Rising Thunder provides opportunity for bilateral sniper training

By Staff Sgt. Steven SchneiderSeptember 12, 2015

Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
1 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Nicholas Triplett, a sniper section leader in Company A, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, takes down notes as he spots for a shooter during a bilateral sniper range with Japanese Ground Self-Defense troops from the 33rd In... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
2 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Spc. Edward Muir, a sniper section leader in Company C, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, acquires a target during a bilateral sniper range at Yakima Training Center, Wash. Aug. 10 with Japanese Ground Self-Defense troops from t... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
3 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Sgt. Anh Nguyen, a team leader in Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, scans the range for targets during a bilateral sniper range with Japanese Ground Self-Defense troops from the 33rd Infant... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
4 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier from 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division, adjusts his weapon during a bilateral sniper range with Japanese Ground Self-Defense troops from the 33rd Infantry Regiment, 10th Division as part of Rising Thunder at Yakima Trai... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
5 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force 33rd Infantry Regiment, 10th Division participate in bilateral sniper range as part of Rising Thunder at Yakima Training Center, Wash., Au... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
6 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. Yunuku Hilaoka, 33rd Infantry Regiment, 10th Division, focus on a target during a sniper range at Yakima Training Center, Wash., Aug. 10. Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Divisio... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Soldiers conduct Rising Thunder sniper training
7 / 7 Show Caption + Hide Caption – Japanese Ground Self-Defense Force Sgt. 1st Class Yasuhiro Sayashi, 33rd Infantry Regiment, 10th Division, obtains a target during a sniper range at Yakima Training Center, Wash., Aug. 10. Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infan... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

YAKIMA TRAINING CENTER, Wash. - Soldiers from the 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division and 33rd Infantry Regiment, 10th Division, Japan Ground Self-Defense Force participated in a bilateral sniper range as part of Rising Thunder at Yakima Training Center, Washington, Aug. 10.

The training allowed the Soldiers from each nation to learn from one another and hone their sniper skills of shooting and spotting, said 1st Lt. Eliot Bieletto, 2nd SBCT scout platoon leader.

"Working with the Japanese has been great," said Spc. Nicholas Triplett, a sniper section leader in Company A, 2nd Stryker Brigade Combat Team, 2nd Infantry Division. "They bring a different twist to their training. They are by the book which really pushes us ... Overall they're making us really pick up our game because we don't want anyone to outshine us."

Rising Thunder is an annual bilateral exercise between the U.S. Army and JGSDF.