The Army sniper is as deep in lore as it is in reality. Countless movies have portrayed these shooters as capable of beyond human skill. All executed in a calm demeanor with a great punch line to follow the shot. The reality is that the US Army Sniper School produces some of the best military snipers on Earth. While perhaps not at a movie level, their skills are extraordinary. Let’s take a dive into the US Army Sniper School.
US Army Sniper School – Mastering the Skills
The United States Army Sniper Course isn’t just about hitting a target; it’s about becoming a vital, integrated member of a sniper team, capable of independent operations and contributing significantly to overall mission success. The school trains selected military members assigned to sniper positions in the skills necessary to deliver long-range precision fire and the collection of battlefield information. Students receive training in fieldcraft skills, advanced camouflage techniques, concealed movement, target detection, and range estimation. They also teach terrain utilization, intelligence preparation of the battlefield, relevant reporting procedures, sniper tactics, advanced marksmanship, and staff subjects.
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In military history terms, the Sniper School is not ancient. While there have always been troops that took up the task of sniping during battle, it did not have a formal course, and commanders were forced to train in the field. During 1955-1956, the Army Marksmanship Training Unit operated the first U.S. Army Sniper School at Camp Perry, Ohio. Unfortunately, there was a lack of understanding and appreciation for snipers’ effectiveness and potential, and sniper training was abandoned after this brief training period.
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First School
In 1987, the first US Army Sniper School was established as a three-week school at Ft Benning, GA. Thirty-five years later, the Sniper School is now the longest sniper training course in the history of the U.S. Army. Sniper School is a 29-day resident course. In the course, their primary focus is on marksmanship at distances ranging from 300 to 1500 meters and field craft.
Mk 22 Rifle
While graduates of the course are skilled with any rifle, the current issued rifle is the Mk 22 Multi-role Adaptive Design (MRAD), produced by Barrett. It was adopted under the Precision Sniper Rifle (PSR) program and replaced the M2010 Enhanced Sniper Rifle and the M107.
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US Army Sniper School
The term “force multiplier” is often associated with sniper teams because of their ability not only to eliminate targets but also to cause chaos among the enemy. Army snipers are so feared by the enemy that they are the most hunted soldiers on today’s modern battlefield. Sniper School is a challenge. It requires as many mental skills as it does physical. To get a look at some of the information they study, the Army Sniper Reference Book is available for download.
For more information, visit the US Army Sniper School.
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