FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
More than 85 Soldiers and Airmen from the Pennsylvania National Guard took to the range on May 21, 2022, for the annual Governor’s Twenty marksmanship competition.
The Governor’s Twenty is an event that challenges the accuracy of competitors with a series of M4 Carbine and M17/18 or M9 Pistol. The top 20 finishers earn the right to wear the coveted Governor's Twenty tab on their uniforms.
With the rifle, competitors’ accuracy were tested with hitting targets at 400 meters.
Another part of the competition, called the combat rifle in excellence, the participants were also tested with moving to a line and required to engage targets with a time limit; as the participants moved closer to the target during the competition, the time was also decreased too.
“Unlike other range competitions, this one requires you to move and shoot with a time element,” said Staff Sgt. Amanda Elsenboss, an instructor with the Individual Training Branch, PA National Guard.
This year’s competition was fierce. Even with rain occurring on their zero day, the top three finishers were separated by a few points.
“I talked with Airmen from my unit to get better prepared with what I was going to be facing. Chief Master Sgt. Altmeyer helped me a lot by giving me tips on sites, shooting form, and things like that,” said Airmen 1st Class Taylor Auen, security forces with the 171st Air refueling Wing, and a Meadville, Pa., native.
The 2022 Governor's Twenty:
1 Chief Master Sgt. Edward Altmeyer, 171st Air Refueling Wing
2 Chief Warrant Officer 4 Richard Jones, Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site
3 Staff Sgt. Jason Goodling, Fort Indiantown Gap Training Site
4 Chief Master Sgt. Christopher Fusco, 111th Attack Wing
5 Maj. Ian Swisher, 103rd Brigade Engineer Battalion
6 Staff Sgt. Douglas Costello, 213th Personnel Company
7 Sgt. 1st Class John Nebzydoski, PA Joint Force Headquarters
8 Chief Warrant Officer 4 Andrew Harrison, Eastern Army National Guard Aviation Training Site
9 Senior Master Sgt. Eric Moskal, 171st Air Refueling Wing
10 Sgt. Brennan Koji, 2nd Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment
11 Spc. Jugo Lemos, 1st Battalion, 111th Infantry Regiment
12 Spc. Jin Jun Lin, Headquarters and Headquarters Battalion, 28th ID
13 Master Sgt. Joseph Spera, 103rd Brigade Engineer Battalion
14 Tech. Sgt. Shawn McCreary, 171st Air Refueling Wing
15 Staff Sgt. Terry Werner, 1st Battalion, 109th Infantry Regiment
16 Staff Sgt. John Rebuck, 148th Air Support Operations Squadrons
17 Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Styborski, 3rd Battalion, 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute
18 Sgt. Caleb Mowery, 1st Battalion, 112th Infantry Regiment
19 Sgt. Austin Peters, 3rd Battalion, 166th Regiment Regional Training Institute
20 Staff Sgt. Kevin Schrecengost, 1-230TH Assault Helicopter Battalion