96B
11-04-2003, 03:54 PM
Snipers take school to Iraqi desert
By Spc. Ryan Smith
October 29, 2003
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2003) – Three sniper instructors, a mobile training team from the U.S. Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Ga., have taken their weapons, equipment and other teaching materials to Baghdad, where they are training 20 1st Armored Division sniper candidates.
Though such teams are designed to travel to teach sniper students at locations away from Fort Benning, this is the first time one has trained Soldiers in a combat zone since the Vietnam War, according to Sgt. 1st Class Clark Swedberg, senior instructor for special projects at the school.
"The wind is a lot different here than at Fort Benning," Swedberg said. "It makes a big difference for Soldiers to learn to deal with it here where they will experience it later. We can identify any other problems and fix them now."
Swedberg said he's noticed another advantage to training snipers in this environment: "They're already in a combat frame of mind."
Though the sniper school is a five-week course at Fort Benning, the mobile course is about a week shorter, Swedberg said. However, the students will be taught everything they would if they were taking the course stateside.
The sniper school is not just about shooting, either. The sniper candidates spend time in the classroom and in the field learning about reporting intelligence information, calling in close air support, mortars and artillery, and being an over watch for whatever element they are assigned to, Swedberg said.
"One of their biggest assets is their ability to provide information from reconnaissance and observation," said Master Sgt. Alec Lazore, master gunner, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
Bringing the sniper school to Baghdad also serves to replenish critical war-fighting skills, Lazore said. "We've been here six months, and 1st Armored Division requested the school because we've lost trained Soldiers due to natural attrition."
By replenishing snipers trained to operate in this environment, 1st Armored Division will be able to support its forces for the remainder of their deployment.
The sniper candidates' training has gone beyond simply learning to handle environmental conditions in Iraq. As they went into a range in the desert outside Baghdad to zero their weapons Oct. 22, the snipers found themselves looking through their scopes at the remaining most wanted members of Saddam Hussein's regime, including Saddam himself.
The sniper instructors placed wanted posters of the 55 most wanted on the targets the sniper students were to use for zeroing their weapons.
"It's a good thing," Lazore said. "It serves two purposes. The picture squares are perfect for the trainees to use to get a tight shot group. And it gives the Soldiers a chance to see the most wanted through a scope."
Lazore added, "Maybe one day these guys will get out there in the real world and see someone from that list through their scope."
By Spc. Ryan Smith
October 29, 2003
BAGHDAD, Iraq (Army News Service, Oct. 29, 2003) – Three sniper instructors, a mobile training team from the U.S. Army Sniper School at Fort Benning, Ga., have taken their weapons, equipment and other teaching materials to Baghdad, where they are training 20 1st Armored Division sniper candidates.
Though such teams are designed to travel to teach sniper students at locations away from Fort Benning, this is the first time one has trained Soldiers in a combat zone since the Vietnam War, according to Sgt. 1st Class Clark Swedberg, senior instructor for special projects at the school.
"The wind is a lot different here than at Fort Benning," Swedberg said. "It makes a big difference for Soldiers to learn to deal with it here where they will experience it later. We can identify any other problems and fix them now."
Swedberg said he's noticed another advantage to training snipers in this environment: "They're already in a combat frame of mind."
Though the sniper school is a five-week course at Fort Benning, the mobile course is about a week shorter, Swedberg said. However, the students will be taught everything they would if they were taking the course stateside.
The sniper school is not just about shooting, either. The sniper candidates spend time in the classroom and in the field learning about reporting intelligence information, calling in close air support, mortars and artillery, and being an over watch for whatever element they are assigned to, Swedberg said.
"One of their biggest assets is their ability to provide information from reconnaissance and observation," said Master Sgt. Alec Lazore, master gunner, 2nd Brigade Combat Team, 1st Armored Division.
Bringing the sniper school to Baghdad also serves to replenish critical war-fighting skills, Lazore said. "We've been here six months, and 1st Armored Division requested the school because we've lost trained Soldiers due to natural attrition."
By replenishing snipers trained to operate in this environment, 1st Armored Division will be able to support its forces for the remainder of their deployment.
The sniper candidates' training has gone beyond simply learning to handle environmental conditions in Iraq. As they went into a range in the desert outside Baghdad to zero their weapons Oct. 22, the snipers found themselves looking through their scopes at the remaining most wanted members of Saddam Hussein's regime, including Saddam himself.
The sniper instructors placed wanted posters of the 55 most wanted on the targets the sniper students were to use for zeroing their weapons.
"It's a good thing," Lazore said. "It serves two purposes. The picture squares are perfect for the trainees to use to get a tight shot group. And it gives the Soldiers a chance to see the most wanted through a scope."
Lazore added, "Maybe one day these guys will get out there in the real world and see someone from that list through their scope."