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Anaconda Post 21 Promotes Junior Shooting Sports
Junior Shooting Sports Team. l-r (rear): John Monaco, Tom Pozega, Mike McLean (coaches. (Middle): Pat Scalise (NRA Certified instructor), Mike Monaco, Ray LaTray, Marcus Monaco. (Front): Tre' Kincaid & Trey Smollack.
The American Legion Junior Shooting Sports Program is a three-part program that combines the basic marksmanship course, qualifications awards, and air rifle competition. Participants can be of any gender, through age 18. Handicapped youth are encouraged to participate. Annual competition takes place at the post levels culminating with a shoulder- to- shoulder match held at the Olympic Training Center/USA Shooting Range Facilities in Colorado Springs, CO.
According to Lead Instructor and NRA Certified Pat Scalise, Anaconda Junior Shooting Sports began in 2006 with the certification of the instructors. John Monaco, Mike McLean and Dave McLean were certified. Although not certified, Tom Pozega serves as the "right hand man". The Anaconda Junior High School initially served as the rifle range but after a period of time, Legionnaires and the Auxiliary joined forces to reorganize the Post's basement into the current shooting range.
Anaconda Junior Sports Shooters. l-r: Mike Monaco, Tre' Kincaid, Ray LaTray, Trey Smollack, Marcus Monaco.
Currently, there are five shooting participants: Raymond LaTroy, Marcus Monaco, Mike Monaco, Tre' Kincaid and Trey Smollack. To date, they have learned shooting safety, range commands, shooting positions, shooting techniques and sight adjustment. Shooting safey is always number 1!
The participants have participated in Legion Postal shoots and are taking part in a deer hunt in Dillon this deer season. Scalise noted "we hope to test our skills against Junior Shooting Sports members from American Legion Posts in Twin Bridges, Townsend, Helena and Dillon to see where our youngsters are at and what we need to concentrate on to better ourselves". Post 21 Junior Shooting Sports is open to the public any Sunday from 6-7;30 p.m. at the Anaconda American Legion Post 21 located at the corner of 3rd and Cedar Streets.
