Royal Air Force Operational Shooting Competition

Believing it to be a one day shooting competition that would give me the perfect excuse to escape work, I leapt at the opportunity. Discovering it to be 2 weeks of intensive matches firing the service rifle and pistol, I was intrigued to learn more.

After completing my pistol conversion course, I was handed the list of matches I would be competing in. There were 6 matches comprising different distances, rounds to fire and weapons to operate. The more I read and listened about the overall event from experienced participants, the more I knew this was for me.

Attending Bisley I found the RAF Small Arms Association clubhouse to be a calm and welcoming place, full of character. The first week comprised zeroing our weapons and practicing the different shooting matches. I was privileged to be mentored by twice winner of the Queens Medal for Champion Shots of the Air Forces; an award hard earned in the annual small-arms marksmanship competition. Instituted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1953 and was the Air forces version to the Champion shot of the military Forces. One medal is awarded to each service champion and currently there have only been 34 recipients in the RAF since it’s conception, 4 still serving RAF members. With the one-to-one tuition I was able to tap in to 20 plus years of operational shooting experience. Learning in a practical environment; how to zero properly, the principles of shooting to get an effective shot on target, how to account for wind and calculate where to change my points of aim to.

When the shooting matches finally kicked into gear, the prior training and practice really paid off. The pistol matches were where I found I had a real talent I never knew I had. Firing from 20m down to 5m sounds easy, till you first try and find your rounds everywhere on the target but the place you were aiming. With experienced coaches on hand to pass on their tips and wisdom

I soon felt like John Wick and was able to achieve a great score. I came 1st place in the Tyro Trophy category for Service Pistol. Tyro, meaning beginner or novice, is a trophy awarded to the best newcomers to the competition. Not to downplay the award, as all the newcomers were exceptionally good with the service weapons.

My confidence boosted by performing well with the pistol, I was more than keen to crack on with the Service rifle matches. The distances varied between 500m and 100m and you needed to run to each distance with full PPE and webbing equating to a minimum weight set at the start. Each firing point you would engage the targets as directed by the match detail. It was important to remember each match detail as once it was started there was no stopping. I found the whole austere scenarios exhilarating to complete, especially trying to remember everything whilst being exhausted. Coming 24th overall I have every intention of taking part again and earning my own Top 20 Patch next year. Maybe one day being good enough to be competitive for the Queens Medal.

When not on the ranges each day the evening was a great opportunity to relax and socialise with other competitors in the clubhouse bar, especially enjoying a BBQ or two. Overall, the RAF OSC was an eye opener to just how beneficial it is knowing how to handle and fire Service weapons effectively. The knowledge I have learnt so far will stay with me for my service career and prove valuable if ever a real-world situation were to arise.