Marion Giants JROTC to host first-ever All-Service Rifle Shootout at Marion High School

MARION — The Marion High School JROTC Marksmanship Team will be hosting an All-Service Rifle Marksmanship Shootout this weekend. This first-ever event will feature JROTC cadets from programs representing the Navy, Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army.
 
The shootout will start at 10 a.m. Saturday, Sept. 19, in the JROTC Department at MHS. 
 
Participating schools will include: Anderson High School, representing the Navy; Anderson Preparatory Academy, representing the Air Force; Ben Davis High School, representing the Marine Corps, and Marion High School, representing the Army.
 
“I truly feel that our team will do great this year,” said Marksman Team Commander Kayleigh Smith. “We have a lot of people committed to the team.”
 
The Giants Marksmanship Team went undefeated against 32 other teams last year. This will be the first match of the year for the Giants.
 
During a marksman competition, the cadets shoot precision air rifles at targets 10 meters away. Cadets are graded on how accurate their shooting is while firing from three different positions: prone, standing, and kneeling. Millimeters can separate a cadet from winning or losing.
 
“Marksman is a very hard team to compete on,” Alex Flores, a cadet competitor from Marion High School, explains. “It is a lot of concentration, and controlling your breathing. It takes time, and the competitors have to manage their time wisely to take a shot in all 10 bullseyes.”
 
This event is open to public spectators, and admission is free. The Shootout should last about two hours, and end around noon.