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Fort Benning holds International Sniper Competition
Posted: 10.14.2010 at 6:07 PM
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Dozens of the best snipers from across the country and the world were in Southwest Georgia this week
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Dozens of the best snipers from across the country and the world are in Southwest Georgia this week

COLUMBUS, GA -- Dozens of the best snipers from across the country and the world were in Southwest Georgia this week.

Fort Benning held the 10th Annual International Sniper Competition at their prestigious sniper school.

“It’s14 events over 72 hours, testing the sniper teams on marksmanship, field craft and everything it takes to execute in combat as a team,” said Master Sgt. Mike Snyder.

It's simple, teams consist of two men a shooter and a spotter, who helps identify the target. Army Sgt. Johnel Pipkin is one of the shooters competing. He says being behind the gun is unlike anything in world.

“It's chaotic at first when you are getting up there because you are thinking about everything, everything that you've got to do. And then when you get down and you’re behind the rifle and they tell you eyes up and you're looking through that scope, everything just factors out,” said Pipkin. “You don't really hear anything; you're just in that zone and when he says send it. You gotta send it.”

When you have control your breathing and account for things like temperature, wind speed and humidity, hitting a target 800 yards away is a lot more difficult than it is in a video game.

“Much different than playing a video game. Squeezing that trigger and having that recoil at your shoulder is a lot different than hitting it on the Wii,” said Sgt Bobby Crees, a coach for a team competing from the Pasadena Police Department.

“Here, if you run for about 100 meters and get down behind your rifle, and you gotta hit a target at 700, there is no button to press,” said Pipkin.

Despite that pressure, it’s not a position he would trade in world.

“It's the best job title in Army to be called sniper. So I wouldn't trade it, I wouldn't go back. I just want to keep on doin’ it,” said Pipkin.

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