National Guard wins over half overall-team and individual awards at “All Army”

Colorado Army National Guard Alpha Team poses with their U.S. Army Small Arms Championship Second Place Overall Team Champions plaques. The team members include (left to right): Sgt. Shane Davis, Sgt. Michael Kienbusch, Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Catlin, Staff Sgt. Micah Fulmer, and Staff Sgt. John Grunthaner. (photo by Spc. Stephen Wright and caption by Maj. Theresa Austin, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center/ RELEASED)

~ National Guardplaces top three in all categories at 2019 U.S. Army Small Arms Championships

by Maj. Theresa Austin, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center

ROBINSON MANEUVER TRAINING CENTER, Ark. – The National Guard took seven overall team places out of 12 possible and six overall individual places out of 12 possible during this years’ 2019 U.S. Army Small Arms (“All Army”) Championship at Ft. Benning, Georgia Mar. 10-16, 2019.

The National Guard sent 16 teams, whom all placed in the top 21 out of 44 teams, with Colorado Army National Guard as the overall second place team champions. Sgt. Justus Densmore with the Texas National Guard took second place overall individual small arms champion, and Sgt. Maxim Nickerson with the Vermont Army National Guard took third place overall individual small arms champion.

Staff Sgt. Justus Densmore (left) with the Texas Army National Guard and Sgt. Maxim Nickerson (second from right) with Vermont Army National Guard pose for a photo with their plaques. Staff Sgt. Densmore earned the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship Second Place Overall Individual Champion plaque, and Sgt. Nickerson earned the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship Third Place Overall Individual Champion plaque. (photo by Spc. Stephen Wright and caption by Maj. Theresa Austin, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center/ RELEASED)

“These matches expose Soldiers to conditions far beyond what they receive at annual weapons qualification,” said Maj. Samuel Freeman, All Guard Team member and chief of competitions for the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC). “The current U.S. Military rifle/carbine has a much greater maximum effective range than 300 meters, but if the Soldier is not trained on how to employ their weapon system at its maximum effective range then the Soldier is not nearly as effective as they could be.”

Maj. Freeman definitely knows how to be effective, as demonstrated by his placement during these matches. He is the 2019 U.S. Army Overall Rifle Champion, and came in fourth overall for the individual combined championship and eighth individual in overall pistol.

Freeman scope.jpg — Maj. Samuel Freeman looks through his scope to verify hit bullet hits on his target down range. Maj. Freeman was the U.S. Army Small Arms Championship Overall Individual Rifle Champion, and fourth overall for the individual combined championship. (photo by Spc. Stephen Wright and caption by Maj. Theresa Austin, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center/ RELEASED)

“The National Guard leverages marksmanship competitions to help improve unit and individual readiness, especially through the use of the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center,” said Maj. David Stapp, administrative officer for the NGMTC.

For more information about getting involved, contact the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at 501-212-4531 or visit us on Facebook.

The National Guard 2019 U.S. Army Small Arms Scores:

Overall Team
Second place team: Colorado Army National Guard Alpha Team
Team members are: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Catlin, Staff Sgt. Micah Fulmer, Sgt. Shane Davis, and Sgt. Michael Kienbusch

Overall Individual
Second place (Pro Category):  Staff Sgt. Justus Densmore, Texas Army National Guard
Third place (Pro Category):  Sgt. Maxim Nickerson, Vermont Army National Guard
First place (Open category):  Sr. Airman Gavin Rook, North Dakota Air National Guard
Second place (Novice category):  Staff Sgt. Henry Miller, California Army National Guard

Overall Rifle Team
Team champions: California Army National Guard Bravo Team
Team members are: Master Sgt. Philip Brock, Sgt. 1st Class Jonathan Garcia, Staff Sgt. Wayne Gray, and Sgt. Obed Gutierrez
Third place team: Colorado Army National Guard Alpha Team
Team members are: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Catlin, Staff Sgt. Micah Fulmer, Sgt. Michael Kienbusch and Sgt. Shane Davis

Overall Rifle Individual
Individual Champion: Maj. Samuel Freeman, Arkansas Army National Guard
Second place: Capt. Robert Lee, Texas Army National Guard

Overall Pistol Team
Team champions:  Texas Army National Guard Team
Team members: Capt. Robert Lee, Staff Sgt. Justus Densmore, Sgt. Tyler Greene, and Sgt. Jaymes Sendo Coach:  Staff Sgt. Michael Richey
Third place team:  Pennsylvania Army National Guard Alpha Team
Team members are: Lt. Col. Phillip Peters, Capt. James Kistler, Chief Warrant Officer 3 Denver Gillham, and Staff Sgt. Robert Lydic

Overall Pistol Individual
Second place: Master Sgt. Matthew Smith, Arkansas Air National Guard

Overall Multi-Gun Team
Second place team: Colorado Army National Guard Alpha Team
Team members are: Sgt. 1st Class Christopher Catlin, Staff Sgt. Micah Fulmer, Sgt. Shane Davis, and Sgt. Michael Kienbusch
Third place team: California Army National Guard Alpha Team
Team members are: Col. Louis Millikan, Staff Sgt. Henry Miller, Staff Sgt. Erik Vargas, and Sgt. David Anderson

Overall Multi-Gun Individual
Third place: Col. Louis Millikan, California Army National Guard

All Army Combined Rifle and Pistol EIC Top Shooter
Novice: Sgt. Jaymes Sendo, Texas Army National Guard