SSG Charles Herlth, Army Marksmanship Unit and head instructor of the 2002 Small Arms Firing School (SAFS) at Camp Perry On Target: In Good Health The First Shot talked to SSG Charles Herlth on the second day of the Small Arms Firing School at Camp Perry during the National Matches. Herlth is an active EMT and former NCOIC of the Army SAFS staff at Camp Perry. With the noontime August sun beating down, it seemed like a good time to talk about how to prepare physically for outdoor shooting competitions. Below are some basic health tips SSG Herlth recommends to ensure that your shooting will be as enjoyable and successful as you want it to be. Health plays a big part in shooting highpower. You know you're coming out here in the hot conditions, and you're going to put on a sweat shirt and a shooting coat. Furthermore, some people don't take into consideration that they need to hydrate properly before coming out. It never fails--we we always have an incident of someone not hydrating properly prior to coming out here. You should begin two days prior--that's when you should start your hydration period. The morning of when we give classroom instruction to emphasize this is too late. Also, continue to hydrate through the matches you plan to fire. The heat's not going away. Neither is the humidity. And you're going to continue to shoot in a sweat shirt and shooting coat. So the heat's going to remain--that's a consistent factor. Hearlth has this advice for SAFS coaches: If your shooter is sweating excessively, if he looks like he's not feeling well, be sure to talk to him. See how he's feeling. If you think he is in trouble, summon assistance as soon as possible. At CampPerry, medics are stationed on the firing line for situations just like this. SSG Herlth recommends that all shooters do some kind of physical training to improve their general state of health. Being in good health helps to reduce the risk of dehydration and overheating. Food is also important. You need to make sure you are providing yourself with the right food. A lot people come out here and start skipping meals. If you're not used to skipping a meal, that plays a major role in how you feel through the day. Furthermore, if you're uncomfortable because you're hungry, you're no longer concentrating on shooting. Eat three good meals a day--a lot of people eat fast food all the time, and it really doesn't benefit you. You can carry something with you on the line, an apple or a banana, to fill that gap between meals if the relays start getting a little late. Finally, there's the question of sleep. When you come up here to Camp Perry and you run into friends you haven't seen for years--the camaraderie is absolutely overwhelming. Still, you need a decent night's sleep. You know what time you need to get up to be on the firing line. So set yourself an eight hour limit prior to that, and try to make that your curfew.