An Cosantóir

An Cosantóir May / June 2023 www.military.ie/magazine 12 | THE 2023 INTERNATIONAL SNIPER COMPETITION BY LT KARL JOHNSTON PHOTOS PROVIDED BY LT KARL JOHNSTON A s the top placing teams in the Defence Forces 2022 International Sniper Competition, 27th Infantr y Bat talion and the Army Ranger Wing (ARW) secured the Irish Defence Forces Sniper 's most highly coveted prize, competing in the US Army International Sniper Competition (USISC) in For t Benning, Georgia. Conducted annually at the US Army Sniper School, the USISC is the world's premier sniper competition. 35 3-man teams from around the world are tested in ever y aspect of the sniper skillset with events focusing on navigation, stealth inf iltration and exf iltration, obser vation, target identif ication, team communication, f ire control, physical endurance and long-range shooting over distances ranging from close quar ter combat to 1200 metre engagements against static and moving targets. This competition is conducted over a period of 72 hours, during which teams will engage in numerous events by day and night. With the added strain of minimal rest and quick turn-around times to ref it, teams are pushed to physical and mental extremes. For t Benning (since renamed For t Moore), located in Georgia, is home to over 50,000 US Army personnel, their families and civilian suppor t staf f. Containing the US Army 's Maneuver Centre of Excellence comprising the Infantr y, Armour and Ranger Schools. The conducting unit for the USISC, the Army Sniper School, was formed in 1986 and is the longest established Sniper School in the histor y of the US Army with more than 300 soldiers at tempting the 7-week course each year with the hopes of earning the coveted title of Army Sniper. In Januar y of this year, the 27 Inf Bn team consisting of Team Leader Cpl Colin McQuaid, Sniper Cpl Kyle Erasmus and Spot ter Cpl Mark Fitzpatrick began an intense training programme designed and overseen by their coach, Sg t Stephen Flanagan. Based heavily of f lessons learned from previous team's experiences, with contributions from Sniper Instructors across the Defence Forces and the Infantr y Weapons Wing, each training evolution was meticulously planned to ensure the team arrived ready for any scenario that the US Army Sniper School instructor staf f could devise. Beginning in Q4 2022, and increasing in intensit y from Januar y 2023, the comprehensive training block would see the 27 Inf Bn team training 5 days ever y week, focusing on target indication & identif ication, judging distance, long range shooting and close in bat tle practices with rif le and pistol. In addition, the team spent long hours practicing navigation techniques and enhancing physical f itness under the guidance of 27 Inf Bn PTI Sg t Ian Woods. Paramount to success, the abilit y to operate when mentally and physically drained, and with lit tle to no rest, is a key feature of Sniper competitions both at home and abroad, and a high standard of physical f itness would ensure the team was best prepared for this guaranteed aspect of the USISC. With the USISC requiring teams to operate in a 3-man format, dif ferent to the Irish Sniper & Spot ter concept, the team would have to develop their own tactics, techniques and procedures and developing ef fective communication between team members was critical to success. Arriving at For t Benning late on 3rd April, the team along with colleagues from the ARW, fresh from their par ticipation at the US Army Special Operations Command (USASOC) Sniper Competition, began an intense 3 day work up on the base's incredible ranges, familiarizing with US weapons and equipment under the watchful eye of two of the original Sniper School founders and legendar y stalwar ts of the international Sniper Communit y Jim Harris and Butch Cady. In addition, the teams acclimatised with morning physical training sessions (temperatures at For t Benning during the competition would reach up to 28 degrees Celsius!). During these familiarisation events, the team experienced the highly impressive "Marathon" target system for the f irst time. Consisting of a The DF team during an event in Fort Benning The team standing at the school sign getting ready to start the competition A quick briefing before an event

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