See what happened when world’s top snipers competed
SUMMARY
The finest snipers in the US military, as well as local, state, and federal law-enforcement agencies, have been battling it out against teams from across the US and around the world in the annual International Sniper Competition.
The Army's 75th Ranger Regiment came in first, the Colorado Army National Guard took second, and Sweden's 17th Wing Air Force Rangers came in third. There were also some surprises in the rankings.
(U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs)
According to the Army, teams must complete "a gauntlet of rigorous physical, mental and endurance events that test the range of sniper skills that include, but are not limited to, long range marksmanship, observation, reconnaissance and reporting abilities, and abilities to move with stealth and concealment."
Source: US Army
(U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs)
Snipers play a critical role in combat, with missions including "precision fires on enemy personnel and equipment, intelligence gathering, counter-sniper operations, infiltration and overwatch of [named areas of interest], occupation of and operations in support by fire positions, ballistic interdiction of IEDs, and disruption of enemy operations."
Source: US Army
(U.S. Army photo by Patrick A. Albright, Maneuver Center of Excellence, Fort Benning Public Affairs)
"Working together in this venue is a great way for us to share ideas, build rapport, and train our forces," Brig. Gen. David M. Hodne, the US Army Infantry School commandant, said at the closing ceremony, "After all, the purpose of the International Sniper Competition is to improve our collective lethality."
Source: Fort Benning Public Affairs Office
US Army teams dominated the competition. One surprising result: The US Coast Guard's Special Missions Training Detachment edged out the US Marine Corps' Scout Sniper instructors.
This article originally appeared on Business Insider. Follow @BusinessInsider on Twitter.
