An official website of the United States government
Here's how you know
A .mil website belongs to an official U.S. Department of Defense organization in the United States.
A lock (lock ) or https:// means you’ve safely connected to the .mil website. Share sensitive information only on official, secure websites.

188th Security Forces sergeant takes home overall title at Guard's Postal Matches

  • Published
  • By Capt. Barry Eason
  • National Guard Marksmanship Training Center
CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. --  After an eight-year hiatus, the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center hosted competitors from four states and territories to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Postal Match Championship from July 26-28.

And it was Tech Sgt. Brian Detherage proving to be the best of the 21 shooters, who competed in seven different live fire matches that tested their skills in the rifle and pistol disciplines after initially utilizing the Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) at their home unit months earlier.

Sergeant Detherage, who took the overall championship with 1,407 points, expounded on the benefits of the match.

"Getting to talk with different marksmen from all skill sets has been the most beneficial part of the competition," Sergeant Detherage said. "The 600-yard rifle match was great training for all and there are very few people who get the opportunity to shoot at that distance with open sights; you can teach what you learn to newer shooters especially."

Competitions like the CNGB championship are designed to challenge and help the marksmanship skills of each shooter.

"You're never too old to learn and as a 16-year veteran in military and civilian marksmanship events, I learn something from a match almost every time I go," said Master Sgt. Greg Palmer, also a member of the 188th who competed in the CNGB matches and finished seventh overall with 1,301 points. "Case in point, for this match I picked up on a tip to vastly improve my kneeling position with the rife and it worked out very well for me."

Originally, the postal matches were conducted in armories across the country in indoor ranges using small bore match rifles and pistols with the target results being sent to the Marksmanship Training Unit for scoring. Even though it developed marksmanship skills at the unit level and was a direct benefit to unit weapons qualification, the match was eventually eliminated due to factors such as indoor ranges closing due to lead contamination, target scoring becoming labor intensive, lack of participation and ultimately funding cuts that doomed the program.

The LMTS has provided a more cost effective and efficient way for Guardsmen to participate, with most states having the ability to set up a match at the unit level.

"The indoor ranges were replaced by simulations, which are the National Guard's current armory training tool," said Army Lt. Col. Shannon Saucy, deputy commander of the Marksmanship Training Center. "The same marksmanship skills can now be developed with less cost, logistical and safety requirements and the Guardsmen's actual weapons and sights can be used."

Army Staff Sgt. William Thorpe, Illinois National Guard, added that the LMTS system stressed the importance of weapon maintenance and functionality while providing better ways to apply remedial action to weapon malfunctions.

"It afforded my unit another opportunity to conduct immediate feedback which is a key for soldiers to retain changes they've made to their shooting fundamentals," he said.

The CNGB matches differ from the state, regional and national Winston P. Wilson matches in a few different ways.

"At the CNGB championship, we incorporate several scenarios with the National Rifle Association style courses of fire with an M16 rifle and small-bore service pistol courses of fire with an M9," said Army Capt. Adam Young, officer in charge of the match. "This gives participants a chance to compete and develop skills in broader areas of marksmanship competition because we often see competitors who are good at one discipline and they tend to settle into that discipline. With incorporating several disciplines we can establish an individual champion who is the most proficient at the widest array of disciplines."

Captain Young wanted to emphasize that in order to participate, one just needs to contact their state marksmanship coordinator for information and that the CNGB matches are open to all Guardsmen at all skill levels.

"The LMTS course of fire at a unit level is a good introductory match for those who have no clue that there are competitive marksmanship opportunities for them in the National Guard," he said. "It also provides an opportunity for those who excel to compete shoulder to shoulder with other participants from across the nation while aiding in a unit's proficiency in basic marksmanship fundamentals resulting in better qualification rates."

"[The match] was extremely challenging and it provides motivation to practice more in order to improve," said Air Force Capt. Cheryl Forde, Hawaii National Guard. "It was helpful to walk through the multiple courses of fire and the tips I learned can be used to help other unit members."

Army Master Sgt. Roy Vialet, Virgin Islands National Guard, also added that he will take back what he learned to his home unit.

"I plan to pass on all the information, tips and practices to my fellow unit members at home," he said. "The competitive events made me a better marksman, which in turn will help make my unit become better shooters."

