Operational Constraints: Adapting to Afghanistan’s Unforgiving Terrain
In the rugged and often desolate landscapes of Afghanistan, Marine Scout Snipers faced unique challenges that went beyond the conventional battlefield tactics. Amidst the sparse pockets of wooded areas, the art of camouflage-a sniper’s best defense-was continually tested. This post delves into the operational constraints that defined sniper missions in such unforgiving environments. Marine Scout…
“Why did the Corps do away with Snipers”
As the President of the USMC Scout Sniper Association, one of the main questions I get asked is …you guessed it, “Why did the Corps do away with Snipers” My Answer: I don’t fucking know, I’m not active duty, I’m not a General officer, I got no dog in the fight! A lot of people have…
The Misunderstood Metrics of Sniping
In the public imagination, a sniper’s confirmed kills are often dramatized, misinterpreted as a measure of prowess or success. However, this perception is far from the internal reality and sentiment within the sniper community. For the snipers themselves, there is no scoreboard. The sniper’s role is profound and multifaceted. It transcends beyond the act of…
The Lack of Representation in the Scout Sniper MOS:
Since 1918, when the first USMC Scout Sniper course rolled out 75 non-commissioned officers and 375 privates to serve in France, the place of Marine Scout snipers ebbed and flowed during and between the country’s wars. These elite precision marksmen remained loyal as they witnessed their units activated and deactivated and their MOS designations eliminated,…
The Burden of Precision: Understanding the Fear of Mission Failure
In the high-stakes realm of military operations, Scout Snipers face unique pressures that go beyond the battlefield’s physical demands. Central to their role is the immense responsibility of precision, where the success of a mission often rests on their ability to make split-second decisions under extreme conditions. This brings us to one of their most…
My First Kill: President of the USMC Scout Sniper Association
Good Friday, 2006, my second deployment to Iraq and my first as a Sniper Team Leader with 1/2, my team found itself in a fortunate position to be able to make our first confirmed enemy kill on insurgents transporting weapons from a cache across the Eurphates River. An AO near ours was being controlled by…
How becoming a Marine Scout Sniper prepared me for a career in Special Forces
“The sound of the round leaving the muzzle was muffled by the suppressor. The target within my scope fell to the ground before the “crack” of the supersonic round or the muffled report from the rifle could reach him. “You got him”, reported Eric, my team sergeant. We were sitting on a roof top…
“More than just a Shooter: The Tactical Mindset of Snipers”
Two months into our deployment, December 2010, Marjah, and Route Jaguar was already earning a grim reputation. Seventeen IEDs in two months. After a Marine lost his leg, the Colonel called us in the south to head to the Northwest side of Marjah. “Sergeant, what do you need to make this threat go away!” The…
2017 Scout Sniper Instructor and Scout Sniper (FMF) of the Year
The USMC Scout Sniper Association is pleased to announce they will be recognizing the 2017 Scout Sniper Instructor and Scout Sniper (FMF) of the Year at the 2018 SHOT Show in Las Vegas, NV on 23 January 2018. Below you’ll find the Nomination Announcements with the requirements and details for submission of prospective awardees. The…
2018 Rifle Raffle Official Public Annoucement
Attention United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper Association Members, Donors, Partners, and Supporters!!! It is that time of year again we start preparing for our annual rifle raffle. This year’s rifle was donated by Drake Associates™. With over 30 years of experience in the Firearms industry, Drake Associates™ has been pushing the envelope on Precision…