The army will have sniper units. A special forces officer about modern snipers in the Russian armed forces (9 photos) Can a sniper be a commander
Recently it became known about another detail of the new look of our armed forces. A separate company of snipers was created in each motorized rifle and tank brigade. These companies should replace platoons and single riflemen in smaller units. Sniper companies began to be created in early August, but they became widespread in the media only in the first half of October. Then a corresponding note appeared on the official website of the Ministry of Defense. It contained the words of the Commander-in-Chief of the Ground Forces A. Postnikov that the formation of sniper companies is taking place in the order of the so-called. “Concepts for improving the system of training and use of snipers.” This program should provide the armed forces with a large number of professional snipers, as well as create the right approach to their training.
According to A. Postnikov, the role of snipers in modern combat operations has increased and therefore the army should have enough not just sharp shooters, but sniping professionals. In turn, to cover the maximum range of tasks, snipers must have several types and ammunition at their disposal. In addition to the weapons themselves, snipers must have a number of other equipment in their arsenal, which the shooter must also be able to handle.
Sniper companies will consist of several platoons of two “types”: rifle and special. The former will be assigned to motorized rifle battalions for the duration of hostilities, and special platoons, accordingly, will be used to perform special tasks.
To train snipers for individual companies in four military districts at once, schools are being created in District Training Centers (DTCs). Sniper science will be taught there by instructors who have undergone special training in Solnechnogorsk. In addition to direct sniper shooting, schools at the OTC will teach how to adjust artillery or aviation fire and counter-sniper work. Thus, a shooter who has graduated from school will be able to become not only an infantry sniper (marksman in the foreign classification), but also a saboteur sniper (actually a sniper). In addition, the graduate will be able to help the interaction of different types of troops due to the ability to secretly conduct reconnaissance of enemy positions.
Also in the news from the Ministry of Defense website it is noted that all snipers, after graduating from school, will undergo retraining once every three to four years to improve their skills and master new working methods, new weapons, etc.
The period required to complete the training has not yet been disclosed, but it is known from open sources that training snipers is a very, very slow process. For example, future FSB snipers spend several months just studying human anatomy and the peculiarities of hitting a living target. No less time is spent studying meteorology, ballistics and firing in difficult conditions. Well, of course, snipers master weapons, various useful little things when using them, etc. In total, it takes at least one and a half to two years to train a sniper in the FSB or FSO. But the time spent is fully compensated by the result. So it cannot be ruled out that military snipers will study for the same amount of time.
Now about the implementation of the program. The companies were formed back in August, but some of them are still not fully staffed. The main reason for this is the “piecemeal” nature of snipers. Sniper companies attached to brigades recruit exclusively contract volunteers and only after several exams. As military journalist D. Mokrushin writes in his blog, one of the simplest tasks during the selection process is to hold the spent cartridge case on the rifle and not drop it for several minutes. It looks like a simple task, but not everyone can complete it.
As for weapons, the set is “standard” for now - SDV, SVD-S and VSS. Special platoons are also entitled to large-caliber rifles - OSV-96, and in the future it is possible to supply the VSSK "Vykhlop" rifle. In addition to domestic rifles, some companies also have foreign ones, for example, Steyr-Mannlicher, “inherited” from previous sniper units. At the same time, opinions are sometimes voiced about the superiority of the Steyrs over domestic SVDs in a number of parameters. Additional equipment includes binoculars, rangefinders, anemometers, weather stations, etc. True, in this equipment there is no such unity of models as in the case of weapons.
As already mentioned, sniper schools at the OVC will begin operating in December. According to the plans of the Ministry of Defense, by 2016 not only will a system for selecting sniper training be formed. By this time, schools will train snipers. Accordingly, each sniper company will have from 50 to 90 people.
I once wrote to you, my dear ones, about snipers. And I’ll write more.
And today I found an interesting article on how snipers are trained today sdelanounas_ru
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Originally posted by alekseyaleynik. at About a separate sniper company
It is no secret that in connection with the introduction of special sniper units into the combined arms formations of the Ground Forces, the formation of a phased and multi-level system for the selection and training of snipers began in the troops. After completing the stage of recruiting individual sniper companies, all snipers will undergo special training in training centers every 3-4 years.
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For the newly formed sniper training schools, training programs have been developed that provide for mastering a set of knowledge, abilities and skills, including artillery fire adjustment, army aviation guidance and counter-sniper training. The instructors, from among whom the sniper training schools that will be newly formed by December 1 at the district training centers (DTCs) will be staffed, have completed a special cycle of fire training (COTS) in the city of Solnechnogorsk.
At the finish line, a trained sniper will be able to act both as part of a unit and independently (or in pairs). The formation of sniper units in the Ground Forces, staffed by professional contract soldiers and undergoing systematic training in sniper schools at the Educational Training Center and at the Central Coordination Center (Solnechnogorsk), is scheduled to be fully completed in 2016.
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Due to the variety of fire missions performed, sniper units are armed with several types of rifles with different indicators of basic combat properties. In addition, each sniper is issued a personal weapon - a pistol.
