2016 MEDIA GUIDEUNITED STATES ARMY INSTALLATION MANAGEMENT COMMAND

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ABOUT AMU

The United States Army Marksmanship Unit (USAMU) was established 1 March 1956 at the direction of President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army. The USAMU is a battalion of the U.S. Army Accessions Support Brigade, a subordinate unit of the Army Marketing and Research Group.

Established in 1956 under the direction of President Eisenhower, the United States Army Marksmanship Unit’s primary mission was almost exclusively that of winning competitions. The Soviets were dominating the international shooting scene and it was recognized that only the US Army had the personnel and facilities to develop a competitive program which could compete with the Soviets well-organized shooting program. The USAMU quickly established itself as a world power in shooting, leading the U.S. to six Olympic Gold Medals and 59 individual and team championships between 1962 and 1978 in international competition to go with hundreds of major service rifle and service pistol championships during that time.

In subsequent years the unit’s mission further expanded to those of enhancing Army recruiting, providing marksmanship training to thousands of Soldiers and being at the forefront in small-arms research and development to increase the Army’s overall combat readiness. From 2009-2012, the USAMU maintained a constant presence in Afghanistan by deploying multiple Marksmanship Training Teams in support of the Afghan National Army NATO training mission.

USAMU is composed of six competitive shooting sections utilizing world class facilities for both training and competition. The team’s primary mission is to WIN at all levels of competition. Facilities consist of 260 acres with 8 ranges and 18 buildings. Service Rifle, Action Shooting, International Rifle, Cross Functional Team Pistol, Shotgun and the Paralympic team comprise the shooting sections and are renowned as the “best in the world.” In supporting the US Army with World Class Marksmanship Training the Instructor Training Group was formed to provide the Army with the best Marksmanship Training available, filling the void left behind when the Marksmanship Training Units (MTU) were disbanded.

This unit and our Soldiers have proudly represented our nation during every Summer Olympic Games that the United States has participated in since 1960, earning 24 Olympic medals. In 2012 the unit sent seven of its Soldiers to London to compete on the world’s grandest stage, including the first combat-injured active-duty Soldier to ever compete in a Paralympic Games. Support is provided to these Soldier-Athletes through the Custom Firearms Shop and the support branches of supply, operations and administration.

The unit makes or customizes its own small arms and much of its own ammunition through the Custom Firearms Shop. The Custom Firearms Shop, made up of gunsmiths, machinists, range technicians and ammunition loaders are the “backbone” of the unit and is equivalent to the “pit crew” of NASCAR. In fact, it was the first section formed when the unit was established. In order to compete successfully, it was determined better arms and ammunition were required. Here, gunsmiths build top-quality competitive-grade rifles and pistols for our competitive teams...many from the ground up. The custom Firearm Shop’s research and development efforts have led not only to enhanced accuracy and reliability of our competitive weapon systems and ammunition, but have intensified the combat effectiveness of the entire Army.

It is here that the M-21 and M-24 Sniper Systems, Special Purpose Rifles and Squad Designated Marksman Rifles were developed and tested.

US Army Marksmanship Unit initiatives to obtain the highest degrees of precision and accuracy are the backbone of our efforts to showcase the Army in support of recruiting and accessions, and in raising Army combat readiness through marksmanship training while leading US Army small arms innovation.

The extraordinary combined efforts of the assigned Soldiers and Civilians of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit are why we have come to be known as “The Home of Champions.”

UNITED STATES ARMYMARKSMANSHIP UNIT

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AMU OLYMPIANS

SFC MICHAEL MCPHAILPRONE RIFLE

Hometown — Darlington, WisconsinResidence — Columbus, GeorgiaHigh School — Darlington High SchoolCollege — University of Wisconsin at OshkoshJoined U.S. Army — 2004Military Occupation — Infantryman

Sergeant First Class Michael McPhail competes in the prone rifle event. SFC McPhail started shooting at age 14 and competed on his college shooting team. He was on the U.S.

