Army announces winners of International Sniper Competition

A team from the Michigan National Guard has won the 16th annual International Sniper Competition, Army officials said.

Sgt. Saykham Keophalychanh and Sgt. Nicholas Mitchell were the top shooters from among more than 40 two-man teams from around the world competing at Fort Benning, Georgia, officials said. The winning team is from Headquarters Company, 3rd Battalion, 126th Infantry Regiment.

U.S. Army teams took all three of the top honors at the competition, which took place Oct. 17-21 on the firing ranges at Fort Benning.

A team from the Special Forces Sniper School finished in second place, and a team representing the 19th Special Forces Group took third.

The winners were honored at a ceremony Oct. 21.

Names of the soldiers from the Special Forces teams were not released.

The marksmen who compete in the annual sniper contest come from a range of organizations including U.S. and foreign militaries and local, state and federal law enforcement agencies.

Last year, a team from Ireland took top honors in the competition.


In this year's event, the soldiers endured 96 hours of competition including 21 day and night events, a three-mile run with weapons and equipment and an eight-mile ruck march.

The competition tests teams' endurance physically and mentally, allowing them little rest. Teams had to prove themselves in target detection, stalking, long-range marksmanship, observation, and ability to move with stealth and concealment. They also must show mastery of skills such as land navigation and reconnaissance and reporting.

Teams came from the Army, Army Reserve, National Guard, U.S. Marine Corps, Department of Homeland Security, and police departments in Covington, Georgia; Jacksonville, Florida; Louisville, Kentucky; and Maryland. Teams also came from Australia, the United Kingdom, Denmark, Ireland, Canada and Germany.