Gendarmerie's champion marksmen face off

The final stage of the "Regional Infantry Rifle and Pistol Shooting Competition," held with the participation of Gendarmerie commando and internal security unit personnel, took place at the Foça Gendarmerie Shooting School Command.

The competition, organized to raise awareness among Gendarmerie personnel regarding pistol and infantry rifle training and shooting, improve training levels, and boost morale, motivation, and self-confidence, began in two separate categories.

Following the semi-final matches yesterday, where 80 personnel who successfully completed the regional stages held at 8 separate regional shooting centers competed, 20 finalists—10 for pistol and 10 for infantry rifle—participated in the final stage.

The 10 Gendarmerie personnel competing in the infantry rifle category raced to place by performing shots from different positions after a 1,000-meter obstacle course run before the final shooting. Following the infantry rifle shots, the 10 finalists also competed in the pistol shooting category. Gendarmerie Deputy General Commander Lieutenant General Aykut Tanrıverdi watched the final matches, sharing in the excitement of the personnel and congratulating those who reached the finals.

Meanwhile, a total of 358 personnel, including 3 referees, served to ensure the competition was conducted fairly and in accordance with the rules. An award ceremony was held for the personnel who ranked after the excitement of the final, which saw fierce competition.

In the exciting final matches, the winners in the infantry rifle shooting category were: Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Salih Can Mete from the Şırnak Provincial Gendarmerie Command Gendarmerie Commando Special Operations Battalion Command in first place, Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Şenol Korkmaz from the Bornova Gendarmerie Brigade Command Support Battalion Command in second place, and Enes Güngörmez from the Muş Provincial Gendarmerie Command Gendarmerie Commando Special Operations Battalion Command in third place.

In the pistol matches, Abdullah Salman from the Şırnak Provincial Gendarmerie Command Gendarmerie Commando Special Operations Battalion Command placed first, Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Furkan Çağlar from the Mersin Provincial Gendarmerie Command Akkuyu NPP Facility Protection Battalion Command placed second, and Gendarmerie Specialist Sergeant Kenan Yayla from the Tunceli Provincial Gendarmerie Command Maintenance and Repair Company Command placed third.

"The final matches have demonstrated the professional power of the Gendarmerie"

Speaking at the award ceremony, Gendarmerie Deputy General Commander Lieutenant General Aykut Tanrıverdi said, "One must evaluate the skill of using a weapon as follows: It is not just a professional qualification. It also requires the ability to make quick decisions, working against time, competing against time, attention, focus, patience, and ultimately, absolute discipline.

For Gendarmerie personnel, shooting ability is of critical importance in the success of every mission performed. No matter how much technology advances, what determines the final result on the modern battlefield is always the skill of the hand that pulls the trigger and the courage of the heart to which that hand is connected.

Do not forget this. Today's final matches have once again demonstrated the high level of training, operational readiness, and professional power our personnel possess," he said. Following the speeches, Lieutenant General Tanrıverdi presented awards to the successful personnel.