Author Archives: John M. Buol Jr.

Army Reserve Soldiers Demonstrate Readiness at All Army

by John M. Buol Jr.

#RoadtoAwesome #KeepPounding #AmericasArmyReserve #USArmyReserve

https://www.usar.army.mil/News/News-Display/Article/1788564/reservists-demonstrate-readiness-at-all-army/

The Army Marksmanship Unit held the 2019 All Army Small Arms Championships March 10-16 at Fort Benning. The training event was open to all Department of Army personnel and consisted of a mix small arms skills.

Lt. Gen. Charles Luckey, Chief of the Army Reserve, has stated his vision of developing the most lethal, capable, and combat-ready Federal Reserve force in United States history. That can only happen when Reservists can demonstrate skill beyond elementary basics such as qualification.

Army Reservists from the marksmanship community demonstrated their ability to implement the CAR’s vision by winning numerous events among personnel from all branches and components of the Army. A team from Army Reserve Careers Division led by Sgt. Maj. James Mauer was the highest scoring for the entire event. Firing members included Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner, Sgt. 1st Class Charles Parker, Staff Sgt. Rafael Fuentes, and Sgt. Joseph Hall. This team was also second place for the Rifle and Pistol team aggregates.

“Our teams have had a good history with training events like All Army,” said Sgt. Maj. Mauer. “We also host similar events in conjunction with the Army Reserve Marksmanship Program to make this learning opportunity more accessible to Reservists.”

Individually, Reservists also won a number of events. Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner was the high overall individual, doing so by also taking first place in the Multigun event. Sgt. Christopher Liming of the 85th USAR Support Command was first place in Pistol overall and the National Match Course (Match 27) event. Staff Sgt. Sandra Uptagrafft of the 98th Training Division took first place among non-distinguished shooters in the Excellence In Competition pistol event (Match 221) and Maj. Thomas Bourne of the 80th Training Command was first place in the Director’s Pistol Match (29).

arcd team 1
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Linda Harris Memorial Scholarship

by John M. Buol Jr.

#WomensHistoryMonth #WomensDay
https://www.usar.army.mil/News/News-Display/Article/1781009/linda-harris-memorial-scholarship

Master Sgt. George Harris, USAR, Ret., SIGARMS Academy co-founder and former Army Reserve Marksmanship Team member, announced the official launch of the Linda Harris Memorial Scholarship administered by the United States Concealed Carry Association.

“This fund will provide a means to create and further perpetuate the concept of female firearms instructors who in turn will bring more women into the shooting sports and personal defense arenas in the United States and around the world,” George Harris said. “The program will start by selecting a well deserving applicant to an all expenses paid class appropriate for their level of expertise. Initially, this will be self-funded by USCCA but will expand with industry support in the interest of bringing more women into the world of safe and successful use of firearms.”

Linda Harris, who passed away at age 68 on September 1, 2018, was well known in the firearms community as an outstanding instructor who dedicated herself and her career to training people to defend themselves and to encouraging women to get involved in the shooting sports. After George Harris co-founded the SIGARMS Academy, Linda joined on as the first female firearms instructor in the history of the company, teaching a variety of firearms-related subjects to men and women alike. She often instructed military personnel with her husband and performed range duties at Quantico and Fort Benning during matches. Often referred to as “The Boss Lady” by Soldiers and shooting team members that worked with, Linda held a command for respect that was immediate by all who knew her. After officially retiring in 2011, she continued teaching women in the proper use and safe handling of firearms for sporting and defensive use.

Applicants can begin by visiting the Linda Harris Memorial Scholarship website for additional information. All female firearms instructors, especially those in the Army Reserve, are encouraged to apply.

“No greater tribute could Linda have but to be able to have the work she was so passionate about carried on in her name with the same passion and effort that she exhibited,” George Harris said. “Pass this along and become a part of this movement to bring more women into our efforts to keep firearms as part of our heritage.”

Rifle and Carbine Assessment

by John M. Buol Jr.

SFC Jake Probst, USARCMP member and full-time educator, created a Rifle and Carbine Assessment. This quiz tests your knowledge of current Army small arms doctrine. It is open book and, as always, you are encouraged to use the manuals (https://armypubs.army.mil) to look up answers.

https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoqlnnI90Qt1cLZFdPnbS0CPk5gkdvEPvDWbP3eTGV3pFiOQ/viewform
https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfoqlnnI90Qt1cLZFdPnbS0CPk5gkdvEPvDWbP3eTGV3pFiOQ/viewform

Army Reserve Shotgun Champ Targets Recruiting

by John M. Buol Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class Brian Stoa doesn’t often shoot issue military weapons on typical military ranges. He is a aerial target shooter and competes in multiple competitive shotgun disciplines, including Trap, Skeet, and Sporting Clays. This year he earned his way on to the Army Skeet Team to compete in the Armed Forces Skeet Championship, winning in two events both with the team and as an individual. Stoa has earned shooting titles in Minnesota, South Dakota, Utah, Idaho, Wyoming, and Alaska.

