Submitted by: LTC (R) Richard R. Hodgson
The Leavenworth High School JROTC program coordinated and hosted a shooting clinic for JROTC programs with Air Rifle Teams. Cadets from Leavenworth, Kansas, Joplin, Missouri, The Missouri Military Academy, Junction City, Kansas and Calumet, Michigan traveled to Leavenworth to take advantage of the opportunity.
Two members of the US Army Marksmanship Unit, Sergeant First Class George Norton and Sergeant Jared Desrosiers, conducted several classes that included basic fundamentals of shooting and also many tips for training and how to handle the stress of competition. After the classes, each cadet got one on one shooting instruction with his/her assigned air rifle on the Leavenworth high school range.
“I learned some good ideas and it definitely improved my shooting from the kneeling position.” said cadet Jaxon Johnston, a LET 1 cadet from Junction City.
This was a rare chance to take advantage of some real expertise from world class athletes. Fewer than 100 soldiers, at the top of their marksmanship game, make up Army Marksmanship unit. They are the best of the best, not just in the military, but throughout the competitive shooting world. These expert marksmen support readiness and recruiting, and train and compete year-round, including for the Olympics.
“All JROTC instructors possess the knowledge and experience to teach basic rifle marksmanship, but none of us have the expertise that hese two NCOs do, they are truly world class athletes and trainers and on behalf of all the schools who benefited from this training today, I’d like to thank Forst Sergeant Sutton of Leavenworth JROTC for setting up a truly welcoming and beneficial training event”, said Lieutenant Colone Richard Hodgson, Senior Army Instructor of Junction City High School.
Photo: Cadets from Junction City high school pose with SFC George Norton and SGT Jared Derosieres of the US Army Marksmanship Unit at Leavenworth High School