Snipers Overcome Harsh Terrain
(February 1, 2011) |
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| Marine Corps Air Station Miramar, CA (MCN - 1/28/2011) —
Traversing through the freezing Sierra Nevada Mountains with
hundreds of pounds of gear, scout snipers of class 1-11 in
the Mountain Scout Sniper Course, completed their training
Jan. 25, 2011, at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training
Center in Bridgeport, Calif. |
The three-week-long
course focused on high angle shooting, mountain movement,
survival techniques and how to combine them in a combat
situation, said Gunnery Sgt. David Williams, the staff
noncommissioned officer in charge of the course.
“The goal of this class is to teach Marine snipers to move
efficiently over snowy terrain while they engage the enemy,”
said Williams.
Because of the sensitivity of their
missions, the snipers' names and units could not be
publicized. The first phase of the course challenged the
individual snipers' shooting. In Marine Corps Scout Sniper
training, the max range that marksmanship is tested is at
1,000 meters. Here, the snipers are pushed further, beyond
the max range of their weapons to 1,100 meters, Williams
said.
“The shooting package challenges them beyond
anything they've done before,” he added. “The unknown target
estimation challenges them in the math and angle of shooting
well.”
The mountainous terrain forces the snipers to
shoot downward at their targets, teaching them to perfect a
new technique. |
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A shooter and his spotter prepare a shot Jan. 24, 2011, during the Mountain Scout Sniper Course at Marine Corps Mountain Warfare Training Center, Bridgeport, Calif. |
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“We learn the ins and outs of a
different kind of warfare,” said one scout sniper student in
the course. “We learn high angle shooting to give us more
confidence in our abilities.”
The second phase of
the course exposes the Marines to the elements on the
mountain, teaching them techniques of movement and survival.
“Snipers are leaders,” Williams said. “We expose
them to everything and [show them] many different tools to
use. In the end, it's up to them to decide what works and
what doesn't.”
The Marines are taught many
techniques such as adapting to mountain living, and boiling
snow to make water. Some lesser-known equipment is also
added to the Marines' arsenal, such as skis, snow shoes and
other options to traverse snowy terrain. Ultimately, it is
up to the individual to decide which is most effective to
use.
“They learn to live in this environment,”
Williams said. “They learn to eat and drink, get acclimated
to the elevation and learn snow mobility.”
The
course not only prepares Marines for mountainous
snow-covered environments, but also the mountains of
Afghanistan, Williams said.
“Being able to shoot
from a mountain is really important and realistic in
Afghanistan,” said another scout sniper, who participated in
the training. The third and final portion of the course
combined everything the Marines learned. The Mountain Scout
Sniper class 1-11 began their final test Jan. 22, 2011,
night.
In groups of around 7-8 Marines, they hiked 8
kilometers through mountainous terrain, where they dug in
and set up an observation point on their valley target
below. Jan. 25, 2011, the snipers would test their fire with
role players.
Firing blank ammunition, the snipers
would follow the role players and their movements. When
their shot is fired, a target is placed where the role
player stood to test their accuracy.
Through the
challenges of the course, Marines grew closer together as
they faced many trials associated with mountain warfare. |
By USMC LCpl. Sarah Anderson
Marine Corps Air Ground Combat Center Twentynine Palms
Copyright 2011 | |
Reprinted from
Marine Corps News
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