A sniper is a highly trained soldier who specializes in shooting targets with modified rifles from incredibly long distances. They're also adept in stealth, camouflage, infiltration, and observation techniques.
Military snipers are used in a variety of missions on the battlefield, and the sniper's primary mission has nothing to do with pulling a trigger. The main battlefield role of the sniper is reconnaissance. Because snipers are masters of stealth, they are perfectly suited to sneak behind enemy lines to provide command with information about the enemy's size, strength and location.
When the mission calls for it, snipers can also dismantle and dishearten the enemy with a few well-placed rifle shots. Instead of engaging the entire enemy force like traditional infantry, snipers concentrate their efforts on hunting key people -- officers, pilots, armor drivers, technicians, and communications operators. With deadly shots that kill without warning, military snipers break both the enemy's will and ability to fight.
When there is no specific objective, a sniper will look for targets of opportunity. By tracking enemy movements, snipers wait patiently for the unsuspecting soldiers to present the opportunity for a perfect shot. An officer taking a break to smoke a cigarette, a pilot flight-checking his helicopter, an armed guard on patrol -- these are all targets of opportunity.
"You want to take out what's going to help your buddies the most." This is what Army Ranger Sniper had to say on selecting targets of opportunity. He continues:
... When you're in the military, you have experience knowing how a commander acts. You know a private -- a private Joe Nobody is generally going to be sitting behind a mound or sitting in a hole with his weapon. You can tell who's who by looking -- 'Okay, this guy's in charge and that guy's a nobody' -- just because of the way they act. That's one of the reasons in the field you're not supposed to salute officers. Say, in the field, you're sitting there looking and some guy walks by and salutes somebody and then, 'BAM' -- you know he's an officer. That's one of those things you pick up on.
Snipers are also utilized in support roles. These support roles can be an over-watch position or a blocking action. When a sniper is in an over-watch position, he sets himself up in a concealed place that gives him a clear view of the battlefield. There he can support the assault force by taking out enemy forces that are endangering the advancing platoon. In a blocking action, snipers set up to help secure a position that is controlled by their platoon. They may set up on a roof and help ground forces defend their position.
Snipers don't just shoot people. They are often ordered to destroy material targets. A sniper may shoot generators, radios, transmitters, or fuel and water supplies. Putting a .50 caliber round in the engine block of a helicopter or transport is just as effective as putting one in the man who drives them.
Snipers are what military strategists refer to as force multipliers. Simply put, a force multiplier is an individual or small team that, through the use of special tactics, can do the damage of a much larger force. What's amazing about snipers is that they are capable of force multiplication without ever directly engaging the enemy.
Because of the nature of their missions, snipers travel with very little gear, patiently moving under the cover of brush or night. But they never travel alone. Snipers teams often have to stay completely still for hours or days at a time to avoid detection, waiting for the right moment to take the shot. In the next section, we'll learn how sniper teams work together to achieve "the perfect shot."
Table of Contents
- Do army snipers get paid more?
- How much do FBI snipers make?
- How much money does a US Army Sniper make?
- What is the highest paying job in the military?
- Are snipers good at math?
- How long is Army Air Assault School?
- How much do SWAT make in Canada?
- How long is US Army Sniper School?
- How much does a Navy SEAL sniper make?
- Do you get paid for being a sniper?
- What kind of benefits do FBI snipers get?
- What kind of rifle does a British sniper use?
- Where are snipers found in the British Army?
Do army snipers get paid more?
How much does an Army Sniper make? ... Army Snipers make the most in San Francisco, CA at $86,322, averaging total compensation 51% greater than the US average.
How much do FBI snipers make?
The salaries of Swat Snipers in the US range from $19,114 to $509,998 , with a median salary of $91,637 . The middle 57% of Swat Snipers makes between $91,638 and $231,035, with the top 86% making $509,998.
How much money does a US Army Sniper make?
The average salary for a Sniper is $52,170 per year in United States, which is 0% lower than the average US Army salary of $52,598 per year for this job.
What is the highest paying job in the military?
What are some of the highest paid military jobs?
- Military police. National average salary: $41,245 per year. ...
- Pilot. National average salary: $43,482 per year. ...
- Drone pilot. National average salary: $44,858 per year. ...
- Combat engineer. National average salary: $46,201 per year. ...
- Interpreter. ...
- Translator. ...
- Army officer. ...
- Captain.
•08 Mar 2021
Are snipers good at math?
Snipers do alot of math. But they do most of it at the practice range. When out in the field, you spend alot of time figuring out the range of various objects. Knowing how much to aim up becomes a matter of memory and educated guessing.
How long is Army Air Assault School?
10 days US Army Air Assault School is a two-week (10 days) course of instruction conducted at several locations across the Army, including Fort Campbell, KY; Fort Drum, NY; Camp Smith, USMA; and at overseas locations in Germany and Hawaii.
How much do SWAT make in Canada?
$68,707 (CAD)/yr.
How long is US Army Sniper School?
seven-week More than 300 Soldiers each year begin the seven-week U.S. Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Georgia, but only the best of those will make it through the course to graduation. "Sniper school is one of the hardest schools in the military, not physically, but mentally," said Staff Sgt.
How much does a Navy SEAL sniper make?
A SEAL's Salary: Typical Navy SEAL Makes About $54,000. Some up to six figures depending on skill set. Howard Wasdin was a sniper in a unit like the one that took down bin Laden.
Do you get paid for being a sniper?
The only way to find out is to be a sniper y They get paid the same as everybody else. There may or may not be some special pay bonuses for some things here and there, but nothing is guaranteed. Nobody can tell you what the day to day is like. Not even Someone who was or is currently a sniper.
What kind of benefits do FBI snipers get?
FBI Sniper/Observer Salary. Snipers also receive a 25 percent bonus due to availability pay. Snipers also receive a wide array of benefits including health insurance (with the option of dental and vision), life and long-term care insurance, Thrift Savings Plans, and full retirement after 20 to 25 years of service.
What kind of rifle does a British sniper use?
The primary weapon of the British military sniper is the L115A3 Long Range Rifle. This is a bolt-action weapon, chambered in 338 Lapua Magnum (8.59mm), with an effective range out to 1.2 km. It employs a Schmidt & Bender 5-25x56 PM II 25x magnification day scope.
Where are snipers found in the British Army?
British Army snipers are typically found in the recce elements of a battalion in an infantry or armoured regiment. A sniper platoon deploys 2 sniper sections of 4 2-man teams as needed throughout the various companies within the battalion. British Army Sniper Training