TEAM ARMY PLACES 3RD IN AUSTRALIAN SHOOTING COMPETITION
The Philippine Army shooting team finished third among eight other
competing countries in the recently concluded Australian Army
Skills-At-Arms Meeting (AASAM) at the Combined Arms Training Center,
Puckapunyal Military Area, Victoria, Australia from May 10 to 20, 2010.
The team bagged a total of eight gold medals, 11 silver medals, a bronze
medal, and two trophies.
The team, headed by Maj. Ricky P. Bunayog, was composed of 13 members of
the Philippine Army, coming from the Army's Marksmanship Training Unit.
The contingent competed using their M4 carbine rifles with Night Force
Scopes during the rifle matches, 9mm pistols during the pistol matches,
and the M240B 7.62mm MG for the machine gun competitions. Incidentally,
the M240Bs are much heavier compared to the lighter Ultimax and Minimi
being used by other competitors and thus are difficult to fire in
standing and kneeling positions. However, the team was able to perform
better than their competitors in spite of that limitation and even
emerged as a winner in that event.
The team also brought home the "Canada Plate" Perpetual trophy for
topping the final event which is the Rifle Falling Plates Match. The
team also finished the Obstacle Course with the fastest time, finishing
it in 20.53 seconds which is the Best Record in AASAM, so far. Likewise,
the team earned the "Meggit International Trophy" in the Battle
Simulation Match.
The competition aims to test the marksmanship skills of every competitor
and serves to provide a benchmark to validate standards, equipment, and
training systems for individuals and teams. There were competitions for
rifle, pistol and machine gun for both individuals and teams and
combined arms comprised of rifles and machine guns for teams.
"The Philippine Army Shooting Team has shown that we could be at par
with the rest of the world as they competed in a competition with very
high standards and against competitors with equally improved skills in
shooting, and with better equipment," said Army Chief Lt. Gen. Reynaldo
B. Mapagu who graced the awarding ceremony in honor of the team during
the flag raising this morning.
The AASM is an annual shooting competition among different units of the
Australian Army with the special participation of the Australian Navy
and Air Force. The Australian Defence Force likewise invites Army
Shooting Teams from different countries to compete against their own
Australian Army Combat Shooting Team.
Participating countries include Brunei, Canada, East Timor, France,
Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Philippines, Singapore and Thailand.
The Philippine Army salutes its shooting team for making not only the
organization proud, but the whole Filipino nation for this outstanding
achievement, as it continues to pursue its vision of a truly
professional, capable Army that is a source of national pride.
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