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Reader Comments:
Thank you for this excellent e-newsletter. The links and information are great.
Sincerely,
John B.
I greatly enjoy the USAMU shooting tips in the newsletter and also being able to find them on-line.
Regards, Ray in FLA
EXCELLENT BRIEF UNDERSTANDABLE ARTICLE ON SITTING RAPID POSITION, BEING CLOSE TO 60 THIS IS MY WORST POSITION AND ANY HELP I CAN GET IS GREATLY APPRECIATED!
GOOD ARTICLE; MARTY
SFC Singley:
It has been a while, but I sent CMP a request for a TFS article on possible means by which us "centrally endowed" (read that as 'fat') shooters might work ourselves into a useable sitting position. Spring is coming and I will be trying to get ready for matches. Your article has been copied and I will read it and work on trying the options you have provided. Thanks very much for your individual military service to our Nation and for your personal efforts to help other shooters improve our skills.
Melvin C.
Really enjoyed the M1 for Vets article. Its really good to read something that was done for
wounded vets. The match must have been a real wingding. Too cold for me. There is alot of
history 1903 Springfield and the M1 . I had to sleep with my o3 for baning the butt on the
deck in boot camp. Anyway thanks again for the story.
Jim N., Ok
I enjoy the TFS. In fact, occasionally I like to print some of the articles to be able to review them in the future.
James L. M.
Whenever we come back in from the field it’s always a good day when “The First Shot” is in. I drill the guys in the fundamentals – many of which I learned and fine tuned at CMP matches – and it comes back in spades out here when it really counts!
Dean H.
LTC - US Army
Security Advisor
Kabul/Afghanistan
Finally caught up with the October '06 story: A Rifle For Shifty. It was simply one of the best things I've read. As someone who had two uncles in combat in WWII, one air corps and one infantry, I will forever believe those men were heroes of the first echelon. Anything any of us can do for any of them is simply the least we can do.
Steve R.
Birmingham, Alabama
The article about Bill Krilling was very good, a great shooter, coach and a gentlemen to boot!
Ruth S.
Thanksfor the great stories and tips. Even old dogs can learn new tricks. This is great for keeping the CMP active.
Tim H., AZ
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Mr. John McLaurin III Opens the 2007 "Centennial" National Matches
By Spc. John D. Ortiz, 211th Military Public Affairs Detachment
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| John McLaurin III, the First Shot
Speaker, poses with the 2007 first shot rifle after firing the 'First Shot.'
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CAMP PERRY, OHIO – Over 600 officials, competitors and spectators gathered at Camp Perry’s Rodriquez Range for the 2007 National Matches First Shot Ceremony Monday afternoon.
The First Shot Ceremony is the traditional opening for the National Matches. This year’s speaker was Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army, Mr. John McLaurin III.
The National Matches, created by the U. S. government in 1903, have a proud heritage that looks back to the National Rifle Association’s ‘Annual Matches’ that began in 1873 and to the establishment of Camp Perry in 1907.
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Maj. Larry Henry and Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Piwarski of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group, Ohio National Guard, parachute the American Flag, that would be raised during the First Shot Ceremony, onto Drop Zone Camp Perry.
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The ceremony began with a parachute jump by Maj. Larry Henry and Sgt. 1st Class Ronald Piwarski of Company B, 2nd Battalion, 19th Special Forces Group of the Ohio National Guard, that brought an American flag onto Drop Zone Camp Perry from a UH-60 Blackhawk piloted by Chief Warant Officer 4 Rob Diamond of the 137th Aviation Battalion also of the Ohio National Guard. This flag was then passed to a color guard that raised it on the main Camp Perry flagpole to begin the ceremony.
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Members of the 838th Military Police Company of the Ohio National Guard hoist the colors at the beginning of the First Shot Ceremony.
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Congresswoman Marcy Kaptur provided the flag, which was flown over the U.S. Capital in recognition of the Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.
Members of the 122nd Army Band, under the direction of Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robin Kessler played the National Anthem. They also performed a concert for the audience prior to the ceremony.
At the end of the National Anthem, two F-16 Fighting Falcons, piloted by Col. Richard “Rooster” Lohnes, Commander, and Col. Craig Wallace of the 178th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio National Guard flew-over Rodriguez Range in a salute to the opening of the Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.
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Two F-16 Fighting Falcons, piloted by Col. Richard "Rooster" Lohnes,
Commander, and Col. Craig Wallace of the 178th Tactical Fighter Wing, Ohio National Guard fly
over the First Shot Ceremony to salute the opening of the Camp Perry Centennial National Matches.
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The Governor of Ohio, Ted Strickland, was scheduled to speak and present two resolutions during the ceremony. Unfortunately, Governor Strickland had a family emergency and could not attend. In his place, Maj. Gen. Greg Wayt, the Adjutant General of Ohio and a member of the Governor’s cabinet, spoke and presented two resolutions commending the NRA and the Civilian Marksmanship Program.
CMP Director Gary Anderson, master-of-ceremonies, then introduced the First Shot Speaker, Mr. John McLaurin III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army. Mr. McLaurin holds a Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Mississippi and is a graduate of the Army War College. He retired as a Colonel in the U.S. Army Judge Advocate General’s Corps.
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Chief Warrant Officer 3 Robin Kessler, the
Commander of the 122nd Army Band, Ohio National Guard, conducts his band during the National Anthem.
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Mr. McLaurin was actively involved in the creation of the CMP. In 1995, while working for the Congress, he drafted a bill that established the CMP as a federally-chartered non-profit corporation.
He was sworn into the Senior Executive Service in 1995. In his current position as Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army – Human Resources, his areas of responsibility include Active, Guard and Reserve Component’s personnel matters and Accessions programs.
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John McLaurin III, the First Shot
Speaker, fires the 'First Shot' to formally open the 2007 National Matches. McLaurin is the Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army - Human Resources.
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Mr. McLaurin began by inviting the crowd to take off their jackets due to the hot weather. He spoke of the early marksmanship of the pioneers that gave birth to America and the values that were taught by the shooting sports such as discipline and obedience to orders. “Were it not for the marksmanship of our forefathers, there would be no United States of America,” he stated.
He fondly recalled attending the 2007 National Junior ROTC Air Rifle Championship. He said, “the values displayed by [those] young men and women can raise goose bumps on your arms and bring tears to [your] eyes.”
“Without shooting sports in America,” said McLaurin, “it would be a whole lot more difficult to mold the future leaders of America. What you see in the press about what is happening with America’s youth is not what’s happening with American’s youth who are in marksmanship.”
After McLaurin’s speech, Anderson invited him to step to the firing line to fire the ceremonial first shot to officially open the 2007 National Matches.
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The Bushmaster Limited Edition Camp Perry National Match DCM-XR Series Rifle, serial number one of 100, used to shoot the 'First Shot.'
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The rifle that was used to fire this year’s First Shot is serial number one of 100 Bushmaster Limited Edition Camp Perry National Match DCM-XR Series Rifles. Anderson described it as “a prime example of the high quality competition service rifles that are used in the National Matches.”
Bushmaster is selling the remainder of the series at the 2007 National Matches and will contribute $100 from every Limited Edition Camp Perry National Match DCM-XR Series Rifles sold to the CMP’s Junior Highpower National Match Support Program. This program is used to used to help pay travel and competition expenses for junior shooters who participate in the National Trophy Rifle Matches.
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| Members of the Coast Guard Shooting Team pose with First Shot
Speaker John McLaurin III, Deputy Assistant Secretary of the Army after firing the 'First Shot'.
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The First Shot Ceremony ended with a Mr. McLaurin posing with competitors, spectators and several military teams.
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