Photo By Staff Sgt. Apolonia Gaspar | Soldiers with 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) and 4th Infantry Division fires an M17 pistol...... read more read more
FORT CARSON, Colorado – Noncommissioned officers and junior enlisted Soldiers within 4th Infantry Division and 71st Ordnance Group compete for the Bronze Excellence-In-Competition (EIC) Pistol badge at Fort Carson, Colorado, September 29th, 2021.
The competition was part of the Army-wide EIC Program that began back in 1884 to help cultivate the Army’s lethality and tactical proficiency. With multiple awards, this competition is a stepping stone for competitors to go on to gain the Army’s silver and distinguished badges, which require competitors to attend multiple competitions and continue placing highly as they potentially move up the ranks as skilled marksmen.
The EIC was held to give local service members the opportunity to compete individually for points towards an EIC badge, which may be permanently worn on service dress uniforms. The Army EIC program allows soldiers to shoot pistol, rifle, or both, and those that place in the top 10 percent of qualified participants earn points toward an EIC badge in the respective disciplines. Soldiers, upon earning their first points, are authorized to wear the bronze EIC badge; at 20 points, the silver EIC badge, and once 30 points are reached, are awarded the Army’s Distinguished Rifleman or Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge.
Competitors received a briefing on the M17 pistol, along with a safety briefing, before going out on the range. Shooters fired 40 rounds at distances of up to 30 yards.
“It was great watching the competitors improve during practice to the actual competition,” said Sgt. 1st Class Patrick Kelly, director of the competition. “You have Soldiers competing who have never touched a pistol before and seeing them progress was very impressive.”
Out of approximately 50 competitors, the following members were among the top 10%
1. Cpt. Scott Medeiros: 749th Ordnance Company
2. Sgt. Phillip Lockwood: 764th Ordnance Company
3. Staff Sgt. Tristen Wallner: 764th Ordnance Company
4. Spc. Daevin Dilbeck: 749th Ordnance Company
5. Sgt. Aidan Fullerton: 749th Ordnance Company
“This is a great way to improve our shooting and taking this badge back to my unit, I hope that it makes other Soldiers want to compete in this competition,” said Cpt. Scott Medeiros, who placed first overall. “It was a great time and I look forward to competing in the future and hopefully improving my score.”
764th Ordnance Company, 71st Ordnance Group (EOD) plans to host an EIC rifle competition in the future.
| Date Taken: | 09.29.2021 |
| Date Posted: | 10.14.2021 15:25 |
| Story ID: | 407256 |
| Location: | COLORADO, US |
| Web Views: | 404 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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