An Iowa National Guard sniper team recently competed against 23 other National Guard teams and 12 inter-service teams at the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, Dec. 4-10, at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling, Arkansas. Spc. Aaron McAndrews, of Grimes, and Cpl. Kyle Thies, of Clarinda, are both infantrymen with Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Battalion, 168th Infantry Regiment. They scored a combined total of 504 points. Their accomplishments led them to receive the prestigious Chief’s 50 Marksmanship Badge.

(Far right) Col. Andy Bussell, Commander of the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center presented awards to Spc. Aaron M. McAndrews (Center) and Cpl. Kyle R. Thies (left) during the awards ceremony for the 2020 50th annual Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship and the 30th Annual Armed Forces Skill at Arms Meeting from Dec. 4-10, 2020, at Fort Chaffee Joint Maneuver Training Center in Barling, Arkansas. (U.S. Army National Guard photo by Sgt. Israel Sanchez)

The Iowa team placed third overall in the combined competition, second in the National Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship and first in the Silent Hunter team category. This was the first year that McAndrews and Thies competed in this national event.

The competition consists of shooting, fieldcraft, and sniper related tasks such as call for fire. Teams were challenged by running or rucking short distances, shooting with one arm tied behind their back, and were required to make positive identification on a target within close proximity to other team’s targets.

In one event, teams were required to approach their target without being detected. The Iowa team was one of the few sniper teams that were able to avoid detection. The competition was designed to facilitate, evaluate and test the development of training programs among snipers of all services. Basic marksmanship is an important skill set for military service members.

Sgt. Major Jason Nelson, the senior training non-commissioned officer said “Competitions are a great training event to test our skills. It’s about readiness and each Soldier being fully able to employ his or her weapon when it matters.”