FORT BENNING, Ga. - Army and Air National Guardsmen from across the country dominated the 2023 U.S. Army “All Army” Small Arms Championships.
The week-long competition in March brought together 260 shooters, including Soldiers and cadets from all components of the U.S. Army. Army National Guard, Active-Duty Army, U.S. Army Reserve, U.S. Military Academy and ROTC members demonstrated technical and tactical proficiency in individual and team events. Air National Guardsmen also participated due to the National Guard’s joint nature in the states. Each team included four firing competitors and a coach or captain.
The 54 teams, including National Guard teams representing the Alabama, Colorado, Delaware, Michigan, Missouri, New Hampshire, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, South Dakota and Utah Guard, competed in 11 courses of fire comprising service rifle, pistol and multi-gun matches.
For the 8th year, the National Guard finished No. 1. National Guard teams and individuals won 26 of 33 top awards, taking 1st place in nine of the 10 categories.
The U.S. Army Small Arms Championships is viewed as a training opportunity for the Guardsmen, whose duties do not include a lot of time at the range. Competitors build proficiency and take those skills back to their units.
The training platform used by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center (NGMTC) focuses on precision through lethality to produce humble competitors who can teach others the value of marksmanship.
Established in 1968, the NGMTC serves all 50 states, three territories and the District of Columbia. It is located on Camp Joseph T. Robinson in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
2023 U.S. Army Small Arms Championship Results:
Overall All-Army Champions (Individual):
1. Maj. Samuel Freeman, South Carolina Army National Guard
2. Maj. Ian Swisher, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
3. 1st Lt. Zachary Reed, Utah Army National Guard
U.S. Army Service Rifle Champions (Individual):
1. Maj. Samuel Freeman, South Carolina Army National Guard
2. 1st Lt. John Pitman, U.S. Army Reserve
3. Maj. Ian Swisher, Pennsylvania Army National Guard
U.S. Army Service Pistol (Individual):
1. Maj. Samuel Freeman, South Carolina Army National Guard
2. Sgt. 1st Class Jason Deal, 96th Civil Affairs Battalion
3. Sgt. 1st Class Richard Willis, U.S. Army Reserve
Multi-Gun Champions (Individual):
1. 1st Lt. Zachary Reed, Utah Army National Guard
2. Spc. James Whitener, Missouri Army National Guard
3. Sgt. Maxim Nickerson, Utah Army National Guard
Novice Class Overall Champions:
1. 1st Lt. Zachary Reed, Utah Army National Guard
2. Sgt. 1st Class Kayle Buchanan, Utah Army National Guard
3. Tech Sgt. Connor Cunio, New Hampshire Air National Guard
Open Class Overall Champions:
1. 1st Sgt. Josiah Noble, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne)
2. Sgt. 1st Class Randall Henrion, 11th Airborne Division
3. Staff Sgt. Christopher Brookens, Delaware Army National Guard
All Army Champions (Team):
1. Utah Army National Guard
2. South Carolina Army National Guard
3. New Hampshire Army National Guard
Multi-gun Champions (Team):
1. Utah Army National Guard
2. 2/11 ABN DIV
3. Missouri Army National Guard
U.S. Service Pistol Champions (Team):
1. New Hampshire Army National Guard
2. Utah Army National Guard
3. South Carolina Army National Guard
U.S. Army Service Rifle Champions (Team):
1. South Carolina Army National Guard
2. Utah Army National Guard
3. Alabama Army National Guard
7 Recipients of U.S. Army Distinguished Rifleman Badge:
Spc. Christopher Knott, Alabama Army National Guard
Spc. James Whitener, Missouri Army National Guard
Sgt. Jacob Watkins, Alabama Army National Guard
Tech. Sgt. Eric Reifsnyder, Delaware Air National Guard
Staff Sgt. Kendall Miller-Mather, Michigan Army National Guard
Staff Sgt. Ethan Hopkins, 11th Airborne Division
Sgt. 1st Class Joel Kliesen, Virginia Army National Guard
5 Recipients U.S. Army Distinguished Pistol Shot Badge:
Maj. Ian Swisher, Pennsylvania Army National Guard,
Sgt. 1st Class Randall Henrion, 11th Airborne Division
Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Schrot, Michigan Army National Guard
Staff Sgt. James Lam, Alabama Army National Guard
1st Sgt. Josiah Noble, 1st Special Warfare Training Group (Airborne)