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In the world of horology, clocks and watches, the
mechanism that tells the time is called a movement, but the
added-on features of the time piece, like a chronograph
(stopwatch) and date (simple calendar), are called
complications.
In the infantry, the infantrymen can
be considered the movement. They are the key piece and focus
of the unit. When a unit wants to add, a complication, more
value to the unit operationally they call upon snipers.
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U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Cameron Angers, the sniper section leader
assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters’ Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd
Cavalry Regiment, briefs Soldiers on the tasks involved in the
litter carry event on the second day of the unit’s 3-day sniper
school try-outs in Bemowo Piskie, Poland, Jan. 3, 2018. These
Soldier are a part of the unique, multinational battle group,
comprised of U.S., U.K., Croatian and Romanian soldiers who serve
with the Polish 15th Mechanized Brigade as a deterrence force in
northeast Poland in support of NATO’s Enhanced Forward Presence.
(U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew McNeil, 22nd Mobile Public Affairs
Detachment)
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“Snipers bring quite a few assets to a squadron like
this,” said Staff Sgt. Cameron Angers, the sniper section
leader assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment.
“Snipers are able to support a troop and squadron by being
able to find assault positions, support by fire positions
and find their own sniper firing positions.”
Wanting
to add this beneficial complication to their movement, 3/2
Cav. Reg. held a 3-day sniper school try-out which ran from
Jan. 2-4, 2018, in Bemowo Piskie Training Area, Poland.
The try-outs allowed the unit to select the five best
candidates from a handful of applicants to send to the
strenuous 7-week long sniper course at the U.S. Army Sniper
School at Fort Benning, Ga.
“The first day we had an
RPFT (Ranger Physical Fitness Test) which consisted of
pushups, sit-ups, a 5-mile run and 6 pullups,” said Angers.
“After that we gave them a break, later we gathered back up
to do a day and night land nav. (navigation) course.”
On day 2, the Soldiers had to perform a 4-mile weighted
litter carry while completing three different testing
stations on the path. The last day of the try-outs, the
soldiers had to go on a 12-mile ruck march.
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U.S. Soldiers assigned to the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment of
the Battle Group Poland carry a weighted litter on the second day of
the unit’s 3-day sniper school try-outs in Bemowo Piskie, Poland,
Jan. 3, 2018. These Soldiers are a part of the unique, multinational
battle group, comprised of U.S., U.K., Croatian and Romanian
soldiers who serve with the Polish 15th Mechanized Brigade as a
deterrence force in northeast Poland in support of NATO’s Enhanced
Forward Presence. (U.S. Army photo by Spc. Andrew McNeil, 22nd
Mobile Public Affairs Detachment)
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After the ruck march, the Soldiers stood in front of a
board where they were asked questions about their personal
motivation for wanting to be a sniper with 3/2 Cav. Reg.
“It was always a dream of mine when I first joined,”
said Sgt. Cody Wise, an infantryman assigned to 3/2 Cav.
Reg. and sniper slot applicant. “I finally get the
opportunity and it feels pretty good.”
Once selected and qualified, the
new snipers will not only add to the unit as a whole, but will allow
3/2 Cav. Reg. and Battle Group Poland to have a new tool to create
complications on the battlefield for any adversarial threats.
“Being a sniper, to me, means being stealthy, sacrifice to
country and being the best of the best,” said Pvt. Bryce Dorvall, an
infantryman assigned to 3/2 Cav. Reg. and sniper slot applicant.
Battle Group Poland helps in supporting Atlantic Resolve and in
demonstrating the U.S. commitment to the security of NATO and NATO
allies. This unique, multinational battle group comprised of U.S.,
U.K., Croatian and Romanian Soldiers serve with the Polish 15th MECH
BN as a deterrence force in northeast Poland in support of NATO’s
Enhanced Forward Presence.
By U.S. Army Spc. Andrew McNeil
Provided
through DVIDS
Copyright 2018
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