Rethinking Scout/ Sniper Employment in the Infantry Battalion What scout/snipers should be doing by Capt Adam M. Fountain

he purpose of this article is completely that we need to continue to address the way that we training to support counterinsurgency think about the role of snipers >Capt Fountain is assigned to II MEF. missions, we must not lose focus on sup- in the infantry battalion. My porting conventional operations. This Taudience is both commanders who wish is where we have missed the mark on to employ snipers as well as my brothers employing to our full capabilities. in the sniper community who may not revolve around counter-IED missions. be familiar with some of the nuances For Marine Corps snipers, this mindset What Infantry Battalion Scout/Snip- of the capabilities that we can bring to permeates our thinking because this is ers Are bear that can significantly increase the the way that we have been employed in We are taught in sniper school that decisive power of our supported units. combat and “the way we grew up” as a sniper is “a Marine highly skilled in For the purposes of this article, I focus snipers. Judging from my time serving fieldcraft and marksmanship who deliv- primarily on everything that scout/ as both an enlisted sniper and as an ers long range precision fire on selected sniper teams should be doing prior to officer commanding a sniper platoon, targets from concealed positions in sup- engaging targets with precision fire. My I think that what we believe a sniper port of combat operations.” hopes are to broaden the employment to be has become somewhat narrow in This definition, learned verbatim, can opportunities of sniper platoons across scope compared to the full capability be rattled off by any Marine sniper at the Marine Corps and put the “scout” that we can bring to bear. While I agree a moment’s notice. So why begin here? back into the term “scout/sniper.”

The Bottom Line Up Front The past decade and a half of war in both Iraq and Afghanistan have proven that snipers are indeed a valuable force multiplier. We supported a few con- ventionally styled offensive operations during these wars; however, most of our time has been spent supporting counterinsurgency operations through counter-IED missions. These missions have been very effective in saving the lives of friendly forces and damaging the morale and manpower of the en- emy. Yet, this may be where we have gradually boxed ourselves in when it comes to thinking about the role of the scout/sniper and overall scout/sniper employment. If you ask any sniper who has served with an infantry battalion in The author, second from left, served as the Sniper Team Leader, V22, in Rama, Iraq. (Photo by a combat zone, their story will likely author.)

Marine Corps Gazette • May 2020 www.mca-marines.org/gazette 49 Ideas & Issues (Ground Combat element)

Tactical Control Measure (TCM) Re- connaissance As far as what snipers can do to sup- port infantry, TCM reconnaissance is our biggest shortfall. The infantry needs to move quickly and decisively onto the objective. In order to do so, they need very specific knowledge of the area they are moving into. This is done at the small unit level through a leader’s recon- naissance where the unit leader and his subordinate element leaders go forward to confirm the TCMs that will be uti- lized when attacking the objective as well as the routes that the elements will use to infiltrate into those positions. At higher echelons of command, this sort of leader’s reconnaissance rarely happens and is primarily done through overhead The author’s squad supported the battalion snipers during deployment to Karmah, Iraq. The author (Santa hat) was the Squad Leader, 1st squad, 2d Platoon Co G. (Photo by author.) imagery, maps, UAV feeds, and, to a lesser degree, our ground-based recon- naissance units. Currently, the leader’s As any of us that have supported con- enabled them to plan the quickest and reconnaissance is conducted only after ventional operations either in training most decisive actions possible in order to the infantry is already on the deck and or in combat can attest, a sniper is far destroy the enemy and secure the objec- moving toward the objective. This con- more than just a guy in a ghillie suit tive. This is our primary mission and our strains the infantry to using preplanned shooting long distances from a hide site. ultimate goal. This should be the mind- routes, assault positions, and support by When in support of offensive operations, set we train to. When we think about fire positions as well as other TCMs, we normally conduct surveillance on ourselves as scout/snipers, we should that have been selected without prior the objective, report on the enemy, and see ourselves as much more than the confirmation on whether or not they control preparatory fires ahead of in- expert handlers of precision rifles and are actually tenable on the ground. fantry Marines in the assault. At some the masters of camouflage. We should With properly skilled reconnaissance time during the infantry’s assault, we be fully aware of what we can provide personnel on the deck, these TCMs can may begin engaging with precision fire to our supported units and have a well be confirmed or denied well ahead of by targeting enemy personnel based instructed appreciation for what we are L-Hour and adjusted if needed. If the on a predetermined target precedence. in conventional combat—the facilitators planned TCMs are not tenable, it can However, the effects of our precision of large-scale death and destruction. be of extreme importance to have men fires seem somewhat insignificant when The entire Marine Corps ultimately on the deck who can make educated compared to the close air support, artil- supports the infantry. The best way to and experienced recommendations for lery, and mortar fires that we facilitate determine the roles and responsibili- alternatives. Properly communicated, when prepping the objective ahead of ties of any supporting unit is to first these adjustments to TCMs can make our maneuver units. The precision fire look at the supported unit’s scheme of the infantry faster and more decisive. from a couple of weapons systems pales maneuver and then look at our own ca- Having preplanned and confirmed in- in comparison to the death and destruc- pabilities to determine how we can best filtration routes from the insert points tion that we are facilitating through the support them. This is the proverbial “ted to the assault positions and support by infantry rifle unit. This infantry unit is and ting” relationship (supported and fire positions is a game changer for the the main effort—the commander’s bid supporting) that is pounded into our infantry on the deck conducting the at- for success—which all other units are infantry officers daily at the Infantry tack. The time that it takes from when supporting. By our actions, we facilitate Officer Course. The infantry is continu- the ramp drops until they are conduct- as many of the enemy killed or neu- ously looking for ways to be faster and ing actions on the objective should be tralized as possible before the infantry more decisive in their actions. Speed, minimized to the utmost. This can be steps foot onto the objective. If our job surprise, and violence of action is the done by reconnaissance assets confirm- has been done to its fullest capability, name of the game and, as the infantry ing, at the very least, the landing zones, we have properly prepared the objective battalion’s organic reconnaissance asset, dismount points, infiltration routes, as- area with close air support and fires, and there are a few tasks that we should be sault positions, and support by fire posi- communicated vital information to the capable of conducting that will enable tions. Infiltration by our infantry can supported unit commanders, which has this. be assisted by reconnaissance personnel

