TonyM
16 October 2000, 19:18
..and they did good.
Twenty two-man sniper teams from military and police agencies from around the world gathered at CFB Gagetown for the annual International Snipers Concentration Sept. 8-15.
This was more than a competition, explained Warrant Officer Stuart Hartnell, OIC Master Sniper Cell at CTC Gagetown. It was also a chance for a few of the elite snipers in the world to "talk shop" and compare notes. The event included a trade show with more than a dozen vendors displaying the most technologically advanced weaponry in the world.
Everyone, WO Hartnell explained, has a different way of doing things. While police agencies would have a better handle on how to operate in an urban environment, military snipers would have a better grasp on how to stalk targets on the move or fire on a target at long distance. Some targets, with the right kit and under the right conditions, can be hit successfully up to 2.5 kilometres away, Hartnell added, and anything under 1000 metres is considered a guaranteed hit.
"We invite everyone from police snipers to military snipers,'' WO Hartnell said. "There are things we can learn from them. Most of their shooting takes place within 300 metres, things like shooting through glass windshields and in crowded areas. We can gain a lot of knowledge from the police agencies being here.''
The collection of snipers included only the best from military units in Canada, the U.S., France, Germany and various police forces both north and south of the border.
"The vendors love it," WO Hartnell noted "There are at least 50 qualified snipers here that will try their systems. It is basically free research and development for them.''
What participants receive in the field during the seven-day exercise, he added, is second to no other specialized sniper training workshop.
"I would say that this is the most advanced training they could receive today. It is the best they will ever get. It is so realistic,'' Hartnell said. "This is the most sniper-oriented event I have personally ever been involved in. Really we're the only one that offers a live fire stalk and things like inter-team communication.''
The team of Master Corporal Gerry Genoe and Corporal Tracey Hamilton of 1 RCR, stationed at CFB Petawawa, took the top prize in the competition with a combined score of 868. Their nearest competitors, Staff Sergeant Jared Van Aalst and Sergeant Jason St. John of the U.S. 3rd Ranger Battalion, placed second with 825 points. The 2 RCR pairing of Corporal Scott Nickerson and Corporal Mark Lamothe placed third with 742.
"This Concentration has made a significant contribution to CF sniping," said Sergeant Bruce Proctor, Master Sniper of 1 RCR who performed anti-sniping duties in Mitrovica. "Sniping at one time was a lost art, but events like this have raised the consciousness of the Chain of Command. It draws attention to what we need."
"All of us in Western armies do business pretty much the same way,'' he added. "It is minor variations that we can take away from a concentration like this and add on to our own.''
SSgt Jared Van Aalst explained that the Concentration helps the U.S. Ranger Battalion improve training with its younger troops. "We also get different viewpoints on how others operate,'' added his partner, Sgt St. John. "Everyone thinks differently and with this concentration we have the chance to sit down and brainstorm and learn
Twenty two-man sniper teams from military and police agencies from around the world gathered at CFB Gagetown for the annual International Snipers Concentration Sept. 8-15.
This was more than a competition, explained Warrant Officer Stuart Hartnell, OIC Master Sniper Cell at CTC Gagetown. It was also a chance for a few of the elite snipers in the world to "talk shop" and compare notes. The event included a trade show with more than a dozen vendors displaying the most technologically advanced weaponry in the world.
Everyone, WO Hartnell explained, has a different way of doing things. While police agencies would have a better handle on how to operate in an urban environment, military snipers would have a better grasp on how to stalk targets on the move or fire on a target at long distance. Some targets, with the right kit and under the right conditions, can be hit successfully up to 2.5 kilometres away, Hartnell added, and anything under 1000 metres is considered a guaranteed hit.
"We invite everyone from police snipers to military snipers,'' WO Hartnell said. "There are things we can learn from them. Most of their shooting takes place within 300 metres, things like shooting through glass windshields and in crowded areas. We can gain a lot of knowledge from the police agencies being here.''
The collection of snipers included only the best from military units in Canada, the U.S., France, Germany and various police forces both north and south of the border.
"The vendors love it," WO Hartnell noted "There are at least 50 qualified snipers here that will try their systems. It is basically free research and development for them.''
What participants receive in the field during the seven-day exercise, he added, is second to no other specialized sniper training workshop.
"I would say that this is the most advanced training they could receive today. It is the best they will ever get. It is so realistic,'' Hartnell said. "This is the most sniper-oriented event I have personally ever been involved in. Really we're the only one that offers a live fire stalk and things like inter-team communication.''
The team of Master Corporal Gerry Genoe and Corporal Tracey Hamilton of 1 RCR, stationed at CFB Petawawa, took the top prize in the competition with a combined score of 868. Their nearest competitors, Staff Sergeant Jared Van Aalst and Sergeant Jason St. John of the U.S. 3rd Ranger Battalion, placed second with 825 points. The 2 RCR pairing of Corporal Scott Nickerson and Corporal Mark Lamothe placed third with 742.
"This Concentration has made a significant contribution to CF sniping," said Sergeant Bruce Proctor, Master Sniper of 1 RCR who performed anti-sniping duties in Mitrovica. "Sniping at one time was a lost art, but events like this have raised the consciousness of the Chain of Command. It draws attention to what we need."
"All of us in Western armies do business pretty much the same way,'' he added. "It is minor variations that we can take away from a concentration like this and add on to our own.''
SSgt Jared Van Aalst explained that the Concentration helps the U.S. Ranger Battalion improve training with its younger troops. "We also get different viewpoints on how others operate,'' added his partner, Sgt St. John. "Everyone thinks differently and with this concentration we have the chance to sit down and brainstorm and learn