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VANDENBERG AIR FORCE BASE, Calif. -- The 30th Security Forces Squadron Combat Arms Training and Maintenance instructors held an Elementary Level Excellence in Competition rifle and pistol match on April 16 at the CATM range here.
This is the first EIC match, which consisted of 100 slots for each rifle and pistol competition, open to all Vandenberg military members.
"The purpose of the event is for people to show-off their skills and earn a badge" said Staff Sgt. Gino Carruitero, 30th Security Forces Squadron combat arms instructor. "It's also a way to improve Air Force heritage, competitions have been going on for a long time."
The rifle match consisted of firing an M16-A2 from prone, sitting, kneeling, and standing with a total of 50 rounds fired. The service pistol match is the M-9 Beretta fired in rapid, slow and timed phases with a total of 30 rounds fired.
"This was my first time shooting in a match," said Army Capt. James Kirby, Joint Functional Component Command for Space deliberate planner. "It was an awesome day away from the desk."
According to Carruitero, the EIC ran smoothly for being its first match available here. Military members of all ranks had the opportunity to practice their profession of arms and share pointers with one another.
"The turnout was great," said Carruitero. "Because of popular demand we are looking to hold another EIC as soon as this July. We are able to offer up to four matches per year and the match is for any shooter who has not earned a shooting badge before."
CATM is not only offering ways for military members to earn a badge, but a way to keep them combat ready.
"Unsupported positions give the shooter the ultimate test of marksmanship capabilities," Carruitero said. "If you are deployed, you have to rely on yourself and how effectively you engage only using your body and not rely on support to rest your body on."
The results of this year's EIC badge winners are as follows:
Rifle Top Ten (Max score 500)
1. Master Sgt. Jay Styles, 14th Air Force, -458
2. Staff Sgt. Ian Ramirez, Security Forces Squadron, -449
3. Senior Airman Cameron Keating, Civil Engineer Squadron, -445
4. Master Sgt. Gabriel Valle, 9 Space Operations Squadron, -440
5. Maj. Carlos Montances, 614 Air and Space Operations Center, -439
6. Tech. Sgt. Derrick Avery, 576 Flight Test Squadron, -438
7. Staff Sgt. Thomas Brinkworth, Security Forces Squadron, -437
8. Staff Sgt David Rendon, Security Forces Squadron, -436
9. Senior Master Sgt. Michael Young, Security Forces Squadron, -433
10. Capt. John Rider, 567 Flight Test Squadron, -429
Pistol Top Ten (Max score 300)
1. 1st Lt. Jason Sawyers, Security Forces Squadron, -277
2. Master Sgt. Jay Styles, 14th Air Force, -272
3. Staff Sgt. Gino Carruitero, Security Forces Squadron, -262
4. Staff Sgt. Darrin Tullis, Security Forces Squadron, -256
5. Tech Sgt. Matthew Frueh, Security Forces Squadron, -251
6. Staff Sgt. Courtney Prebble, Security Forces Squadron, -249
7. Master Sgt. Gabriel Valle, 9 Space Operations Squadron, -246
8. Capt. Daniel Bundy, 533 Training Squadron, -245
9. Staff Sgt. William Gosnell, Security Forces Squadron, -242
10. Senior Airman Anthony Belford, Security Forces Squadron, -237