OSI, SFS host pistol shoot-out competition

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Stephan Coleman
  • 81st Training Wing Public Affairs
KEESLER AIR FORCE BASE, Miss. --  The 81st Security Forces Squadron and Air Force Office of Special Investigations Detachment 407 hosted a second annual pistol shoot-off competition with federal and local law enforcement agencies Aug. 30, 2013, at the indoor firing range.

Along with teams from Keesler's hosting offices, the event included members of the Biloxi Police Department, Drug Enforcement Administration, Gulfport Police Department, Harrison County Sheriff's Office, Ocean Springs Police Department, U.S. Border Patrol and U.S. Homeland Security.

"We work with a lot of these people on a regular basis," said AFOSI Special Agent Patrick Pendergest. "This competition is a great way to get together without having to talk shop."

Officer Paul Podlin, Gulfport Police Department, won top shooter honors. The Gulfport Police Department came in first in the team competition, with the U.S. Border Patrol second and the 81st SFS third.

The competition, which lasted most of the day, was arranged in two separate rounds. Round 1 had agencies paired together in the firing range, shooting at single targets at 5, 12, and 25 yards. Round 2 had each team compete individually, with multiple targets at a variety of distances.

Participants had a short time to practice before each scoring round, firing on targets with 3-inch head, 5-inch shoulder and 8-inch chest bull's eyes.

Each round was viewable from the control room, but representatives of many of the agencies swapped stories as they waited for their turn to shoot in the conference room.

"The whole point of the competition is to strengthen the liaison with the other agencies," said AFOSI Special Agent Thomas Bray, who helped coordinate the function. "But the competition is nice, too."