Ivy Men learn how to take one shot for one kill

Photo By Spc. Paul Harris | Pfc. Colin Brown, sniper, Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1-68 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th infantry Division, briefly lifts his head to check his surroundings while low crawling to the target during U.S. Army Sniper Training School at Fort Carson, Colo.  

08.22.2007

Story by Spc. Paul Harris 

3rd Armored Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division

By Spc. Paul J. Harris
3rd Brigade Combat Team, 4th Infantry Division Public Affairs Office

FORT CARSON, Colo. – The bugs swarm in thick masses during the morning as the sun creeps over trees near Range 24. For "Ivy" Soldiers, they cannot think about the swirling gnats or the possible rattlesnake that might come slithering by. All they are thinking about is the shot, the shot they will take to earn them the elusive B4 Sniper tab and the satisfaction of passing the Army Sniper School.

Soldiers from the 2nd and 3rd Brigade Combat Teams, 4th Infantry Division, have been participating in a five week course training on fundamentals of shooting the M-24 sniper rifle, target range estimation and stalking.

"(The sniper) is a true battlefield multiplier," said Sgt. First Class Tarrol Peterson, senior instructor an the U.S. Army Sniper School from Fort Benning, Ga. "( A trained sniper) can engage and hit the enemy at 1000 meters – one shot, drop him."

At Range 24 the Soldiers were practicing stalking a target while trying not to be seen by instructors looking through high-powered binoculars. They started 1000 meters away and had to shoot before reaching 600 meters of the target. It was not was not an easy task considering any overlooked detail could give their position away like an exposed wedding band that would shine in the sun if not properly concealed.

Spc. Clinton Kerry, M-1 Abrams Tank gunner, Company C, 1-8 Combined Arms Battalion, 3rd BCT, learned the hard way when his "slug trail," an expression used to describe the trail a sniper leaves behind him when low crawling through the dirt or vegetation, was seen by the instructors. Kerry was disappointed but not devastated as he has two more chances over the next couple of days to pass.

"It's fun, it's a blast and you really can't beat training like this," Kerry said.

Not only did the Soldiers have to worry about cover and concealment, but it takes the right state of mind to wait for the perfect shot.

"Hardest thing is clearing your mind of all thoughts," said Staff Sgt. Joshua King, sniper, Troop A, 2nd Squadron, 9th Cavalry, 3rd BCT, and being able to complete the mission."

King was confident that the skills he learned over the past weeks will come in handy when he re-deploys with the Striker Brigade to Iraq in the winter.

"One of the biggest threats (in Iraq) is the sniper," King said. "To be trained as a sniper is about the best measure you can take to counter that."

Even though King was part of a sniper team the last time the Striker Brigade deployed to Iraq, he wanted a second chance at the exclusive sniper or B4 tab.

"If I could get my B4 tab it would be great, it is a real honor in the Army," King said. "This class is not the easiest. You got to be able to hit a moving target at 600 meters and that is pretty hard."

• Date Taken: 08.22.2007
• Date Posted: 08.24.2007 12:01
• Story ID: 11970