With this article, I would like to report on my participation in this year's 7th Annual Memorial 3 Gun Competition [1] and make the Foundation [2] and its impressive work better known in the German-speaking world. I apologize if I have not covered all aspects.
Participation in the competition must be secured in April via a previously announced online registration. This year (2024), the slots were again allocated within seconds rather than a few minutes. I was lucky enough to get one of these slots.
The competition took place again this year from October 11 - 13 at the Gryphon Group training grounds [3]. On October 10, it was already possible to register on site and view the various shooting exercises (called stages).
Each stage is dedicated to one of ten selected fallen or deceased comrades. This selection is made every year according to an established procedure. The stages all have a poster which honors the respective comrade. Before the completion of each stage, the life and work of the comrade is commemorated and a minute of silence is observed. Each participant signs the stage poster. In this way, the commemoration is also personalized and each participant is reminded of what the competition is for.
This is followed by the stage briefing (introduction to the exercise) and the exercise is completed by the participants one after the other according to the principle of hits per time. The participants are organized in so-called squads and thus go through the competition together. This procedure is similar to IPSC shooting.
The stages are extremely challenging. They usually require the use of the pistol, rifle and shotgun. However, each participant can decide for himself how to complete the stage. There are guidelines as to which weapons may be used and which targets may be shot at. There is a time limit on all stages, which can be generous or extremely tight, depending on the abilities and preferences of the participants.
Highlights of this year's stages were shooting from a former airplane, five moving targets at long range, a further number of more distant targets, the ever-popular spinners (for rifle, pistol and shotgun), shooting from extremely unstable stops and, again particularly challenging for me, the pure shotgun stage.
Auch meine diesjährige Squad war wieder gemischt zusammengesetzt. Die Teilnehmer reichten von erstmaliger Teilnahme an einem 3 Gun Wettkampf bis hin zum vergleichsweise Profischützen. In der Squad wurde sich gegenseitig ohne Vorbehalte unterstützt und alle Erfahrungen ausgetauscht. Ich hatte die Ehre mit dem Sieger meiner Division (TacOps, die Kategorie in welcher man schießt) in einer Squad schießen und wieder viel lernen zu können.
I generally found the complex shooting exercises easy to handle. I was able to make my own stage plans and essentially put them into practice. Of course, not all the stage plans worked, and the time limit in particular presented me with challenges this year. Nevertheless, I am satisfied with how things went for me. I was able to take away many new elements for myself as well as for my training.
To all RO's - you have delivered outstanding performance, always comradely, helpful and exceedingly professional regardless of the situation at hand!
The most important experience of the days in North Carolina, however, is belonging to a large family that stands for values, represents them and also stands up for them in an emergency. They support each other unconditionally. The many volunteers, all from the special forces, former members of the special forces, members of security agencies and also sport shooters described this again extremely impressively.
In addition to the official stages, which are the competition, there are so-called side stages. These are mostly carried out by supporting companies. Associated clubs also offer side stages. Tickets can be bought for these. On all Side Stages there is something to win. The proceeds of the side stages are donated to the families of the comrades who are commemorated this year.
The Side Stages are complemented by a raffle to participate in the Little Bird Stage.
The so-called ceremony on late Sunday afternoon is much more than a pure award ceremony. Much more important part is the so-called memorial. The relatives and friends of the comrades, who are remembered this year, come on stage and tell about their loved ones, whom they have lost. This is ten times a very touching moment. All the families also expressed their gratitude for the support they received from the Foundation and that the days they spent at the event helped them a little.
This is followed by the award ceremony in all classes of the competition and for the side stages.
There was a great announcement at the ceremony. Erik declared the renaming of the foundation to
The intention is to put the support for the families and relatives of the comrades on a wider base.
The Memorial Valor Foundation is a non-profit organization founded by members of the U.S. Special Forces to commemorate their fallen or injured comrades and to support their families. In direct connection with the U.S. American culture of dynamic large-caliber shooting sports, the civilian shooting sports world, soldiers and sponsors or donors are brought together at an annual 3 Gun Match.
In addition, the families of the respective Honories will be invited to personally experience the support of the members of the armed forces, as well as the sport shooters.
Funds are raised through a wide variety of activities (i.e. not only during the competition) in order to be able to implement projects for the affected families. A request to the reader - consider supporting the association as well. All necessary information can be found at [2].
At this point I would like to quote the foundation:
At Memorial Valor Foundation, we remember honor and memorialize the bravery and sacrifice of fallen Special Operators by providing unwavering support to their Gold Star families.
Through remembrance, compassion, and action, we ensure their legacies endure, helping their families, find strength in the face of loss.
Our mission is to raise funds and resources to assist these families in rebuilding their lives , offering hope, healing, and a lasting tribute to the heroes who gave all in service to our nation.
I am very grateful to Erik, Bryce, Jordan and all the others for being part of this family of special people who give everything for their country so that others can live safely. The Memorial Ceremony, in particular, once again touched me deeply and made me realize once again what the event stands for. At this point I am also proud to have described my support to the families affected.
I will continue to support this form of remembrance and support for families as best I can.
Of course, I would be happy if I could draw the attention of other sponsors through my contribution.
Perhaps it will even be possible to establish a similar form of remembrance in Germany one day.
I would like to take this opportunity to thank Robert, Erik and Mitch for making my participation possible this year! Thank you, I will never forget that and hope one day to have the opportunity to give something back to you!
[1] https://www.memorialvalor.com/7th-annual-competition, Abruf 16.11.2024
[2] https://www.memorialvalor.com/, Abruf 16.11.2024
[3] https://www.ravenadvisory.com/, retrieval 28.10.2022
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