Three D-M marksmen earn gold at championships

  • Published
  • By Staff Sgt. Tim Beckham
  • 355th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
DAVIS-MONTHAN AIR FORCE BASE, Ariz. --  Three Davis-Monthan Airmen recently helped the U.S. Air Force Shooting Team win the 2009 National Rifle and Pistol Championships at Camp Perry, Ohio.

The Air Force High Power Rifle Team carried 10 members and seven pick-up shooters. Master Sgt. David Johnson, from 12th Air Force, Master Sgt. Edward Semler, and Tech. Sgt. Darryl Smith, both from the 355th Equipment Maintenance Squadron, all played an important part in the Air Force taking home the gold.

The championships, which are sponsored by the National Rifle Association, began July 14 and ran through August 19. The competition drew several thousand marksmen from around the country to compete in five separate shooting categories: pistol, smallbore three-position, smallbore prone, high power rifle and long range.

"We get to shoot rifles and represent the Air Force up against some of the best marksmen around," said Sergeant Smith. "It doesn't get any better than that."

The three D-M members often get together and shoot in Southern Arizona, but said doing well against their peers was more gratifying.

"It always feels good to do well, but on a national level it's an extra special feeling," added Sergeant Johnson.

The other service teams also have more time to dedicate to shooting. In the Army, Navy and Marines, the servicemember's job is being on the team. In the Air Force, being part of the shooting team is extracurricular.

"The Army and Marine teams are all stationed together and shoot and train all year long," said Sergeant Johnson. "The Air Force Rifle Team is scattered across the U.S. and we only get together once a year to shoot at nationals. When we come together and shoot well, beating the other service teams, it's a great accomplishment and testament to the quality of our shooters."

Sergeant Johnson may have been a little surprised by how well his team did in the tournament, but it didn't come as a surprise to the other services.

"The Air Force always has a good showing," said Marine Cpl. Jared Litke, a member of the U.S. Marine Corps Rifle Team. "And we respect what they do, knowing they can't dedicate all their time to shooting like some of the service teams."

For more information about the team, call Sergeant Johnson at 228-0209 or 834-2273.