Western NY National Guard Soldiers represent New York at national sniper competition

BUFFALO, NY (04/20/2017) (readMedia)-- Two New York Army National Guard Soldiers will be participating in a nationwide sniper team competition at the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center at Camp Robinson, Arkansas, April 22-26.

Sgt. David Peters and Corporal Ryan Machlowski, who are both assigned to Charlie Company 2nd Squadron, 101st Cavalry, will be among 56 Guard Soldiers in 28 teams who are participating in the annual Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship.

The 2nd Squadron 101st Cavalry is headquartered at Niagara Falls Air Reserve Station and has elements in Jamestown, Geneva and Buffalo. The squadron serves as the eyes and ears of the New York Army National Guard's 27th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. Charlie Company is based at the Masten Avenue Armory in Buffalo.

Peters, a Hamburg resident, has served in the New York Army National Guard since 2011. He was qualified as a sniper in 2016 and serves as a sniper team leader.

Machlowksi, a Lancaster resident, joined the New York Army National Guard in 2012. He also qualified as a sniper in 2016.

The National Guard hosts the event to promote marksmanship and sniper skills. Participants must be qualified snipers who are assigned to that position in their military units.

Snipers normally work in teams involving a marksman and a spotter who identifies targets for the marksman and helps determine range. Snipers are also trained in infiltration and concealment skills.

The contest requires the teams to engage targets with the Army's M2010 enhanced sniper rifle which has an effective range of 1,300 yards; just under three-quarters of a mile.

The teams are evaluated on target hits, time to engagement, the distance at which targets are hit, and stalking and range estimation skills.