AMU Service Rifle team member Sgt. Joseph Hall, instructs 17-year-old Hunter Mason from Virginia on the proper techniques of using the scope of a gun.
AMU
Helps Recruiters Zero in on Prospects
Story and photo by Bill Irwin, USAREC, Harrisburg Battalion
Feb. 20, 2015
The Army Marksmanship Unit helped Harrisburg Battalion recruiters stand out in a sea of camouflage at one of the country’s largest expositions for outdoor enthusiasts this month.
The nine-day Great American Outdoor Show, held in Harrisburg, attracted more than 100,000 Northeast attendees interested in the latest guns, ATVs, boats; hunting, fishing, and camping gear, and other outdoor sports equipment.
The expertise and notoriety of AMU athletes, along with their assortment of specialized shooting gear and AMU branded exhibit, enabled recruiters to stand out from the more than 1,100 exhibitors.
Team athletes shared their experiences as Soldier sportsmen and recent wins at the NRA National Pistol Championships, the World Cup, trap competitions in Spain, and Presidents’ trophies.
Their presence broadened the public’s perception of the Army, what Soldiers do, how sports and military blend, and how Soldiers can continue doing what they love while serving.
AMU Service Rifle Shooter Sgt. Joseph Hall was a big draw. In only three years, Hall qualified for the Munich World Cup, winning an impressive nine medals and the prestigious President’s Hundred Tab – awarded by the Civilian Marksmanship Program to the 100 top-scoring shooters in the President’s Pistol and Rifle Matches.
“People were generally very curious about what we do and how we do it,” said Hall. “Some were looking for targeting or shooting pointers, others wanted to know where we compete.”
Tom Burrell, who writes a gun manufacturer’s blog, spoke with team members.
“When I saw that [the AMU] was at the show, I wanted to take the opportunity to pick their brains and get an article posted to the blog,” Burrell said. “What a great opportunity to share this talent and experience with the public. These guys are great sportsmen and competitors.”
AMU supports the recruiting effort with clinics, demonstrations and displays. Sgt 1st Class Christopher Ortega, the unit’s recruiting liaison, said, “if there is a fit, we are willing to help. We are Soldiers, athletes, and sportsmen. The discipline and training we receive with the Army carries over into our chosen sporting events. Getting that across to interested individuals is sometimes just the thing in getting them to enlist.
“A lot of times we get ‘really this is what you do in the Army? They pay you to do this?’ Yes this is what we do, yes we get paid, and we train with and use the best equipment that is custom made for us.”
Story and photo by Bill Irwin, USAREC, Harrisburg Battalion
Feb. 20, 2015
The Army Marksmanship Unit helped Harrisburg Battalion recruiters stand out in a sea of camouflage at one of the country’s largest expositions for outdoor enthusiasts this month.
The nine-day Great American Outdoor Show, held in Harrisburg, attracted more than 100,000 Northeast attendees interested in the latest guns, ATVs, boats; hunting, fishing, and camping gear, and other outdoor sports equipment.
The expertise and notoriety of AMU athletes, along with their assortment of specialized shooting gear and AMU branded exhibit, enabled recruiters to stand out from the more than 1,100 exhibitors.
Team athletes shared their experiences as Soldier sportsmen and recent wins at the NRA National Pistol Championships, the World Cup, trap competitions in Spain, and Presidents’ trophies.
Their presence broadened the public’s perception of the Army, what Soldiers do, how sports and military blend, and how Soldiers can continue doing what they love while serving.
AMU Service Rifle Shooter Sgt. Joseph Hall was a big draw. In only three years, Hall qualified for the Munich World Cup, winning an impressive nine medals and the prestigious President’s Hundred Tab – awarded by the Civilian Marksmanship Program to the 100 top-scoring shooters in the President’s Pistol and Rifle Matches.
“People were generally very curious about what we do and how we do it,” said Hall. “Some were looking for targeting or shooting pointers, others wanted to know where we compete.”
Tom Burrell, who writes a gun manufacturer’s blog, spoke with team members.
“When I saw that [the AMU] was at the show, I wanted to take the opportunity to pick their brains and get an article posted to the blog,” Burrell said. “What a great opportunity to share this talent and experience with the public. These guys are great sportsmen and competitors.”
AMU supports the recruiting effort with clinics, demonstrations and displays. Sgt 1st Class Christopher Ortega, the unit’s recruiting liaison, said, “if there is a fit, we are willing to help. We are Soldiers, athletes, and sportsmen. The discipline and training we receive with the Army carries over into our chosen sporting events. Getting that across to interested individuals is sometimes just the thing in getting them to enlist.
“A lot of times we get ‘really this is what you do in the Army? They pay you to do this?’ Yes this is what we do, yes we get paid, and we train with and use the best equipment that is custom made for us.”