When U.S. Air Force Tech. Sgt. Dan Antonio Deladingco, 9th Mission Support Group (MSG) executive assistant, first stepped onto a firing range nearly 16 years ago, he never imagined it would lead him to represent the United States in one of the most prestigious shooting competitions in the world.

What began as an Air Force requirement turned into a personal passion and ultimately, an opportunity to compete at the 2025 International Practical Shooting Confederation (IPSC) Handgun World Shoot, often described as the “Olympics of shooting.” This year, the IPSC World Shoot was held in Stilfontein, South Africa, from Aug. 22 to 27.

Deladingco enlisted in 2009 and is a Flight Sergeant with the 9th Security Forces Squadron, currently on a Special Duty Assignment with the 9th MSG.

“I didn’t have prior experience with shooting until I joined the military,” said Deladingco. “After about five years, I started to really enjoy going to the range more and more.”

That growing interest motivated him to train as a Combat Arms Training and Maintenance (CATM) instructor, a role focused on developing Airmen’s marksmanship and weapons safety skills. He was a CATM instructor from 2017 to 2023 before becoming the Section Chief of Military Customs in Korea and a Flight Sergeant at Beale Air Force Base. With his extensive knowledge of CATM, he continues to help teach at Beale’s firing ranges whenever he has free time.

“I wanted to become a better instructor,” said Deladingco. “After attending a shooting school, I learned that participating in competitions could help enhance my skills and share those lessons with my students.”

In 2019, he connected with the competitive shooting community in eastern Washington and began entering local matches. What started as a hobby quickly became a pathway for personal and professional growth.

Over the years, Deladingco’s permanent change of duty stations allowed for new experiences and opportunities. He attended multiple Special Operations Command (SOCOM) shooting schools and trained alongside elite operators and international partners.

Even while stationed in South Korea, outside of his regular duties, he continued mentoring others including U.S. Army Criminal Investigation Division agents as well as South Korean counterparts, strengthening the skills of joint-partner branches and international allies.

After returning to the U.S. in 2024, Deladingco reconnected with the action shooting community, competing in matches hosted by the International Defensive Pistol Association (IDPA), the United States Practical Shooting Association (USPSA), and the IPSC. Each discipline tested a shooter’s speed, precision, and decision-making under pressure, directly complementing his Air Force training and improving his warfighting capabilities.

In 2025, he placed in several multi-state and regional championships, earning first and second place finishes in multiple divisions and classifications, as well as the High Military Award at the Washington State IDPA Championship.

Despite his success, Deladingco initially hesitated to compete in the IPSC World Shoot, believing he lacked the experience.

“At first, I didn’t think I was ready,” said Deladingco. “But when I was told it was like the Olympics and only happens every four years, I knew it was an opportunity I couldn’t pass up.”

The IPSC World Shoot is considered the pinnacle of competitive action shooting. It brings together the world’s best shooters to test their abilities across multiple stages that simulate real-world scenarios. For Deladingco, earning a spot meant representing not just himself, but the United States and the Air Force.

Balancing training with military duties was a challenge. Working night shifts and weekends meant most local matches occurred when he couldn’t attend.

Despite this, he still made time to practice on and off duty, often helping instruct the 9th Reconnaissance Wing Tactical Response Team and other Airmen in advanced marksmanship.

“I believe sharing skills and experiences is one way to reinforce the fundamentals of shooting,” said Deladingco. “Being able to train off duty helps me get into the right mindset.”

Competing on the world stage was more than a personal milestone, it reflected the Air Force values of hard work, dedication, and “excellence in all we do” that shaped him.

“Through my time in the shooting community, I’ve learned there’s always more to improve,” said Deladingco. “Every match teaches me something new, not just about shooting, but about discipline, problem-solving, and composure under pressure.”

Whether on the range or in uniform, those lessons continue to guide him, which in turn helps him to guide students as an instructor. The lessons he learns and imparts on students help create a mission-ready, more lethal force.

“Being a better shooter makes me a better instructor,” Deladingco said. “And being a better instructor makes me a better Airman.”