Soldiers on target in shooting competition

Airborne logisticians were on target as trigger fingers were tested during a shooting competition in Colchester.

13 Air Assault Support Regiment Royal Logistic Corps (13 AASR) swept the board at the 16 Air Assault Brigade operational shooting competition, held on Fingringhoe and Middlewick Ranges. Across two days (21-22 Mar) and five disciplines, the event tested the skills of soldiers shooting the SA80 A2 assault rifle and Glock 17 pistol at different distances, firing positions and targets.

13 AASR won the overall competition; a falling plate contest – a knockout event which challenges two teams to sprint to a set point and shoot down standing targets, with the fastest team winning; and Lieutenant Holly Kirkham finished top of the individual rankings.

Lt Kirkham, 23 from Salisbury, said: “Shooting is really important to soldiers, and to me it’s the most basic skill that soldiering is built upon. It feels really good to have won the individual title, but it feels even better because the team won the overall competition and will be going forward to compete against the rest of the Army. I put 100 per cent into everything that I do, especially stuff where I might be considered not as good as others. I find that if you put the effort in you come out on top.”

Brigade training officer Captain Gary Smith said: “Marksmanship is one of the fundamental skills of soldiering and this competition has been about driving up shooting standards, combined with the operationally relevant skills of fitness and communication. The performance has been exceptionally high across the board, with the good natured and professional competition that we expect.”

13 AASR and 1st Battalion The Royal Gurkha Rifles, the reigning Army champions, will go on to represent the Brigade at the tri-service Defence Operational Shooting Competition in June at Bisley.