Soldier becomes second woman to set national high-powered rifle record [guess who was first?]

wtvm.com ^ | 17 Sept 2010 | unattributed

[DuncanWaring]

[depressed in 06]

I always thought Nancy was the perfect shooting platform.

[Jabba the Nutt]

Rumor had it, that the Soviets used women as snipers to great effect.

[Greg223]

The AMU also is involved in training of soldiers. It is not just to shoot competitions. I had the opportunity to meet her this year at the Canadien Fullbore nationals and she is pleasant and friendly as she is good wtih a rifle.

[smokingfrog]

I don't know how much propaganda played a role in the video posted at #7, but it says that the Soviets trained 2,000 women and only around 500 survived the war.

[gman992]

The Uniformed Division of the Secret Service still have the best marksmen!

[gundog]

The Uniformed Division of the Secret Service still have the best marksmen!

Last I heard of their shooting, it was with a service pistol in a parked car.

[Manly Warrior]

The USAMU is a unit assigned to to US Army Accessions Command USAAC, a Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) unit. It is part of the Army’s Recruiting Command (USAREC) and is a supporting unit. It’s mission is to a) assist in the recruitng of Soldiers through marksmanship prowess and b) to improve the overall capability of marksmanship throughout the Army by training Soldiers. Winning the trophies is part of the former, going to units and posts here in the US as well as overseas is the latter.

Sgt Gallagher is a truck driver by MOS taining, and at some point in her enlistment/carrer with the Army, she likely will deploy to normal units and work her MOS skills like anyone else.

Yes, these fine Soldiers do serve in combat-recently, a former AMU Soldier (a MSGT) was killed in combat in Afghanistan-he was a SF Warrior.

SGT Gallaghers’ win indeed took place at Camp Perry this past August, she beat a recent national match winner (Carl Bernosky of PA) by 2 points if I recall, both breaking old records. She used a match rifle, not a service rifle (neither of which are what our troops carry in the field). The event requires shooting 240 shots over the course of 3 days from 200 (standing & rapid fire sitting) 300(rapid fire prone) and 600 yards (slow fire prone). Shooters also score for another shooter and spend time in the pits (at the target line) pulling and marking shot holes in the targets. It is not an easy day....

Army Snipers, is a special duty assignment/training available to males only (by law & policy)in the Special Forces, Infantry and MPs (and a few other MOSs). So, Sherri cannot be a US Army sniper.

By the way, what are you doing in the war on terror?

best;

[School of Rational Thought]

So you essentially confirm that she is shooting for marketing reasons.

Since there are so many who apply and/or wash out of sniper school, there does not seem a need for such a singular marketing asset. The Army can train snipers who can market as well as actually be snipers.

The Army has essentially invested in an asset in which the investment is wasted.

My role in the war on terror is to point out mismanagement of resources, whether in the military as elsewhere. The military does not get a pass just because they are the military, nor do posters who call themselves “Manly Warrior”. I suspect no one else would make that mistake.

[marktwain]

“High power matches, or for that matter, most competitive shooting, have very little in common with combat marksmanship, other than the basics.”

Perhaps so. When I asked George (Tex) Ferguson, the second most decorated American soldier in WWII, a good friend of mine, what was the best marksmanship training for combat, he unhesitatingly said “The National Match Course”.

He was a gifted shot and instructor, and was the Army coach to the pistol team that went to Russia to compete with the Russians.

He did a great deal after the war. Many have said that he was a CIA assassin. I do not know, but how many people have their own government issued MAC 10? I never saw it, but others did and I have the case that he carried it in, which his family sold after Tex passed on.

Also, Jim Cirrillo, the famous New York City police officer who was such a successful gun fighter said that competition in formal matches was something that should be looked for in selecting personnel that would be at high risk of gun fights.

From the link below:

http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_3_54/ai_n24232224/

“More than anything else, Cirillo emphasized mind-set and preparedness. He noted hunters made good stakeout men, not because they were accustomed to shooting for blood so much as because they were accustomed to waiting patiently and keeping their focus as they looked for certain signs. Best of all, he said, were the hunters who were also competition shooters, because when the gunfire started, shooting under pressure was already second nature for them.”

[MarkL]

Why is it that a number of Freepers seem to focus on the one sentence,

“High power matches, or for that matter, most competitive shooting, have very little in common with combat marksmanship, other than the basics.

but then completely ignore the following sentance that I posted:

Though someone with increased skill levels will naturally be at an advantage in combat.

Carlos Hathcock was mentioned in an earlier reply to my posting. He did win at Camp Perry, and I don't think that anybody would try to downplay what an amazing marksman he was. But that wasn't what made him the legendary sniper. His "woodcraft" and steely nerve is what made him one of the best ever. Of course without the marksmanship skills, he never would have been as good as he was, but without the other expertise, he might not have survived his tours of Viet Nam, and he never would have become the legendary "White Feather."

I've known some gifted competition marksmen who did amazingly poorly at bowling pin or USPSA style shooting.

Mark

[marktwain]

So, you did not think that the information that I provided added to the discussion?

I agree about bullseye competition, BTW. You need to practice closer to how you would shoot in combat. I simply found it interesting that a couple of exceptional combat shooters would recommend competition.

[MarkL]

So, you did not think that the information that I provided added to the discussion?

Not at all. It added a great deal. I was just pointing out that I mentioned that additional training and skills would make someone who was good at combat, even better. In addition to the 2 posted replies, I received a number of phone calls from friends and shooting buddies. Maybe I was just a little bit "thin-skinned."

Mark

[Manly Warrior]

Rational;

As far as your “mismanagement” efforts, you fail to see a bigger picture. Good, bad or otherwise, it is what wins our wars and provides many opportunities to our young folks who want to ride; not coach from the sidelines (seems we already have enough generals etc). Tell your complaint the congress, they direct/fund our efforts, if you recall.

The US AMU has a long hsitory of representing the Army and the US in competition and has a big impact on marksmanship skills across the spectrum of the Army. Wasted asset? Surely you jest or just do not know what you are talking about. This woman Soldier just mastered over 500 other men (and women) in an “all who dare show” event and you have criticism becuase she can’t be a sniper??

If you must know, my screen name is a rough translation of my name in polish. However, for your edification, I served 23 years active duty, am a disabled combat veteran and indeed, still have sand in my boots; father to one who has stepped up to fill my place and who is now getting that same sand in her boots as we speak. Here, hold her reins, please, as she is rather busy right now.

Wishing you success in your quest to make the military leaner and meaner according to your pithy understanding of, well, whatever.

Best;