HARRISBURG – Members of the Pennsylvania National Guard Marksmanship Team recently earned the top overall national championship award, plus numerous other awards, during competitions at Camp Robinson, North Little Rock, Ark.
Gov. Tom Corbett, a former PA National Guard member, along with Maj. Gen. Wesley E. Craig, the state’s adjutant general, met with team members to congratulate them on their achievements.
“Being called a ‘straight-shooter’ has always been a uniquely American form of praise,” Corbett said. “That’s because our country was forged in revolution, preserved in civil war, and kept free in battles around the globe. And always, it has been the marksman who has been central to providing victory in battle.”
“It takes a good eye, a steady hand, and a devotion to duty to succeed at this level,” Corbett said. “Our thanks to all of you, congratulations, and most of all, thank you for your service to our country.”
“I’ve always known that Pennsylvania boasts some of the best trained soldiers and airmen in the National Guard and winning the prestigious All-States Trophy for marksmanship proves it,” Craig said. “Their skills have been tested against some of the finest military marksmen in the world and they proved that it takes more than just a keen eye and a steady hand to compete at this level which is both physically and mentally demanding.”
The first competition, the 41st Annual Winston P. Wilson Championship, was made up of 84 teams and nearly 400 marksmen from the National Guard and Army Reserve. The Pennsylvania National Guard team, commanded by Maj. John Younger and coached by marksmanship instructor Sgt. 1st Class Jon Gibbons, consisted of:
- Master Sgt. Edward Altmeyer, 171st Security Forces Squadron, Air National Guard
- Tech. Sgt. Joshua Honick, 171st Security Forces Squadron, Air National Guard
- Staff Sgt. Daniel Kupar, 56th Stryker Brigade Combat Team, Army National Guard
- Sgt. Michael Tompko, Company C, 2/112th Infantry, Army National Guard
The team members, which were also presented on Tuesday with the Pennsylvania Commendation Medal by Governor Corbett for their outstanding efforts, won:
- All-States Trophy (team overall/National Championship)
- First place CT 302 Bianchi Battle Match
- First place MT 300 Machine Gun POW Match
- First place RT 300 5.56 Movers Match
- Third place RT 309 Know Your Limits Match
- Third place PT 300 General George Patton Match
- Fourth place PT 225 Anti-Body-Armor Match
In the second competition, the Armed Forces Skill at Arms Championship Match, 12 international teams from four different countries participated.
Three members of Pennsylvania’s shooting team, Altmeyer, Honick and Tompko, coached by marksmanship instructor Master Sgt. Gregory Neiderhiser, represented the National Guard in this competition.
The following are individual awards from the AFSAM match:
Altmeyer was a shooting team member of the overall AFSAM Championship. He also won two first place awards (the RI306 100-500 Zero Special and Overall Rifle Individual); one second place award (Overall Rifle and Pistol Combined); and one ninth place award (Overall Pistol Individual).
Honick won a first place award (Overall Pistol Individual); one third place award (CI301 Frontal Assault Match); two fourth place awards (Overall Pistol Individual and Overall Rifle and Pistol Combined), plus a ninth place award (Overall Rifle Individual).
Neiderheiser earned the All-Guard AFSAM Championship Team Coach Award.