More than 100 Oklahoma National Guardsmen from across the state tested their marksmanship skills and abilities in the 2024 Governor’s 20 Marksmanship Competition, Sept. 7-8 at Camp Gruber Training Center, Oklahoma.

The Oklahoma National Guard Governor’s 20 is an annual competition where Oklahoma Army and Air National Guardsmen compete against one another in a series of events to showcase the best of the best marksmen in the state.

The annual event consists of individual rifle and pistol challenges designed to promote marksmanship and provide service members from the National Guard an opportunity to test shooting skills and weapon systems in a battle-focused environment.

“I love the idea of competition amongst units,” said Capt. Brandon Wykoff, officer in charge of the Oklahoma National Guard Small Arms Training Team. “It helps build and develop Soldiers and Airmen. We have new shooters out here, as well as seasoned shooters that have been here several times. The seasoned shooters are a great resource to train the new shooters. Then all those Soldiers go back to their individual units and can pass that knowledge and training on as well that motivation, that camaraderie that occurs out here.”

Wykoff said the Army and Air Guardsmen who are competing learn from and get to know each other, so that if later in their careers they need to work together in a real-world environment, that relationship and trust is already built.

At the end of the competition, the top 20 marksmen in the state are awarded the Governor’s 20 tab and are recognized as Oklahoma’s top shots.

Chief Warrant Officer 5 Roger Farley, senior ordinance officer for the Oklahoma Army National Guard, said that while many Guardsmen only fire once a year for qualification on their assigned weapons, the Governor's 20 match gives them an opportunity to develop their skills outside of regular training.

“When they compete in these competitions, it's training," said Farley, who has been competing in the Governor's 20 match since 1991 and led the Oklahoma National Guard's Small Arms Training Team during the late 2000s into the late 2010s. "They're learning a wealth of knowledge so they can go back to their units and share what they've learned with their fellow Soldiers and Airmen. It's a community. It's a camaraderie, to build lifelong friendships.

Senior Master Sgt. Michael Jarreau, accessories superintendent for the 138th Fighter Wing said competitions like the Governor’s 20 also help build Soldier’s and Airmen’s confidence and capabilities as members of the military.

“It's a building block,” Jarreau said. “The backbone of the military is marksmanship, so having that fundamental basis will prepare you for anything out there. We were running out here. We're gunning out here.”

First time competitor Sgt. Logan Hollingsworth, a calvary scout with Alpha Troop, 1st Squadron, 180th Cavalry Regiment, 45th Infantry Brigade Combat Team, echoed Jarreau’s statement saying he wants to do the best that he can to be a proficient Soldier. Making sure that he is ready to protect himself, his country and fellow Soldiers.

“You are a Soldier for the United States Army, and part of what we do is to protect and provide service for not only each other, but for the United States of America,” Hollingsworth said. “It's important that we know not only the basics, but as much as we can about being able to protect our country and each other, and no matter what conditions it may be in, whether it be as beautiful as the day it is like this, whether the rain or snow or desert.”

Wykoff explained being a part of the competition alongside units coming together who bring different expertise in a variety of areas is crucial for readiness.

“It's the nature of the competition,” said Wykoff. “You're competing against each other, but you're having fun with it as well. You're learning at the same time, so just all around, a good time for Soldiers coming out here.”

RESULTS OF 2024 GOVERNOR’S 20:
RIFLE

1st WILSON, BROCK
2nd GWYNN, DAN
3rd COX, RAYNE
4th STOUT, JAMES
5th SHONS, WILLIAM
6th THOMPSON, COLBY
7th MCDONALD, KOLTEN
8th BOWERS, BRAXTON
9th CAGLE, DAVID
10th JARREAU, MICHEAL
11th GOODIN, BRIAN
12th PENNER, JORDAN
13th STIDHAM, JIMMY
14th BAVIDO, ETHAN
15th KAISER, JOSEPH
16th MOSS, CODY
17th ANDERSON, GAVIN
18th MYERS, REED
19th JOHNSON, BRANDON
20th BENNETT, BRANDON

PISTOL
1ST WYKOFF, BRANDON
2nd COX, RAYNE
3rd BURLEIGH, JONATHAN
4th FARLEY, ROGER
5th THOMPSON, COLBY
6th ANDERSON, HARRISON
7th GUYNN, DAN
8th COSTANZO, MAXIMUS
9th HAMMOND, CORLAN
10th BOWERS, BRAXTON
11th PARKS, CONNER
12th POTTS, JUSTIN
13th PENNER, JORDAN
14th CAGLE, DAVID
15th JARREAU, MICHEAL
16th JESTES, JEFFREY
17th STOUT, JAMES
18th WILSON, BROCK
19th STUART, BRIAN
20th MOSS, CODY

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