Soldier selected as Male Shotgun Shooter of the Year

Pfc. Vincent C. Hancock, a member of the U.S. Army Marksmanship Unit, has been selected as Male Shotgun Shooter of the Year by USA Shooting.

Hancock, 18, had a successful year winning the World Cup in Italy and setting a finals world record in men's skeet. He also captured the gold medal at the 2007 Pan-American Games and won the bronze medal at the 2007 World Clay Target Championships. He is currently leading the Olympic selection process in men's skeet by winning the first shotgun Olympic selection match.

Hancock joined the Army Reserves in 2006 while still in high school in Eatonton, Ga. After finishing high school in 2007, he began training with the USAMU. This month, he completed advanced individual training as a motor vehicle operator, and then was assigned to the USAMU as a regular Army Soldier.

Fellow Soldier, Staff Sgt. Keith Sanderson, of San Antonio, claimed the bronze medal in men's rapid fire pistol at the 2007 World Cup in Changwon, China. He had the highest number of points in men's pistol competitions and won an Olympic quota slot for the U.S. He also was the Pan-American Games silver medalist in men's rapid fire and took second place at both the 2007 USA Shooting Spring Selection Match and the 2007 National Championships.

Formed in 1956 by President Dwight D. Eisenhower to raise the standards of marksmanship throughout the Army, the unit trains its Soldiers to win competitions and enhance combat readiness through train-the-trainer clinics, research and development.