Preparing for AASAM

WO1 Gary White gives instructions to F-FDTL soldiers before an AASAM qualifying shoot at the Centro Instrução Commandante Nicolo Lobato, located in Metinaro, East Timor. Photo by Cpl Cameron Jamieson, Army newspaper

AASAM competitors take aim during last year’s competition. Photo provided by Capt Mark Smith, Small Arms Wing

Only weeks away from the biggest event on the shooting calender, Small Arms Wing gives some last minute details for the November competition.

International shooting teams from up to 10 countries will compete in the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meeting (AASAM), at the Singleton Training Area from November 10-25.

ASSAM 2004 brings both the international and Australian Army competitions together to compete simultaneously, giving Army, Navy, Air Force and the Australian Federal Police teams the experience of firing shoulder-to-shoulder with top level international combat shooting teams.

OIC Marksmanship Training Section, Small Arms Wing, Capt Mark Smith, says AASAM 2004 will also be the inauguration of the Singleton range complex for high-level international shooting.

“It represents a significant change, in that the team allocations are determined by Land Command at the brigade/formation level, whereas previously it was determined by unit,” he says.

“This new brigade concept has eliminated the major/minor teams distinction now that all teams, both national and international, will consist of 10 firers, with all individuals competing in the service rifle matches and selected individuals from the team competing in light support weapon and pistol events.”

The team shooting events will be contested by 14 teams from within Land Command, with between 10 and 16 international teams expected from the Republic of South Africa, United States Marine Corps, East Timor, United States Army, Singapore, Thailand, Papua New Guinea, French Armed Forces in New Caledonia, the United Kingdom, Malaysia and Canada.

The emphasis during the team competition will be on combat oriented shooting, with teams participating in patrol engagements, MOUT, team defence and the obstacle course/snap practice, to name a few.

Members interested in competing next year are encouraged to access the application form from the AASAM defence intranet website at http://intranet.defence.gov.au/armyweb/sites/AASAM.