MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. -- The 2nd Marine Division Combat Skills Center continued the development of future Marine scout snipers during a known-distance firing range as part of the pre-scout sniper course at Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, Jan. 12.
The course, now in its second week of instruction, brought Marines to the Carlos Hathcock Range for known-distance firing with a suppressed M40A5 sniper rifle.
“The known-distance shooting is the time for students to develop their skills in shooting fundamentals, such as making wind calls and annotating shooting data on their rifle,” said Sgt. Bradley S. Brouwer, the chief instructor of the course.
Marines worked in teams of two as a shooter or spotter. Together, they engaged targets at 300, 500, 600, 700, 800, 900 and 1,000 meters. Additionally, targets between the 300 and 800 meter range were moving.
“Known-distance firing is the focus of the second and third weeks in the basic scout sniper course, and doing it here gives our newer Marines an edge,” said Cpl. Sean Mitchell, a student in the course. “This course is designed to be a glimpse of what the school consists of. We know what we will be expected to do when we get there so we can more accurately assess how we will perform.”
Marines familiarized themselves in different shooting positions, to include the sitting, prone and standing position while utilizing a tripod for stability. The remainder of the week will be spent doing unknown distance firing at range SR-7.
“This training is important to help our students better themselves in their skills,” Brouwer said. “It is our intent to teach them and allow them practice to become better prepared for the basic scout sniper course since the attrition rate is currently high.”
The course is scheduled to conclude next week following day and night land navigation and stalking exercises, in which students will be challenged to remain undetected in the pursuit of a target.
“The Marines have been doing well,” Brouwer said. “Rifle scores have been decent, and our newer Marines are learning a great deal.”