SHOOT BETTER

The Other Guys pose with the Remington Centennial Trophy after winning the adjutant general’s annual combat marksmanship “TAG match” held July 8 - 11 at Fort Devens, Mass. The squad bested 14 NHNG teams of soldiers and airmen in various pistol, rifle and shotgun events. From left is Capt. Patrick Randall of the 941st Military Police Battalion; and Staff Sgt. Nathan Huntley, Sgt. Cameron Douglas and Sgt. Matthew Proulx of the 237th Military Police Company. Randall also finished as the match’s top overall shooter.

Story and photos by Tech. Sgt. Charles Johnston, NHNG Deputy State PAO

The New Hampshire National Guard held its annual combat marksmanship match July 8 – 11 at Fort Devens, Mass.

Soldiers and airmen competed in various team and individual small-arms events, undaunted by torrential rain that belted the region as Tropical Storm Elsa passed through.

“This is what it’s about,” said NH Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities, one of 75 shooters. “It’s a warrior ethos.”

Informally known as the adjutant general’s match, it promotes marksmanship proficiency and provides guardsmen the opportunity to test weapons skills in a battle-focused environment. They fired standard-issue M16 rifles or M4 carbines at ranges up to 500 yards. Matches also featured Berretta M9 or SIG M17 pistols at distances up to 30 yards.

Combat gear, including Kevlar helmets and load-bearing vests, were required kit. Courses of fire varied. Some required running, different shooting positions and quick reloads to engage targets for score.

“The biggest part of this match is for soldiers to build confidence in themselves and their equipment and their ability to engage targets at various distances under stressful conditions,” said Maj. Brooks Hayward, match director.

Organizers added a surprise mystery event, which entailed a unique array of weaponry. Competitors peppered targets with Vietnam Era M14s, toppled bowling pins with M26 shotguns and hurled axes at wooden bullseyes.

Fourteen teams from units across the state, including Soup, No Friends, Orangutags and the Dust Bunnies blazed through thousands of rounds while vying for top-squad honors.

Once barrels cooled, The Other Guys proved victorious and that just like in the Mark Wahlberg comedy film, peacocks can

indeed fly. The all-military police team included Capt. Patrick Randall of the 941st MP Battalion, and Staff Sgt. Nathan Huntley, Sgt. Cameron Douglas and Sgt. Matthew Proulx of the 237th MP Company.

Individual honors went to Randall, who finished as overall champion (open category), and Sgt. Austin Rosende of 3rd Battalion, 197th Field Artillery Regiment, who finished as top novice.

The state’s newest top gun says there’s nothing quite like going head-to-head against the best.

“When you’re training on the range, it’s a great way to diagnose deficiencies and find improvements that you need to make,” Randall said. “But competition is the best way to increase your skillset compared to other shooters, so it’s by competing you’ll become a better shooter.”

Randall suggested that future competitors try visualization in addition to practicing sound fundamentals.

“Learn those courses of fire and study them so you don’t have to focus on listening to the instructions when you’re on the range,” Randall said. “Shoot the course of fire in your head 70 times before you actually shoot it, just like an athlete does.”

A lot of work behind the scenes made this year’s match a success. Hayward, Sgt. 1st Class David Musso, Staff Sgt. Wayne Comtois and Staff Sgt. Joseph Wyner headed a crew of about 30 soldiers who worked long hours organizing events, setting up targets, issuing ammunition, tabulating scores and ensuring range safety.

“I hope everyone had a good time,” said Wyner, deputy match director. “We put a lot of time into this to give shooters a new look at marksmanship events.”

New Hampshire Guardsmen interested in competing are strongly encouraged to attend next year.

“It doesn’t matter what your experience level is,” Hayward said, “It doesn’t matter how confident you are. Just come out here and try it. You will have a great time.”

NH Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities congratulates Capt. Patrick Randall of the 941st Military Police Battalion after his first-place finish in the NHNG’s annual combat marksmanship “TAG match” held July 8 - 11 at Fort Devens, Mass. Randall won several events, including the prestigious Excellence in Competition (EIC) rifle and pistol matches.

Staff Sgt. Dean Van Tassel of A Battery, 3-197th Field Artillery Brigade, fires an M17 pistol during the NHNG annual combat marksmanship competition July 8 at Fort Devens, Mass. Van Tassel finished fourth of 75 competitors, earning the coveted Governor's Twenty tab for the top 20 percent of shooters. His squad of four guardsmen, "Full Send," finished 6th of 14 teams.

NH Adjutant Gen. David Mikolaities hurls a hatchet downrange during the NHNG's annual combat marksmanship competition July 10 at Fort Devens, Mass. The four-day match featured 14 teams and 75 individual marksmen competing in various pistol, rifle, shotgun and even hatchet-throwing events.