CAMP PERRY, OHIO – U. S. Army Reserve Soldiers from all over the United States have come to Camp Perry in support of the National Matches sponsored by the Civilian Marksmanship Program, the National Rifle Association and the Ohio National Guard starting July 8th and continuing through August 14th.

The Army Reserve annually establishes their National Match Training Support Group, which provides the command and control of over 300 Soldiers, most of whom rotate through duty positions while performing annual training. Army Reserve duty at Camp Perry also requires Soldiers to attend classes and training in Warrior and Leader tasks so necessary for all Soldiers in today's world.

Various Military Occupational Specialties are represented in the diverse field of Soldiers here in support of the matches, from carpenters and medics, to truck drivers, signal personnel and public affairs specialists.

“The soldiers here serve a dual purpose,” said Maj. Fidelis Agbor, the commander of Soldiers here in support of the National Matches, “they are here to be involved in MOS-specific functions and to support the National Matches.”

“There is no one dominant MOS,” Agbor said, “Soldiers will come and go, but they are all here to perform the mission.”

“The success of the National Matches will depend on Soldiers doing their jobs promptly and proficiently,” he said.

One group of Soldiers that have already been doing their job promptly and proficiently have been engineers working as carpenters.

“We assist the range crew with carpentry repairs and construction,” said Sgt. Brandon J. Sievert, a Heavy Equipment Operator here as a carpenter from the 961st Engineer Battalion out of Milwaukee, Wis.

“There are currently two engineers working as carpenters who have been building pistol benches, shooter stools, and pistol storage boxes, as well as to facilitate any other construction that the National Matches Range Engineer requires,” said Sievert.

“During our stay here,” he said, “I have seen improvements; with hard work and ingenuity, we have repaired 40-45 pistol benches and produced several pistol and spectator benches that are now ready for the competitors.”

As with any range in the world, there must be a person who is capable of treating a casualty with a diverse array of injuries from sunburn and heat exhaustion to life sustainment for an individual who suffers a severe injury.

“We [medics] hope to accomplish the prevention of injuries through training and education,” said Sgt. 1st Class Michael D. Grant, a medic with Headquarters, Headquarters Detachment, 333rd Medical Group out of Grand Rapids, Mich.

The medics here in support of the National Matches have also been conducting classes for Soldiers assigned here for the duration.

“Our job is to provide basic soldier support for minor injuries as well as life sustainment for civilians, if the need arises, until the arrival of civilian Emergency Medical Technicians,” said Grant.

Over the course of several days, the medics have turned an empty building into a fully functional Troop Medical Clinic or TMC. “When we first arrived, there was no TMC/aid station, we cleaned [the building] up and turned it into a function dispensary [for soldiers.],” he said.

“Having close to 60 medics rotate through here during the duration of the matches, brings a wealth of knowledge and support skills to the National Matches mission and in the end gives our Soldiers and civilians better care,” said Grant.

A successful mission means successful communication.

Sgt. Greg F. Porter, the noncommissioned officer-in-charge of communications here, is tasked with providing reliable communications for the National Matches.

“Our section manages communication on the ranges; we set up loudspeakers so that competitors can hear range commands. We also work with the Civilian Marksmanship Program (CMP) in maintaining that equipment,” said Porter.

During the matches, the communications section is the point of contact between the CMP, the Army Reserve and the National Rifle Association (NRA).

“If they need it, [communications], we provide it,” he said.

During the course of the National Matches, the communications section is also tasked with providing a wireless setup for awards ceremonies after the matches, said Porter.

“Our priority is mission,” said Major Agbor, “our job is to ensure no serious incidents occur and to make the National Matches more successful than previous matches.”

NEXT ARTICLE