So you want to be a sniper?
The prominent studies of a Sniper
Develop your marksmanship skills:
The most noteworthy aspect of being a sniper is shooting accurately and consistently. This means regular dry-fire drills and practicing building your positions when shooting from positions other than the prone while you aren’t at the range. And while at the range, practice your shot placement and perfect your execution of the shot process.
Learn about ballistics:
Understanding the science of ballistics, including factors such as windage, elevation, and bullet drop, is essential for snipers. Read about what effects wind can have on the trajectory. Merry this up with how daily atmospheric conditions can impact bullet performance, and you will be a force to be reckoned with. Books from Bryan Litz give great insight and the scientific backing to justify.
Train in concealment:
Snipers must blend in with their surroundings to move. This means practicing looking at the terrain as if you were doing a Line of Sight Analysis before ever taking a step. Learn the difference between a natural and artificial screen, how to implement each, and how to make specific efforts to camouflage a position or piece of equipment. Start small and build up.
Study navigation and map reading:
Snipers often operate in remote areas and are expected to be one of the first elements in an AO. So it's vital to have a solid understanding of navigation and map reading. This will help you move around safely and reach your target location. You don’t need to be an expert in MGRS to know how to navigate in the woods. But if you are a military sniper, Field Manuals are the way to go.
Learn about observation and reconnaissance:
Snipers need to be able to observe and gather information about the enemy without being detected. This means learning about observation and reconnaissance techniques, such as using binoculars, spotting scopes, and telescopes.
Get in shape:
Snipers need to be physically fit, as they often carry heavy equipment and may need to cover long distances on foot. This means training your endurance, strength, and mobility.
Learn about the equipment:
A good sniper is familiar with their equipment, including weapons, scopes, and other gear. This means learning how to maintain and use your equipment correctly.
Study tactics and strategy:
Snipers are an important part of the battlefield, and they need to be familiar with the tactics and strategies used by the military. This means learning about the different types of operations, working with other units, and integrating with the larger battle plan. Understanding the bigger picture and how the shape the battlefield is high level sniper training but important nonetheless. Learn from publications like ADP 3-0 (Operations) or FM 23-10 (Sniper).
Note: There are updated manuals for Sniper. However this is one of our favorites due to the inclusion of several lost Tradecraft techniques
How to get into a dedicated Sniper position (billet)
Be an 11B or 19D in the US Army ( This will update if changes are made)
Practice your elevator pitch
Find the Platoon sergeant of the Infantry battalion Reconnaissance platoon or C-troop (There are also still spots within the Infantry Rifle company within the SBCT )
Tell him you would like to be a member of his sniper element using your rehearsed pitch.
Wait (They may have tryouts or may require a position to open)
That is the basics. If you have any questions, feel free to reach out on any social media!
