New York Guard Soldiers Compete in Biathlon Event

New York Army National Guard Soldier CPT Katy Moryl competing during the ski portion of a biathlon event. New York Army National Guard photo by Jean Marie KratzerNew York Army National Guard Soldier CPT Katy Moryl competing during the ski portion of a biathlon event. New York Army National Guard photo by Jean Marie Kratzer

Three New York Army National Guard Soldiers competed against 42 Soldiers from six other Eastern states Jan. 24–28 in the Eastern regional qualifying meet of the 2018 National Guard Bureau Biathlon Championship.

New York Guard LTC John Studiner of Arlington, Virginia, and married couple, CPT Katy Moryl and CPT Joseph Moryl of North Hudson, New York, participated in the regional competition at Camp Ethan Allen Training Site in Jericho, Vermont.

The qualifiers from the event advanced to compete for the national title Feb. 23–March 2 at Camp Williams, Utah.

Biathlon combines cross-country skiing with marksmanship. Winning depends on speed on skis and accuracy with a rifle.

All three New York Guard Soldiers serve in the Troy-based 42nd Infantry Division headquarters and have competed before. LTC Studiner, the New York National Guard biathlon program coordinator, has been on the team since 2003. CPT K. Moryl has competed for three years, and her husband is in his second year of competition.

New York Army National Guard CPT Joseph Moryl (left), LTC John Studiner and CPT Katy Moryl pose together after competing in a biathlon competition. Photo courtesy New York Army National Guard
New York Army National Guard CPT Joseph Moryl (left), LTC John Studiner and CPT Katy Moryl pose together after competing in a biathlon competition. Photo courtesy New York Army National Guard

Biathlon has always been considered a military sport, said LTC Studiner. “You prepare yourself, your equipment and your rifle for the event and train as you compete – just as you would prepare yourself and your equipment for a mission,” he said.

Biathlon competitions vary in length and shooting requirements. There are two individual events followed by two team events.

The first event is a sprint race that is 10 kilometers for men and 7.5 kilometers for women. Each competitor shoots both prone and standing.

The pursuit race is 12.5 kilometers for men and 10 kilometers for women. That event requires shooting prone twice and standing twice.

“You learn a lot about yourself while competing, especially at the longer distance races,” LTC Studiner said. “You learn that you have more left to give, when you think you’re at your limit.”

Because they’re part-time Soldiers who live in different places, the New York team members usually train on their own, LTC Studiner said. They get together each summer for a week-long training session at Camp Ethan Allen and other training venues, including Lake Placid, New York.

And, of course, they also practice their marksmanship. The team uses .22-caliber bolt action rifles designed for biathlon events.

“The sport is a true reflection of old military values and mission readiness that cannot be divorced from physical fitness,” CPT K. Moryl said. “The accuracy of the shot and ultimate success of the competitor depends upon the physical and mental agility of the competitor.”

Along with the camaraderie of the competitions, LTC Studiner said he appreciates the fact that biathlon has made him a better Soldier.

“I am a more disciplined, more confident Soldier,” he said. “I am more comfortable performing tasks while physically exhausted because I’ve pushed myself farther than I thought I could go and still hit the target.”

“The sport is extremely humbling, as well as mentally and physically challenging, which are all the hallmarks of Soldier readiness,” said CPT K. Moryl.

BY CPT Jean Marie Kratzer, New York National Guard

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