Devil Dog snipers from the U.S. Marine Corps won the 2026 International Sniper Competition using the MRAD MK 22 Advanced Sniper Rifle System from Barrett Firearms Manufacturing. The Marine team of Staff Sgt. Tyler Johnson and Sgt. Spencer Harrell took the trophy for the Corps during a highly competitive five-day competition at Fort Benning, Georgia.

It’s the first win for the Marines at the ISC since 2009 and only the second such victory in the service’s illustrious shooting history. The win is even more notable since the Corps retired its legendary Scout Snipers in 2023 in favor of larger, 26-member Scout platoons, folding its sniper capabilities into its Reconnaissance and Marine Special Operations units as newly designated “Reconnaissance Snipers.”
 

“Barrett wishes to congratulate the USMC on winning the International Sniper Competition,” said Ryan Krantz, vice president of business development and sales for Barrett. “This is a great outcome for the USMC in a very challenging environment and demonstrates their skills with their service weapons.” 

Comprised of elite sniper teams from across the U.S. military and its many partner nations, the ISC includes realistic combat-focused scenarios filled with grueling tests of precision marksmanship, target detection, stalking, reconnaissance, fieldcraft, and high-pressure decision-making. Held April 6–11, there were 34 two-person teams vying for the top prize.

The U.S. Department of War selected the MK 22 ASR as its modular, multi-caliber precision platform across the force in 2019, and it reached full operational status with the Marines in 2024. 
 

“Barrett is honored to supply the DOW with the MRAD MK 22 Rifle System, which is employed in every service and branch of the U.S. DOW,” said Cameron Fraser, Director of U.S. Military and U.S. Government for Barrett. 
 

Cover image: Original Caption – U.S. Marine Corps Sgt. Joe Pogany, a native of Texas, and Lance Cpl. Caleb Brown, a native of Oklahoma, both scouts with 3d Littoral Combat Team, 3d Marine Littoral Regiment, 3d Marine Division, provide long-range precision fires with a MK 22 Mod 0 Advanced Sniper Rifle during a training exercise at Pohakuloa Training Area, Hawaii, Feb. 7, 2025. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Jacqueline C. Parsons)