“I am an Army Reserve Soldier serving on Active Guard Reserve status and shoot on the Army Skeet Team. I took third place at the Utah State Trap Shooting Championship competing against over 300 competitors, some of which are professionals.” say Sgt. 1st Class Stoa. “I enjoy traveling the country to shoot at all the different facilities in competition. You don’t give up your life when you join the Army, you enhance it!”

Sgt. 1st Class Stoa is from southern Minnesota where he was assigned as a Reserve Recruiter and is currently stationed in Alaska where he serves as a Reserve Guidance Counselor and Recruiter (MOS 79R) assigned to United States Army Recruiting Command (USAREC) at the Anchorage Military Entrance Processing Station. He believes that competitive shooting sports in general and shotgun shooting in particular have a largely untapped recruiting potential.

“The Minneapolis Recruiting Battalion found there were more high school kids shooting trap than playing any other sport in that area, “ says Sgt. 1st Class Stoa. “OCAR says their priority is recruiting and this is definitely a way to do it. I believe that if the Army Reserve fielded an American Trap Team, even if it was for a few events a year, like the Grand American, it would help recruiting efforts tremendously.”


The Army Skeet Team after winning the Skeet Team Doubles at the Armed Forces Skeet Championship in Tucson, Arizona on May 2018. From left to right, SFC Brian Stoa, LTC Carl Wojtaszek (West Point Trap and Skeet coach), SGT Dustan Taylor (Army Marksmanship Unit Skeet Team), CPT John Hedlund (Ft. Hood), SPC Christian Elliot (AMU Skeet Team). SFC Stoa was the only Army Reserve member and won the Doubles and 28 Gauge events for his class.

https://www.usar.army.mil/News/News-Display/Article/1720555/army-reserve-shotgun-champ-targets-recruiting/

SFC Horner Dominates Fort Benning Multi-Gun Challenge

by John M. Buol Jr.

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner, formerly of the Army Marksmanship Unit and now a member of the Army Reserve, was the High Overall winner of the 2018 Fort Benning Multi-Gun Challenge held November 15-18 at Krilling, Shelton, and Parks Ranges, Fort Benning, Georgia.

Horner competed in the Tactical Optics, a popular equipment division with competitors using an optically-sighted self-loading rifle (commonly an AR-15), semiautomatic shotgun with an extended magazine, and high-capacity centerfire pistol. In addition to winning High Overall out of 248 registered competitors, Horner took first place in seven stages and was in the top three for nine of the twelve total stages at the event.

Multi-Gun competition involves competing with multiple firearms (commonly rifle, pistol, and shotgun) in action/practical shooting events. Shooters move through ever-changing courses of fire, engaging a variety of targets in differing arrays from multiple positions using Time Plus scoring. Multi-Gun events are held under the auspices of several organizations, notably 3-Gun Nation and United States Practical Shooting Association Multi-Gun, with a number of independent matches comprising a national circuit. The Fort Benning Multi-Gun Challenge sponsored by the Fort Benning Family and Morale, Welfare and Recreation Program is a notable annual Multi-Gun match among them.

“I started shooting at six years old when I would go to the range with my Dad,” said Horner.. “For basically my entire life I have been shooting competitively, and for as long as I can remember it’s been a lifelong goal of mine to shoot professionally.”

Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner is currently assigned to Army Reserve Careers Division and is a member of the Army Reserve Marksmanship Program. In his civilian career, Horner is a member of the SIG SAUER Professional Shooting Team, the company that makes the M17/M18 for our United States Armed Forces.


Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Horner has been a champion-level Multi-Gun/3 Gun competitor for years. Formerly with the Army Marksmanship Unit, Horner is now assigned to the Army Reserve Marksmanship Program and is a member of the SIG SAUER Professional Shooting Team.

Army Trainfire: 1963

by John M. Buol Jr.

The Army adopted the Trainfire model around 1955. The most recent version revamped the program in the late 1970s and served as the primary approach until the new Training Circulars re-wrote doctrine starting in 2016.

Until the new TCs and qualifications for them, all changes to Army small arms standards have reduced the challenge and needed skill. Consider this video where Soldiers conducting routine qualification during Basic are advancing downrange with loaded rifles and expected to take up positions on timed pop-up targets. FM 23-8, which was doctrine when this film was made, included a four table qualification that included shooting while advancing, offhand, and other unsupported shooting. Also note the regular use of peer coaching.