The individual movement techniques used by the sniper team are designed to allow movement without being detected. These movement techniques are sniper low crawl, medium crawl, high crawl, hand-&-knees crawl & walking.
Stay low to observe. A low silhouette makes it difficult for the enemy to see a sniper team. Therefore, the team observes from a crouch, a squat, or a prone position.
Due to lack of personnel and firepower, the sniper team cannot afford detection by the enemy nor can it successfully fight the enemy in sustained engagements.
When possible, the sniper team should be attached to a security element (fireteam, section, squad or platoon). The security element allows the team to reach its area of operations quicker & safer than the team operating alone. Plus, the security element provides the team a reaction force should the team be detected. Snipers use the following guidelines when attached to a security element:
(1) The security element leader is in charge of the team while it is attached to the element.
(2) The sniper team always appears as an integral part of the element.
(3) The sniper team wears the same uniform as the element members.
(4) The sniper team maintains proper intends and positions in all formations.
(5) The sniper weapon system is carried in line close to the body, hiding its outline & barrel length.
(6) All equipment that is unique to sniper teams is concealed from view (optics, ghillie suits, and so forth).
b. Once in the area of operation, the sniper team separates from the security element & operates alone. Two examples of a sniper team separating from security elements are as follows:
(1) The security element provides security while the team prepares for operation.
(a) The team dons the ghillie suits, camouflages itself & its equipment (if mission requires).
(b) The team ensures all equipment is secure and caches any nonessential equipment (if mission requires).
(c) Once the team is prepared, it assumes a concealed position, & the security element departs the area.
(d) Once the security element has departed, the team waits in position long enough to ensure neither itself nor the security element has been compromised. Then, the team moves to its tentative position.
(2) The security element conducts a short security halt at the separation point. The sniper team halts, ensuring they have good available concealment & know each other's location. The security element then proceeds, leaving the sniper team in place. The sniper team remains in position until the security element is clear of the area. The team then organizes itself as required by the mission and moves on to its tentative position. This type of separation also works well in MOUT situations
When selecting routes, the sniper team must remember its strengths & weaknesses. The following guidelines should be used when selecting routes:
(1) Avoid known enemy positions & obstacles.
(2) Seek terrain that offers the best cover & concealment.
(3) Take advantage of difficult terrain (swamps, dense woods, & so forth).
(4) Do not use trails, roads, or footpaths.
(5) Avoid built-up or populated areas.
(6) Avoid areas of heavy enemy guerrilla activity.
When the sniper team moves, it must always assume its area is under enemy observation. Because of this & the size of the team with the small amount of firepower it has, the team uses only one type of formation, the sniper movement formation. Characteristics of the formation are as follows:
(1) The observer is the point man; the sniper follows.
(2) The observer's sector of security is 3 o'clock to 9 o'clock; the sniper's sector of security is 9 o'clock to 3 o'clock (overlapping).
(3) Visual contact must be maintained even when lying on the ground.
(4) An interval of no more than 20 meters is maintained.
(5) The sniper reacts to the point man's actions.
(6) The team leader designates the movement techniques and routes used.
(7) The team leader designates rally points.
A sniper team must never become decisively engaged with the enemy. The team must rehearse immediate action drills to the extent that they become a natural & immediate reaction should it make unexpected contact with the enemy. Examples of such actions are as follows:
(1) Visual contact. If the sniper team sees the enemy & the enemy does not see the team, it freezes. If the team has time, it will do the following:
(a) Assume the best covered & concealed position.
(b) Remain in position until the enemy has passed.
NOTE: The team will not initiate contact.
(2) Ambush. In an ambush, the sniper team's objective is to break contact immediately. One example of this involves performing the following:
(a) The observer delivers rapid fire on the enemy.
(b) The sniper throws smoke grenades between the observer and the enemy.
(c) The sniper delivers well-aimed shots at the most threatening targets until smoke covers the area.
(d) The observer withdraws toward the sniper, ensuring he does not mask the sniper's fire.
(e) The team moves to a location where the enemy cannot observe or place direct fire on it.
(f) If contact cannot be broken, the sniper calls for backup extraction from a security element (if attached)
(g) If team members get separated, they should return to the next-to-last designated en route rally point.
To aid the sniper team in navigation, the team should memorize the route by studying maps, aerial photos, or sketches. The team notes distinctive features (hills, streams, roads) & its location in relation to the route. It plans an alternate route in case the primary route cannot be used. It plans offsets to circumvent known obstacles to movement. The team uses terrain countdown, which involves memorizing terrain features from the start point to the objective, to maintain the route. During the mission, the sniper team mentally counts each terrain feature, thus ensuring it maintains the proper route.
The sniper team maintains orientation at all times. As it moves, it observes the terrain carefully & mentally checks off the distinctive features noted in the planning & study of the route. Many aids are available to ensure orientation. The following are examples:
(1) The location and direction of flow of principal streams.
(2) Hills, valleys, roads, & other peculiar terrain features.
(3) Railroad tracks, power lines, & other man-made objects.
Selection Occupation, & Construction of Sniper Positions
Selecting the location for a position is one of the most important tasks a sniper team accomplishes during the mission planning phase of an operation. After selecting the location, the team also determines how it will move into the area to locate & occupy the final position.
Upon receiving a mission, the sniper team locates the target area & then determines the best location for a tentative position by using one or more of the following sources of information: topographic maps, aerial photographs, visual reconnaissance before the mission, and information gained from units operating in the area.
a. The sniper team ensures the position provides an optimum balance between the following considerations:
Maximum fields of fire & observation of the target area.
Concealment from enemy observation.
Covered routes into & out of the position.
Located no closer than 300 meters from the target area.
A natural or man-made obstacle between the position & the target area.
b. A sniper team must remember that a position that appears to be in an ideal location may also appear that way to the enemy.
Therefore, the team avoids choosing locations that are--
On a point or crest of prominent terrain features.
Close to isolated objects.
At bends or ends of roads, trails, or streams.
In populated areas, unless it is required.
c. The sniper team must use its imagination and ingenuity in choosing a good location for the given mission. The team chooses a location that not only allows the team to be effective but also must appear to the enemy to be the least likely place for a team position. The following are examples of such positions:
Under logs in a deadfall area.
Tunnels bored from one side of a knoll to the other.
Swamps.
Deep shadows.
Inside rubble piles
During the mission planning phase, the sniper also selects an objective rally point. From this point, the sniper team reconnoiters the tentative position to determine the exact location of its final position. The location of the ORP should provide cover, concealment from enemy fire & observation, be located as close to the selected area as possible, have good routes into & out of the selected area.
a. From the ORP, the team moves forward to a location that allows the team to view the tentative position area One member remains in this location to cover the other member who reconnoiters the area to locate a final position. Once a suitable location has been found, the covering team member moves to the position. While conducting the reconnaissance or moving to the position, the team.
Moves slowly & deliberately, using the sniper low crawl.
Avoid unnecessary movement of trees, bushes, & grass.
Avoid making any noises.
Stays in the shadows, if there are any.
Stops, looks, & listen every few feet.
When the sniper team arrives at the firing position, it conducts a detailed search of the target area.
Starts construction of the firing position, if required.
Organizes equipment so that it is easily accessible.
Establishes a system of observing eating resting, & latrine calls.
Now the designated marksmen scout sniper team has arrived at the FFP the routine duties mission essential tasks of observing, gathering reporting information & sniping undetected gets deadly serious.
