A Norwegian Army sniper team captured the top prize in the annual European Best Sniper Team Competition, a robust test of marksmanship, endurance, and cross border cooperation.

The event took place in Grafenwoehr, Germany, on November 22, with a field of 34 other teams representing 21 nations. A sergeant and lance corporal first class assigned to the Norwegian Army’s 1st Armored Battalion outshot the field to claim the title.

Second and third place honors went to Latvian and Greek sniper teams, respectively. The competition is organized each year by the 7th Army Training Command, with host duties alternating between Grafenwoehr and Hohenfels, Germany.

The purpose of the event is to enhance readiness through training scenarios, build military partnerships and better align with allies, the release noted.

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“It’s been fun meeting new challengers, going to new ranges, trying new things and being challenged in new ways we haven’t been before,” the Norwegian lance corporal first class said in the release.

The team was not individually identified in the report. The statement underscored the value placed on adaptability, a trait that commanders say is essential as threats evolve.

The modern battlefield is evolving faster than at any point in history, 7th ATC’s Command Sgt. Maj. Paul Fedorisin said in the release.

We must evolve our tactics, techniques, procedures and equipment — at speed — to remain survivable and lethal. His words framed the overarching goal of the competition: to push participants to adapt to changing conditions and diverse environments.

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In practice, teams faced a range of tasks designed to simulate high stakes operational realities.

Competitors tested shooter and spotter communication, land navigation and target engagement at varying distances.

Each two person team completed 16 sniper skill level tasks across six days, with scores accumulated at multiple checkpoints throughout the event.

It’s nice going to somewhere else to see that the things we train in at our home unit — see that it works other places and in other environments, the Norwegian sergeant said in the release. The comment highlighted the value of interoperability and the ability to operate effectively across different terrain and climates.

Twenty-two countries participated in the competition, including Austria, Belgium, Canada, Croatia, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Germany, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovenia, Spain, the United Kingdom and the United States.

The breadth of participants reflected a wide network of alliance partners dedicated to maintaining readiness and professional excellence.

At the award ceremony, Fedorisin told the winning team, “You are the best that each of your nations and organizations has to offer. You represented them incredibly well.”

Those closing remarks underscored the sense of pride and shared purpose that organizers hope to cultivate across allied forces.

The competition serves not only to crown a winner, but to strengthen cooperation and trust among participating militaries.

Looking ahead, commanders say these kinds of events contribute to a more cohesive and capable force structure across Europe. By exposing teams to different climates, ranges and operational concepts, the exercises help ensure that allied forces can respond quickly and effectively to crises.

They also emphasize the importance of continuous training and the use of realistic, demanding scenarios to sharpen decision making under pressure.

For the Norwegian team, the victory signals not just a personal achievement, but a demonstration of how disciplined teamwork and precise execution can prevail in a multinational setting.

The broader takeaway is that readiness hinges on constant practice, mutual understanding and a willingness to learn from diverse partners.

In a rapidly changing security landscape, those are exactly the attributes that alliance leaders want to see reinforced.

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