Illinois and Michigan National Guardsmen win 2019 MAC 4 Championship

~National Guardsmen compete at the Marksmanship Advisory Council Region Four Marksmanship Championship
by Maj. Theresa Austin and Cpl. Stephen Wright, National Guard Marksmanship Training Center

PORT CLINTON, Ohio (September 3, 2019) – Competitors from the Indiana, Illinois, Michigan, Ohio and Wisconsin Army and Air National Guard came together for a time of learning, camaraderie and competition during the 2019 Marksmanship Advisory Council Region Four (MAC 4) Marksmanship Championships held here on Camp Perry May 31 – June 02, 2019.

The top team and individual champion hale from the Illinois and Michigan Army National Guards. The Illinois Alpha Team included Staff Sgt. Alex Aitken; Spc. Luke Jablonski; Staff Sgt. Anthony Miller; Sgt. 1^st Class William Thorpe, who earned a combined score of 2608-18X. The overall individual champion is Staff Sgt. Frederick Griswold, Michigan Army National Guard, who earned a combined score of 601-9X.

Military marksmanship competitions, similar to MAC 4, occur year round, primarily in the late spring and throughout the summer, with a training focus of enhancing lethality and battlefield survivability.

The National Guard Bureau provides states additional opportunities for training trough the regional and national marksmanship competitions. These competitions do not require the use of unit or state funds since these competitions are hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC).

Maj. Kirk Freeman, NGMTC sustainment commander, urges those who are currently serving in the Guard that want to participate in marksmanship competitions, to do so.

“If you continue to participate in the National Guard marksmanship competitions, they will give you the opportunity to go to foreign lands to compete in friendly competitions against our allies – or, if your nation calls upon you, to go to foreign lands and kill,” said Freeman.

The average Guardsman will only fire approximately 90 rounds of ammunition per year, which is typically during annual weapons qualification; however, the Soldiers and Airmen at these competitions will fire their entire yearly STRAC (U.S. Army Standards in Training Commission) allotted ammunition in just one day, which is not enough for service members to stay familiar with their assigned weapons.

“The most important aspects of these competitions are using your assigned weapon system, understanding your equipment, which you can only do by competing because you’re shooting farther than your standard weapons qualification, shooting different matches like close quarter matches or long range matches. So it’s understanding your own equipment and how to maximize your assets,” Freeman added.

Participating in competitive marksmanship serves as a key to unit readiness by providing additional opportunities for Guardsmen to familiarize themselves with their assigned weapon systems; it also functions as a force multiplier for recruiting and retention purposes that enhances the force as a whole.

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— Results —

CT 5050 Combat Match Team Champions:

1. Wisconsin – Alpha score 1569

Staff Sgt. Brandon Swanson; Sgt. Camren Armburst; Sgt. 1^st Class Wayne Sherfield; Sgt. Steven Stewart

2. Illinois – Alpha score 1485

Spc. Luke Jablonski; Sgt. 1^st Class William Thorpe; Staff Sgt. Alex Aitken; Staff Sgt. Anthony Miller

3. Indiana – Bravo score 1382

Spc. Brandson Eber; Sgt. Joseph Forti; Sgt. 1^st Class Hunter Lloyd

CT 5000 Combat Match Team Champions:

1. Illinois (Alpha) Score 2608-18X

Staff Sgt. Alex Aitken; Spc. Luke Jablonski; Staff Sgt. Anthony Miller; Sgt. 1^st Class William Thorpe

2. Wisconsin (Alpha) Score 2588-30X

Sgt. Camren Armbrust; 1^st Class Wayne Sherfield; Sgt. Steven Stewart; Staff Sgt. Brandon Swanson

3. Indiana (Alpha) Score 2443-23X

Staff Sgt. Keith Wallace; Sgt. Daniel Quesebery, Sgt. Clayton Tandy; 1^st Lt. Jacob Teuschler

Combined Arms Individual Aggregate Champion:

1. Staff Sgt. Frederick Griswold, Michigan Army National Guard; Score 601-9x
2. Staff Sgt. Brandon Swanson, Wisconsin Army National Guard; Score 597-22x
3. 1^st Lt. Jacob Teuschler, Indiana Army National Guard; Score 583-14x

Combat Rifle individual Aggregate Champion:

1. Staff Sgt. Alex Aitken, Illinois Army National Guard; Score 315-9x
2. Staff Sgt. Frederick Griswold, Michigan Army National Guard; Score 311-3x
3. Sgt. 1^st Class William Thorpe, Illinois Army National Guard; Score 303-11x

Combat Pistol individual Aggregate Champion:

1. Sgt. Daniel Quesebery, Indiana Army National Guard; Score 318-5x
2. 1^st Lt. Jacob Teuschler, Indiana Army National Guard; Score 313-6x
3. Staff Sgt. Brandon Swanson, Wisconsin Army National Guard; Score 312-11x

Additional scores can be found at https://wpwafsam.weebly.com

For more photos from this event visit us on Flickr.

About Us:
Established in 1968, the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC) is the National Guard Bureau’s (NGB) center for managing marksmanship training courses and competitive marksmanship programs. It serves all 54 states and territories and is located on Robinson Maneuver Training Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas. The NGMTC is headquarters for the “All Guard” service rifle, service pistol, multi-gun, and international combat teams. The NGMTC is also home to the annual Winston P. Wilson National Championships, where guardsmen may earn the NGB Chief’s 50 Marksmanship Badge. For more information call 501-212-4531/4549, visit us at https://ngmtc.wordpress.com or http://www.facebook.com/NGMTC.