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British Army Reserve Operational Shooting Team – Ex FORTUNA 2022
Scribe: SSgt K Catt (103 FS Bn REME)
Team members during the night shooting combat barricade
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The 31st annual Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting (AFSAM) rifle and pistol competition, was hosted by the US National Guard at their Marksmanship Training Centre at Camp Joseph T Robinson from 24 Mar to 2 Apr 22. This AFSAM was attended by the British Army Reserve Operational Shooting Team (BAROST), seeing the team competing against the top shooters from the U.S. National Guard All Guard Team, U.S. Army Reserve, and the Netherlands Armed Forces.
The BAROST is selected from the highest placed individuals in the Army Reserve 50 during Army Reserve Operational Shooting Competition (AROSC). The current team was selected way back in Jul 19 and were due to compete in AFSAM 20. This suffered several postponements and cancellations due to COVID. After several intensive weekends training, 13 personnel finally made the trip to the USA.
The BAROST team had a considerable REME presence with no less
than 5 members from 12 making the cut from the REME Reserve; Major Lance Rosie (Team Captain), WO1 RSM Jim Douglas, SSgt Kev Catt, Sgt Jimmy Deville and Cpl James Hamilton with 4 of these being members of 103 (FS) Bn REME. The intent of AFSAM is to promote friendly competition, facilitate the exchange of ideas, and hone the individual marksmanship of all those involved. New skills and ideas can then be utilised to improve marksmanship at parent units. The team arrived at Camp Robinson late on Saturday evening and settled into the accommodation, ready to book in and conduct their admin necessary for the competition. Training commenced early Monday and for the next few days it consisted of zeroing and selected shoots from the competition. The competition was made up of 20 events with a mix of rifle, pistol, combined arms, and night matches as individuals and in teams. The competition started on Thursday with two ‘unknown shoots’, which were set up in a 3gun style, fast moving and shoot timed scenarios engaging both metal and paper targets with rifle and pistol at varying ranges from 5 to 175 yards. Penalties were added for infringements or missing targets. The first shoot started with competitors shooting from the driver’s seat of a Humvee. All the REME members fared considerably well, finishing in the top 22. Sgt Deville was top REME securing 5th place and SSgt Catt placing 9th. The second pistol shoot saw a couple of members smashed with penalties for various infringements including “Continuous engagement of Hostages!!” mentioning no names (Cpl Hamilton). Considerable time had been invested in the UK during training weekends on the new night shoots, getting used to operating the BAROST RED team firing in the Barricade Assessment Match various night vision equipment. This
seemed to pay off, as both CQB type shoots ended with the REME shooters well into the top ten with RSM Douglas winning this match.
Friday started with the Hoplite Run - an 800m advance to contact in 5 minutes with target engagements from 400>100Yds. This event proved very challenging as the wind conditions were very changeable; although the team fared very well including a 1st place for a BAROST member.
The Annual Weapons Qualification shoot (read ACMT) for our American counterparts is excellent. It is completed in about ten minutes on an ETR type range – 40 rounds, 4 positions. Target ranges from 50 to 300yds in a very wide lane. An excellent shoot which we all enjoyed; mainly because team members only dropped one or two shots to earn our ‘Weapon Specialists’ certificates.
The long-range night shoot was then encountered with enthusiasm. The match is fired from 300, 200 and 100 yds in varying positions using the Common Weapons Sight (CWS), Head Mounted Night Vision System (HMNVS) and Light Laser Marker (LLM) as required during the shoot. The team smashed this event with 6 of them in the top ten. Major Rosie took top shot with SSgt Catt coming 2nd.
Saturday was a preparation day for range staff, so the team went on a cultural visit that included a Gun Show’ at a local exhibition centre. This resembled a large car boot sale, but with weapons (all of them!!)
The next 5 days consisted of at least 3 or 4 shoots a day and started with the team collecting weapons at 0500 hrs. The ability of the Americans to shoot pistols proficiently is incredible; which meant firers struggled to get close to the top ten. The team achieved some notable victories; including the BAROST RED Team winning the National Guard Infantry Match by a clear 29 points. RSM Douglas won the Reflexive Fire CQB match and a 3rd in the Rifle EIC. Maj Rosie took 1st place individual in the Infantry Team and the prestigious International Matches. BAROST RED also achieved a 3rd place in the Combined Arms Barricade Match; which has all 4 team members firing from a barricade at the same time. There were many other victories but too many to mention.
An international competition social evening was held, sampling some of the local cuisine. Most of us tried the Crawfish. Imagine a 4-inch mini lobster, the consensus was that they were a lot of work to strip down, for the measly result of a shrimp sized morsel. The very spicy Corn on the Cob, however, was responsible for several sets of lips on fire!!
A Cultural visit to the State Capital Building had us touring around the corridors and courtrooms, where the likes of Bill Clinton once resided in. Some team members had the opportunity to hold half a million dollars in the treasury vault.
Overall, the BAROST Team had a very successful and rewarding visit to the United States where the competition generated the exchange of ideas and improve operational marksmanship ability.
103 (FS) Bn REME team members receiving their trophies
Sgt Jimmy Deville competing during the first unknown shoot