Olympic Shooting Team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, finishing 9th. In 2015, SFC McPhail won three gold medals in International events, earning an automatic U.S. Shooting Olympic Team berth in the 2016 Rio Olympic Gamesin Brazil.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTSU.S. Olympic Team member — 20162016 Prone Rifle, Rifle/Pistol USA Shooting National Championships — gold2015 Prone Rifle, World Cup Fort Benning — gold2015 World Cup Munich — gold2015 World Cup Final Munich — gold2014 Prone Team Rifle, World Championships — silver2011 Prone Rifle, Pan American Games — gold

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS2016 Prone Rifle, Rifle/Pistol National Championships — gold2015 Automatic prone rifle seat on 2016 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team Prone Rifle, World Cup Fort Benning — gold Prone Rifle, World Cup Munich — gold Prone Rifle, World Cup Final Munich — gold Prone Rifle, Pan American Games Toronto — silver USAS Rifle Athlete of the Year2014 Prone Rifle, Grand Prix of Spain — gold Three Position Rifle, Grand Prix of Spain — gold Prone Team Rifle, World Championships — silver2013 Prone Rifle, World Cup Korea — silver Prone Rifle, NRA National Championship — gold

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FAST FACTS❒ Michael shot his first gun

when he was 5 years old

❒ Michael has dreamed of being an Olympian since he was 14 years old

❒ Michael enjoys hunting with a quality bird dog

SFC GLENN ELLERDOUBLE TRAP

Hometown — Katy, TexasResidence — Columbus, GeorgiaHigh School — James E. Taylor High SchoolCollege — Auburn University, AlabamaJoined U.S. Army — 2006Military Occupation — Infantryman

Sergeant First Class Glenn Eller competes in the double trap event. SFC Eller started shooting at age 8. He made his Olympic debut in 2000. Glenn won an Olympic gold medal

in 2008 at the Beijing Games. This is the fifth time he has competed on the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team, and he is the first American male in the shotgun discipline to make five Olympic Teams. Additionally, he won an automatic U.S. Olympic Shooting Team berth in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTSU.S. Olympic Team member — 2016, 2012, 2008, 2004, 20002015 World Cup, Gabala, Azerbaijan, gold2014 USA Shooting National Championships, Double Trap — gold2014 World Championships, Double Trap, Granada, Spain — team gold2013 World Championships, Lima, Peru — gold2011 Pan American Games, Double Trap, Mexico — gold2008 Olympic Games, Double Trap, Beijing, China — gold

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS2016 World Cup, Double Trap, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil — bronze2015 Automatic Double Trap seat on 2016 U.S. Olympic Shooting Team Pan Am Games, Double Trap, Toronto, Canada — 4th

World Cup, Double Trap, Gabala, Azerbaijan — gold2014 World Cup, Double Trap, Munich, Germany — silver USA Shooting National Championships, Double Trap — gold World Championships, Double Trap, Granada, Spain — team gold2013 World Cup, Double Trap, Al Ain, United Arab Emirates — 5th

World Championships, Double Trap, Lima, Peru — gold World Championships, Double Trap, Abu Dhabi, United Arab Emirates — silver2012 World Cup, Double Trap, London, United Kingdom — 4th

Olympic Games, Double Trap, London, United Kingdom — 23rd

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FAST FACTS❒ When he is not training or

competing, Glenn dabbles in computer programming and has been called a mathematical genius

❒ Glenn relaxes by playing golf

❒ Glenn said the day he arrived at the Olympic Village in Sydney, Australia, in 2000 is his “best memory and what has kept driving me all these years.”

SFC JOSH RICHMONDDOUBLE TRAP

Hometown — Hillsgrove, PennsylvaniaResidence — Columbus, GeorgiaHigh School — Sullivan County High SchoolCollege — Troy State University, AlabamaJoined U.S. Army — 2004Military Occupation — Infantryman

Sergeant First Class Josh Richmond competes in the double trap event. He fired his first shot out of a shotgun at the age of 5 and began shooting competitively at the age of 11.

SFC Richmond was on the U.S. Olympic Shooting Team at the 2012 Olympic Games in London, England, and finishing 16th. One year prior to the 2012 Olympic Games, SFC Richmond deployed to Afghanistan as a marksmanship instructor. In 2016, he won the gold medal in the Olympic Shotgun Trials in Tillar, Arkansas, to earn a berth in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTSU.S. Olympic Team member — 2016, 20122015 Fall Selection Match, Double Trap — gold2014 Mixed World Championship, Double Trap, Granada, Spain — gold2013 Shotgun National Championship, Double Trap — gold2012 World Cup Final, Double Trap — gold2010 World Championships, Double Trap, Munich, Germany — gold2010 World Cup, Double Trap, Acapulco, Mexico — gold

