Aiming High: Sergeant masters sport of skeet shooting

  • Published
  • By Valerie Mullett
  • 341st Space Wing Public Affairs
MALMSTROM AIR FORCE BASE, Mont. --  When Master Sergeant John Barnes joined the Air Force 21 years ago, he didn't know at the time that tried and true recruiting message would become a personal part of his agenda.

He did know he liked to shoot at targets, he was a trap shooter in high school. But in 1987, he was introduced to skeet shooting and he entered his first competition in 1988. His journey since then has taken him far.

"My goals at first were to not be the lowest scoring competitor on the board," said Sergeant Barnes, a member of the 341st Maintenance Operations Squadron.
"Eventually I won my class, then an event and finally, an entire shoot."

But a lot transpired along the way, starting in 1992 with the inspiration of a fellow skeet shooter.

"Air Force team shooter Phil Roberts was assigned here and he actually got me some assistance to attend the 1992 U.S. Open in Oregon," Sergeant Barnes recalled.

Unlike members of the World Class Athlete Program, members of the Air Force Skeet Team are responsible for their own training on their own time and at their own expense. They have to attend and compete in about eight events per year (an average cost of between $5,000 and $12,000) and have their targets registered through the national skeet shooting association.

"This takes a tremendous dedication to spend that kind of money to shoot enough targets to even be eligible for consideration," said the Hall-of-Fame skeet shooter.

He first made the team as a second alternate in 1993 and he was eventually picked up to compete when the 10th and 11th place members were unavailable.

"I held the title of the 'shooter with the lowest average to ever be on the Air Force team,'" he laughed.

While he may have started at the bottom, with the exception of a few short hiatus', Sergeant Barnes has been a team member since that first shoot, increasing his skill level with each passing year and adding to his list of accomplishments.

"John is a great ambassador to skeet and a dedicated team player," said Lt. Col. Vernon Lucas, captain of the Air Force skeet team. "He is always willing to help some of the other team members. He is a true competitor and hard worker. His accomplishments speak volumes."

But there was a time when he almost put it all away for good.

During the 2004 World Championships in San Antonio, Sergeant Barnes' car was stolen. It contained all of his guns and skeet equipment as well as his military uniforms because he was scheduled to start the senior NCO academy following his competition.

"I had to fly home on Sunday with clothes I dug out of a Randolph AFB friend's goodwill donation bag, come home and buy all new uniforms, then hit the road four days later to make it to the academy on time for my class start date," he said. "With encouragement from my wife, and commander, I replaced my $20,000 in guns and equipment to allow me to compete again."

This didn't happen overnight, however.

His new equipment only arrived two weeks before the 2005 competition.

"I was fortunate enough to win the 12-guage championship at that tournament," he modestly admitted.

The maintenance operations sergeant's equipment of choice include an over/under shotgun with sub-gauge tubes which he uses in the 20, 28 and .410 events. He uses a Remington 11-87 shotgun in the 12-guage and doubles events.

"I compete in everything that is available," he emphatically stated.

He and his teammates were in top form at this year's competition. He was one of 90 shooters to get all 100 targets in the individual event. He went on through many shoot-off rounds to emerge victorious and win the 2006 Mini-World 12 gauge Skeet
Championships. He, along with his Air Force Team 1 counterparts also took home top honors in the World 5-Man military team overall competition, the 12-guage, 20-guage, 28-guage and 410 bore competitions.

As modest as this adept skeet shooter is, his pride in his accomplishments and his teammates can't be hidden.

"I've come up all the way from the bottom," Sergeant Barnes said in reflection. "I am currently the only active-duty member in the Hall of Fame. Being a member of this team, winning this championship and being in the hall are accomplishments I will cherish for my lifetime."

While it may seem like he has accomplished all he can in this unique sport, he still has goals.

"I want to continue to support the Air Force team and enjoy the camaraderie of shooting with the thousands of people we interact with as members of the team," he said. "And I want to beat the Navy guys next May in Mississippi."