FORT BENNING, Ga. – A local Army sniper met his match as he failed to successfully hit a toilet bowl at a nearby tavern, sources confirmed today.

Sgt. Doug Taylor, a 28-year old native of Des Moines, Iowa, missed his mark after whipping out his rifle and repeatedly failing to strike the water in the bottom of a toilet bowl during multiple ‘long shots’ that were fired after hours of heavy drinking.

“I don’t get it,” said Taylor who was unable to stand in one spot without swaying. “I adjusted to account for wind speed, altitude, and the ballistics involved – just like I was taught in sniper school. But, it was a no-go.”

Prior to the failed mission, reports show that Taylor properly identified and stalked the target and positioned himself for the most optimal shot by leaning up against a wall. He then fired, missing instantly and instead shooting the floor, spraying shrapnel all over his shoes.

One witness, Sgt. 1st Class Stan Hope, was disappointed to see one of his fellow snipers fail so miserably on what should have been an easy hit.

“He was out of range but only a little bit,” said Hope, who was assigned to follow Taylor into the bathroom and serve as the spotter. “He fell short. So I grabbed his hips and helped him readjust like we do in the field. He took a deep breath, relaxed, aimed, and I yelled ‘Send it!’ But, he was still off the mark by several inches and hit a nearby toilet plunger.”

Blaming the Coriolis Effect, the sniper and his spotter then quickly decided to take another shot. They immediately adjusted to an alternate firing position and squeezed off another round, missing by mere millimeters.

“We train with the M2010 Winchester Magnum rifle and can hit targets up to 1,300 meters. This, on the other hand, shouldn’t be a problem for him, even with his mini-rifle,” continued Hope. “Plus, this is a no-stress environment. I mean it’s not like toilets fire back at you.”

Staff Sgt. Salvatore Rotella, a tavern patron and designated marksman at another unit, saw the messy aftermath of the snipers handiwork. “

"Isn’t accuracy supposed to be a priory for these guys?” he asked while his shoes stuck to the smelly floor. “Just last week I was able to chip off the edge of a urinal cake from a distance of 1 meter. The Army is going to deploy these guys? Embarrassing.”

Sources report that Taylor has been reprimanded by his teammates and will be provided supplemental training to attain the skills necessary to be successful during his next bathroom op.