USARAK small-arms team claims third at competition

by Sgt. 1st Class Jeffrey Smith
4-25 IBCT Public Affairs

2/27/2015 - JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska -- Top shooters from U.S. Army Alaska claimed third place overall at the U.S. Army Small Arms Competition hosted at Fort Benning earlier this month.

Twenty-five teams from across the Army to include the regular Army, the Army Reserve and the Army National Guard competed at the event.

The teams consisted of four competitors each, along with a coach.

The USARAK team was well-represented by a diverse group from its two main Alaska installations - Fort Wainwright and Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson.

Representing USARAK at the competition were Army Staff Sgt. Robert Blanton, an infantryman with the 3rd Battalion, 21st Infantry Regiment, 1st Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 25th Infantry Division; Army Staff Sgt. Nathan Hilmanowski, an infantryman with the 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment, 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (Airborne), 25th ID; Army Staff Sgt. Jean-Noel Howell, an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 25th ID; and Army Staff Sgt. Samuel Bartlett, an infantryman with the 1st Battalion, 5th Infantry Regiment, 1st SBCT, 25th ID.

The coach for the USARAK team was Army Master Sgt. Byron Humphrey, who is assigned to 4-25.

"They were phenomenal," said Humphrey of his team's accomplishments.

"We sent a team of guys who literally trained for three weeks and they placed third overall. That's huge."

Team USARAK had a very experienced pistol shooter in Howell, who nabbed first place overall in the individual pistol-shooting category.

He was the only member on the team with a "pro class" rating.

The other three were all in the "novice class," meaning they had not previously taken part in any official shooting competitions.

One rule in the competition was the requirement at least one member of each team be a novice.

The USARAK team had three novice members, which further enhanced and signified their third place overall achievement.

A significant factor at the competition was fitness, Humphrey said.

The team was able to complete a 1.5-mile run while donning a full kit of military gear in a very short time. The USARAK team did well in the event, gaining bonus points which served to propel it toward the top of the competition.

Accuracy and focus were also paramount as the team negotiated the target range.

Shooters fired from the 400-yard mark, sprinted to the 300-yard mark, firing as accurately as possible, then sprinted to the 200-yard mark, and so on.

Humphrey said he did his best to keep the team motivated and focused.

"While they were running from yard line to yard line, I was running with them, coaching them all the way along," he said.

"They were shooting all iron sights. M16A4, iron sights - no special bullets, just regular green-tipped ammo from 500 yards, 400 yards, three, two, one.

"I mean they're shooting from some pretty far distances," he said.

Other challenges included engaging targets from multiple lateral angles while moving through the course.

All of the team members said they enjoyed the competition very much, and that even though they went there to win, they were proud to earn the third place award.