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Shaw Soldiers compete to be the 'top shot'

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  • By Airman 1st Class Jensen Stidham
  • 20th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SHAW AIR FORCE BASE S.C. --  U.S. Army Soldiers participated in a "top shot" competition at the 20th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance firing range, here Nov. 14.

Nine Soldiers competed for the title.

Marksmanship is a key component of a Soldier's readiness and was tested during the competition with competitors firing both the M16 rifle and M9 handgun.

"I'd say I did pretty well on the M9," said Chief Warrant Officer 5 Jeff Fraher, U.S. Army Central aviation safety officer, "and fair to midland on the M16. But I'd say pretty well considering I hadn't fired an M16 since the 80's."

Over the course of several hours, each Soldier fired at 11 separate paper targets to include shapes, numbers and balloons.

Maintaining a level of calmness to accurately fire weapons was just one of the many challenges during the competition.

"The key to [firing] is just trying to stay calm and control your breathing," said First Sergeant Mark Davis, 297th Military Intelligence Battalion, Charlie Company first sergeant. "And once that adrenaline starts going, that's when you really have to stay focused."

"Overall I had a ball," added Davis.

Maj. Robert Paul, U.S. Army Central chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosives operations chief, placed first.