Team Pete Member Runs State Shooting Championship Published Oct. 22, 2008 By Lt. Col. Charles Chambers 21st Space Wing Plans and Programs PUEBLO WEST, Colo. -- The United States Practical Shooting Association / International Practical Shooting Confederation closed the summer with its 15th annual "Mile Hi Showdown" Colorado State Championship at the Pueblo West Sportsman's Association, but not without the unsurpassed support of Team Pete member, Master Sgt. Tom "Hoser" Freeman of the 302nd Airlift Wing . Sergeant Freeman, a USPSA Grand Master, spent hundreds of hours of his own time over the past year preparing the championship. During the two day event, he also served as the match director, orchestrating everything from competitor registration, overseeing scoring, resolving real-time problems, double-checking final results, presenting the trophies and even stopped long enough to gunsmith a problem with my pistol. Throughout the match he was continually zipping around the 164-acre shooting range on his all-terrain vehicle, ensuring the Mile Hi Showdown was a success. An event of this caliber requires a great deal of teamwork. One of Sergeant Freeman's major team players was Marine Capt. (retired) Robert "Lizard" Waltzer. Captain Waltzer was the Mile Hi Showdown range master. It was his responsibility to design all 11 stages. According to Sergeant Freeman, "Co-ord was made with the local range, state-level USPSA clubs, National Level USPSA Headquarters and International level approval of all courses/stages were required." These two know how to get a huge project like this done. "We have done four Colorado State/Mile High matches together and we know how to get it done," said Captain Waltzer. "Our military backgrounds make it second nature to define areas of responsibility to get the work done." Over one hundred competitors from across the United States and Europe showed up at the Mile Hi Showdown to put their shooting skills to the test. Representatives from the Air Force, Army and Navy came to show their colors, including active duty, reservists, civilians, retirees, veterans and dependants. Shooters came from all walks of life and ranged in age from 14 to 74. There were many top national and international competitors, including Henning Wallgren, former European Champion; Ron Avery, former World Champion; Paul Clark, former World Junior Champion; Lisa Munson, USA Ladies Champion; Randi Rogers, member of "Team Glock" and reigning Cowboy Action Shooting Women's Champion; and Mats Backstrom, Finland's Champion. The USPSA is a nonprofit organization promoting safe, fair and fun participation in practical shooting competition for people of all ages and skill levels. Many states hold championship matches, like the Mile Hi Showdown, and they serve as qualification matches for the annual national championships. While most military personnel are familiar with shooting the M-9 at stationary targets and set distances, USPSA "stages" are set to mirror practical defensive shooting situations. Sgt. Curtis Brotherston, U.S. Army Reserve, from Fort Carson, noted the stages help him with "target identification, quick target-to-target acquisition and placing shots on targets that are partly behind cover." The stages can range from as few as three to more than 20 targets, including full-size cardboard silhouettes, partially obscured targets, "no shoots," moving targets and steel "poppers." Virtually every scenario involved identifying and engaging hostile targets from non-threat targets under time constraints. Most shots could be fired while advancing, retreating or moving laterally, literally a "run and gun." Some targets were as far as 30 meters, others within arm's reach. Most targets were stationary, but on several stages, targets would be visible for only fractions of a second, move past in a "window" or swing back and forth at high speeds. Very few of the stationary targets were un-obscured. Most were viewed through small openings in barricades, around corners or over short walls. The shooter never begins any state with their gun in hand. It is either loaded in their holster, or unloaded on a nearby surface. When the start "tone" goes off, the shooter must draw, and sometimes load the firearm, and engage the targets while negotiating doors, hallways and other obstructions, sometimes carrying objects in their hands, forcing one-handed shots. "It combines a race element to traditional target shooting sports, and they are loads of fun." said my son, Chris Chambers, who attended the competition with me. "I think most of the shooters enjoy the camaraderie of the sport to a great degree," Capt. Waltzer said. "Practical shooting is a small sport, so regardless of what level you are, you put yourself in a small tight knit group." My other son, Michael, who also competed noted, "You do not have to be a very athletic person to compete in this sport, anyone can join and have lots of fun and meet more people just like them; shooting for the fun of it." All USPSA competition handguns must be at least 9mm Luger or larger. As with other USPSA matches, most shooters at the Mile Hi Showdown used 9mm, 38 Super, 40 S&W or 45 ACP. Shooters are broken into categories based both on their official ranking and their weapon. This allows people to compete against those of like skill and similar equipment. "Just because you're not the best shooter doesn't mean that you can't come to competitions like this one," Chris said. "I was part of the lowest skill level and most basic gun class, competing against national level shooters, yet I was still able to come home with two trophies!" After the second day of the Mile Hi Showdown, all stages were complete and about 33,000 rounds of ammunition had been emptied into the berms. The military had an impressive showing at the awards stand. Top Military Production honors went to Sergeant Brotherston,. The Top Military Limited shooter was Air Force Master Sgt. (retired) "Gumby" Staples. The Top Military Open shooter was Staff Sgt. Chris Lambert from Royal Air Force Lakenheath. The Top Youth Production shooter was Air Force dependent Chris Chambers. The Mile Hi Showdown was a great deal of fun for everyone involved, with the possible exception of Master Sgt. Freeman and Capt. Waltzer. Their incredible efforts made this event the highlight of the 2008 Colorado Practical Shooting competitions. I highly recommend any of these events to anyone who enjoys shooting. They're not only fun events which help build individual confidence in gun safety and marksmanship, they can help everyone become an even better warrior. Competitions are held year-round at various clubs all over the Front Range. I hope to see you at one soon.