Army - The Soldiers' Newspaper

Champion shot Sgt Andrew Munn, 2RAR, is carried in the queen’s chair during the award ceremony.
Photo by Pte Tim Asher, 7 Bde

LBdr Dean Latham of 1 Fd Regt, 105 Bty, patches a target.
Photo by Sgt Mark Dowling, 1JPAU(P)

Pte Attila Arva, 8 Pl C Coy, 6 RAR, is bang on target at the sneaker range.

LBdr Dean Latham of 1 Fd Regt 105 Bty fires through a window in a serial.

Pte Jamie Anderson 12 Pl D Coy, 6RAR, puts rounds down range at the pistol shoot range.
Photos by Sgt Mark Dowling, 1JPAU(P)

Right on the Munney at AASAM

By Cpl Sean Burton
IT TAKES one to know one and former top shot Sgt Mark Blake’s prediction, as previously reported in Army, that Sgt Andrew Munn would win Champion Shot at AASAM 2002 proved on target.

Once again a 2RAR sniper took out the prestigious award at the School of Infantry run two-week competition held at Brisbane’s Greenbank Range complex.

Sgt Munn beat fellow Townsville soldier Pte Anthony Evans, 1RAR, and Cpl Travis Ingelby, 4RAR(Cdo), into second and third place respectively.

The matches are long and arduous, covering all aspects of combat shooting from 500m to 25m.

SI Small Arms Wing, Maj Dave Bartlett said AASAM was not just a competition but was a chance to put modern and relevant skill at arms under the spotlight.

“It is about identifying strengths and weaknesses in our equipment and combat marksmanship training, learning and seeing what a trained soldier is capable of achieving,” he said.

“AASAM matches will be constantly evolving and looking to push the skills envelope.”

Maj Bartlett said AASAM was a test of combat weapon skills and involves fitness as well as skill at arms.

“To do well at AASAM, a soldier must be fit, be able to shoot very quickly and accurately, conduct quick IA drills and know his weapon and equipment.”

For the first time at AASAM an international sniper competition was conducted and its success means organisers will continue to build on this year’s foundations.

The sniper match proved another victory for 2RAR as Lt Peter Halliday and Sgt Munn won the competition, with LCpl David Billing and Pte Mark Knobel, 6RAR, and Cpl Clinton Vechio and Pte Brett Murdoch, 2RAR, shooting with distinction.

The pistol and LSW matches saw a strong field and many soldiers competed in all three-weapon systems.

Best overall LSW operator was Pte Troy Cranney, 1RAR, followed by Cpl Ingleby, 4RAR(Cdo), and Pte Stephen Wood, 1RAR.

The top combat pistol shooter was WO1 Ian Beattie, SAW, followed by Cpl Barber APA-B and LCpl Milnes, 25/49RQR.

The Weapons Team Championship, which consists of rifle, team LSW and section matches, was won by 6RAR, followed by the Townsville battalion’s 2RAR and 1RAR.

The Royal Ulster Rifle trophy, which is contested by the RAR battalions, was won by 6RAR.

Fellow Brisbane battalion, 25/49 RQR who also won the Team Pistol Championship, won the RSL Trophy.

The international matches gave visiting teams from the US, Canada, French New Caledonia, Malaysia, Brunei, Singapore, PNG, Fiji and East Timor the opportunity to compete in rifle, pistol and MG matches.

East Timor was without doubt the most popular team in the competition, being the newest nation and defence force in the world and competing at AASAM for the first time.

It was the first time the soldiers had fired past 200m and using M4s with iron sights.

The FDTL soldiers acquitted themselves well and were a reflection of the training they received back home.

The American shooters, based in Hawaii, were surprised by the difficulty of the matches, especially the speed required to engage many of the multiple target serials.

Giving the Americans a run for their money was the Australian Army Combat Shooting Team (AACST).

The international teams competed on the last day for the Chief of the Army Trophy, in the International Service Rifle match that represents the best in international rifle marksmanship.

This match was won convincingly by the Australian Army team against a strong field.

The win is another feather in the cap for the AACST, which has continued on from its success in the Canadian Skill at Arms competition this year.

By Cpl Gayle Walkom
If you thought AASAM was about lying on a mound and shooting down range at a single target, you thought wrong.

Darwin-based soldiers from 1CSSB entered this year’s competition and found there was a lot more to it than previously thought.

1CSSB were the only team entry from Darwin, but there was an individual entry from 161 Recce Sqn.

AASAM 2002 focused on combat shooting – instinctive, yet accurate firing with ranges varying from 10 to 600m as individuals and as a team.

Over the eight-day period, the team participated in individual and team events for the F88, F89 and 9mm SLP.

The 1CSSB shooting team participated in section events such as the obstacle course, team snap, falling plate, the combat fire team and the section defence.

Maximising its pool of talent the 1CSSB team split into two teams for the competition with Team A placing ninth overall and Team B placing 30th.

At the conclusion of the competition, a presentation was held announcing the recipients of AASAM medals and the competitors selected for A and B Teams in the international competition to be conducted the following week.

CA Lt-Gen Peter Leahy presented the AASAM medallion to WO2 Dale DeKock who finished 19th out of 182 competitors for F88 marksmanship skills – he was also selected for the International pistol team.

Congratulations went to Sgt Andrew Munn, 2 RAR, who was announced Champion Shot of the Army.