ASSOCIATION OF THE UNITED STATES ARMY

With the Paris Olympics less than a year away, soldiers from the Army Marksmanship Unit’s shotgun team dominated on the global stage at the 2023 International Shooting Sports Federation World Championship in Baku, Azerbaijan.

“Competing at World Championships is invaluable when it comes to preparing for Olympic team selection,” Sgt. Rachel Tozier, a member of the U.S. Trap Team, said in an Army news release. “Being able to shoot among, and against, the best competitors in the world forces you to up your game and brings out any flaws that may need work.”

The U.S. Army won the top three spots in the grueling 2016 International Sniper Competition at Fort Benning, Ga., with a Michigan National Guard team capturing the top prize.

More than just shooting is involved. The competition judges marksmanship, observation and reconnaissance skills, but also stealth, concealment, reporting skills, and mental and physical endurance over 96 hours.