Missouri National Guard Pistol Team takes first place at the 2007 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship

Tuesday, April 3, 2007
Missouri National Guard's Pistol Team members (from left) Staff Sgt. Chad Francis, Staff Sgt. Gary Wallace, Staff Sgt. Damon Rufener, Lt. Col. Thomas Huber, Sgt. 1st Class Wesley Buehler and Staff Sgt. John Robertson III.

By Regina Turner

Unit Public Affairs Representative Missouri Army National Guard

FORT BENNING, Ga. -- The Missouri National Guard's Pistol Team took first place in the General George Patton Combat Pistol Team Match and the U.S. Army Service Pistol Team Championship during the 2007 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship. The event was sponsored by the U.S. Army Infantry Center at Fort Benning, Ga., and conducted by the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in early March.

Teams were comprised of six members. Lt. Col. Thomas Huber, of Jefferson City, served as the team captain, with Staff Sgt. Damon Rufener, of Meta, as coach. Firing members included; Sgt. 1st Class Wesley Buehler, of Billings, Staff Sgt. Chad Francis, of Saint Thomas, Staff Sgt. John Robertson III, of Lebanon, and Staff Sgt. Gary Wallace, of Nevada. .

Unit marksmanship coordinator, Staff Sgt. Kelly Vedane-Finn stated, "Not only is it imperative to be a good shot, but team members must also be good physical condition." Stage one of the General George Patton Combat Pistol Team Match began with all firing members running a two-mile approach. Stages two, three and four consisted of all team members firing 42 shots from 50 and 25 yards, during a two minute time frame from the standing position.

The U.S. Army Service Pistol Team Championship included combined scores from the Patton Match and the Sergeant Major of the Army Combat Pistol Team Match. This two-stage event included four team members firing 36 rounds at 15-yard targets while in a standing position.

Buehler, team member and 13-year veteran of the marksmanship program stated, "Participating in competitions increases your confidence with the rifle and pistol, and improves your ability to deal with stress." Col. Michael Linnington, Fort Benning's deputy commanding general stated, "It takes skill and will to be a great Soldier, and an important skill is marksmanship. It is the core of what we do as Soldiers and it's important that you're taking it back to your units to make Soldiers better."

All competitors received a 40-hour certificate of advanced marksmanship training. They also received instructions and training materials to conduct Train-the-Trainer clinics at their units.

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