Milton-Freewater sniper team competes in national championship
By Dan Thesman on Friday, December 20th, 2024 in Columbia Basin News Columbia Basin Top Stories
MILTON-FREEWATER – Two Eastern Oregon soldiers recently represented the state at a prestigious military sniper competition, demonstrating the unique capabilities of local National Guard members.
Staff Sgt. Coertlandt Bauer and Sgt. Dakota Hodges, both from the Milton-Freewater-based Third Battalion, 116th Cavalry Brigade Combat Team, competed against elite marksmen from around the world at the 2024 Winston P. Wilson Sniper Championship at Fort Chaffee Maneuver Training Center near Fort Smith, Arkansas.
The local team showcases the diverse talent within Oregon’s eastern communities. Hodges, who serves as a chief engineer for Amazon Web Services in Hermiston, balances his civilian career with his military role as a sniper team leader. His teammate, Bauer, recently launched One Shot Plumbing in Idaho’s Wood River Valley, exemplifying the National Guard’s citizen-soldier concept.
“Being in the Oregon National Guard has been a great opportunity for me to come to training events like this while still being able to own a business and support my community,” Bauer said.
The Milton-Freewater team joined 35 other teams from across U.S. military branches and international forces, including groups from the Netherlands, Italy, U.S. Coast Guard, and Special Operations Forces. Competitors faced challenging scenarios in both daylight and nighttime conditions, using advanced equipment, including the Mark 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle and night vision devices.
For Hodges, who joined the Guard after serving in the Marine Corps, the competition offered valuable training opportunities.
“What I take out of this is we get to come out here, shoot, meet new people, and make great connections with other teams,” Hodges said. “Everything has changed since I went through sniper school six years ago. We’re using different technology and different formulas. Being here, I get to learn that stuff again, update my skills, and prepare myself for future endeavors.”
The competition, hosted by the National Guard Marksmanship Training Center, provides National Guard units with cost-effective access to world-class training opportunities. Participants must meet rigorous qualifications, including expert marksmanship ratings and specific military occupational specialties.
Sgt. Dakota Hodges, left, and Staff Sgt. Coertlandt Bauer, move between firing positions during the elite marksmen competition in a photo by Maj. W. Chris Clyne, Oregon National Guard Public Affairs
