Submit a completed Registration Form to the Registration Officer:
john.m.buol.mil@mail.mil
Send from your mail.mil email address as this form contains Personally Identifiable Information. Teams must be submitted together and listed on the same form.
You will need all of the following files:
The Event Program covers event specifics. The Rulebook and Course of Fire Book contains general rules that apply to all USAR Competitive events and Postal Matches. Distribute the
Download Registration Form: Submit the completed .xlsx spreadsheet file as is. Do not print or convert to PDF.
Battalion Earns 99% Qualification Rate Using Postal Match, EIC
McCrady Training Center
Eastover, S.C.
Integrating new Army small arms doctrine with the Postal Match and Excellence In Competition Programs led to a large increase in Battalion-level qualification rates.
The 345th Military Intelligence Battalion (MIRC) enlisted members of the Army Reserve Marksmanship Program to help conduct their small arms training, leading to a better than 99% qualification rate. Conducted at the McCrady Training Center in Eastover, South Carolina near Fort Jackson, the 345th MI held an extended Battle Assembly focused on getting their Soldiers up to speed on the Army’s new small arms training doctrine.
“Our goal was to break the negative effects of Army institutional inertia,” said Lt. Col. Luis Garcia, the 345th MI BN Commander. “We can’t make an improvement by doing things the same as before.”
During qualification held the previous year, the 345th MI BN qualified less than 35 of its Battalion’s Soldiers. This year, those numbers increased to a 99.2% qualification rate, the best the Battalion has done in a number of training cycles. Part of the improvement was due to instruction led by Army Reserve Marksmanship Program to counteract common issues. “I learned my drill sergeants at Initial Entry Training were wrong about a number of things, including how the sights work, how to use them, or correct zero procedures. I didn’t know any of this until I received this instruction from the Shooting Team,” said Spc. Paula Delgado, HHD 345th MI BN. “I also learned that I’m cross-eye dominant, which was a concept my drill sergeants never discussed or identified.”
The 345th MI BN also made full use of the Army’s new small arms training doctrine, starting with the current zero targets. Despite now being official for three years, the 345th had to go outside of the Fort Jackson area to locate these targets. “We called range operations at different locations throughout South Carolina and Georgia with no initial luck, but eventually found that Fort Benning Range Operations had some for our use,” said Sgt. Jenny Lewis, Supply Sergeant for A Co., 345th MI. “It took a 3.5-hour drive to pick them up so our Battalion would have them but I got it done. Mr. Outlaw (yes, that is his name) at Fort Benning was extremely helpful.”
Despite issues with local active duty support at Fort Jackson, the 345th MI found the South Carolina National Guard at McCrady to be knowledgeable and supportive. “We’re already tracking on the new standards and equipment on our end, including having barricades for the drills and qualification courses. We’re ready to support Soldiers on this in FY2020.” said First Sgt. Andrew Goza, South Carolina National Guard. In addition to supporting Soldier training at McCrady, First Sgt. Goza, a winner of the Governor’s Twenty marksmanship award through the National Guard, also works with the South Carolina National Guard competitive marksmanship program.
On top of the 345th learning about the Army’s new small arms standards, the Battalion implemented a Postal Match and Excellence In Competition events into their training as an additional gated and progressive approach. Both events feature shooting at a faster and more stringent pace than normal qualification. These events are available to all Soldiers and units in the Army Reserve.
Maj. Jason Konefal, Executive Officer of the 345th MI BN, led the way by winning the 345th MI BN EIC Pistol event with a score of 162 -3X (162 points with three tie-breaking X-ring hits.) The 345th had 87 Soldiers eligible to complete the EIC and the top ten percent of the finishers will receive formal Department of Army Orders in their permanent record awarding “Leg” points and authorizing wear of the bronze Excellence In Competition badge on their Army Service Uniform.
All U.S. Army Reserve Soldiers and units are subject to this change, which will push us toward the training intent set by Chief, Army Reserve LTG Charles D Luckey and Army Reserve CSM Ted Copeland.
– Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center, Mississippi
Army Reserve Soldiers of the 412th Theater Engineer Command, HHC, conducted an Army Reserve Postal Match as a part of their Individual Weapons Qualification at the Camp Shelby Joint Forces Training Center on July 20, 2019.
Motivated by the training guidance of Chief, Army Reserve Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey to create the most lethal, combat-ready Reserve Force in United States history, Cpt. Jesse Campbell (412th TEC, G3) took the initiative to host this event during the IWQ portion of the 412th TEC’s Extended Combat Training held on July 18-20 at CSJFTC as an improvement to training.
Despite foul weather and some logistical hurdles, Cpt. Campbell led his Soldiers through Individual Weapons Qualification (IWQ) with their M4 carbines and had the best and most motivated complete the Postal Match as a means to conduct the advanced training. Cpt. Campbell explains here:
“We had some issues with ammo and transportation along with some bad weather, but my Soldiers saw the training through and earned a successful result,” said Cpt. Campbell. “Staff Sgt. Roger Ashley, our public affairs, was our top shooter for the event and did a great job!”
The World-wide Chief, Army Reserve Postal Matches are designed to be conducted as a part of unit qualification to provide the means of conducting small arms training beyond routine qualification. These courses are a part of the progressive, gated exercises directed by TC 3-20.0 and can be used to Validate skills during Table IV or V to greatly improve the first-time “Go” rate during qualification, Table VI.
