HAMPTON, N.C. – National Guardsmen from across the nation competed in the 2021 Chief, National Guard Bureau (CNGB) Postal Matches-Phase III at Camp Butner Training Center May 17-21.
Alabama Army National Guard Spc. Jacob Watkins and Staff Sgt. Marshall Hodge took home the top titles this year, besting 38 other Army and Air Guard competitors.
Watkins earned the overall aggregate champion title with a combined score of 2,768-40X. He was also overall rifle champion, scoring 1,790-23X. Hodge's aggregated score of 1,181-29X earned the overall pistol champion title.
The CNGB Postal Matches test shooters physically, mentally, tactically and strategically. They must be proficient in their marksmanship knowledge and skills to place high in the matches.
Phase III of the CNGB Postal Matches, hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, is a multiday individual live-fire competition conducted shoulder-to-shoulder.
Guardsmen competed in 14 match events to determine who would earn the overall individual aggregate champion title. They competed and received additional training from All Guard team members and some of the NGMTC small arms weapons instructors before the matches.
Before arriving at Phase III, the individuals completed Phase I and II. After being racked and stacked against their peers during phase II, they received invitations to compete at Phase III.
Phase I-Postal Phase is conducted at the unit level, with results mailed to the NGMTC. Phase II-Regional Paper Match Phase is a paper aggregate match conducted by NGMTC and determines who competes in Phase III-Shoulder-to-Shoulder Phase.
The CNGB Postal Matches are conducted in phases to encourage maximum participation across the entire National Guard. Competitors who earn a spot in Phase III learn marksmanship skills and weapon systems in a battle-focused environment. They can share these skills when they return to their home units.
Overall Aggregate Champions:
- First. Spc. Jacob Watkins, Alabama Army National Guard- 2,768-40X
- Second. Senior Airman Andrew Jaques, Arkansas Air National Guard- 2,767-37X
- Third. Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Ford, Alabama Army National Guard- 2,731-39X
Overall Rifle Champions:
- First. Spc. Jacob Watkins, Alabama Army National Guard- 1,790-23X
- Second. Sgt. 1st Class Aaron Ford, Alabama Army National Guard- 1,701-25X
- Third. Senior Airman Andrew Jaques, Arkansas Air National Guard- 1,700-27X
Overall Pistol Champions:
First. Staff Sgt. Marshall Hodge, Alabama Army National Guard- 1,181-29X
Second. Staff Sgt. Roumel Arrozal, Ohio Army National Guard- 1,083-13X
Third. Senior Airman Andrew Jaques, Arkansas Air National Guard- 1,067-10X