50 www.mca-marines.org/gazette Marine Corps Gazette • May 2020 conducting initial terminal guidance hard charging 0311s will have the saf- fi res should be the ultimate goal of our and acting as guides once linkup has est situation possible for the fi ght. In sniper teams. Anything that we can do been made with the supported units order to facilitate this, we need shap- to make this happen quickly and ef- on the deck. Properly communicated ing fi res that are decisive and fl exible fi ciently should be one of the primary and executed, the attack becomes much as well as forward observers who are focuses of training. faster and more decisive. The scout/ very familiar with controlling the assets sniper has suddenly become one of the providing indirect fi res and close air Advocating for Snipers battalion’s most valuable enabling as- support. As the infantry makes their The infantry schools for both offi cer sets—without even fi ring a single shot. infi ltration, and the fi re support teams and enlisted do not focus very much on (FiSTs) get into position to observe the employment of snipers and ground Prepping of the Battlespace for the fi res, the sniper teams initiating and reconnaissance assets. In an infantry Infantry observing these shaping fi res should battalion, the commanders who get Shaping the battlespace with close have a solid SOP for battle handover snipers attached to them do so with a air support and indirect fi res ahead of of fi res with the infantry unit’s FiST. fairly limited knowledge of our capa- our maneuver units is another impor- The FiST, who will most likely not be bilities and methods of employment. tant role that we play as ground recon able to observe fi res until infi ltration It is on us as scout/snipers and scout/ assets for the infantry battalion. It is of the infantry has already occurred, sniper platoon commanders to advocate absolutely essential that the enemy is must be able to seamlessly take over on our own behalf within the battalion suppressed and fi xed in position while control of fi res and facilitate the shift- and meet with these commanders who our infantry moves to destroy them. ing and ceasing of danger close fi res as will be tasking our teams in order to We must also ensure that, before our the infantry maneuvers onto the objec- ensure that they are privy to everything infantry reach the objective, that there tive. Ensuring that the infantry lands that we can do for them to facilitate are as many enemy casualties as a re- and infi ltrates into position quickly and their schemes of maneuver. As a sniper sult of preparatory fi res as possible. safely while infl icting the most enemy platoon commander, this should be one This ensures that those young and casualties as possible with preparatory of the highest priorities for you. When a

Marine Corps Gazette • May 2020 www.mca-marines.org/gazette 51 Ideas & Issues (Ground Combat element) mission comes, the sniper platoon com- was already a base understanding of area, we become a forward offensive asset mander should take the team leader(s) my vision and a common ground upon that controls preparatory fires and close who will be supporting him to go and which we could start planning. My vi- air support to cover their approach. Once meet with that company commander sion for scout/sniper employment in an a battle handover of fires occurs with the to discuss employment and capabilities. infantry battalion is this: infantry’s FiST, and actions on the ob- Those team leaders should then be part Snipers are the battalion’s organic re- jective begin, we utilize our long-range of the planning with that company staff connaissance asset. We are the eyes and the precision fires to prosecute the enemy in to ensure that there is a full understand- ears of the battalion and the trigger finger the objective area. When offensive actions ing of what the company commander of the battalion commander. We exist to are complete and we transition into the is looking for and that the team leader support the infantry and facilitate their defense, we again go forward in support has the chance to see how the com- actions. When the planning begins, we of the next offensive maneuver. mander thinks. The team leader can consider our commander’s intent and his In conclusion, we do have some work then determine first-hand how he can scheme of maneuver. The confirmation to do in the way of training to our full best facilitate his commander’s intent. of his tactical control measures, questions capabilities and advocating on our own When I was a sniper platoon command- about the enemy situation, and sequencing behalf. The end state is that our fight er with 3d Battalion, 8th Marines, I did of fires become our foundation for scout/ for relevancy is focused and well-armed this as much as possible and our ability sniper tasking. Before the infantry actions with the mindset that we are facilitators to affect decision making and support begin, we go into enemy territory to as- of the infantry’s actions and that we take the commanders’ schemes of maneuver sess the tenability of our supported unit’s an intelligent approach to making them was significant. When advocating for TCMs and confirm or deny assumptions faster and more decisive. my snipers, I put into words my vision about the enemy situation. These actions for employment and pushed it out to provide vital information to our supported all the officers in the battalion. This unit, which will facilitate their final de- ensured that when I went to make li- tailed planning prior to execution. As our aison for our employment, that there maneuver units move toward the objective

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