Aspiring sharpshooters from different cap badges could be training their sights together if a pilot initiative is given the green light.
Around 30 students were showing their mettle at the Combined Arms Manoeuvre School’s trial of the sniper operators’ course (pictured below) as this magazine hit the press.
While training usually falls to individual units, military top brass believe that putting troops through their paces in a single cohort could bring benefits.
But pilot course boss WO2 Nick Christian (Rifles) said it was currently too early to say whether the ten-week package, covering disciplines including marksmanship, navigation, observation and concealment, would be adopted.
He told Soldier: “There could clearly be many positives in training troops together on a single course and using a common set of standards. However, there will be an extensive process to analyse the findings of the pilot and whether it is a suitable way forward once this has concluded.”
Ten instructors are involved in supporting and delivering the course with the highest standards expected of those taking part.
WO2 Christian continued: “There have been around a dozen different units supplying personnel to the trial and they all have a very good standard of soldiering.
“But we have already lost seven people who didn’t pass the standards expected during a navigation exercise – this remains a very hard course.”
More details on the pilot will be available after data has been analysed.
Anyone interested in becoming a sniper should speak to bosses at their unit sniper platoon.
Think you’re up to the cut for sniping? We asked WO2 Christian for his three top tips for anyone interested...
You need to be physically and mentally robust so get a grip of your fitness. General gym time is going to help but a focus on areas such cardiovascular will prove especially useful. Speak to your
PTI for guidance or support.
This washes a lot of people out. During the course you will need to prove you can navigate by day and at night, so get out and hone these skills in your own time. Organised events, such as orienteering competitions, can also help you focus.
With the support of your unit, try to get as much range time as possible beforehand. You will need to be an above average marksman to secure a place on any Army sniper course.
