Security Forces Airman Takes Top Shot in Rifle Match

  • Published
  • By Senior Airman Martha Whipple
  • 301st Fighter Wing Public Affairs
Naval Air Station Fort Worth JRB, Texas --  Three security forces airmen took top honors at the first Excellence in Competition Basic Rifle Marksmanship Match hosted by the 610th Security Forces Squadron here August 24.

Senior Master Sgt. Michael Jensen, 610th SFS, earned the top score of 450 out of 500. Staff Sgt. Casey Pearson, 610th SFS, scored 441, and Senior Master Sgt. Gordon Blair, 301st SFS, scored 427.

Twenty-nine competitors took aim at being top shot. The competitors, including Army, Navy, Marine and Air Force shooters, fired 50 rounds from an M-16A2 rifle from the prone, sitting, kneeling and standing positions. When official scores were tallied and winners were announced, three SFS Airmen achieved EIC badges for scoring in the top ten percent of the near thirty competitors.

Jensen is no stranger to marksmanship competitions. He has competed in six rifle competitions including two international events. He finished sixth in the world in an International Peacekeeper Competition for Security Forces in Albuquerque, N.M., in 1992. He also qualified for the European Rifle Competition as a member of the Royal Air Force Auxiliary team; he served as an RAF security forces exchange program instructor. He has served 24 years in the military including 22 of those with the 610th SFS. He has deployed to 18 countries and 44 states supporting Air Force Reserve Command and Air Force security-related missions, most of which required a weapon to be carried.

Jensen carries on a long family history of military service.

"Someone in my family has served in the military since the Civil War," said Jensen, who grew up on a farm near Springfield, Mo. "My dad had guns. My granddad had guns. Guns were just a part of my life. My approach to any competition is to stay calm, focus on the shooting fundamentals and keep to the basics."

All three of the winners attribute their edge in the competition to experience. Blair, a full-time police officer in Lewisville, Texas, has served in a police department for 18 years, and served with the 301st SFS for 16 years.

Pearson, the youngest of the EIC winners, has been with the 610th SFS as an active duty reservist for a little over two years, but has experience that rivals most. Pearson received his first rifle, a single shot, bolt action, peep sight, .22 caliber rifle, when he was just 4 years old, he said. He then, began learning the fundamentals of marksmanship.

"I joined security forces to join the combat arms shred of the career field," Pearson said. "I wanted to pass on to fellow Airmen, basic fundamentals of marksmanship and hopefully to make shooting, not only a tool in the Air Force, but also a hobby -- and to pass on the joy I have for the sport."

The overall objective of the competition was to improve rifle marksmanship skills and promote a friendly competition while strengthening camaraderie, said Master Sgt. Anthony Lawrence, 610th SFS Combat Arms noncommissioned officer in charge and the executive officer for the EIC Match.
The top 10 percent in elementary-level EIC matches received the Non-National Bronze EIC Badge and four credit points toward the Distinguished Shooter EIC badge. The EIC Badge is authorized for wear on the Air Force uniform.

"Rifle marksmanship matches foster a spirit of competition and camaraderie across the armed forces," said Lt. Col. Michael Rothermel, 610th SFS commander. "My staff has set the bar here at NAS JRB Fort Worth to develop a basic-level event that is exciting, safe and challenging. We hope to host a similar pistol match in the spring."

The Excellence in Competition match will become an annual event. Air Force personnel may compete in up to four rifle and pistol elementary EIC matches per year until an elementary-level EIC badge is earned.

"Shooting is extremely important for security forces members as well as all other Air Force career fields due to the fact of the current operations tempo and reccurring deployments," Blair said. "At any time, a military member may be required to use a weapon. Therefore, being a reservist requires members to stay on top of their battle skills and brush up on those skills throughout year, not just on drill weekends or annual tour time."