“It appears a wait list has developed to join a team to compete in our Three-Gun Challenge,” said Bobcat Founder William “Scooter” Scott, when asked how he advertised to get people to participate in this event, now in its 4th year. The challenge raises money for the Military Warriors Support Foundation, which serves wounded warriors in some very essential ways, such as providing them and their families with homes, vehicles and other essentials.
Over two days in April, five teams of three men each headed to Scott’s ranch in Irion County, Texas to compete in the challenge to secure a model “shoot house” breached by faux bad guys and built specifically by Scott for this purpose. The participants came from a variety of backgrounds, including several wounded warriors, a high schooler and a middle schooler. Local law enforcement, including Texas Ranger Swat Teams, also use the shoot house to train for hostage situations, working on techniques like entering safely and clearing rooms methodically.
Competitors at the April weekend’s three-gun event used an AR 15, a 9-milimeter pistol and a pump shotgun to eliminate targets, i.e., photos of “criminals” inside the house, with the object being to shoot all these targets as accurately as possible while being timed. The participants used many of the techniques employed by both the U.S. military and the Texas Rangers in securing a home which has been breached.
One competitor, Justen Menchaca, is a highly decorated former U.S. Special Forces soldier who was shot through the head in 2011 during a tour of duty in Southern Afghanistan. This wounded warrior competed in the three-gun event using just one arm, his non-dominant left arm, as his right arm had been damaged in the attack. He missed the bull’s eye just 3 times out of 27.
Scott says it’s guys like this who humble him and that now, especially, is the time to honor the men and women in civilian law enforcement and the military who keep us safe.
“Police officers in particular are people who, for $40,000 a year, walk a thin, blue line … never knowing if they’ll even come home that night or if they will die on duty,” said Scott.
“It’s the same with our military servicemen,” he added. I wish everybody could spend 15 minutes with one of these former soldiers, especially those like Justen who has taken control of his life. If everybody had that attitude we’d all be in a better place. Men and women like this quietly and valiantly serve or have served our country with no political position but instead, a deep love for us as American citizens. And they do it every single day.”
The event is sponsored by Bobcat Group and First Community FCU.
Military Warriors Support Foundation is a 501(c)(3) non-profit charity which provides support and programs to facilitate a smooth and successful transition for our nation’s combat wounded heroes and Gold Star families. Its programs focus on housing and homeownership, recreational activities, transportation assistance and leadership development. To learn more visit: https://militarywarriors.org/