Excellence In Competition is a program dating back to 1884 to recognized skilled military and civilian shooters that accrue 30 EIC “Leg” points as Distinguished Riflemen. The EIC Postal Match is a reduced distance course using scaled targets at 25 meters to simulate most of the shooting done on Match 321, the EIC course recognized by the Army Marksmanship Unit and used throughout the Department of Army. While this Postal Match is not an EIC course, it serves as a practice tool for those that aspire to earn advanced marksmanship badges and awards.
All Army Reserve Soldiers are eligible to participate in these events and units are encouraged to host them. The U.S. Army Reserve Marksmanship program can help units provide this training opportunity for their Soldiers. Postal Match events. https://armyreservemarksman.info/postal-match/
Army Reserve Soldiers competed at the Pistol Nationals, winning a number of team and individual events and teaching at the Small Arms Firing School.
Army Reserve Soldiers competed at the Pistol Nationals held at Camp Perry July 7-14. These National Matches are required under U.S. federal law (Public Law Title 36, U.S. Code § 40727) and our Marksmanship Program represents the Army Reserve by coaching people during the Small Arms Firing School and competing in the National Matches.
As a team, USAR Black won the .45 Team Match in their class. The team consisted of Lt. Col. Patrick Sleem (85th Training Command, Team OIC), Sgt. Maj. George Greene (58th Trans BN, Team NCOIC), Maj. Thomas Bourne (80th TASS), Master Sgt. Kris Beerman (85th Training Command), Staff Sgt. Sandra Uptagrafft (108th Training Command), and Staff Sgt. Rich Willis (84th Training Command).
Staff Sgt. John Rosene (HRC-IRR) and Sgt. Nick Mower (200th MP Command) competed together for the Two Man Team matches, taking first place in the overall aggregate, first place in the .45 and Center Fire, and second place .22 for this event. Both Rosene and Mowrer represented our country by being selected for the U.S. Mayleigh Challenge Team. The Mayleigh Challenge is an international Postal Match open to all English-speaking countries around the world, held since 1947, and shot in Australia, Canada, Great Britain, Jamaica, South Africa, and the United States of America, with the winning country awarded the Mayleigh Challenge Cup.
The Army Reserve team also had a number of individual wins. In the overall, Staff Sgt. John Rosene won the High Reserve among all service branches and Staff Sgt. Sandra Uptagrafft won Match 114 to become the .22 Only 2700 National Champion. This also made her the first place female and first place Metallic Sight. In the President’s Match, Staff Sgt. Rosene finished in the top ten while Sgt. Chris Liming earned the tab for the first time. In the NRA matches both Sgt. Liming and Maj. Bourne won the Service category for their respective skill Classifications.
“The Army Reserve Team had a great year at Perry and did an awesome job at the Pistol National Matches,” said Maj. Bourne. “Oh, and we are rocking the old school team black hats again, just as directed by Army Regulation!”
Sgt. 1st Class Brian Stoa serves as an Operations NCOIC for a Recruiting Battalion while also building a championship shooting record.
The Army Reserve recognizes numerous shooting disciplines and has Soldiers proficient in many of them. Sgt. 1st Class Brian Stoa champions in competitive shotgun events. As an aerial target shooter, he competes in Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays and has enjoyed a solid win streak in 2019.
“In July, I competed in Amarillo, Texas for the Texas State Trap Shoot with 208 shooters in the Championship Events,” Sgt. 1st Class Stoa says. “I tied for Class AA Champion in Friday’s Doubles event. Saturday held the Nostalgia Shoot, where shooters competed with shotguns that pre-dated 1964. I used a classic Ithaca M37T pump built in 1948 to win this event by two targets. In Sunday’s Handicap event against tough competition and close scores, I ended up in a six-way tie and eventually won the 27 Yard Championship.”
This month’s success is now three in a row for Stoa. “In May, I was selected to shoot on the Army Skeet Team again, competing at the Armed Services Skeet Championship. Our Team made a strong showing, winning several team events and I won in the individual sub-gauge events,” said Sgt. 1st Class Stoa. “In June, I competed in the Oklahoma State Trap Shoot with about 150 other competitors for the Championship events and finished as AA Class Champion in both Singles and Doubles target events. Both events were decided after shoot offs.”
Sgt. 1st Class Stoa maintains his championship record while continuing to serve and fulfill his Army Reserve duties, currently as the USAR Operations NCOIC for the Oklahoma City Recruiting Battalion. As with all Army Reserve shooters, competition shooting is an additional duty on top of the tasks and responsibilities of the assigned unit.
Kudos to Master Sgt. Howard Griffith for the success of this initial course and thanks to Lt. Christopher Hanson for the write-up!
“This course is a true train-the-trainers program,” said course manager Master Sgt. Howard Griffith. A native of Milwaukee, Griffith is also the Operations/Standardization Non-Commissioned Officer in Charge for the Task Force. “We take select Soldiers from around the entire Army Reserve and provide them with the knowledge and skills to return to their units and educate their fellow Soldiers.”
Instructors are hoping to have the course permanently located at Fort McCoy. With state-of-the-art ranges, the installation is centrally located within the country, easily accessed by vehicle, rail or air and offers a full four-season training environment.
“The Army Reserve Competitive Marksmanship Program is looking to create a unit identification code for the team to be stationed together, hopefully here at McCoy,” Griffith said. “This would allow us to become more cohesive as a team and, through this course, be able to teach individual and collective gunnery and range operations.”
