The United States Army

10/26/2026 | News release | Distributed by Public on 10/27/2026 04:57

U.S. Civil Affairs Soldiers build NATO partnerships at Estonian shooting competition

1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Sgt. Ethan Wills, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, fires a pistol while competing in the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. The competition challenged service members to balance accuracy and speed, reinforcing the precision and discipline required for effective marksmanship. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eli Dutcher, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, fires a rifle while being monitored by an Estonian range official during the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. Competitors climbed into an Estonian military vehicle to shoot from the hatch at targets downrange while maintaining strong shooting fundamentals during their timed iteration. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Sgt. Ethan Wills, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, fires from the prone position during the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026, Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 22, 2026. The electronic target system provided immediate feedback on shot placement, allowing soldiers of four NATO nations to assess their accuracy and make adjustments to improve marksmanship. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original

HARJU COUNTY, Estonia - Two U.S. Army Civil Affairs Soldiers competed alongside service members from Estonia, the United Kingdom and France during the Estonian Defence Forces Shooting Competition 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, from Oct. 21-22.

Hosted at the Estonian Defence League's Shooting Sports Range, the competition challenged participants to demonstrate marksmanship, speed and accuracy across multiple events, including pistol and rifle ranges. Soldiers also navigated obstacles, threw simulated grenades and engaged targets from different positions, testing their ability to adapt under pressure.

For the U.S. Soldiers, the event provided an opportunity to strengthen relationships with NATO partners while refining individual skills through practical training and friendly competition.

"What motivated me to participate in this competition was the opportunity to work alongside our British, French and Estonian allies," said Sgt. Ethan Wills, a Soldier assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion. "That is always a really cool opportunity."

1 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eli Dutcher, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, fires a rifle while being monitored by an Estonian range official during the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. The competition challenged participants to advance closer to targets as well as mount vehicles, barriers and ladders to shoot. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original 2 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Sgt. Ethan Wills, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, bounds over barriers on a pistol range while competing in the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. The course challenged soldiers of four NATO nations to navigate barriers and engage multiple targets while making quick decisions and maintaining accuracy under timed conditions. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original 3 / 3 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Sgt. Ethan Wills, center, and Staff Sgt. Eli Dutcher, right, both assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, load magazines before competing in the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. The competition strengthened partnerships among U.S., Estonian, British and French service members through shared training and friendly competition. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original

Throughout the two-day event, Wills and another Civil Affairs Soldier competed alongside two Estonian service members, exchanging experiences and building familiarity beyond their normal training environments. The competition encouraged soldiers to challenge themselves against other trained marksmen while developing the confidence, discipline and precision necessary to perform under pressure.

In particular, competitors developed these skills by completing a timed course that required them to shoot from the top of a ladder, a military vehicle hatch and a unique A-frame obstacle made of two leaning wooden pallets. Participants also threw simulated grenades from an unstable foundation and navigated barriers set up in a maze.

Wills said the event offered valuable opportunities to improve his own abilities while representing the United States. As part of his team, he competed in multiple shooting events and served as its representative for the 300-meter rifle competition.

"It is really special to see everybody and how well we're all trained to defend what we believe in," Wills said.

1 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Sgt. Ethan Wills, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, fires a rifle between two obstacles while competing in the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. The exercise challenged soldiers of four NATO nations to engage targets from restricted firing positions, reinforcing weapon control, precision and the ability to adapt to changing shooting conditions. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original 2 / 2 Show Caption + Hide Caption - U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Eli Dutcher, assigned to the 418th Civil Affairs Battalion, fires a rifle while being monitored by an Estonian range official during the Estonian Defence League Shooting Championship 2026 in Harju County, Estonia, Oct. 21, 2026. The competition provided an opportunity for service members from four nations to build camaraderie while developing skills relevant to their military roles. V Corps is the U.S. Army's only forward-deployed corps, serving as the senior tactical headquarters for Army forces in Eastern Europe to deter conflict and provide combat-ready forces alongside our NATO allies. V Corps is operationalizing and expanding the Eastern Flank Deterrence Initiative with Allies, rapidly integrating emerging technologies into training and tactical plans. (U.S. Army photo by Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer, 196th Mobile Public Affairs Detachment) (Photo Credit: Sgt. Katherine Zimpfer) View original

The competition demonstrated how shared training opportunities can strengthen both individual readiness and multinational partnerships. By testing their skills alongside NATO partners, the two U.S. Civil Affairs Soldiers gained experience they can carry into future training and operational environments.

The United States Army published this content on October 26, 2026, and is solely responsible for the information contained herein. Distributed via Public Technologies (PUBT), unedited and unaltered, on October 27, 2026 at 10:57 UTC. If you believe the information included in the content is inaccurate or outdated and requires editing or removal, please contact us at [email protected]