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    • SOLDIER EARNS PRESIDENT’S HUNDRED

      Presidents_100.jpg

      Staff Sgt. James Ruiz stands ready to engage clay pigeons as his unit spends a day at the skeet/trap range on Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson, Alaska, Nov. 15, 2013. Ruiz has won numerous marksmanship awards throughout his career in the Marine Corps and Army including the President’s Hundred Tab nine times.

      Sgt. 1st Class. James Ruiz currently serves as the 3rd ID Infantry Division Memorial Affairs noncommissioned officer-in-charge and is one of just a few Soldiers in the division with the President’s Hundred Tab.

      The President's Hundred Tab is a badge awarded by the Civilian Marksmanship Program to the 100 top-scoring military and civilian shooters in the President's Pistol and President's Rifle matches. The tab is authorized for wear on military uniforms of the U.S. Army. It is also one of just four tabs awarded to Soldiers for individual skills that is authorized for permanent wear and is first in order of precedence on the uniform over the Special Forces, Ranger, and Sapper tabs.

      Ruiz’s first Presidents Hundred was in 1993 when he served in the United States Marine Corps. Since then Ruiz has competed eight more times and placed in the top 100 every time. Ruiz said all the success from his years of competition come down to mastering the fundamentals.

      “There are five important rules to follow,” said Ruiz. “Trigger control, sight alignment, point of aim, breathing, and natural resting position.”

      Ruiz said of the five, trigger control is by far the most important and that once he truly understood that is when he began to have success in various marksmanship competitions.

      Over his career in the Marines and Army he has earned the Lauchheimer Gold Medal, Walsh Pistol Trophy as the top pistol shot in the Marine Corps, served with the Army Marksmanship Unit, and competed with the Army Rapid Fire International Pistol Team.

      Ruiz said that while every competition and marksmanship assignment have been gratifying, he is proudest of being one of only a few Soldiers to be double distinguished in the pistol and rifle during the Presidents Hundred competition.

      Ruiz also taught for three years at the Army Marksmanship Unit, said his advice to Soldiers interested in earning the tab is to never give up.

      “If you want to compete you need to ask around,” said Ruiz. “Begin with the Commander’s Cup or the All Army Marksmanship Competition that is held every year at Fort Benning.”

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