New York Division of Military and Naval Affairs News - Air Wing Takes TAG Match for Fourth Year

Marskmanship Trophies to Remain in Niagara Falls for Another Year

Story by: Col. Richard Goldenberg - Joint Force Headquarters
Dated: Mon, Jun 3, 2013

Air Wing Takes TAG Match for Fourth Year

Members of the New York National Guard compete in the individual pistol marskmanship range here June 1 during the New York State Adjutant General’s Marskmanship Competition. The TAG Match pits representatives of all of New York State’s military forces in team and individual weapons marksmanship tournaments. The training, held June 1-2, recognizes the best shooters in the New York National Guard for 2013. Photo by Col. Richard Goldenberg, New York National Guard Joint Force Headquarters. (RELEASED)

CAMP SMITH TRAINING SITE, PEEKSKILL, N.Y. - Members of the New York Air National Guard’s 107th Airlift Wing achieved top honors for the fourth straight year in The New York National Guard’s Adjutant General’s Marksmanship Competition held at Camp Smith Training Site near Peekskill on June 1-2.

The members of the team--1st Sgt. Randal Schenefiel, Tech. Sgt. Christopher Doherty, Tech. Sgt. Ryan Mang and Master Sgt. Edward Stefik.-placed first in the General George Patton Pistol match and the National Guard Infantry Team Rifle match at the competition.

"It was an honor to be the team captain for the 107th. I find it very humbling every time I compete to be in the presence of such professional Soldiers and Airman. These folks display some of the best marksmanship skills in the state," Stefik said.

The 107th marksmanship team won individual awards as well.

Stefik was the individual champion for the combined arms match involving combat pistol and rifle. He also took first place in both the Excellence in Pistol and Combat Pistol Competitions.

Schenefiel took high scorer in the novice rank, earning the New York State Master Sgt. Joseph A. Longobardo Trophy, while Mang took third place in the Exercise in Competition and Tech Sgt. Christopher Doherty placed third in the individual rifle match.

Organized marksmanship competition has been a part of the New York National Guard’s training program since the 1800s.

Marksmanship competition today allows individual Soldiers and Airmen the opportunity to improve their level of marksmanship, engage in healthy competition, and pick top contenders to represent the state in national competitions.

The modern Adjutant General’s Match requires participants to employ the weapons used on modern battlefields, including M-16 rifle, M-9 pistol and M-249 light machine gun. Participants in the TAG Match learn to improve their shooting skills and take those lessons back to their units.

The match consists of eight timed constraint events that include the use of a pistol, rifle and machine gun - to include close quarters combat, casualty, and nuclear biological chemical (NBC) drills.

"It’s very, very competitive," said Lt. Col. Joe Martellaro, coordinator for the training competition at Camp Smith, "and they do have a bit of a rivalry between individuals and teams."