JBER service members capture skeet-shooting award

  • Published
  • By Chris McCann
  • JBER Public Affairs
JOINT BASE ELMENDORF-RICHARDSON, Alaska (AFNS) --  Skeet shooting has a long history with the military. It was used in World War II to help teach the fundamentals of aerial gunnery. After the war, "World Wide Military Championships" were held, and the Air Force Air Defense Command took charge of hosting the competitions until 1975.

As a good way to keep in shooting practice, it has remained fairly popular among military personnel, leading to the formation of the Armed Forces Skeet Shooting Association in 1975.

Upholding the tradition at Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, are Matt Palmer and Tech. Sgt. Reid Beveridge, recipients of the Alaska Skeet Shooting Association's Skeeter Award for 2011.

The award is usually presented to one shooter, but due to Beveridge and Palmer's dedication and hard work over the last three years, the Alaska Armed Forces Skeet Championships has become the second-largest skeet shoot in the state, and the association felt it was important to recognize both of them, according to the award citation.

Palmer, a civilian mobilization specialist for the 773d Logistics Readiness Squadron and an Army Reserve Master Sgt. with 3rd Mobilization Support Group, said the duo had a lot of administrative work to do.

"We did a lot of coordination," he said. "There are prizes for the military personnel, so we were getting contributions and sponsorships donated, and getting prizes."

Beveridge, a survival, evasion, resistance and escape specialist with the 3rd Operations Support Squadron, acquired superior prizes for the active-duty winners.

Getting the word out and encouraging people to get involved was another big part, Palmer said, and he credits his own return to skeet shooting to Beveridge.

"He has renewed my interest in the sport," Palmer said. "I was a once-a-year shooter or so. Now, it's weekly."

Beveridge spends his own time mentoring other shooters, Palmer said.

"We've seen a marked increase in active-duty shooters," he said. Beveridge previously served as the Alaska Skeet Shooting Association president and encouraged Air Force shooters to join the Air Force team.

Beveridge's skill is remarkable, Palmer said.

"He shoots really well. He's like a skeet-shooting machine."

Palmer dedicates his free time -- despite a brand-new baby in the family -- to hand-make trophies for the shoot, turning "clay pigeons" out of walnut in his garage.

He has also spent hours over the years soliciting donations and sponsorships -- one year even getting entry fees, ammunition and practice rounds for two full Army Reserve squads participating in the shoot.

Beveridge also has a new child in the family, but dedicates a lot of time to arranging shoots, quality banquet meals for shooters and their spouses, and getting donations.

"The most rewarding part is seeing new shooters improve," he said. "And the camaraderie among shooters is very rewarding, too."

"When someone breaks their first 25 (targets), and they come up to you all excited, and you're handing out awards, that's really cool," Palmer said.

In the summer, they said, about 30 to 50 people come to the skeet range each week.

In the winter during league shooting, that number rockets up to 300 or 400 people per week.

"There's nothing else to do," said Palmer, laughing.

And while skeet shooting can be expensive, they admitted, it's no more expensive than golf. The range clubhouse offers ammunition for sale and shotguns are available to rent.

For those considering taking up the sport, they had one sentence: "Come out and do it," they said, almost in unison.

"It's fun," said Palmer. "The first time you do it, you're hooked. Once you break the first target, it's like an addiction. And it's truly a family sport."