Western New York Army and Air Guardsmen Represent New York at National Shooting Match

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Members of the New York National Guard marksmanship team pose at Camp Robinson, Arkansas during national shooting competition in April.

LATHAM, NY (05/04/2012)(readMedia)-- Eight Western New York Army and Air National Guardsmen represented New York at the annual Winston P. Wilson National shooting competition in Arkansas the last week in April.

The Airmen from the 107th Airlift Wing at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and the Soldiers from the 152nd Engineer Company, headquartered at the Connecticut Street Armory in Buffalo, were among 400 participants in the annual Skill at Arms Match held at Camp Robinson in Little Rock from April 22 to 28.

Contestants came from 44 states and two U.S. territories.

"There is no finer format for evaluating professional ability with small arms than training events like this," said Air Guard Master Sgt. Edward Stefik, the leader of the New York National Guard team.

"This event has a remarkable history and fosters a tremendous spirit of competition and camaraderie across the nation," he added.

The Western New Yorkers didn't take home any major trophies from the

Competition but still put in a respectable performance, Stefik said.

Stefik, from Lewiston, finished at fourth place in the Combat Frontal Assault Match and 8th in the Combat Reflexive Fire competition.

Air Guard Tech Sergeant Warren Jones, from Rochester, finished in the top 10 percent of competitors in the Combat Pistol matches.

Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Brian Aldinger,from Lancaster and Army National Guard Sgt Timothy Jacobson, from Great Valley, who were shooting in competition for the first time, finished in the top percentage for novice shooters, Stefik said.

All the New York team members have deployed to Afghanistan or Iraq so they understand the importance of combat-oriented training like this, Stefik said. There were 16 individuak and team shooting competitions so the week-lon event was both physically and mentally demanding, he added.

Other members of the team were Army National Guard Sgt. Jon Roe, Cheektowaga; Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Christopher Doherty, from Tonawanda; Army National Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Kapela, from Buffalo, and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. William Snyder, from Strikersville.

A team from Pennsylvania took first place in the competition while teams from Louisiana and Texas finished second and third, respectively.

The Winston P. Wilson Championship Matches are named after the Deputy Chief of the National Guard Bureau who established the annual marksmanship competition in 1971. The matches are designed to train and test shooters on rifles, pistols, machine guns and combined armed discipline.

Cutline for Team Photo:

Members of the New York National Guard Winston P. Wilson Match Team are, from left rear row:  Air National Guard Master Sgt. Edward Stefik, Army National Guard Sgt. Timothy Jacobson, Army National Guard Sgt. John Row, Air National Guard Tech Sgt. Christopher Doherty, Air National Guard Staff Sgt. Brian Aldinger and New York State Command Sergent Major Frank Wicks who  was not a team member.  The members in the front row are, from left to right: Air Natonal Guard Tech Sgt. Warren Jones, Army Guard Staff Sgt. Michael Kapela, and Army National Guard Staff Sgt. William Snyder.