I Never Expected My First Sniper Kill to Be Like This

About this video

A guest recounts his first sniper mission in Iraq, where his team set up to find a target terrorizing locals. The mission involved an unexpected encounter with a goat herder who nearly discovered their hide, but they never engaged. His second mission in downtown Baghdad involved coordinating sniper fire with multiple teams against gang members transporting IED materials, where he engaged multiple targets at close range and reflects on the emotional aftermath of taking lives.

Key takeaways

• The guest describes his first sniper mission as a learning experience that transitioned him from training to real combat, including an uncomfortable close call with a local goat herder who used the bathroom directly in front of their concealed position
• The guest explains that in urban sniper operations at around 200 yards, shooters can clearly see targets’ faces, and he reflects on the lasting psychological impact of remembering those final images before pulling the trigger
• The guest recounts taking 12 shots during a coordinated multi-team sniper operation in Baghdad, with 6 confirmed good hits, and describes the rules of engagement that prevented re-engaging wounded targets even when they were suffering

Episode details: published November 17, 2025 · 20.3K views · 20:47 long. Summary written by Self Growth Videos from the episode itself. Stories told by Mike Ritland’s podcast guests are the guests’ own accounts, attributed to them — not independently verified. Commentary is Ritland’s, presented as his analysis.

← Previous: Transitioning From Reserves To Contracting · Next: Afghan Refugee Turned Marine & Green Beret | Ep. 266 →

All Mike Ritland videos · Mike Ritland profile · Mike Drop (official site)