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TINKER SHOOTOUT: OSI sponsors federal pistol competition

  • Published
  • By Brandice J. Armstrong
  • Tinker Public Affairs
Tinker AFB, Okla. --  It was hit or miss July 31 with thousands of shell casings popping out of hand guns. The reports sounded like hail pelting against a tin roof. The guns were fired by an assortment of local, state and federal law enforcement agency members at the Air Force Office of Special Investigations-Detachment 114's 12th annual pistol competition.

Organized into heats of approximately 25 shooters at time, the event was held at Bldg. 1024's firing range on Reserve Road. Contestants from OSI, the 72nd Security Forces Squadron, Internal Revenue Service, the Drug Enforcement Administration, U.S. Secret Service, U.S. Marshals, Bureau of Indian Affairs, Federal Bureau of Prisons, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and the Federal Bureau of Investigations participated in the contest. Several shooters said they came for the camaraderie and good-natured competition.

"These individuals provide a security umbrella for Tinker Air Force Base," said Special Agent-in-Charge Jack Angelo of OSI Det. 114. "They're going to be our first line of defense when it comes to identifying terrorists, counterintelligence and criminal threats to this base. By OSI sponsoring this type of event, we can interact with these folks and build upon the relationship we've built."

Col. Allen Jamerson, installation commander and former Security Forces member, who provided opening remarks and competed in the contest, agreed.

"Thanks for what you do - for working with us on criminal enforcement and national security," he said. "If there's anything we can ever do for you at Tinker Air Force Base, let us know."

As the scent of gunpowder wafted, the air smelled like firecrackers, bullets were loaded into magazines like Pez candies into a plastic dispenser, several participants commented on individual performances.

"I'm mostly average but against these guys I'm mediocre," said Chris Albin from the IRS's Criminal Investigations unit. "This may be OSI's year [to win]."

While Rick Collodi of the FBI said he thinks he did well, Mike Favors agreed with teammate Mr. Albin.

"I think I did worse than normal," said Mr. Favors of the IRS's CI unit. "Sometimes my hand was shaking a little bit. It was pretty hard, with those little circles [targets]."

At the end of the competition, there were more hits than misses for both FBI teams, which placed first and second. The U.S. Marshals placed third.