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Four key positions were
recently filled at the USAMU.
Michael J. Behnke assumes the
duties as
Chief of Competitions.
Two
coaching positions were filled as the result of the retirement
of Burl Branham, Shotgun Coach, and Bill Krilling,
International Rifle Coach.
Dean Clark is the new Shotgun
Coach while Richard Hawkins takes over as the International Rifle Coach.
Donald Heuman fills the vacant
Service Rifle Head Coach position.
The MMA welcomes these four
outstanding individuals and wish them the best of luck. Please scroll
down to learn more.
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Chief
of Competitions |
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 Michael
J. Behnke is a native
of Cleveland, Ohio. Mike joined the US Navy in 1965, and after he
completed Basic Training in Great Lakes, Illinois, served on the USS
Valley Forge until 1967. He had numerous assignments and deployments
in his 27-year naval career including tours in the Philippines and in
Spain. His last assignment was as an instructor in Kings Bay,
Georgia, from 1988 to 1992. Mike retired from the Navy in 1992, as a
Master Chief Petty Officer.
Mike started
shooting in 1974 while stationed at the Naval Communications Center
in Rota, Spain, and was a member of the US Navy Service Pistol Team
in 1991. He joined the Army Marksmanship Unit as Chief of
Competitions in February 2001.
Mike received a
Bachelor of Science degree in education from Valdosta State
University of Valdosta, Georgia, in 1991, and a Master of Business
Administration from Brenan State University of Gainesville, Georgia.
Mike and his wife,
Charo, have two children, Michael Jr., 27, and Michelle Anne, 25. He
lives in Columbus, Georgia
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International
Rifle Coach |
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 Richard
N. "Rick" Hawkins is a Bath, Michigan, native and
graduated from Bath High School in 1972 before entering the US
Military Academy at West Point, NY, where he graduated with a
Bachelor of Science degree. He continued his education at the US
Sports Academy at Daphne, Alabama, and received a master's degree in
management in 1989. He also received a Master in Business
Administration from Rollins College of Winter Park, Florida, where he
graduated first in his class in 1997.
After being
commissioned a second lieutenant of armor in 1976, Hawkins served as
a platoon leader with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas,
and in Germany before being assigned to the US Army Marksmanship Unit
as an international rifle shooter. He then served as a company
commander in the 197th Infantry Brigade at Fort Benning and again
returned to the Army Marksmanship Unit as an international rifle
shooter. Hawkins next assignment was a detachment commander with the
US Army Infantry School at Fort Benning and then served as a staff
officer in Germany, before returning to the USAMU International Rifle
Team in December 1992. He served as the Officer in Charge of the
Service Rifle Team and with the USAMU Training and Operations Section
as the Operations Officer before he retired at the rank of Major in
1996. He again joined the USAMU as the Coach of the International
Rifle Team in February 2001.
Rick, who started
shooting in 1972, has earned the Distinguished Rifleman Badge and
President's Hundred Tab. He is a three-time member of winning US
Armed Forces CISM teams, a five-time Interservice individual
champion, a member of 24 national smallbore championship teams, and
won a German National Championship.
Rick and his wife,
Melissa, have three children, Brian, Kathryn, and Laura. They live in
Pine Mountain, Georgia.
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Shotgun
Coach |
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 Dean
O. Clark
is the coach of the Shotgun Team of the US Army Marksmanship Unit,
Fort Benning, Georgia. Dean is a native of Garrettsville, Ohio, where
he graduated from James A. Garfield High School in 1978. He continued
his studies in business management at Kent State University in Kent,
Ohio, and San Diego University of San Diego, California.
Dean joined the
Army in 1978 and started shooting in 1969. He was assigned to the US
Army Marksmanship Unit from 1978 to 1981, at which time he joined the
US. Army Reserves.
Dean is a two-time
Olympian earning a berth as a member of the 1980 and 1992 Olympic
teams. In 1993 World Championships, he captured the gold medal for
winning the individual Skeet match and a bronze medal in the team
match. Additionally, he won a team gold medal in the 1983 and 1985
World Championships plus an individual Silver Medal and a team gold
medal in the 1982 World Championships. Dean has set six World records
and 13 National records.
In 1995 Dean was
inducted into the US Army Marksmanship Unit Shotgun Hall of Fame then
in 1999 he was inducted into the Ohio State Skeet Shooting Hall of
Fame. Dean has earned the US International Distinguished Shooter Badge.
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Service
Rifle Coach |
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 Donald
L. Heuman
is the Head Coach of the of the Service Rifle Team at the US Army
Marksmanship Unit, Fort Benning, Georgia. Don is a native of Union,
Missouri, and graduated from Union High School in 1974.
Don joined the
U.S. Marine Corps in 1974 and retired as a Master Sergeant in 2000
with 26 years service. He was a member of the USMC Service Rifle Team
for 22 years. Don was selected as the Head Coach of the U.S. Army
Marksmanship Unit's Service Rifle Team in May 2001.
Don was a
consistent winner at the Interservice and National Matches both as an
individual champion and as member of numerous USMC winning teams. Don
is the winner of the National Matches Shepherd and Coast Artillery
trophies, a National Long Range championship, and a member of two
National Trophy Team winning teams at the National Matches. At the
Interservice Championships he fired on six winning 10-man
Championship Teams and five winning Infantry Trophy Teams.
Additionally, he was a two-time individual Interservice Champion and
winner of the Interservice Air Force, Marine Corps, and Army Cups.
Don is also a winner of the USMC Laucheimer Trophy and has captured
the Missouri and Delaware State championship titles. Don earned the
USMC Distinguished Rifleman Badge and the President's Hundred award
at the National Matches.
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Biographical data and photos
provided by US Army Marksmanship Unit Public Affairs Office (706) 545-5436.
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