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS2016 World Cup, Double Trap, San Marino, Italy — gold Double Trap Olympic quota for 2016 Olympic Games2015 USA Shooting Fall Selection Match, Double Trap — gold2014 ISSF Mixed World Championship, Double Trap, Granada, Spain — gold World Cup, Double Trap, Kazakhstan — silver World Cup, Double Trap, Tucson, Arizona — silver2013 Shotgun National Championship, Double Trap — gold2012 World Cup, Double Trap, Tucson, Arizona — bronze World Cup Final, Double Trap — gold2011 World Cup, Double Trap, Sydney, Australia — silver World Cup, Double Trap, Chile — bronze USA Shooting National Championships, Double Trap — silver2010 World Championships, Double Trap, Munich, Germany — gold Interservice Championships, Double Trap, Fort Benning — gold World Cup, Double Trap, Acapulco, Mexico — gold USA Shooting National Championships, Double Trap — silver

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FAST FACTS❒ Josh’s father won a

shotgun for Josh at a trap competition when Josh’s mother was pregnant with him

❒ Josh was on his high school basketball team

❒ Josh enjoys bass fishing, hunting, horseback riding and anything in the outdoors

SSG JOHN JOSSPRONE RIFLE (SMALL BORE & AIR)

Hometown — Burkburnett, TexasResidence — Fort Mitchell, AlabamaHigh School — Burkburnett High SchoolCollege — Vernon Regional College, Wichita Falls, TexasJoined U.S. Army — 2004Military Occupation — Indirect Fire Infantryman

Staff Sergeant John Joss competes in the prone rifle event. He was deployed toIraq in 2007 where he was injured during Operation Iraqi Freedom. SSG Joss was

assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit in 2012. After joining Army Marksmanship Unit, SSG Joss quickly adapted to the sport of shooting, earning high scores in his first events. In 2013, he earned two Bronze Medals in international shooting matches before earning his first gold medal at the 2013 Bangkok IPC World Cup. SSG Joss earned a direct allocation quota for the U.S. Paralympic Team May 12, 2016, to compete in the 2016 Paralympic Games inRio de Janeiro, Brazil.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTSU.S. Paralympic Team member — 20162015 IPC World Cup, Prone Rifle (small bore) Sydney, Australia — silver2014 USA Shooting National Championships, Prone Rifle (air rifle) — gold2013 USA Shooting National Championships, Prone Rifle (air rifle) — gold

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS2015 IPC World Cup, Prone Rifle (small bore) Sydney, Australia — silver2014 USA Shooting (USAS) National Championships, Prone Rifle (air rifle) — gold2013 World Cup Bangkok, Prone Rifle (air rifle) — gold USAS National Championships, Prone Rifle (air rifle) — gold World Cup, Prone Rifle (air rifle) Antalya, Turkey — 5th

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FAST FACTS❒ John collects and restores

vintage military rifles

❒ John enjoys riding and restoring vintage motorcycles

❒ John enjoys hunting and sport shooting

SPC DANIEL LOWEMEN’S AIR RIFLE, 3-POSITION RIFLE

Hometown — Olympia, WashingtonResidence — Fort Benning, GeorgiaHigh School — Black Hills High SchoolCollege — South Puget Sound Community College, WashingtonJoined U.S. Army — 2013Military Occupation — Marine Engineer

Specialist Daniel Lowe competes in air rifle. SPC Lowe got his start at the Capital City Rifle and Pistol Club, where he grew up watching and emulating the club’s best marksmen.

SPC Lowe was assigned to the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit on the International Rifle Team June 5, 2014, and exactly two years later, he won the men’s Olympic air rifle quota at the Olympic Air Trials at Camp Perry, Ohio and a berth in the 2016 Rio Olympic Games in Brazil. Additionally, SPC Lowe qualified to compete in the men’s 3-position rifle event at the Olympic Games.

TOP ACHIEVEMENTSU.S. Olympic Team member — 20162016 Air rifle Olympic quota for 2016 Olympic Games2015 USA Shooting (USAS) National Championship, Air Rifle — bronzeNRA National Championship, Metric 3-position rifle — goldUSAS National Championship, Prone Rifle — silver

CAREER HIGHLIGHTS2016 Rifle/Pistol USAS National Championships, 3-Postion Rifle (small bore) — bronze Air rifle Olympic quota for 2016 Olympic Games2015 USAS National Championship, Air Rifle — bronze2014 NRA National Championship, Metric 3-Position Rifle (small bore) — gold USAS National Championship, Prone Rifle — silver USAS National Championship, 3-Position Rifle (small bore) — bronze USAS National Championship, Air Rifle — bronze

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FAST FACTS❒ Dan mentors and coaches

juniors who participate in shooting sports

❒ Dan spends his off time in outdoor pursuits, such as sailing, climbing and cycling

❒ Dan likes to ride his Suzuki DRZ 400