New York Army National Guard Sgt. Craig Rowell, an Alden Resident Competes in National Competition
Latham, NY (04/12/2024) — New York Army National Guard Sgt. Craig Rowell, an Alden resident is set to compete in the National Guard's annual marksmanship competition in Arkansas from April 29 to May 3.
The Winston P. Wilson Marksmanship Competition, known as the WPW for short, and named after the Chief of the National Guard Bureau who established the national shooting event in 1971, takes place at the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center in North Little Rock, Arkansas.
Rowell is assigned to the 152nd Engineer Support Company, which is headquartered at Buffalo's Connecticut Street Armory.
"It not only tests your marksmanship, it tests your physical ability and your soldiering skills and ability to prepare your gear properly," said Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lamorte II, the team captain.
In 2007 the Guard marksmanship center re-evaluated the matches, and developed new courses of fire to enhance combat survivability and to evaluate the capability of Soldiers and Airmen to effectively employ their weapons.
The rifle and pistol ranges the Soldiers qualify on replicate combat situations.
"It's not just going out to the range being comfortable, sitting down and taking a nice calm shot," said Lamorte.
The competitors are forced to adapt to the changing distances, multiple positions, and different appearances of targets.
The other team members are:
- Staff Sgt. Adam Crist, a Buffalo resident, assigned to the 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry Regiment.
- Sgt. 1st Class Robert Lamorte II, assigned to Joint Force Headquarters operations section.
- Staff Sgt. Warren Solomon, a Lewiston resident, assigned to the C Troop, 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry.
Rowell's team finished in second place in the eastern states marksmanship competition at Fort Ethan Allen in Jericho, Vermont in August 2023.
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New York Army National Guard Sgt. Craig Rowell, a member of the 152nd Engineer Support Company of the 204th Engineer Squadron sites at targets down range at Camp Ethan Allen, Vermont on Aug. 17, 2023, while participating in the Marksmanship Advisory Council (MAC) Regional match Championship. The New York Army National Guard sent a four man team to the marksmanship match where they competed against National Guard members from the New Englands states. (U.S. Army National Guard Photo by Spc. Joseph Liggio)