BRAGGS, Okla. -   –   The Oklahoma Army National Guard’s top marksmen were locked, loaded and aimed for excellence for the Sergeant Major’s Match and Governor’s Twenty marksmanship competition, Sept. 14-17.

The competitions consisted of accuracy matches on the M4 carbine and the M17 pistol and tests the Citizen-Soldiers' ability to shoot from various positions and distances, taking them out of their comfort zone.

The Sergeant Major’s Match includes closer targets, faster reloading, and more weapons manipulation. The Governor’s Twenty focuses more on long-distance precision and accuracy.

“They fire at pistol targets as far as 30 meters and rifle targets up to 400, shooting in different positions a Soldier normally wouldn’t during a normal weapons qualification,” said Sgt. Brian Stuart, a member of the Small Arms Training Team at Camp Gruber Training Center.

More than 40 Oklahoma Citizen-Soldiers competed, but only 20 can be awarded the Governor’s Twenty tab. Once qualified, Soldiers can wear the elite tab on their uniforms for the rest of their career.

“It’s a prestigious thing that you wear,” Stuart said. “You came in and proved yourself in competition that you’re a good shooter, and now you can walk around your unit and they’ll see that.”

The benefit from participating in the Sergeant Major’s Match and the Governor’s Twenty is gaining a deeper understanding of the M4 carbines and M17 pistols through hands-on experience. This training gives Soldiers knowledge to bring back to their units, making them subject matter experts.

Sgt. Travis Welborn, a musician with the 145th Army Band, 90th Troop Command, is a first-time participant in the match.

“Absolutely do it,” Welborn said, “It’s very low stress and relaxed, but professional at the same time. It’s a great way to learn techniques to improve your marksmanship that translates to your yearly qualification and makes you a better shooter overall.”

Soldiers received instruction from the Small Arms Training Team, which included previous Sergeant Major’s Match and Governor’s Twenty winners, and utilized the newest weapon technology and different techniques during the competition.

“It’s great training whether you’re a novice or one of the greatest shooters in the state,” Stuart said. “We have holsters, we have weapons, we have optics, just come out here and get shooting.”

Winners:

Top Gun Awardees:
Sgt. Jordan Penner, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Capt. Erik Mortenson, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Staff Sgt. Rayne Cox, Small Arms Training Team, Camp Gruber Training Center

Gus Hadwiger Awardees:
Staff Sgt. Rayne Cox, Small Arms Training Team, Camp Gruber Training Center
Staff Sgt. Zacharia Baxter, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Capt. Erik Mortenson, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
2nd Lt. Jonathan Burleigh, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment

Rifle Team
1st place:
Staff Sgt. Zacharia Baxter, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Sgt. Jordan Penner, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Staff Sgt. Jimmy Stidham, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
Staff Sgt. David Tyree, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

2nd place:
Cadet Carter Salinas, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
Staff Sgt. Shorter, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
2nd Lt. Jonathan Burleigh, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
Sgt. Chad Warren, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment

3rd place:
Spc. Johnathon Diedrich, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Sgt. Shawn Green, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Capt. Erik Mortenson, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Sgt. Corlan Hammond, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment

Rifle Open Class
1st place: Staff Sgt. Rayne Cox, Small Arms Training Team, Camp Gruber Training Center
2nd place: Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roger Farley, Small Arms Training Team, Camp Gruber Training Center
3rd place: Capt. Erik Mortenson, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment

Rifle Novice Class
1st place: Sgt. Jordan Penner, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
2nd place: Sgt. Charlie Shelton, 1120th Engineer Detachment, 120th Engineer Battalion
3rd place: Staff Sgt. Zacharia Baxter, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion

Pistol Team
1st place:
Spc. Johnathon Diedrich, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Sgt. Shawn Green, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Capt. Erik Mortenson, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
Sgt. Corlan Hammond, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment

2nd place:
Cadet Carter Salinas, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
Staff Sgt. Shorter, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
2nd Lt. Jonathan Burleigh, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
Sgt. Chad Warren, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment

3rd place:
Sgt. Collin Mandrino, 1120th Engineer Detachment, 120th Engineer Battalion
Sgt. Charlie Shelton, 1120th Engineer Detachment, 120th Engineer Battalion
Spc. Garrison Morgan, 1120th Engineer Detachment, 120th Engineer Battalion
Spc. Rick Lawrence, 1120th Engineer Detachment, 120th Engineer Battalion

Pistol Open Class
1st place: Capt. Erik Mortenson, Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment
2nd place: Sgt. 1st Class Nathaniel Powell, Small Arms Training Team, Camp Gruber Training Center
3rd place: Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roger Farley, Small Arms Training Team, Camp Gruber Training Center

Pistol Novice Class
1st place: 2nd Lt. Jonathan Burleigh, Alpha Company, 1st Battalion, 279th Infantry Regiment
2nd place: Sgt. Jordan Penner, 1245 Transportation Company, 345th Combat Sustainment Support Battalion
3rd place: Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Councill

For photos of the winners, visit https://www.flickr.com/photos/oklanationalguard/albums/72177720311366733.