Staff Sgt. Tyler Payne was born in Princeton, MN. He joined the Army in March of 2010 and shipped to basic and AIT training at Fort Benning, GA. After completion of initial training in June of 2010, Payne was assigned to the United States Army Marksmanship Units Action Shooting Team.
Payne immediately showed his talent on the range and has since had the following shooting accomplishments. Five national Championships, fifteen 3-gun matches, over twenty PRS matches, Two International Sniper Competitions, Four Mammoth Sniper Competitions and the USASOC Sniper Competition.
While assigned to Action Shooting Team, Payne deployed to Afghanistan in support of Operation Enduring Freedom as well as the USAMU’s mission to establish a marksmanship training program for the Afghanistan National Army in 2012.
He is a graduate from the Advanced Leaders Course in Ft. Benning, GA, Warriors Leaders Course in Ft Benning GA, Advanced Leaders Course in Ft. Benning, GA Sniper School in Ft. Benning, GA, Special Forces sniper school in Ft. Bragg, NC, and Advanced Sniper Course.
His awards include the National Defense Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Global war on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Achievement Medal x5, Army Good Conduct Medal x2, Army Commendation Medal x3, NATO Medal, Afghanistan Campaign Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Superior Unit Award and Certificate of Appreciation. Medal, Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development Ribbon, Army Superior Unit Award and Certificate of Appreciation.