FORT BENNING, Ga. - A group of approximately 24 VIPs participated in the Army Strong Experience at the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit April 3 and 4 along with members of the U.S. Army Parachute Team - the Golden Knights.
U.S. Army Accessions Command's Accessions Support Brigade conducted the Army Strong Experience, which included a tandem jump with the Golden Knights and a shooting clinic with members of the USAMU. This public relations campaign was designed to build lasting relationships with these leaders of industry, education and business to create Army awareness, according to Col. John Fenzel III, ASB commander.
The Accessions Support Brigade conducts worldwide operations in order to connect America's People with America's Army and to showcase special skills in support of the Army's accessions mission. Additionally, the brigade enhances Army warfighting efforts through specialized training and research and development.
The invitees, called COIs - Centers of Influence - were invited to participate by USAAC Commanding General Lt. Gen. Benjamin C. Freakley.
Among the COIs who participated were Ann Scott Tyson and Francine Uenuma of the Washington Post, Paxton Baker of the Black Entertainment Television channel, Michael Waddell and Marc Womack from the Outdoor Channel and Kimber Eastwood, Clint Eastwood's daughter. Country music singer Michael Peterson attended the ASE barbecue dinner April 3 and spoke to the COIs about the importance of the Army to the youth of America.
After watching shooting demonstrations by the USAMU Shotgun and Action Shooting Teams, the COIs received marksmanship instruction from the USAMU shooters and got to try their hand at shotgun and pistol shooting.
They were also afforded the opportunity to do a tandem jump with a member of the Golden Knights.
"I was a skeptic...a real skeptic, but now, I'm not," Freakley commented about the success of the mission.
"The Army Strong Experience will certainly have an enduring effect,"
Fenzel added.
(Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the U.S. Army, the Army Marksmanship Unit is assigned to the Accessions Support Brigade of the U.S. Army Accessions Command. The Marksmanship Unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhances combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development. For more information on the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, contact the Public Affairs Office at (706) 545-5436, Paula.Randall@usaac.army.mil or
www.USAMU.com.)
two dozen VIPs visit USAMU for Army Strong Experience
Moderators: pilkguns, m1963, David Levene, Spencer, Richard H
