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]
Sherri Jo Gallagher | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Born | 1984 |
| Allegiance |  United States of America |
| Service |  United States Army |
| Rank | Sergeant |
| Unit | U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, U.S. Army Golden Knights Parachute Team |
| Awards | United States Army Soldier of the Year (2010) |
Early life and marksmanship training
editSherri 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
editIn 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
edit- ^ 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.
- ^ "Soldier of the Year Winners". www.army.mil/. United States Army. Retrieved 12 December 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ "Ben Avery Range Dedicated to Mid Tompkins Plus New Building". AccurateShooter.com. 15 February 2015. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ a b Silvio Calabi (2013). The Gun Book for Girls. Down East Books. p. 141. ISBN 9781608934409. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ 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.
- ^ Kristen V. Brown (23 March 2013). "Guard members vie in top warrior contest". The Times Union. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ a b Kyle Jillson (14 August 2010). "SGT Sherri Gallagher wins 2010 National High Power Rifle Championship". NRA Blog. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ "2010 NRA National Matches at Camp Perry". American Rifleman. 29 November 2010. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ Melissa Stanger (26 July 2013). "Most Impressive Women in the U.S. Military". Business Insider. Retrieved 8 June 2015.
- ^ 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.