SSG Amanda Elsenboss is now with the Pennsylvania National Guard. She was the 2021 NRA National High Power Champion as well as the 2019 NRA Long Range National Championship. DCM Emeritus Gary Anderson offers some sage advice in the archives of On The Mark Magazine. Anderson was an Olympic Gold Medal-winning shooter when he was younger. Anderson offers ten guidelines in his article Ten Lessons That I Wish I Had Learned As A Young Shooter. You should read the entire article, not just the Ten Lessons. Anderson explains each topic in detail, using examples from his own shooting career. Read the full article by Gary Anderson from On the Mark. LESSON 1 – NATURAL ABILITY WILL NOT MAKE A SHOOTING CHAMPION.
(You will also need hard work and perseverance. LESSON 2 – ANGER IS THE ENEMY TO GOOD SHOOTING.
The key to recovering after a bad shot, is to remain calm no matter what. BAD SHOTS CAN TEACH MORE THAN GOOD SHOTS.
Today, error analysis is a powerful tool for improving scores. LESSON 4 – NEVER PLAY WITHOUT A SHOT MAP.
(A shot plan is an in-depth breakdown of all the steps involved with firing a shot. LESSON 5 – PRACTICE IN BOTH GOOD AND BAD CONDITIONS.
Most competitions are held in windy conditions, or where there are many distractions. LESSON 6 – CHAMPIONS ARE POSITIVE AND OPTIMISTIC.
(Negative Shooters Expect Bad Results; Positive Shooters Expect to Train Hard to Change Bad Results.) LESSON 7 – IT DOES NOT MATTER IF YOU WIN OR LOSE.
It’s all about how hard you are trying to win. LESSON 8 – YOUR DOG WILL NOT BITE YOU AFTER YOU SHOT A BAD SCORE.
(Hopefully, your coach, parents and other friends won’t bite either.) LESSON 9 – YOUR PRESS CLIPINGS CAN HURRT OR HELP.
We can get carried away by winning. We begin to think that we are so good, we don’t need to work as hard. LESSON 10 – YOU NEVER SHOT THE BEST SCORE.
Great champions are always looking to improve. USAMU shooters at the Wa-Ke’-De Outdoor Range in Bristol, IN.
Photo courtesy USAMU. Gary Anderson
Gary Anderson was Director of the Civilian Marksmanship Program from 1999 to 2009, and is now DCM emeritus. Gary Anderson grew up on a Nebraska farm and grew to love hunting and shooting. Gary’s dream of winning an Olympic Gold Medal for shooting led him to join the U.S. Army. In 1959, Gary joined the elite U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit. Two years later, Anderson won his first national title. Anderson shocked the shooting world in 1962 by winning four individual titles, and setting three world records. Gary won the Gold Medal for the 300m Free-Rifle at the 1964 Tokyo Olympics. He also set a new World Record. Anderson won three more world titles at the 1966 World Shooting Championships held in Germany. Gary Anderson won a second Olympic gold medal at the 300m Free-Rifle event in 1968. Gary Anderson, after his “retirement” of international competition, competed in the National High Power Championships and won the President’s National Trophy three times in 1973, 1975, and 1976. Anderson won two Olympic Gold Medals and seven World Championships during his competitive career. He also won 16 National Championships. He is without a doubt one of the greatest American markmen ever.
