Shooting Competition
Oregon National Guard Hosts First Statewide Sniper Qualifier
Three-day precision rifle event selects top team to represent Oregon at national competition
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✍️By ZRIntel Editorial Team📍Boardman, OR
BOARDMAN, Ore. The crack of rifle fire rolled across the high desert as Oregons most skilled sniper teams converged on the Raymond Rees National Guard Training Center for the inaugural Oregon State Sniper Qualifier. Held from September 46 at the Boardman Training Area, the event was created to provide a fair and standardized way to select the states top sniper team for the Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship, a premier event in the competitive shooting calendar, and potentially the International Sniper Competition. For Oregon, it marked the first time an organized, statewide competition was dedicated solely to long-range precision teams. Unlike routine range qualifications, this was a fully immersive competition designed to replicate real-world scenarios. Over three days, competitors faced nine stages that tested not only marksmanship but also problem-solving, physical stamina, and mental resilience under time pressure. Participants navigated courses requiring them to move with full combat loads, locate hidden targets, and engage with precision under strict time constraints. One of the toughest stages involved a 300-meter movement to an unknown firing position, rapid identification of multiple targets, engagements from both prone and elevated positions, and a return sprint to the start pointall within 18 minutes. Missing the time cutoff meant scoring zero points, regardless of shooting performance, adding a mental edge that mirrored combat stress. Organizers implemented the Impact Scoring app, a technology borrowed from civilian precision rifle competitions, to modernize scoring and logistics. The app allowed real-time score updates, digital document sharing, and automated point calculations, eliminating paperwork and boosting efficiency. Sgt. 1st Class Andrew Graham, who managed the event, said the goal was to mirror the format and intensity competitors would encounter at national-level matches. This is more traditional sniper style training and stages and format that you could expect to see at the next level, he explained. Its more than just shooting expert. Its thinking outside the box. Its problem-solving. Its working with limited information, making timely and correct decisions. The qualifier came together in just three months, according to Sgt. 1st Class Robert Gillam, branch chief for the Infantry Training Battalion. The compressed planning window required creative solutions and close coordination with the Oregon Training Center to make full use of available ranges. Despite these constraints, the event successfully attracted attention from across the state and beyond. Gillam noted that Oregon sniper teams have historically performed well at national matches, even coming close to qualifying for the International Sniper Competition in previous years, and this new format ensures a transparent process for team selection going forward. The competition also served as a professional development opportunity for participants. Many cadre members at the 249th Regional Training Institute are Bravo 4 sniper-qualified and have experience competing nationally, meaning that the training embedded in the event was directly applicable to advancing the skills of younger snipers. Organizers stressed that the goal was not simply to crown a winner but to raise the overall proficiency of Oregons sniper community and give every qualified team a chance to compete on equal footing. Interest from outside Oregon has already been strong. Special Forces teams from the 1st and 10th Groups, neighboring state Guard units, and law enforcement tactical teams have expressed interest in future participation. Organizers are working to expand next years competition, secure more range space, and create multiple classes to accommodate military and police teams. The long-term vision is to make the Oregon State Sniper Qualifier a regional event that sets a new standard for realistic, competitive sniper training in the Pacific Northwest.