Seventeen elite sniper teams gathered at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, this month to test their craft in the U.S. Army Special Operations Command International Sniper Competition, a showdown that blends precision shooting with complex field craft and tactical acumen.
The event, held March 15 through 19, brings together operators from across the joint force and partner nations to gauge combat readiness under demanding conditions.
Organizers say the contest has grown into a premier showcase for precision marksmanship and tactical ingenuity, drawing veterans and rising stars who push the limits of what is possible with modern rifles and optics.
Participants ranged from the Army’s Green Berets and Rangers to Naval Special Warfare Command and Marine Forces Special Operations Command, with additional participation from Coast Guard units and allied forces.
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Their backgrounds span heavy training in direct action, reconnaissance, and long range surveillance, enabling a wide array of scenarios that stress both individual skill and unit coordination.
Past winners and current contenders alike test long-range shooting, movement under fire, and decision making under time pressure.
The competition uses a mix of day and night scenarios to mirror the realities these snipers confront in the field, including variable lighting, concealment challenges, and rapidly changing engagement priorities.
At the close of the competition, the U.S. Army Special Operations Command team claimed the top prize.
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The Army’s 3rd Special Forces Group team followed in second place, underscoring the depth of talent and the broad pool of operators who trained for months in anticipation of this event.
Two-person sniper teams engaged targets at distances reaching 1,200 meters, employing a mix of rifles, carbines, and pistols, while judging factors such as wind, air density, and crosswind effects that can alter a shot by several inches at long range.
Competitors faced variable weather that introduced additional realism and tested versatility, with rain and chill complicating gear handling, visibility, and calm decisionmaking under pressure.
Rain, wind and cold characterized much of the week, challenging both equipment and communication, and forcing teams to maintain tight NCO-to-officer and partner-level coordination across shifting field conditions. “The weather played a significant role,” Timothy Gozelski, sniper course instructor, mentioned in the release.
“Being in sync with your teammate is equal in importance to communication.
To be successful, the two have to talk and be on the same page in everything they do.” Richard Cuza, another course instructor, added that communication in the harsh conditions was “beyond important; it’s crucial.”
The competition, now in its 17th year, was hosted by the U.S. Army John F. Kennedy Special Warfare Center and School.
Special Forces sniper course instructors and leadership constructed the challenges and acted as scorekeepers.
The Kennedy center and school stood as the backbone of the event, shaping the problems each team faced and verifying the results.
The results reflected not only raw marksmanship but the ability to operate as a cohesive unit under stress, with careful attention to timing and cross service cooperation.
Organizers noted that the event serves as a proving ground for new techniques, equipment cross training, and cross service learning that strengthens joint operations, ensuring that teams arrive ready for the most demanding assignments.
Fort Bragg emerged as a focal point for marksmanship excellence, with teams returning year after year to test their limits and to learn from peers, while officials used the competition to identify gaps and direct future training.
The competition continues to attract international participants and observers who value long range capability and the discipline required to perform under pressure, signaling continued emphasis on precision and readiness across the special operations community.
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