10th Group Snipers take their shot at the title

Photo By Sgt. 1st Class Daniel Wyatt | FORT CARSON, Colorado - A Special Operations sniper with 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) engages targets at varying distances during the Group’s Inaugural Annual 10th SFG (A) Sniper Competition held at Fort Carson, Colo. July 26 – 28, 2017. (U.S. Army photo by Staff Sgt. Daniel Wyatt)  

FORT CARSON, CO, UNITED STATES

07.26.2017

Story by Staff Sgt. Daniel Wyatt 

10th Special Forces Group (Airborne)

FORT CARSON, Colorado – Snipers from 10th Special Forces Group (Airborne) went head-to-head competing for one year of bragging rights at the Group’s Inaugural 10th SFG (A) Sniper Competition, July 26 – 28 here.

During the event, soldiers competed in day and night shoots in simulated tactical environments at firing ranges across Fort Carson. Targets ranged from one to more than 800 meters. The events included, a sniper stalk, a 3-mile run, and 8-mile ruck march, urban shooting, orienteering exercises, and engaging selected targets with precision fire from concealed positions at short and long ranges with the M4 carbine, M9 pistol and M110 Semi-Automatic Rifle.

“We made the events challenging to test the competitors under stressful conditions while testing their sniper skills,” said Sniper Detachment’s noncommissioned officer in charge. “In the end, the Soldiers understood the adjustments they needed to make and zeroed in on improving themselves during the competition. In the future with more lead time and planning we anticipate the event becoming larger with more competitors from outside the 10th Group.”

For the snipers, it was an opportunity to showcase their skills against some of the best marksmen in the Special Forces community.

“I think once the word gets out about the event, the competition will expand,” said the inaugural winner, a weapons Sergeant assigned to B Company, 2nd Battalion. “The competitors were strong, and the events were difficult, but it was fun.”

The objective of the competition was to bring Soldiers together to compete tactically and technically and to share lessons learned while helping snipers identify areas to help improve their combat skills.

“In the end, the competition will spur interest from our long-range precision guys looking to become better at their skill set,” said the 10th SFG (A) Advanced Skills Detachment Sergeant Major. “Accept the challenge of competition and put your best foot forward. See where your skills can add to the mission.”

The competition awarded the winner with a trophy bearing his name. The trophy will be displayed at the soldier’s company headquarters until the following year. The trophy will then be awarded to next year’s winner and will bear the new winner’s name, and it will be displayed at their unit, and so forth.

For more information in becoming a Special Forces Sniper and other career field opportunities in Special Operations, contact the recruiters at Fort Carson’s Special Operations Recruitment Center located in building 1218, room 315 or by phone at [phone].

• Date Taken: 07.26.2017
• Date Posted: 08.10.2017 15:51
• Story ID: 244468
• Location: FORT CARSON, CO, US