Chief of the National Guard Bureau Postal Match Championship
1st - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Detherage, Arkansas (1407)
2nd - Army Staff Sgt. Tracey Mix, Illinois (1389)
3rd - Air Force Master Sgt. Stuart Leong, Hawaii (1349)

188th Security Forces sergeant takes home overall title at Guard's Postal Matches

  • Published
  • By Capt. Barry Eason
  • National Guard Marksmanship Training Center
CAMP JOSEPH T. ROBINSON, Ark. --  After an eight-year hiatus, the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center hosted competitors from four states and territories to the Chief of the National Guard Bureau Postal Match Championship from July 26-28.

And it was Tech Sgt. Brian Detherage proving to be the best of the 21 shooters, who competed in seven different live fire matches that tested their skills in the rifle and pistol disciplines after initially utilizing the Laser Marksmanship Training System (LMTS) at their home unit months earlier.

Sergeant Detherage, who took the overall championship with 1,407 points, expounded on the benefits of the match.

"Getting to talk with different marksmen from all skill sets has been the most beneficial part of the competition," Sergeant Detherage said. "The 600-yard rifle match was great training for all and there are very few people who get the opportunity to shoot at that distance with open sights; you can teach what you learn to newer shooters especially."

Competitions like the CNGB championship are designed to challenge and help the marksmanship skills of each shooter.

"You're never too old to learn and as a 16-year veteran in military and civilian marksmanship events, I learn something from a match almost every time I go," said Master Sgt. Greg Palmer, also a member of the 188th who competed in the CNGB matches and finished seventh overall with 1,301 points. "Case in point, for this match I picked up on a tip to vastly improve my kneeling position with the rife and it worked out very well for me."

Originally, the postal matches were conducted in armories across the country in indoor ranges using small bore match rifles and pistols with the target results being sent to the Marksmanship Training Unit for scoring. Even though it developed marksmanship skills at the unit level and was a direct benefit to unit weapons qualification, the match was eventually eliminated due to factors such as indoor ranges closing due to lead contamination, target scoring becoming labor intensive, lack of participation and ultimately funding cuts that doomed the program.

The LMTS has provided a more cost effective and efficient way for Guardsmen to participate, with most states having the ability to set up a match at the unit level.

"The indoor ranges were replaced by simulations, which are the National Guard's current armory training tool," said Army Lt. Col. Shannon Saucy, deputy commander of the Marksmanship Training Center. "The same marksmanship skills can now be developed with less cost, logistical and safety requirements and the Guardsmen's actual weapons and sights can be used."

Army Staff Sgt. William Thorpe, Illinois National Guard, added that the LMTS system stressed the importance of weapon maintenance and functionality while providing better ways to apply remedial action to weapon malfunctions.

"It afforded my unit another opportunity to conduct immediate feedback which is a key for soldiers to retain changes they've made to their shooting fundamentals," he said.

The CNGB matches differ from the state, regional and national Winston P. Wilson matches in a few different ways.

"At the CNGB championship, we incorporate several scenarios with the National Rifle Association style courses of fire with an M16 rifle and small-bore service pistol courses of fire with an M9," said Army Capt. Adam Young, officer in charge of the match. "This gives participants a chance to compete and develop skills in broader areas of marksmanship competition because we often see competitors who are good at one discipline and they tend to settle into that discipline. With incorporating several disciplines we can establish an individual champion who is the most proficient at the widest array of disciplines."

Captain Young wanted to emphasize that in order to participate, one just needs to contact their state marksmanship coordinator for information and that the CNGB matches are open to all Guardsmen at all skill levels.

"The LMTS course of fire at a unit level is a good introductory match for those who have no clue that there are competitive marksmanship opportunities for them in the National Guard," he said. "It also provides an opportunity for those who excel to compete shoulder to shoulder with other participants from across the nation while aiding in a unit's proficiency in basic marksmanship fundamentals resulting in better qualification rates."

"[The match] was extremely challenging and it provides motivation to practice more in order to improve," said Air Force Capt. Cheryl Forde, Hawaii National Guard. "It was helpful to walk through the multiple courses of fire and the tips I learned can be used to help other unit members."

Army Master Sgt. Roy Vialet, Virgin Islands National Guard, also added that he will take back what he learned to his home unit.

"I plan to pass on all the information, tips and practices to my fellow unit members at home," he said. "The competitive events made me a better marksman, which in turn will help make my unit become better shooters."

Chief of the National Guard Bureau Postal Match Championship
1st - Air Force Tech. Sgt. Brian Detherage, Arkansas (1407)
2nd - Army Staff Sgt. Tracey Mix, Illinois (1389)
3rd - Air Force Master Sgt. Stuart Leong, Hawaii (1349)