US Army Sniper School
Encyclopedia
The U.S. Army Sniper School is part of the United States Army
197th Infantry Brigade based at Fort Benning, Georgia
. The first U.S. Army Sniper School was short lived, being established in 1955, but disbanded in 1956 at Camp Perry, Ohio
. The U.S. Army's first permanent school was established in 1987 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
equipment and tactics, collection of battlefield intelligence
, stalking
and other sniper-related skills. The primary mission of the sniper is to deliver long range, precision fire. Their secondary mission is the collecting and reporting of battlefield information. Soldiers are taught how to blend in with the surrounding environment by wearing a ghillie suit
. They must go through a course where they come within 300 meters of spotters in a small tower and take a shot at a target without being noticed. Students are trained on the M24 Sniper Weapon System, M107 rifle, and the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System.
The school is five weeks long and is open to Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard. Students must be in MOS series of 11 (Infantry), 18 (Special Forces), or 19D (Cav Scout).
The United States Army National Guard established a second Sniper School in 1993 at Camp Robinson, Arkansas
. The curriculum for this Course mirrors the Course taught at Fort Benning, Georgia.
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
197th Infantry Brigade based at Fort Benning, Georgia
Fort Benning
Fort Benning is a United States Army post located southeast of the city of Columbus in Muscogee and Chattahoochee counties in Georgia and Russell County, Alabama...
. The first U.S. Army Sniper School was short lived, being established in 1955, but disbanded in 1956 at Camp Perry, Ohio
Camp Perry
Camp Perry is a National Guard training facility located on the shore of Lake Erie in northern Ohio near Port Clinton. In addition to its regular mission as a military training base, Camp Perry also boasts the largest outdoor rifle range in the world...
. The U.S. Army's first permanent school was established in 1987 at Fort Benning, Georgia.
Purpose
The school trains soldiers in marksmanship, sniperSniper
A sniper is a marksman who shoots targets from concealed positions or distances exceeding the capabilities of regular personnel. Snipers typically have specialized training and distinct high-precision rifles....
equipment and tactics, collection of battlefield intelligence
Military intelligence
Military intelligence is a military discipline that exploits a number of information collection and analysis approaches to provide guidance and direction to commanders in support of their decisions....
, stalking
Deer stalking
Deer stalking is a British term for the stealthy pursuit of deer for sporting purposes, historically with dogs such as Scottish Deerhounds, or in modern times typically with a high powered rifle fitted with a telescopic sight to hunt them....
and other sniper-related skills. The primary mission of the sniper is to deliver long range, precision fire. Their secondary mission is the collecting and reporting of battlefield information. Soldiers are taught how to blend in with the surrounding environment by wearing a ghillie suit
Ghillie suit
A ghillie suit, wookie suit, yowie suit, or camo tent is a type of camouflage clothing designed to resemble heavy foliage. Typically, it is a net or cloth garment covered in loose strips of cloth or twine, sometimes made to look like leaves and twigs, and optionally augmented with scraps of foliage...
. They must go through a course where they come within 300 meters of spotters in a small tower and take a shot at a target without being noticed. Students are trained on the M24 Sniper Weapon System, M107 rifle, and the M110 Semi-Automatic Sniper System.
The school is five weeks long and is open to Active Duty, Reserves, and National Guard. Students must be in MOS series of 11 (Infantry), 18 (Special Forces), or 19D (Cav Scout).
The United States Army National Guard established a second Sniper School in 1993 at Camp Robinson, Arkansas
Arkansas
Arkansas is a state located in the southern region of the United States. Its name is an Algonquian name of the Quapaw Indians. Arkansas shares borders with six states , and its eastern border is largely defined by the Mississippi River...
. The curriculum for this Course mirrors the Course taught at Fort Benning, Georgia.
External links
- 197th Infantry Brigade - Sniper School official page
- Army Sniper School at About.comAbout.comAbout.com is an online source for original information and advice. It is written in English, and is aimed primarily at North Americans. It is owned by The New York Times Company....
. - Sniper students make the grade - The Bayonet
- Snipers Bring School to Iraqi Desert - DefenseLink