Linatoc is top cadet in Army small arms event

University of North Georgia (UNG) cadet Anthony Linatoc took first place in his division of 40 cadets in the U.S. Army Small Arms Championships on March 18 at Fort Benning, Georgia. He placed in the top 75 of the 260 competitors from all Army components in the overall event.

Linatoc competed with fellow UNG combat action shooting team members and cadets from Texas A&M University and Michigan State University. It was his second time in the competition, the other coming in his sophomore year, and he made strong improvement this time around.  

"I showed up to do my best," Linatoc said. "I was pleasantly surprised that I ended up in first place among the cadets."

Linatoc, a Rome, Georgia, resident pursuing a degree in criminal justice, is scheduled to graduate in May and commission as a second lieutenant in the Army Corps of Engineers.

"The hard work and discipline Cadet Linatoc displays every day on the team show what kind of Army officer he will be," retired Col. Joseph Matthews, UNG commandant of cadets, said. "I am very proud of him and the whole team for their dedication to the shooting program at UNG."

1st Lt. Clay Burke, '18, commander of UNG's Georgia Army National Guard detachment and adviser for the combat action shooting team, was not surprised by Linatoc's performance.

"He puts a significant amount of time into working on his proficiency outside of team time," Burke said. "He pays for private training courses. He is dedicated to honing his craft. That's why he won."