Sherri Gallagher

Sherri Jo Gallagher
Born1984
Allegiance United States of America
Service / branch United States Army
RankSergeant
UnitU.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team
AwardsUnited States Army Soldier of the Year (2010)

Sgt. Sherri Jo Gallagher is an American soldier who holds 22 United States national rifle records.[1] In 2010, she was named the U.S. Army Soldier of the Year.[1][2]

Early life and marksmanship training

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Sherri Gallagher was born in 1984 in California USA.[3] Her mother is Nancy Tompkins who in 1998 was the first woman to win the High Power Rifle Championship,[3] and her step-father is Mid Tompkins, who has won the honor six times in a row.[4] Gallagher was able to shoot a rifle for the first time at the age of five years.[3] Her step-cousin half removed, Patrick Kelly, is a clay pigeon shooter.

In 2003, Gallagher was the World Long Range Shooting Champion, and had already been named National Rifle Champion twice by the National Rifle Association.[5] Following her awards, Gallagher was invited to guest jump with the U.S. Army's Golden Knights Parachute Team. Following the jump, the team invited Gallagher to enlist.[5]

Military career

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In 2010, Gallagher was nominated for Soldier of the Quarter based on her marksmanship,[6] and traveled to Fort Lee, Virginia to compete for Soldier of the Year.[6] Gallagher went on to compete nationally and was the first woman to win the U.S. Army's Soldier of the Year award.[7]

In August 2010, Gallagher was the second woman to win the NRA's National High Power Rifle Championship.[8] The first woman in history had been her mother.[8] Of the twelve awards available at the 2010 NRA Championships, Gallagher was given eight.[9]

In October 2010, Gallagher studied at the Airborne School in Fort Benning, Georgia, and took the Warriors Leaders Course.[3]

In 2013, Gallagher was profiled by Business Insider as one of the "Most Impressive Women in the U.S. Military".[10]

As of July 2014, Gallagher is stationed in Arizona.[11]

References

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  1. ^ a b Lepley, Brian (26 October 2010). "Sgt. Sherri Gallagher Chosen As U.S. Army Soldier of the Year". Accurate Shooter Daily Bulletin. Accurate Shooter. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  2. ^ "Soldier of the Year Winners". www.army.mil/. United States Army. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
  3. ^ a b c d Brian Lepley (26 October 2010). "Sgt. Gallagher was chosen As the U.S. Soldier of the Year". AccurateShooter.com. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  4. ^ "Ben Avery Range Dedicated to Mid Tompkins Plus New Building". AccurateShooter.com. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  5. ^ a b Silvio Calabi (2013). The Gun Book for Girls. Down East Books. p. 141. ISBN 9781608934409. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  6. ^ a b "ARMY'S BEST WARRIORS WRAP UP 2010 COMPETITION" (Press release). United States Army. 26 October 2010. Archived from the original on 24 September 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  7. ^ Kristen V. Brown (23 March 2013). "Guard members vie in top warrior contest". The Times Union. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  8. ^ a b Kyle Jillson (14 August 2010). "SGT Sherri Gallagher wins 2010 National High Power Rifle Championship". NRA Blog. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  9. ^ "2010 NRA National Matches at Camp Perry". American Rifleman. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  10. ^ Melissa Stanger (26 July 2013). "Most Impressive Women in the U.S. Military". Business Insider. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
  11. ^ Mori Kessler (26 July 2014). "Army's Golden Knights drop in at Thunder Over Utah; STGnews Photo Gallery". St. George News. Retrieved 8 June 2015.