Here, we have another video of a Marine sniper doing what they do best… taking out the enemy. In the video, you can tell that being a Marine sniper is not just a point-and-shoot kind of job, but rather, an involved process with a lot of components in play.
Communicating with the spotter (YouTube)
For a single strike, snipers have to consider wind, crosswind, distance, movement of the target, and communicate it all with a spotter before pulling the trigger.
The need for snipers in the U.S. Marine Corps has increased in recent times with the rise in terrorist threats. This has also led to the rise in the number of training areas for Marine Corps Regiments to be able to train snipers.
Finding the target (YouTube)
The recruit goes through boot camp and then attends the School of Infantry. After a successful completion, the new Marine is immediately sent to one of four Marine Corps Scout Sniper courses – located in Quantico, Camp Lejeune, Camp Pendleton, and the USMC Base in Hawaii. Once they graduate from the Scout Sniper Course, Marines join the fleet to be placed in a Scout Sniper role in a platoon.
Snipers are trained to use precision rifle fire at selected targets from a hidden position. These are long-range actions that have to be accomplished in any environment with little to no support from other Marines.
Snipers are extremely necessary in times of war as a support to combat operations since they are skilled in enemy surveillance, stealth and concealment, and marksmanship. Snipers can also be easily deployed in urban areas where the enemy may be present among the population, and effectively engage individual targets without damage to lives or property.
Confirming the kill-shot (YouTube)
There are two types of snipers in the Marines: spotters, who detect, observe, and confirm sniper targets, and snipers who deliver long-range precision firing on selected targets.
Snipers also gather information for intelligence purposes. Aside from that, they have the task of calculating the range and wind conditions on a given target when in firing mode, and conducting reconnaissance and surveillance missions.
In order to be able to join the scout-sniper platoon, Marines must earn the rank of Lance Corporal, and complete an approved scout-sniper course to receive this rank. The Advanced School of Infantry holds the Scout Sniper Course that lasts 79 days and consists of taking care and maintaining one’s gear, field craft, stealth, concealment, and shooting accuracy.
Check out what it’s like as a Marine sniper takes out a Taliban spotter in Sangin, Afghanistan:
