DVIDS – News – Remembering Fallen Heroes by way of competitors; “Originals” contend for high spot in 3-gun match

MAXTON, N.C. – Inexperienced Berets assigned to 2nd Battalion, tenth Special Forces Group (Airborne), and the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Particular Warfare Heart and College competed within the fifth Annual Memorial 3-Gun Competitors from Oct. 7-9, 2022.

Memorial 3 Gun Basis hosted the competitors of over 250 entrants to recollect, honor and memorialize Fallen service members assigned to U.S. Particular Operations Command. All proceeds raised are donated to the Households of honorees.

This 12 months, Sgt. 1st Class Stephen B. Cribben, a Special Forces communications sergeant killed throughout fight operations Nov. 4, 2017, in Logar Province, Afghanistan, was among the many Particular Operations Forces honorees for whom a stage was devoted.

“I didn’t have the privilege of figuring out Steve, however once I turned the Detachment Commander of his former crew, I discovered of how nice an individual and Inexperienced Beret he actually was and took it upon myself to get him nominated as an honoree this 12 months,” stated a Special Forces crew chief assigned to 2nd Bn., tenth SFG(A). “Having the privilege to signify his crew on his stage alongside his household…made it essentially the most significant stage of the match for me.”

Just like the title implies, opponents use three separate firearms in a 3-gun match – a rifle; a pistol; and a shotgun. Matches usually contain programs the place the shooter should transfer by way of levels requiring completely different firearms and taking pictures positions. The shooter who hits essentially the most targets within the least period of time wins.

“The opponents at Memorial 3-Gun come from all walks of life and each single one among them is right here to honor a Fallen member of the particular operations group,” he continued. “Occasions like these present me a chance to offer again to the Households in our Regiment who’ve sacrificed a lot…and to allow them to know their family members won’t ever be forgotten.”

Joe Cribben, Stephen’s father, appreciates the teammates who nominated his son for recognition on the 3-gun match.

“[Stephen] had simply began entering into 3-guns,” Joe stated. “As a matter of reality, throughout his first 3-gun competitors, he was disqualified on the primary [stage] for breaking the 180 Rule…He discovered lots that first day.”

Throughout the three-day-long competitors, Joe met attendees who had served along with his son in the identical unit or whereas deployed.

“What we try to do – my spouse and I – is locate individuals who knew him and take heed to their tales,” he stated. “We knew him as a toddler; we actually did not know him as an grownup and a Soldier. These tales we glean from the individuals who knew him.”

A banner of a Memorial 3 Gun Basis honoree was displayed at every foremost stage, and contestants noticed a second of silence following the studying of every honoree’s biography previous to any taking pictures.

“On the final iteration of the match on his stage, I learn Stephen’s bio and sort of added to it…and that was particular too,” Joe ended.