Shooting Competition
Oregon Guard Members Train for Sniper Competition
Inaugural Oregon State Sniper Qualifier tests teams under real-world conditions at Boardman Training Area
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Boardman Training Area, OR
The Oregon National Guard recently completed its first-ever Oregon State Sniper Qualifier, a three-day competition designed to raise the bar for precision marksmanship and tactical decision-making within the states ranks. Held September 46 at the Raymond Rees National Guard Training Center and the Boardman Training Area, the event marked a significant step toward formalizing the process of selecting the states best sniper teams for national competition. Organizers from the 249th Regional Training Institute (RTI) made clear that this was not a casual range event but a program intended to simulate real-world missions and prepare competitors for the prestigious Winston P. Wilson Sniper Competition, a key stepping stone to the International Sniper Competition. The Qualifier was deliberately designed to test far more than shooting skill. Over the course of three days, teams faced nine stages that combined precision marksmanship with physical stress, time pressure, and tactical complexity. In one of the signature events, competitors were required to carry full kit over 300 meters, find unknown targets from unprepared firing positions, engage them accurately, transition to elevated positions for additional shots, and return to their start point all within an unforgiving 18-minute time limit. Failure to meet the time standard resulted in a zero score for that stage. This format forced participants to think critically about how to manage their time, ammunition, and energy, making it a true test of battlefield readiness rather than simple accuracy. According to Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Graham, course manager for the 11B Infantry Training Course, the competition was designed to replicate the pressures snipers face during real-world operations. Rather than just firing on static ranges, teams had to make rapid judgments, communicate effectively, and adapt to evolving scenarios with incomplete information. Sgt. 1st Class Robert Gillam, branch chief for the Infantry Training Battalion, emphasized that this was also about fairness. After years of using inconsistent selection methods to decide which teams represented Oregon, the RTI leadership wanted a standardized, transparent process that gave every sniper team a fair shot at competing for a place at national events. Planning and executing the competition in just three months was no small feat. RTI staff coordinated closely with the Oregon Training Center to secure range space and comply with Standard Training Zone guidelines. Because of range limitations, creative use of the Boardman machine gun range was required to simulate longer-distance engagements and complex movement drills. The result was a challenging but safe environment that provided a solid baseline for future competitions. The competition also broke new ground with its use of Impact Scoring, a mobile application that digitized scorekeeping, document sharing, and communication with participants. This innovation streamlined match administration, eliminated paper scorecards, and gave competitors real-time updates on their standings. The successful use of the app has drawn attention from other competitive shooting communities, including three-gun and pistol match organizers, who have expressed interest in collaborating with the RTI in the future. Cadre overseeing the event brought significant expertise, with many being Bravo 4 sniper-qualified and veterans of national-level sniper competitions. Their presence ensured that the stages were aligned with professional standards and that participants received valuable feedback to improve their skills. The competition also attracted interest from outside Oregon, with Special Forces units, Washington State teams, and regional law enforcement agencies indicating they would like to participate in future iterations. Looking forward, RTI leadership plans to expand the program for 2026, potentially opening additional training areas, introducing multiple competition classes, and increasing participation to make the event a regional hub for precision marksmanship excellence. The winners of this years Qualifier will represent Oregon at the Winston P. Wilson Sniper Competition, putting them on the path to compete against the best sniper teams in the country and potentially internationally.