FORT INDIANTOWN GAP, Pa. –
More than 100 Pennsylvania National Guard Soldiers and Airmen competed in the annual Governor's Twenty marksmanship competition here, May 9 to 10, 2025.
A total of 103 service members competed in the event, which determines the top 20 marksmen in the state. They earn the right to wear the coveted Governor’s Twenty tab on their uniform.
“I’d like to thank all of you because without people coming out to shoot none of this would be possible,” said Sgt. 1st Class Luke Heim, Individual Training Branch noncommissioned officer-in-charge. “Even if you had no idea what you were doing, hopefully you have a better idea now.”
The Governor's Twenty tab, worn on the left shoulder, is a state-level National Guard award that is presented every year and is reflected on a service members’ official personnel record. It is recognized by both the Army and Air Force.
In order to be competitive, each Guardsman needed to be proficient with rifles and pistols. The test consisted of each competitor firing an M17 pistol and M4 carbine. It also included an M17 pistol 30-yard slow fire match and an M4 carbine 400-yard slow fire match.
The competition gives an opportunity to Guardsmen to apply marksmanship fundamentals. That was one of the motivators for Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Costello, who also finished in the top three, but he also described his participation in the competition as "an honor."
“I would love to see this match continue to grow," said Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Costello. "I get to see friends that I don’t often get to see, I have an opportunity to pass knowledge on to new shooters and I always learn something new myself. The amount of knowledge that is shared is invaluable and its knowledge that Soldiers and Airmen can take back to their units.”
The competition is organized and run by the Pennsylvania National Guard’s Marksmanship Training Unit.
In addition to the Governor’s Twenty tabs, Staff Sgt. Adam Rohacek won the High New Shooter Award.
Top 20 results:
- Sgt. Ryan Ilich
- Staff Sgt. Glenn Knight
- Staff Sgt. Jason Goodling
- Staff Sgt. Josef Volk
- Staff Sgt. Zack Paff
- Sgt. 1st Class Douglas Costello
- Staff Sgt. Andrew Scalice
- Sgt. Caleb Summers
- Senior Airman Scott Berardinelli
- Staff Sgt. Adam Rohacek
- Sgt. 1st Class Thomas Brick
- Sgt. Sedullo Fayz
- Sgt. William Perez
- Sgt. Jack Repyneck
- Spc. Kraigym Blemle
- Capt. Donald Yestrepsky
- Sgt. Brandon Shanley
- Sgt. 1st Class Jacob Weidow
- Spc. Adam Sensenig
- Tech. Sgt. Patrick Michael