A Czech sniper watches a video with three American snipers during a break at one of the events during the European Best Sniper Squad Competition, Sept. 28, 2017. The European Best Sniper Squad Competition is an U.S. Army Europe competition challengin...
Staff Sgt. Charles Witt and Sgt. Maj. Michal Baka meet again at the European Best Sniper Squad Competition, Sept. 24-28, 2017. The European Best Sniper Squad Competition is an U.S. Army Europe competition challenging militaries from across Europe to ...
Czech soldiers prepare to engage targets from a Zodiac boat during the European Best Sniper Squad Competition at the 7th Army Training Command Grafenwoehr Training Area, Germany, Sept. 25, 2017. The European Best Sniper Squad Competition is an U.S. A...
A Czech Republic soldier fires at targets down range during the European Best Sniper Squad Competition at the 7th Army Training Command's Grafenwoehr training area, Bavaria, Germany, Sept. 24, 2017. The European Best Sniper Squad Competition is an U....
Grafenwoehr, Germany (Oct. 4, 2017) -- Staff Sgt. Charles Witt, was running a range during the European Best Sniper Squad Competition, Sept. 25, 2017, when he noticed a Czech Soldier he had met four years ago in Afghanistan.
"I kind of just looked at him like I know you and he looked at me the same," said Witt with a smile. "That's when he asked if we were in Afghanistan at the same time and then sure enough, we were."
Sgt. Maj. Michal Baka, a sniper from the Czech Republic, was working on a small combat outpost in Afghanistan, where he met a young Pfc. Witt in 2013. Baka's mission was to teach Afghan units about Army warfare and tactics.
"We lived together for approximately six months and had been on missions together," said Witt. "I've seen him operate as a sniper, which is one of the things that influenced me to want to be a sniper."
After seeing Baka's advanced marksmanship capabilities and how he handled weapon systems, Witt was motivated to advance his infantry career by pursuing sniper school himself.
Witt is currently assigned to the sniper section at the Joint Multinational Readiness Center's 1st Battalion, 4th Infantry Regiment in the Hohenfels Training Area.
"I think it's really nice that we spoke about dreams and what to make in the Army," said Baka. "I told him being a sniper is really cool and try it; and now he is a sniper."
Neither sniper knew they were going to run into each again, especially not at the 7th Army Training Command-organized annual sniper competition. But ironically, Witt was the one grading the influential, Baka, on advanced marksmanship skills during this year's competition.
"Now, I would like to invite him to the Czech sniper competition," said Baka as he showed Witt videos on his cell phone.
Witt has hope for the competition to leave an impact on other Soldiers' careers; like the way Baka did for him.
"This event that we are putting together, here, allows other people or outsiders to see the art of sniping or how great it really is, so hopefully it influences other people to want to join the sniper community," said Witt.
While both snipers were able to reconnect and catch up on what's happened over the past four years, they were also able to meet and build camaraderie with other snipers in the small community.
"The snipers are really a small family in each army, so it was excellent to meet other snipers and be a member of the international sniper family," said Baka.
Meeting snipers from other countries provided an opportunity for snipers like Witt and Baka, to learn and share different tactics and techniques that could make the multinational sniper community sharper in their skillset.
"I take a lot of pride in snipers, the competition and our allies as well," said Witt. "Just being able to provide them with opportunities they don't have is a good feeling."
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