NEOSHO, Mo. - Nine Airmen from the 139th Airlift Wing earned the Schützenschnur, or German Armed Forces Marksmanship Badge, during the adjutant general’s annual marksmanship competition at Camp Crowder.
This was the first year Guardsmen were able to compete for the German badge. To earn the badge, competitors must place in bronze, silver or gold.
The TAG Match was open to all Missouri Guardsmen, with each wing and battalion allotted a certain number of spots. This year, the 139th Airlift Wing was allotted two four-man teams.
The match includes shooting with an M4 rifle and M18 pistol in full battle gear while standing, kneeling and prone. Competitors shoot as far as 400 yards with the M4 rifle and 30 yards with the M18 pistol. The competition occurs over multiple days and involves spending long hours in the field.
Master Sgt. Rodd Boyer, 139th Maintenance Squadron, has been competing in the TAG Match since 1989 in the Army and began competing on the Air side in 2001.
“I believe that just being in the military you should have a good working knowledge of [the] weapons we deploy with in the case that we may actually have to use them,” said Boyer. “I want to be very familiar with each weapon system that I might have to use in the AOR [area of responsibility].”
The nine Airmen from the 139th who earned the German badge are:
Lt. Col. Kirk Teufel, bronze
Maj. Brian Barnette, silver
Maj. Benjamin Gatrost, silver, Governors 20
Tech. Sgt. Arthur Gregorian, silver
Tech. Sgt. Michael Krocza, silver
Tech. Sgt. Tristan Grigsby, gold, TAG 20 and top shooter for Army qual (expert marksman)
Tech. Sgt. Jacob Fjellman, gold, TAG 20, first place overall rifle, and 1st place rifle EIC
Master Sgt. Nate Nichols, gold
Master Sgt. Rodd Boyer, gold