I had just walked out of the Richmond airport and took a seat on a bench to wait for my hotel shuttle. Glancing to my right, I noted a tired looking soldier quietly enjoying a cigarette. Leaning forward, I looked for his rank on the front of his Army Combat Uniform (ACU) blouse. Noting a gold oakleaf, I introduced myself to the major and simply thanked him for his service. The look on his face, I will never forget.

Unlike in a civilian High Power match, silhouette targets are utilized at the All Army. Type D targets are engaged at 200/300 yards, and the M9 pistol, above, is used at 500 yards.

He had just arrived home on leave during his second tour in Iraq and was waiting for his ride. Although I only intended to thank him, we ended up talking for a very long time.

We talked at length about how our troops are doing--the never-ending string of challenges they are overcoming, positive contributions they have made to Iraq, their total lack of support from the popular press, and the enemy they face. One comment he made--the importance of quality marksmanship training--made me nod in agreement. High-tech gadgetry is good, but the foundational skill of the infantryman cannot be overemphasized. And that is the ability to properly run a rifle.

In March, I went to "The Home of the Infantry," Fort Benning, Georgia, to attend a rifle match specifically designed to improve our soldiers' skill with the most basic of infantry weapons, the rifle. Thinly veiled as a rifle competition, the Army Small Arms Championships (All Army Matches) are, in reality, a clever way to provide additional and enhanced training, as well as good-old trigger time for our troops. Rather than just a series of boring bullseye-type matches, the All Army Matches are intended to teach the foundational skills of marksmanship and position shooting.

Although the M16A2 was by far the most common rifle on the line, Fort Monroe's MPs brought their M4 Carbines. They felt it was best to compete with what they fight with and did well with them even at 500 yards.

During the rifle phase, competitors use a rack-grade iron-sighted M16A2/A3/A4 combat rifle or M4/M4A1 carbine to engage targets at distances from 75 to 500 yards. As standard Army marksmanship training ends at 300 meters, this is the first chance many competitors have to shoot all the way out to 500 yards. Plus, they do it in their helmets, combat uniforms, and field gear. Shooting jackets, shooting gloves, and other competition gear? Don't bother to bring them, because they're not allowed. The same holds true for your fancy match rifle/pistol. Only standard-issue firearms with no modifications are allowed, period.

My introduction to the All Army Matches came in 2006, when I was invited to attend as an observer by Lt. Col. Liwanag (who was the commanding officer of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, which hosts the matches). I came away very impressed. This year, Liwanag made me an even better offer.

SFC Arroyo, a combat vet of Afghanistan and first-rate NCO, and M/Sgt. Huston clean firearms after a day's shooting. Huston made sure his team kept their guns well maintained throughout the match.

Although he had moved on from the AMU, he asked if I'd be interested in being part of a rifle team he was bringing down from Fort Monroe in Virginia. This was quite an honor, as civilians simply are not allowed to compete. He didn't have to ask twice, and I spent a couple weeks burning 5.56 rounds in knee-deep snow on my range getting ready. I then packed some khaki Woolrich Tactical Elite clothes, Blackhawk Striker body armor, a Kevlar helmet, and my Nikon for the trip.

Flying down to Georgia, I met up with M/Sgt. Blaine "Bud" Huston, the man responsible for whipping Fort Monroe's fledgling rifle team into shape. A muscular NCO, Huston is what I envision Sgt. Rock would look like if he stepped out of his comic book.

Recognizing the training value of the All Army Matches, Huston had looked for volunteers to build a team. He ended up with 14 men and women consisting of infantrymen, military police, and a number of members of Fort Monroe's band. Although only a couple of them had ever shot in competition before, he quickly set to work getting them into shape. Many hours were spent at 0'dark thirty teaching the foundational skills of marksmanship, how to properly employ a shooting sling, and position shooting. To this, he added extensive dry-fire practice and a can-do attitude. Because they had no practical competition experience behind them, I could only wonder how the team would perform.