Soldier lives up to childhood nickname becoming first active-duty female sniper in US Army
A soldier whose childhood nickname was "Sniper" has lived up to her name - and made history - by becoming the first female active-duty sniper in the US Army.
Sergeant Maciel Hay, a cavalry scout with 1st Squadron, 91st Cavalry Regiment (1-91 CAV), 173rd Airborne Brigade was once told by a close friend that she would never make it in the US Army or become a sniper.
Sgt Hay said: "Needless to say, that person is no longer part of my life. But now that I look back at it, I really do appreciate the motivation."
Four years later, Sgt Hay is still defying the odds as part of 173rd Airborne Brigade, the US Army's Contingency Response Force in Europe.
She passed basic training while qualifying as an expert with the M4 assault rifle and then graduated from airborne school.
Now she is living up to her childhood nickname as the first active-duty female US Army sniper.
Sgt Hay said: "I grew up shooting, mostly rifles and handguns, on my family's ranches in Rocklin, California, and Medford, Oregon.
"But the nickname came from the fact that I could find things really fast, similar to how a sniper does target detection."
Sgt Hay says shooting came naturally to her, but she credits her uncle Cy with teaching her the basics.
Sgt 1st Class Antwon Jones, Sgt Hay's platoon sergeant, said: "It's great to hear stories about paratroopers doing great things, but especially when it's a female defying the odds and proving women are just as capable to do anything when they have the motivation and drive to win."
Sgt Hay points to her positive experience in the US Army, underscored by the support she has received from leaders and peers throughout her training.
From the early days of basic training, where her sharpshooting skills caught her leaders' attention, to her drill sergeant encouraging her to pursue sniper school, Sgt Hay found herself surrounded by individuals who recognised her potential.
"Even though I only shot sharpshooter at first, then eventually expert later on in basic training, my drill sergeant encouraged me to pursue the goal of sniper school," she explained.
In the world of military marksmanship, individual weapons qualification is a crucial milestone.
With their M4 or M16 assault rifle, soldiers must shoot at least 23 out of 40 targets to earn the status of "marksman".
Achieving sharpshooter status requires hitting at least 30 targets, while experts must shoot a minimum of 36.
Sgt Hay's progression from sharpshooter to expert reflects not just her skill, but also her dedication to mastering the art of precision shooting.
After basic and advanced individual training as a cavalry scout, Sgt Hay's leadership at the 1-91 CAV continued to see her potential.
SFC Jones said: "Sgt Hay is just an incredible non-commissioned officer that comes to work every day with the intention of making not only her team better, but also the entire organisation."
Sgt Hay's journey to sniper school took a team effort.
SFC Jones said that from slotting her into a sniper section to ensuring she was prepared ahead of time, multiple leaders supported Sgt Hay's decision to pursue sniper school, saying: "One example that comes to mind is our new Behavioural Health Provider, Captain Lee.
"He wasn't even in-processed with the unit at that point, but he made time on a Saturday to meet with Sgt Hay for a screening needed for her submission packet."
Soldiers attending sniper school undergo a rigorous selection process.
Typically, candidates are experienced infanteers who have demonstrated exceptional marksmanship skills.
They must meet specific physical and mental requirements, as the demanding nature of sniper operations requires a high level of fitness, self-discipline and concentration.
Upon successful completion of the training, Sgt Hay and the other graduates received their certification as US Army snipers.
This qualification signifies that the soldier has met the high standards set by the school and is capable of carrying out sniper duties in a variety of operational environments.
Sgt Hay's family was able to travel from California to visit her at Fort Moore in Georgia for the sniper school graduation.
It was the first time they were able to see her in uniform.
Sgt Hay said: "Due to Covid travel restrictions, they weren't able to make it to my basic training or advanced individual training a few years ago.
"Then I went straight to Germany to join my unit, so it was really nice to see them and I'm grateful for their support."
From her childhood nickname of Sniper, to graduating as the first female active duty Army sniper, Sgt Hay's full-circle journey is one of commitment and determination - but she is not done yet.
Her next assignment takes her to Anchorage, Alaska, with the 1st Squadron (Airborne), 40th Cavalry Regiment.
She says becoming a jumpmaster is her next goal and everyone keeps telling her to attend Ranger School.
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