Advanced designated marksman at AMC Rodeo

  • Published
  • By Airman 1st Class Rusty Frank
  • 19th Airlift Wing Public Affairs
LITTLE ROCK AIR FORCE BASE, Ark. --  Members of the 19th Security Forces Squadron's RODEO team have their sights set on winning the trophy at the first-ever sharpshooter event at this year's Air Mobility Command RODEO competition.

The advanced designated marksman event, commonly known as the sharpshooter event among security forces professionals, is one of four events the 19th SFS is participating in at RODEO.

"It's a time-based event. They're going to look at who can put the rounds down range as fast and as accurate as possible," said Staff Sgt. Carl Hook, a 19th SFS trainer.

The team consists of a sniper and a spotter. Hook, who competed in a previous competition as a shooter, now takes the spotter slot while Senior Airman Timothy Collar, a 19th SFS trainer, is competing as the shooter for the first time.

"The spotter's job is to get the shooter on target based off his previous engagement," said Hook. "The spotter also tracks every round the shooter fires so every round is accounted for in a 'data of previous engagement' book."

The shooter's role is slightly different than the spotter but still dependent on their partner's guidance.

"The shooter's job is to keep a clear mind, put the cross hairs where the spotter tells him to, concentrate their breathing and pull the trigger," said Collar.

Being a sniper is considered a separate career field in other military branches, but in the Air Force, it's a special duty, said Hook.

Through ADM Hook and Collar hope to prove to other Rodeo competitors that Team Little Rock can produce world-class snipers. With their combined experience, the two Airmen believe they have a strong chance at placing among the top five.