the LANG's overall marksmanship proficiency.
"This event provides a great opportunity for our troops to compete and improve their marksmanship skills," said Maj. Steve Nelson, a state training officer with Joint Forces Headquarters. "It also provides a great opportunity for these shooters to pass on that knowledge throughout the state."
The 2009 competition enlisted rivalry from 68 trained marksmen, to include the largest contingency of Airmen in the event's history, added the Leesville, La., resident.
"Two-thirds of the competitors this year were new shooters," Nelson explained. "Half of last year's 12-member team will be deploying next year to support the 256th Infantry Brigade Combat Team.
"These Soldiers will train the new team members. This allows the experienced shooters to provide that much-needed leadership to the new team members."
According to Master Sgt. Tommy McGee, the LANG Marksmanship Team coordinator, the continued popularity of the event will ensure its future success.
Five Air Guardsmen were named to the Governor's Twenty, the largest to ever receive the honor in a single year.
Command Sgt. Maj. Tommy Caillier, the state senior enlisted advisor, expressed sentiments on behalf of himself and Maj. Gen. Bennett C. Landreneau, the adjutant general of the LANG, at the close of the competition.
"Participation in this year's competition was great," Caillier said. "It's awesome to see this number of young Soldiers and Airmen competing."
Caillier continued by explaining the involvement of female shooters in the competition is a testament to today's military.
Master Sgt. Nicole Volpi with the 159th Fighter Wing can be proud to lay claim as the first female shooter to represent the Air Guard at the annual competition. Sgt. Kim Morgan with the 527th Engineer Battalion is one of few female Soldiers to have completed on behalf of the Army throughout the years.
"Gender is no longer relative, as women are fighting side-by-side men in Iraq and Afghanistan," Caillier said. "It is also great to see all of the families here involved with their support."
The results of the matches will be used to recognize the Governor's Twenty, which is the top 20 shooters in the state. The top shooters from across the state are invited to join the LANG Marksmanship Team, which will represent the state at the Winston P. Wilson Combat Matches at Camp Robinson, Ark., in October.
The Wilson Matches is a national competition that consists of National Guard Soldiers who represent all 50 states and four territories.
The overall winner of this year's individual competition was Staff Sgt. Joseph Noe with the 199th Brigade Support Battalion in Alexandria, La. Noe, a distinguished rifleman and member of the national All Guard Team, recently transferred to the LANG from Iowa to deploy with the 256th.
The overall team competition was won by Team A, 256th. he team, which also won the Patton Pistol Match, included: Staff Sgt. Joseph Noe of Alexandria, La.; Sgt. Steven Moore of Bastrop, La.; Staff Sgt. Nathan Lacombe of Pineville, La.; and Lt. Col. Marc Kelly of Deville, La.
Moore finished second respectively in the overall individual competition and took first-place honors in the Excellence in Competition match and the Close Quarter Combat match. Lacombe received a second-place finish in the overall individual pistol competition. All four members were named to the Governor's Twenty.
The team rifle competition was won by Team C, 256th. This team consisted of Soldiers from C Troop, 2-108th Cavalry Squadron in Coushatta, La., and included: Sgt. 1st Class Mack McCoy of Bossier City, La.; Sgt. Mark Hutcheson of Bossier City, La.; Sgt. Adam Ray of Shreveport, La.; and Spc. Quentin Koury of Bossier City, La.
Hutcheson finished in third place in the overall competition and third place in the overall rifle and pistol competitions. McCoy finished in second place in the Run Down competition. McCoy, Hutcheson and Ray were named to the Governor's Twenty.
| Date Taken: | 06.04.2009 |
| Date Posted: | 06.17.2009 10:19 |
| Story ID: | 35230 |
| Location: | MONROE, US |
| Web Views: | 436 |
| Downloads: | 240 |
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