In Romania, U.S. Soldiers train to join the elite

By Staff Sgt. Corinna Baltos, 24th Press Camp HeadquartersJuly 27, 2016

Snipers Train to be Elite
1 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – During Target Detection training a squad of snipers in 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment work to acquire targets placed in a field, in Smardan, Romania, July 20. According to Sgt Marlon Wilks, Scout Squad NCOIC, 1st Battalion, 64th Arm... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Snipers Train to be Elite
2 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL
Snipers Train to be Elite
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Snipers Train to be Elite
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Snipers Train to be Elite
5 / 5 Show Caption + Hide Caption – A Soldier from the scout squad of Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, makes notes on a map after using an H37 Horus to identify hidden targets during target detection training, July 20, in Smardan,... (Photo Credit: U.S. Army) VIEW ORIGINAL

SMARDAN TRAINING AREA, Romania -- One shot. One kill.

If you watch Hollywood movies you may assume that being a sniper is only about killing people. However, while snipers are trained to kill, they also do much more.

Sniper combat missions occasionally call for killing a target, but the sniper team, usually consisting of a shooter and spotter, is also trained to gather detailed reconnaissance and surveillance from a concealed position for air-strikes and artillery while acting as a force multiplier with fire support and counter-sniper tactics.

It was these tactics that soldiers from Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 1st Combined Arms Battalion, 64th Armor Regiment, practiced at Smardan Training Area from July 17 to 22. The soldiers, many of whom are hoping for a chance to attend sniper school, have been stationed in Romania since March in support of Operation Atlantic Resolve.

"This exercise is helping us prepare for our live-fire exercise during (Exercise Saber Guardian), as well as helping soldiers get qualified to attend sniper school," said Sgt. Corey Self as he searched for his target with a Leupold Mark 4 Long Range Tactical Scope.

During training, the soldiers worked on improving the accuracy of their target detection by practicing correct and rapid identification of random pop-up targets.

"We use the scopes to identify enemy threats or signs of life, as well as look for things that are hidden," said Sgt. Marlon Wilks.

After completing the sniper range training, the Soldiers traveled to Cincu, Romania to take part in Saber Guardian.

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Saber Guardian is a U.S. Army Europe-led exercise, in the spirit of partnership for peace. It is designed to promote regional stability and security, while strengthening partnership capacity, and fostering trust while improving interoperability between Romania, the U.S., NATO and the Partnership for Peace member nations. It is taking place from July 27 through Aug. 7 at the Romanian Land Force Combat Training Center in Cincu, Romania.

USAREUR is uniquely positioned in its 51 country area of responsibility to advance American strategic interests in Europe and Eurasia. The relationships built during more than 1,000 theater security cooperation events in more than 40 countries each year lead directly to support for multinational contingency operations around the world, strengthen regional partnerships and enhance global security.

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