Courtesy Photo | Members of the Michigan National Guard Marksmanship Team compete in the Winston P....... read more read more
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LANSING, Mich. — The Army and Air National Guard seals are designed around the iconic "Minuteman" symbol. The figure stands aside a farmer's plow but also carries a musket to demonstrate his role as a citizen soldier. Given this lineage, it should come as no surprise that the National Guard places a premium on marksmanship—and the Michigan National Guard marksmanship team has the bragging rights to show it.
"We often hear a common theme - Competition breeds excellence," said U.S. Army Capt. Marshall Halas, State Marksmanship Coordinator for the Michigan National Guard. "Competition establishes a baseline for assessing metrics and then stacks you against everyone else that shoots the same event."
From April 22 to May 4, 2024, competitors from all 54 states, territories, and allies from as far away as the Netherlands competed in the Winston P. Wilson (WPW) National Guard Championship. The WPW is an international and interservice competition at Camp Joseph T. Robinson, North Little Rock, Arkansas, to test the marksmanship skills of service members in events that include small arms, sniper, and machine gun matches. It is the most significant weapons competition in the Army.
The National Guard Marksmanship Training Center funds one team from each state for the WPW yearly. With bragging rights on the line, many states send their best marksman.
"I remember thinking that I was a pretty good shooter back in 2011 or 2012 when I attended my first WPW, only to be humbled and finish in the bottom 25%," said U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Schrot, a senior member of the Michigan National Guard Marksmanship Team. "Over the last 3 years I have finished in the top 25 overall competitors. It has really shown me how much I have learned and developed as a marksman."
In 2024, Michigan's team, consisting of Capt. Marshall Halas, U.S. Army Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Schrot, U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Kendall Miller-Mather, and U.S. Army Staff Sergeant Hunter McDowell, showcased exceptional skill and teamwork. They achieved their highest placement in program history, finishing third overall.
The chance to compete in the WPW isn't a given for Michigan National Guardsmen. To be eligible, members must be part of an elite club that most National Guardsmen aren't even aware of: the state's Marksmanship Team.
~Making the Cut~
The Michigan National Guard Marksmanship Team is an amalgamation of Soldiers and Airmen from across the state and multiple units and occupations. The team's mission includes two components: initial training, like basic qualification, and sustainment training, in the form of competitive shooting and matches. Michigan’s team, like others, are an effective way to implement the values of the Total Army Marksmanship Training Strategy.
The strategy aims to make soldiers and airmen into skilled marksmen. While Army in name, the joint nature of Army and Air Guard operations means the strategy applies to airmen too. “A soldier or airman who can confidently, capably, and safely handle and employ their weapon with precision is critical to defeating the enemy,” said Halas. "Bottom line - soldiers and airmen should understand common firing principles and be confident in applying their firing skills in combat.”
~Governor's Twenty: The Starting Point~
The road begins with the Governor's Twenty marksmanship competition. The annual, state-level event has been a hallmark of National Guard marksmanship since 1968 and identifies the top twenty percent of shooters within a state. The competition offers participants their first opportunity to earn Excellence in Competition (EIC) leg points for both pistol and rifle categories. Winning the Governor's Twenty Tab signifies a servicemember’s skill and qualifies them for regional and national events.
Soldiers and airmen with the Michigan National Guard hosted their Governor's Twenty at the Camp Grayling Maneuver Training Center, September 18-22, 2023. Twenty-three shooters scored within the top twenty and became eligible to join the team.
~MAC IV Regional: Building Skills and Experience~
Following success at the state level, competitors often move on to the Marksmanship Advisory Council (MAC) IV Regional Match. Open to Army and Air Guard members from Michigan, Illinois, Indiana, Minnesota, Wisconsin, and Ohio, the match focuses on enhancing combat skills and increasing battlefield survivability and is a classic example of a sustainment training event.
Each state can enter up to two teams of four members, requiring at least half of the team to be new shooters—those who have not competed at a previous MAC Regional or WPW Championship since January 2007.
In 2023, Michigan sent two teams. One team came in 1st place: another finished 5th overall.
~U.S. Army Small Arms Championships (ALL-ARMY)~
From there, Michigan participated in the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships (ALL-ARMY) at Fort Moore, Georgia, March 10-16, 2024. The ALL-ARMY competition is a comprehensive live-fire training event that tests the ability of Soldiers and Airmen to employ both primary and secondary weapon systems, problem-solve, and think critically under the stresses created by competition.
Despite its namesake, the National Guard usually dominates the competition because of their state marksmanship teams. National Guard teams and individuals brought home 15 of 33 top awards, taking first place in six of 11 categories. The Michigan National Guard had two teams consisting of eight shooters and placed 3rd in the All-Army Champions Team.
~The WPW Championship: A Test of Skill and Endurance~
Following the All-Army, Michigan proceeded to compete in the WPW Championship. This year, the Small Arms Competition featured 48 teams from 44 states and territories, with 195 individual soldiers and airmen competing. Participants used issued M4A1 carbines, M17 pistols, and M500 shotguns, engaging targets at distances ranging from 10 yards to 600 yards.
Michigan snagged third place overall—the highest they've ever placed as a team. Notable achievements included:
- 3rd Place Overall
- 4th Place Team Pistol Aggregate
- 8th Place Team Rifle Aggregate
- 1st Place Team Know Your Limits Match
- 4th Place Team Combat Rifleman Match
- 4th Place Team Pistol Barricade Match
- 2nd Place Team Rapid Pistol CQB Match
Individually, Staff Sgt. Kendall Miller-Mather placed 5th overall in the competition and 2nd in rifle, earning a spot in the Chief's 50. Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Schrot and Staff Sgt. Hunter McDowell also performed admirably, contributing to the team's success.
"I think the key to success is training on your own and participating in different disciplines of shooting," said Schrot. "Training on drill weekend alone does not necessarily provide enough time to train."
Schrot speaks from experience. His performance in earlier WPW competitions discouraged him, so he took a break. After a few years, he tried again in 2020. Pleased by his performance, he decided to renew his efforts and put focus into it. By 2023, he achieved Distinguished Rifleman and Distinguished Pistol badges, which can only be awarded after earning enough points by participating in a national-level match.
Aside from personal accomplishment, Schrot echoed the team's desire to represent the state of Michigan at the competitive level while learning from others.
"I truly enjoy representing Michigan when I am on the range," Schrot said. "One of our main priorities is to learn something at these events and bring that back to Michigan to train the next generation of marksmen."
~Looking Ahead~
As the program continues to evolve, the Michigan National Guard is committed to maintaining high standards of marksmanship training. Michigan will host the MAC IV Regional match in September 2024, and efforts are underway to provide in-depth training to units across the state.
The journey to the WPW finals is one of dedication, skill, and teamwork. From state-level competitions to the national stage, each step hones the abilities of National Guard members, preparing them for the challenges they may face in the field. The WPW Championship not only celebrates marksmanship excellence but also strengthens the National Guard's combat readiness.
For further information on marksmanship training or competitive opportunities, contact Capt. Marshall Halas, State Marksmanship Coordinator, or Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Schrot, Assistant MAC IV Regional Representative.
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Contact:
Capt. Marshall Halas
State Marksmanship Coordinator
[email protected]
Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Schrot
Assistant MAC IV Regional Representative
[email protected]
| Date Taken: | 07.18.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 07.19.2024 08:16 |
| Story ID: | 476502 |
| Location: | LANSING, MICHIGAN, US |
| Web Views: | 223 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, Michigan National Guard - The Road to the Winston P Wilson Match, by SSG Daniel Garas and SGT Sierra Reuther, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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