FORT MOORE, Ga. – Staff Sgt. John Jordan, representing the South Carolina National Guard, secured the title of 2024 All Army Champion at the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships at Fort Moore, Georgia, March 10-16. Adding to the achievement, Jordan’s team, South Carolina Alpha, emerged as the 2024 U.S. Army Small Arms Team Champion, marking the ninth year the National Guard has won the championship.
The week-long competition March 10-16 brought together over 230 shooters, including Soldiers and Cadets from all components of the U.S. Army, to demonstrate their technical and tactical proficiency in individual and team events. Air National Guard members are also allowed to participate due to the National Guard’s joint nature in their states. Each team consisted of four firing competitors with a coach or captain.
The training platform used by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center has been tested and proven to remain focused on precision through lethality. NGMTC aims to produce humble competitors who can teach others the value of marksmanship.
“Our hopes are that those novice shooters will become the future of NGMTC and the next generation of Pro/All Guard competitors,” said Capt. David Morris, NGMTC competitive marksmanship program manager. “What they learn and take away from the coaches now is what they will teach in 10 years.”
Fifty teams, including National Guard teams representing the Alabama, Delaware, Michigan, Missouri, North Dakota, New Hampshire, New Mexico, Ohio, South Carolina, Vermont, and Virginia National Guard, competed in 14 courses of fire consisting of service rifle, pistol, and multi-gun matches.
National Guard teams and individuals brought home 15 of 33 top awards, taking first place in six of 11 categories.
The U.S. Army Small Arms Championships is a training opportunity for Guard members whose duties do not include a lot of time at the range.
2024 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship Results:
Overall All Army Champions (Individual):
1. Staff Sgt. John Jordan, South Carolina Army National Guard
2. 1st Sgt. Andrew McCallister, U.S. Army SERE School
3. Sgt. Mack Williams, South Carolina Army National Guard
U.S. Army Service Rifle Champions (Individual):
1. Staff Sgt. John Jordan, South Carolina Army National Guard
2. 1st Sgt. Josiah Noble, Security Force Assistance Foreign Weapons Course
3. Tech. Sgt. Nicolas Poirier, Vermont Army National Guard
U.S. Army Service Pistol (Individual):
1. Sgt. 1st Class Richard Willis, Army Reserve Careers Group
2. Staff Sgt. John Jordan, South Carolina Army National Guard
3. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Deal, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion
Multi-Gun Champions (Individual):
1. 1st Sgt. Andrew McCallister, U.S. Army SERE School
2. Sgt. Colt Edwards, Marksmanship Master Trainer Course
3. Chief Warrant Officer Two Matthew Downing, U.S. Army SERE School
Novice Class Overall Champions:
1. 1st Sgt. Andrew McCallister, U.S. Army SERE School
2. Staff Sgt. Louis Gillaspie, XVIII Airborne Corps
3. Sgt. Wyatt Griffith, Missouri Army National Guard
All Army Cadet
1. Cadet David Blackwell, University of North Georgia
2. Cadet Aidan Chretien, Vermont Army National Guard
3. Cadet William Buettner, University of North Georgia
Open Division Champion
1. Sgt. Michael McClaskie, Virginia Army National Guard
2. Sgt. 1st Class Timothy Russell, Missouri Army National Guard
3. Tech. Sgt. Galen Topper, Vermont Air National Guard
All Army Champions (Team):
1. South Carolina Army National Guard (Alpha)
2. 2/11 Airborne Division
3. Michigan Army National Guard (Michigan Blue)
Multi-gun Champions (Team):
1. Team Novosel, USAACE
2. 2/11 Airborne Division
3. South Carolina Army National Guard (Alpha)
U.S. Service Pistol Champions (Team):
1. South Carolina Army National Guard (Alpha)
2. XVIII Airborne Corps - York
3. New Hampshire Army National Guard (Alpha)
U.S. Army Service Rifle Champions (Team):
1. Delaware Army National Guard
2. 2/11 Airborne Division
3. Army Reserve Careers Group Gold
Col. Ralph Puckett Trophy for Excellence
Staff Sgt. Louis Gillaspie, XVIII Airborne Corps
Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley Trophy
Cadet Aidan Chretien, Vermont National Guard
High Drill Sergeant:
Staff Sgt. Andre Ciont, MED COE
Seven Recipients of U.S. Army Distinguished Rifleman Badge:
Sgt. 1st Class Dan Whitner, Kentucky Windage Kings
Sgt. 1st Class John Staats, Arkansas National Guard
Sgt. Michael McClaskie, Virginia National Guard
Tech Sgt. Matthew Jasper, North Dakota National Guard
Cpt. Patrick Randall, New Hampshire National Guard
Sgt. Daniel Shumate, Virginia National Guard
Staff Sgt. Nathan Staskiewicz (485th Double Distinguished Soldier)
Three Recipients U.S. Army Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge:
Capt. Andrew Leupp, Spearhead
Staff Sgt. Evan Bayer, Alabama Army National Guard
Staff Sgt. Christopher Brookens (486th Double Distinguished Soldier)