Photos courtesy of the United States Army.
Phillip Jungman was in third grade the first time he went to the shooting range. Although Jungman admits he wasn’t a natural marksman, that didn’t stop him from showing up.
“During my first year, I think I won third place at three different county shoots out of the 40 or 50 events I competed in,” Jungman recalls. “I bet I only won because there were just four people [competing].”
However, his practice and persistence paid off. Jungman continued to spend every weekend at the range, and he started winning competitions as his skills developed. In the process, his marksmanship captured the attention of the United States Army.
“I shot and competed with [soldiers] while I was part of the USA Shooting team,” he says. “When I started to win, the U.S. Army noticed I was beating its guys and asked, ‘Have you ever thought about joining us?’”
A New Chapter
Jungman enlisted in the U.S. Army in 2017 and serves as a staff sergeant in the Army Marksmanship Unit, a group of elite marksmen who train their fellow soldiers to become more effective shooters and showcase their shooting capabilities at national and international competitions, including the Olympics.
After joining the Army Marksmanship Unit, Jungman participated in the 2020 Olympics in Tokyo and placed 15th in the skeet shooting competition. He was also an alternate for the 2016 Olympics in Rio and he is an alternate for the 2024 Olympics in Paris.
“Going to the Olympics is amazing and terrifying at the same time,” he says. “You’re in front of millions of people and standing next to some of the most amazing athletes in the world.”
Phillip Jungman (right) celebrates with his USA Shooting teammates.
FFA Foundations
Jungman credits his participation in the Caldwell FFA Chapter in his hometown of Caldwell, Texas, for teaching him how to be a confident and humble competitor.
“You’ve got to learn how to win and how to lose,” he says. “You pick yourself up, dust yourself off after a loss and get right back out there. When you win, you have to do it with grace and humility.”
Jungman shared these experiences and more when he attended the 96th National FFA Convention & Expo as a recruiter for the U.S. Army, an FFA corporate partner. From military branches to the Olympic Games and everything in between, Jungman believes FFA members are well suited to serve in the highest levels of leadership.
“Their grit, determination and willingness to put the work in is a lot stronger than others’ I’ve seen,” he says. “FFA members always set themselves apart from the rest.”
Jungman shares his experiences competing at such a high level with listeners.
Make Your Mark
Interested in sharpening your skills or engaging members of your chapter? Draw inspiration from Mooreland FFA in Oklahoma, which used a sporting clay shooting team to recruit new members.
