Top marksman: ‘Blackhawk’ trooper is best of best at Bliss
Soldiers of 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team engage silhouette targets from 400 meters July 18 during the 1st Armored Division’s first squad-designated marksmanship competition, held at Doña Ana Base Camp, N.M. The brigade won the day with the sharpshooting of Sgt. Jonathan R. Evans, a cavalry scout with A Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, taking first place. From left, Sgt. Anthony Hernandez, an infantryman with 1st Battalion, 6th Infantry Regiment; Sgt. Cory Vaughn, a cavalry scout with 1st Battalion, 35th Armor Regiment; Sgt. Edward Aleman, a cavalry scout with C Troop, 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment; and Spc. Richard Meyer, a cavalry scout with Headquarters and Headquarters Troop. Photo by Sgt. RJ Gilbert, 2nd HBCT, 1st AD Public Affairs.
Sgt. RJ Gilbert,
2nd HBCT, 1st AD Public Affairs:
On July 16, a cavalry scout with 1st Squadron, 1st Cavalry Regiment, 2nd Heavy Brigade Combat Team, was teaching the rudiments of marksmanship to a group of Soldiers in the squadron.
“I was teaching a shooting class on the four fundamentals of marksmanship,” said Sgt. Jonathan R. Evans of the squadron’s A Troop. “I was going in depth on how the bullet travels and my tricks of the trade that I’ve learned over my time in the Army.”
A mere two days later, Evans put that skill set to work, won the 1st Armored Division’s first squad-designated marksmanship competition, held at Doña Ana Base Camp, N.M., Range 56, and was awarded a Precision rifle package, optimized for military use, with a Leupold scope.
The competition consisted of about 30 Soldiers from four Fort Bliss brigades. The 30 Soldiers were split into three firing orders of 10 firers, all using either an M4 or the M110. Each Soldier fired at a static black silhouette painted over a white background. The competitors first fired 10 rounds from the standing position at 300 meters. Next, they fired 10 rounds from a kneeling position at 400 meters. Finally, competitors fired 10 rounds from a prone position at 500 meters. After all firing orders completed their shots, scores were tallied and the firer with the most total hits to the silhouette target won.
“I felt confident with my shots, but I assumed that there was someone out there that could shoot better than me,” said Evans.
A range safety splits two Soldiers as they fire upon their respective targets from 300 meters during the 1st Armored Division’s first squad-designated marksmanship competition, held at Doña Ana Base Camp, N.M., Range 56, July 18. Photo by Sgt. RJ Gilbert, 2nd HBCT, 1st AD Public Affairs.
His by-the-numbers training and career experience yielded a laudable championship performance as well as a familiar feeling among fellow “Blackhawks.”
“We are very proud,” said Sgt. Maj. Michael Mizell, squadron operations sergeant major. “We feel great that he represented our battalion and went out there and won it. It just shows how competitive we are because we are the post champions in about five different events.”
In the end the competition yielded something of greater significance than bragging rights; it offered a proving ground for functional combat skills that are integral to today’s warfighter.
“This competition is most important because we have units that are going to Afghanistan, and in Afghanistan the fight is beyond 300 meters,” said Sgt. 1st Class Kevin Reagan, Fort Bliss small-arms master gunner, Team Bliss G-3.
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