Military Marksmanship Association Formerly AMUA - Army Marksmanship Unit Association

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2006 Association Soldier of the Year SFC Shaw Waller   Sergeant First Class Shawn Waller, a Gunsmith and Machinist assigned to the  US Army Marksmanship Unit, was selected as the Military Marksmanship Association Soldier of the Year for 2006. Colonel (Retired) Bruce A. Meredith, MMA President, presented SFC Waller with a trophy pistol donated by Smith & Wesson Corporation at the Annual Membership Meeting on January 19, 2007. 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. A native of Garfield Heights, Ohio, Waller graduated from Garfield Heights High School in 1988.  He received a diploma from Cuyahoga Joint Vocational Machine Trades School in 1988 and is furthering his education through the Army's online college program. Waller joined the Army in November 1989 and attended Basic and Infantry Training at Fort Benning, Georgia. He was assigned to the Army Marksmanship Unit as a shotgun shooter and later joined the Custom Firearms Shop as a gunsmith and machinist in 1992. Military Schooling and Decorations: Schools: Basic and Infantry Training, Fort Benning (1989); Primary Leadership Development Course, Fort Benning (1994); Instructor Training Course, Fort Benning (1995); Combat Lifesaver Course, Fort Benning (1997); and Basic Noncommissioned Officers Course, Fort Benning (2000). Awards and Decorations: Three Army Commendation Medals, Army Achievement Medal, four Good Conduct Medals, National Defense Service Medal, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, two Noncommissioned Officers Professional Development Ribbons, Army Service Ribbon and Army Superior Unit Award. He and his wife Debbie live in Phenix City, Alabama, with their two children, Colby and Chelsea. Accomplishments SFC Waller has been a U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit Custom Firearms Shop gunsmith and machinist for the past 15 years and has made an impact on the shooter's ability to  win in competition by providing them with the most accurate weapons. Waller fabricated course, trophy, and long-range barrels used by the USAMU Service Rifle Team, which dominated the 2006 Interservice and National Matches to include setting a new 1,000-yard team national record. Waller also produced bushings and sights, machined and ground slides in the accurizing of M9 pistols for the Service Pistol Team, which resulted in the first clean sweep (winning all matches) at the Interservice Pistol Championships by USAMU in over two decades. He was also instrumental in the development and production of a modular rib sight system for the USAMU Shotgun Trap Team that resulted in a team Gold Medal at the World Championships. Waller fabricated .22 caliber rim fire barrels for the USAMU International Rifle Team that were used to win numerous medals and championships including a Silver Medal at the World Cup Finals.  He also chambered barrels for the USAMU International Pistol and the Action Combat Pistol teams, which enabled them to have outstanding results during the 2006 shooting year. Waller was instrumental in supporting two USAMU mission objectives: promoting the Army and enhancing combat readiness. In addition to supporting the competitive program, SFC Waller helped to fabricate over 100 barrels for M16 rifles used in the 3rd Infantry Division's Squad Designated Marksman program before the division's redeployment to Iraq. 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