Seymour sergeant proves discipline, mental strength makes a champion

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Shane Dunaway
  • 4th Fighter Wing Public Affairs
SEYMOUR JOHNSON AIR FORCE BASE, N.C. --  Master Sgt. Stuart Brown, 4th Main-tenance Operations Squadron, and the Air Force American Skeet Team, blew away all competition in the 2006 World Skeet Championships Oct. 6-14 in San Antonio.

His team won the Military High Overall Average, which is the average score from shooting four different model guns, for the sixth consecutive year and several other events throughout the competition.

He won first place with a perfect score in the 12-gauge 250 military event, which is a two-day event where competitors fire at 125 targets each day. He also took first place in the preliminary championships High Overall, a regular 400 target tournament not included as part of the main event, with a 397 out of 400 and military runner-up in the main HOA with a 546 out of 550.

Sergeant Brown keeps his skills sharp by practicing several times a week at the base skeet range and at Fort Bragg's Gun Club.

"Shooting American Skeet requires tremendous hand and eye coordination with an even greater amount of mental strength to become successful during tournaments," said Sergeant Brown, who has been a competitive skeet shooter for 24 years. "Good equipment, ammunition, time to practice, a strong passion for my sport combined with an understanding of the fundamentals, discipline, drive, pride, honor, knowledge, experience and talent are some of the things which I can attribute my successes."

Sergeant Brown's shooting proficiency reflects the idea of our Airmen as warfighters and the Air Force becoming more capable, more efficient and more lethal.

"I do have a strong degree of experience in many types of weapons," Sergeant Brown said, "but this is something I have learned over many years of my life through the environment I grew up in and my relationship with shooting sports."

Chief Master Sgt. Rodney McKinley, Chief Master Sergeant of the Air Force, recognized Sergeant Brown's achievements in a letter to Chief Master Sergeant Layton Clark, 4th Fighter Wing command chief master sergeant.

"Master Sergeant Brown's performance at the World Championships capped off a very good year," Chief McKinley said. "I understand that he is not only the Top Air Force Skeet Shooter for 2006, but he is also the 2006 Armed Forces Champion, the 2006 North Carolina State Champion and the 2006 Zone 4 Military Champion, a truly extraordinary achievement. He is a cornerstone of the team."