Over 300 of the world’s best military marksmen from 20 countries have fought for the internationally renowned shooter’s title of Champion Shot at the Australian Army Skill at Arms Meet (AASAM) in Puckapunyal, Victoria.
Sargeant Hamsan of Indonesia was awarded the title of Champion Shot by Chief of the Australian Army, Lieutenant General Rick Burr, AO, DSC, MVO, in a ceremony that recognised the 44-year history of one of the world’s largest military shooting competitions.
For the 12th time, Indonesia outperformed all competing teams with the highest aggregate score.
“AASAM is a significant annual event that fosters Army’s relationship with our regional and global partners through friendly competition that sees the best marksmen from across the world exposed to a rigorous, challenging and combat-focused skill-at-arms competition,” Lieutenant General Burr said.
“We are honoured to welcome such high calibre soldiers from around the world to test their shooting ability on an international stage.
“We have also hosted first-time observers Afghanistan and Sri Lanka. Both countries have looked closely at the competition and appear very excited at the prospect of participating in the future.”
The AASAM competition is judged through a series of team and individual events encompassing day and night shooting as well as a bayonet assault course simulating close-quarter fighting and deliberate shooting out to 450 metres.
Regimental Sergeant Major of Army, Warrant Officer Grant McFarlane, OAM commended the camaraderie that united the profession of Arms during the competition.
“Irrespective of nationality, the common language of the soldiers competing in AASAM is marksmanship,” Warrant Officer McFarlane said.
“I commend our Australian soldiers on their solid performance throughout the competition.”
The competition included teams from Australia, New Zealand, The United States, The United Kingdom, Indonesia, France, Japan, Cambodia, Timor-Leste, Tonga, The Republic of Korea, Vietnam, Malaysia, Papua New Guinea, Fiji, The United Arab Emirates, Canada, Thailand and Brunei.
