Story by SFC Laura Berry on 06/05/2019

Soldiers of the Massachusetts National Guard participated in The Adjutant General's State Marksmanship Competition, or "TAG Match" at the Devens Reserve Forces Training Area, Mass., May 17-19, 2019.

TAG Match provides advanced marksmanship training within a competitive environment to Massachusetts National Guard Soldiers so that they can assist in training others back at their units with their improved skills.

"The Adjutant General's annual shooting match (TAG Match) encourages healthy competition, tactical proficiency, and educates participants on the fundamentals of basic and advanced marksmanship," said Maj. David DiCrescenzo, one of the Officers-in-Charge of the TAG Match. "The event consists of four matches, two of which are nationally recognized, over the course of three days. Many of the competitors move on to regional and national level events where they earn points and compete against the militaries top shooters. Governor Baker awards the top twenty competitors from each years TAG Match with the 'Governor's Twenty' tab for marksmanship excellence at an event in Boston."

The winners received first, second and third place in each match for teams and individuals. The Match Championship Team was the team with the highest total score of all team rifle and pistol matches. The Match Championship Individual was the highest total score of all the individual rifle and pistol matches. The overall high individual shooter, regardless of class was awarded the 1SG Kevin A. Dupont Memorial Trophy. The "Governor's Twenty" are the top 20 shooters with the highest combined overall aggregate scores.

There were also a total of 32 support personnel supporting the event including medics, supply, transportation, small arms repair, range cadre, range safety officers and range operations personnel.

Brig. Gen. John J. Driscoll, Land Component Commander of the Massachusetts National Guard, attended the awards ceremony at the Devens Reserve Training Area Hall of Flags after the match.
"We talk about building lethality, if everyone knows how to shoot well, knows their jobs and knows their buddies' jobs, we can build on that," said Driscoll. "Whatever your rank is, from an E-3 to an O-3, know what you need to be doing. Know what the standard is."

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Winners:

INDIVIDUAL NOVICE

Combat Rifle EIC: 1st Place: SSG Zachary Surette, 2nd Place: SGT Nicholas Yandell, 3rd Place: SGT Paul Martin
Reflexive Fire: 1st Place: SPC Daniel Barry, 2nd Place: SSG Zachary Surette, 3rd Place: SGT Paul Martin
Combat Pistol EIC: 1st Place: SPC Daniel Barry, 2nd Place: SPC Jacob Champoux, 3rd Place: SSG Zachary Surette
Individual Combat Pistol Match: 1st Place: SSG Zachary Surette, 2nd Place: SPC Brent Rebelo, 3rd Place: SGT Nicholas Yandell

INDIVDUAL OPEN
Combat Rifle EIC: 1st Place: PFC Samuel Winters, 2nd Place: SPC Colin West, 3rd Place: CPT Alan Molin
Reflexive Fire: 1st Place: 1LT Richard Fissette, 2nd Place: SFC Walter St. Dennis, 3rd Place: SGT Joshua Cohen
Combat Pistol EIC: 1st Place: SSG Levi DiFranza, 2nd Place: 1LT Richard Fissette, 3rd Place: SFC Michael Wilson
Individual Combat Pistol Match: 1st Place: 1LT Richard Fissette, 2nd Place: SGT Arien Bane, 3rd Place: SPC Matthew Aiello

TEAM
Combat Rifle EIC: 1st Place: The Dragon's Eyes, 79th Troop Command,
2nd Place: Americal 5, 1-182 IN BN, 3rd Place: Americal 2, 1-182 IN BN
Reflexive Fire: 1st Place: The Dragon's Eyes, 79th Troop Command
2nd Place: Americal 2, 1-182 IN BN, 3rd Place: MEB 1, 26th MEB
Combat Pistol EIC: 1st Place: The Dragon's Eyes, 79th Troop Command
2nd Place: Americal 5, 1-182 IN BN, 3rd MEB 1, 26th MEB
Individual Combat Pistol Match: 1st Place: The Dragon's Eyes, 79th Troop Command, 2nd Place: Americal 2, 1-182 IN BN, 3rd Place: Americal 5, 1-182 IN BN

MATCH CHAMPIONSHIP TEAM
1st Place: The Dragon's Eyes, 79th Troop Command
2nd Place: Americal 2, 1-182 IN BN
3rd Place: Americal 5, 1-182 IN BN

MATCH CHAMPIONSHIP INDIVIDUAL OPEN
1st Place: 1LT Richard Fissette
2nd Place: SSG Levi DiFranza
3rd Place: SPC Matthew Aiello

MATCH CHAMPIONSHIP INDIVIDUAL NOVICE
1ST Place: SSG Zachary Surette
2nd Place: SGT Nicholas Yandell
3rd Place: SPC Daniel Barry

1SG KEVIN A DUPONT MEMORIAL TROPHY (Overall High Score Shooter)
1LT Richard Fissette

GOVERNOR'S TWENTY (Top 20 Shooters)
1LT Richard Fissette, SSG Levi DiFranza, SSG Zachary Surette, SPC Matthew Aiello, PFC Samuel Winters,
SGT James Pacheco, SGT Arien Bane, SFC Michael Wilson, SSG Nicholas Yandell, SPC Colin West,
SFC Walter St. Dennis, SPC Daniel Barry, SGT Joshua Cohen, SGT Paul Martin, SPC Brent Rebelo,
SSG Geoffrey Curtis, SPC Nolan Nasuti, SPC Jacob Champoux, SSG Michael Eastwick, SFC Gregory Potter