19th Regiment Wins Marksmanship Competition, Included teams from the Texas Military Forces
MAJ Michael Quinn Sullivan, PAO, TXSG
2011/03/31
AUSTIN, Texas – Taking top honors in the 30th Annual Texas National Guard Combat Pistol Match was the Texas State Guard’s 19th Regiment Marksmanship Team. This marks the second year in a row that the state guard’s Army component has won the competition.
The Texas National Guard’s Small Arms Readiness and Training Section, a division of Texas Military Forces, conducted the annual Pistol Sustainment Exercise and Competition at Camp Swift near Bastrop on March 19 and 20.
Col. David Erinakes, the 19th Regiment's commanding officer, said the marksmanship team reflects the high standards of the men and women in the Texas State Guard.
“I have great pride in the many members of my unit that understand that selfless service is a key to our success in protecting Texans, and this is a great example of that type of service.”
The winning team included Staff Sgt. Admir Pasalic of Arlington, Sgt. Richard Murphy of Mesquite, Sgt. Sean Mounger of McKinney, and Cpl. Scott Hunt of Dallas. They beat out teams representing various units through the Texas Military Forces. The TXMF includes the Army National Guard, Air National Guard and Texas State Guard.
Capt. Theodore Baroody is the Officer In Charge of the 19th Regiment’s Marksmanship Team. He said the team was selected based on their individual scores in prior competitions last year.
“Just like each guardsman provides his own uniform and transportation, but these four also provide their own weapons and ammunition without any taxpayer dollars involved,” Baroody said.
“They refine their marksmanship skills because of their dedication to their training and pride in representing the 19th and the State Guard. I’m proud of the dedication each man on the team has shown in preparing for this year’s pistol competition.”
Baroody noted that a similar rifle competition is scheduled to be held in May.
The mission of the Texas State Guard is to provide highly trained soldiers for Defense Support to Civil Authorities by providing ready military forces during State Emergences to assist State and local authorities in homeland security, community service and with medical services.
The Texas State Guard is one of three branches of the Texas Military Forces, reporting to The Texas Adjutant General, Major General John Nichols, The Commander-in-Chief of the Texas Military Forces is the Governor of Texas, Rick Perry. The other two branches are the Texas Army National Guard and the Texas Air National Guard.