AFM 1 Regiment's Skill-at-Ams Competition, Dec., 2009

Soldiers end year with a bang:

Soldiers from 1 Regiment of the Armed Forces of Malta, along with a number of retired army personnel, capped off the training calendar of year 2009 with a Skill-at-Arms shooting competition which was held in December at Pembroke Ranges.

The skill at arms competition's aim was to to conduct a rigorous and challenging training event, which encompasses current in-service small arms systems. The competition is designed to allow for assessment of current in-service small arms system capabilities, equipment and targetry, and training analysis of combat shooting techniques, weapon training doctrine, and small arms practices. It also encourages team effort within 1 Regiment's sub-units, and promotes fair competition whilst competing at individual and sub-unit levels.

The unit's Commanding Officer, Lieutenant Colonel Mario Borg said that "such training is the soldiers' bread and butter, it's what they train for. The event helped creating an enjoyable and challenging training opportunity which went well beyond just improving the Regiment's level of proficiency of its personnel's skill-at-arms."

The train-up for this shooting competition was conducted following the guidance of Major Pierre Vassallo, the Regimental training-officer, who together with the sub-units enabled all shooters to have coaches and be able to zero their individual weapons besides selecting the best team members. "The last time we had such an event was in July 1995, and it's been sorely missed over the years," said Lieutenant Matthew J. Camilleri, the lead organizer steering the range administration during the competiton. He added that "at the time when Maltese soldiers served under the British Crown, they also participated and placed in top positions at the Bisley International Shooting Competition on the heaths of Surrey in the UK. That prestigious competiton had started in 1860, setting the standards to be followed in the decades that followed around the world."

Unique to the December 2009 edition was the retired AFM personnel's team, headed by ex-AFM Commander, Brigadier Maurice Calleja. He was joined by Lieutenant Colonel Louis Sansone and other sharp-shooter Non-Commissioned Officers, whose collective and individual reputation was legend in the Regiment and had preceded them with the younger soldiers competing with them. Brigadier Carmel Vassallo also formed part of this team, given that he is due to retire from the Service in mid-January 2010.

During the Rifle Match, the AFM's AKM assault rifle was used by each firer, whilst during the Pistol Match the AFM's individual side-arm, the Beretta 92 FS, was utilised. Following these two matches, the Falling Plates Match remains the most favourite amongst all firers, as it brings out the best sharp shooting abilities of the competitors on the teams in an exciting nail-biting timed knock-out shootout to drop the maximum amount of steel plates in the allocated time. The induced stress on the firers is aimed at simulating combat conditions, often requiring them to exude an amount of energy whilst running towards their firing positions.

'C' (Special Duties) Company received the accolade for winning overall the competition. Lieutenant Simon Titley, the 1 Regiment public relations officer said that "all teams were fit whilst having top shots as members and the competiton was tough, especially when considering the drizzling rain during the Pistol Match. Over time, such training events worldwide have alligned their respective competitons and matches towards operational marksmanship, so as to include moving targets, night firing and fighting in built up areas. This training makes our personnel better shots and better soldiers."

Category:

Education

Tags:

• AFM
• FAM
• A.F.M.
• F.A.M.
• Forzi Armati
• Armed Forces
• Maltese Military
• Malta
• skill at arms
• sharpshooters

[csdcoy]

to whom it may concern csd coy won the overall competition not bravo coy

[MALTASWIFTS]

Thanks for information correction and update on result scores, item duly rectified.

[hicrabies]

@csdcoy seems like you've tasted the sour grapes

[futuramark]

yes is suldati maltin x ma nhobbuhomx u kburin bihom