CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas – In this case, some team members of the West Oso High School Marksmanship team are aiming to shoot for the stars for a better future.

On Wednesday, October 23, the JROTC Varsity Marksmanship team participated in the Military Order of World War competition (MOWW). The team placed 2nd out of 7 teams in all of Corpus Christi.

Jerimyah Gonzales is part of the team and hopes to one day join the U.S. Army. He said being part of the team taught him discipline and morals that he will carry with him for the rest of his life.

He started to attract attention since his middle school years and has been on the team for three years.

Students learn how to properly use air guns and all things safety.

“When I first came here I didn’t think I would be where I am now and I learned the moral part like integrity which is one of the 7 army values ​​and that is always do what needs to be done. even behind closed doors,” Gonzales said.

Mariah Vela, captain of the marksmanship team, said she learned resilience.

“I’ve learned not to give up no matter what, even if you have bad days or keep trying, you may think you can’t get to the top, but you can,” he said.

During MOWW competition, she recently earned 250 points across the entire Corpus Christi region, placing 6th out of 24 and earning the expert badge, the highest of the three badges.

The ranks in the competition are Expert, Marksman and Snipers. The entire team finished in the top 10.

However, there are some conditions to be included in the team.

“They have to take a test and they have to get 100 points, they will take the test until they pass and most of it consists of a lot of safety rules that they have to follow,” Lt. Col. Oscar Vela said.

He added that this team shows students discipline, honesty and leadership, but also prepares them for the future.

“It’s not easy with the small pellets they shoot, so they become really good shooters and it’s easier for them to gain shooting proficiency when they enlist,” Vela said.

West Osos Marksmanship has been around for 19 years, but now this team has been shooting together for two years and has a total of five members.

The marksmanship team will compete in San Antonio on November 6 against other teams from South Texas. They hope to reach citizens.

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