Military Marksmanship Association Formerly AMUA - Army Marksmanship Unit Association

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2005 Association Soldier of the Year SSG Maxient J. Michel, Jr.   Staff Sergeant Maxient J. Michel, Jr., an Action Shooter with the US Army Marksmanship Unit, was selected as the Military Marksmanship Association Soldier of the Year for 2005. Colonel (Retired) Bruce A. Meredith, MMA President, presented SSG Michel with a trophy pistol donated by Smith & Wesson Corporation at the Annual Membership Meeting on January 27, 2006. A special thanks to Smith & Wesson Corporation for their continued support of the MMA Soldier of the Year by their generous donation of the trophy pistol. SSG Michel is from Meraux, Louisiana, and graduated from Andrew Jackson High School, Chalmette, Louisiana, in 1999. He joined the Army on May 25, 1999, and after completing Basic and Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia, he was assigned to the U. S. Army Marksmanship Unit in 1999.  He has completed the Instructor Training Course (2001), Primary Leadership Development Course (2003), and Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course (2004). SSG Michel also has earned an associate's degree in criminal justice (2002) and a bachelor's degree in criminal justice (2004) from Troy State University, Alabama. SSG Michel's military awards and decorations include two Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, Good Conduct Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon, Army Superior Unit Award, USAMU NCO of the Quarter, and the Military Marksmanship Association Soldier of the Year for 2005. SSG Michel and his wife, Jennifer, live in Phenix City, Alabama, with their son Peyton James. Shooting Highlights 2005 World Speed Shooting Champion 2005 and 2004 USPSA U.S. Open Champion 2003 Alabama, Tennessee, and Louisiana State Champion 2003 World Speed Shooting Championship Shoot Off Champion 2002 World Shooting Team Member 2001 European Championships Silver Medalist 2000 World Championships, Silver Medal, Military Division  2000 Military World Shoot Off Champion  2000 Millennium Match Junior Division Champion  2000 IPSC Interservice Champion 2000 Pan-American Bronze Medalist  and Junior Champion 2000 U.S. Open Nationals Bronze Medalist 1999 World Championships, Silver Medal, Junior Division Chronological Listing Of Shooting Achievements 2005 U.S. Practical Shooting Association Open National Champion 4th Place Overall, Open Division, World Shooting Championship Winner, Steel Challenge Areas 3, 4 and 6 Champion and 2nd Place Overall, Area 8 Georgia State Champion and Double Tap Champion 2nd Place Overall, Florida and South Carolina State Championships Military Marksmanship Association Soldier of the Year 2004 USPSA U.S. Open National Champion and Open Point Series National Champion Area 3, Area 4, Area 5, Area 6, Area 7, and Area 8 Champion Virginia Summer Blast Champion South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, and Alabama State Champion Third Place Overall, Florida Open and Fourth Place Overall, Steel Challenge 2003 World Speed Shooting Championship Shoot Off Champion and Fourth Place Overall Area 4 Champion and Area 5 Limited 10 Champion Military Champion and Third Place Overall, Limited Open National Championships Fourth Place Overall, Steel Challenge and Florida Open Second Place Overall, Area 6 and Area 8 Championships Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee, and Alabama State Champion Second Place Overall, South Carolina State Championships Military National Champion and 11th Place Overall, Factory Gun Nationals 2002 10th Place Overall and Team Gold Medal, World Shoot XIII Seventh Place Overall, World Speed Shooting Championships Third Place Overall, and Military and Junior Champion, U.S. Open Nationals Second Place Overall and Junior Champion, Mediterranean Cup  Winner, Open, Military and Junior Divisions, Mid-Atlantic Sectionals and Areas 4 and 6 Championships Aware Invitational Overall, Military and Junior Champion  Alabama and Florida State Champion Virginia Summer Blast Overall, Military and Junior Champion 2001 Silver Medal, European Championships European International Champion Bronze Medal, National Championships National Junior and Military Champion Areas 1, 2, 4, and 5 High Overall  Area 6 Champion and Area 4 High Open Champion  Alabama, Louisiana, Mississippi, Georgia, North Carolina, and South Carolina State Champion 2000 Pan-American Bronze Medalist and Junior Champion Military World Shoot Off Champion and U.S. Open Nationals Bronze Medalist Second Place, Military Division, World Speed Shooting Championships Winner, International Practical Shooting Confederation Interservice Championships Winner, Junior Division, 2000 Millennium Match Second Place Overall, and Winner, Military Division, Area 1 and Area 3 Championships Third Place Overall, and Winner, Military Division, Area 2 Championships Second Place Overall, Area 5 Championships, and Third Place Overall, Area 4 Championships Alabama State Champion Photographs and biographical data provided by Paula J. Randall Pagán, U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Public Affairs Office, (706) 545-5436. Biographical data edited by the Association’s Webmaster. Back to Top