In addition to weapons and sights, the sniper pair is equipped with optical-electronic surveillance equipment - a small-sized laser reconnaissance device, binoculars and means for determining the initial data for shooting. Individual and group equipment of a sniper pair includes a sniper complex, uniforms, equipment and other equipment necessary to perform tasks and maintain life.
We managed to get into one of these newly formed separate sniper companies (27th Motorized Rifle Brigade) in order to find out how combat shooting of snipers is carried out, including in pairs and with the use of fire support, what happens in tactical and special training (movement, equipment and camouflage of the firing position ), why psychological testing of snipers is needed and what is the situation with medical training.
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Several qualifications have been introduced for future fighters of individual sniper units, one of which is psychological. A specially trained civilian psychologist (formerly an officer), using established techniques for predicting a soldier’s behavior at the early stages, identifies people who do not have the proper level of neuropsychic stability.
Testing is ordinary. Each candidate receives a form, the psychologist reads out the questions and statements, and the subject answers. For example, one of the tests, consisting of 86 questions, allows you to divide all candidates into 4 groups. Of these, only those included in groups 1 and 2 can be recommended for enrollment with subsequent admission to combat sniper weapons. Psychological selection during recruitment, as the psychologist said, is very strict.
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After enlisting in a sniper company, a psychologist monitors each soldier individually. If necessary, individual lessons are again conducted with the sniper, during which an indicator such as, for example, “determination” can be adjusted and the necessary recommendations can be given. If adjustments are not possible and serious questions of psychological suitability arise, the psychologist may make a proposal to remove the sniper from service in a separate sniper company.
Individual therapy is possible, and this type of therapy is typically provided weekly in small groups. They don’t bring anything “cinema” into a sniper’s mental training: no one eats live frogs or wraps the enemy’s warm intestines around their fist. They say that such training is not required for a modern military sniper.
The main qualities that a psychologist works to consolidate and develop are determination, courage, and adequate response to any new situations. Particular attention is paid to the actions of the sniper in a future battle, the most important of which is clear and quick prioritization.
Soldiers should be able to prepare this kind of camouflage suits with masks for themselves, preferably from improvised means. The main task is to hide the silhouette of the fighter and weapon, to protect the face and hands. Of course, there are a lot of special suits on sale today, but as the pros say, there are no really good ones that don’t require modifications or “customization.” And the price tag is usually invigorating. You will have to pay 5-6 thousand.
It is, of course, available if you are an airsoft manager (this is without irony or jokes, if anything). What if a contract sergeant? Those who want to make a suitable and correct suit for themselves can go here. By the way, my friends from the police special forces, who have fought a lot, do not neglect homemade sniper outfits.
Photo source: oper.ru
To begin with, the snipers, led by a young officer, demonstrated standard measures to camouflage their position. The situation was greatly complicated by weather conditions - snow fell overnight and began to melt in the morning. Wet, dirty, not autumn or winter. But it's raining. The snipers had to wriggle out as if in battle. A white camouflage coat is not suitable for areas not covered with snow, and a green one is not suitable for snow-covered areas. To the question - “what to do if you need to immediately go into battle?”, the officer said that instead of a white coat, bandages and underwear would do, and instead of green ones, equipment that was not visible from the side would be “beds” and special barriers.
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The first of the snipers chose a place for the future “lying down”. The hole, sufficient to hide a lying person, was covered with heat-insulating “foam” and a raincoat. The fighter lies on his stomach and nests in a way that is convenient for him, and his comrade covers the person lying with a simple mat. We are, of course, talking about a flat structure woven from “local” branches, twigs and lumps of snow.
Approximately above the head of the lying sniper, a hummock is arranged using the same method. The sniper thrusts his rifle into this very bump so that the field of fire and observation can be seen through the sight. In such cases, the barrel is bandaged so that the blued rifle does not stand out in the snow. A sniper can spend from several hours to several days in such a shelter.
Depending on the length of stay, a reserve is made for the volume of the shelter so that the lying fighter can warm up a little, eat, and drink. In winter, being in such a bed, as they said, is surprisingly not cold, unless, of course, the sniper has properly insulated himself. “Local” spruce spruce branches are excellent for insulating under a raincoat. A small hole for ventilation allows you to breathe, and if you also light a candle inside the “bed” that is closed on all sides, it becomes warmer. Including in the soul, as the sniper officer said.
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A nearby open position was occupied by a sniper with a white paper mask on his face (cheap and cheerful) and a piece of wire tied to a dummy. The dummy is additionally equipped with a micromirror responsible for bright reflections. I pulled the wire and the mirror glared. An enemy sniper may well shoot at the flash, and then he will be identified by simple observation. Well, then, depending on your luck.
A simple wire structure with branches and tufts of dried grass woven into it was installed in an open field. Even if there is no fish at all, this camouflage is good. It is light, mobile and, with skillful manufacture, impenetrable to an outside observer.
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Old, broken armored vehicles are an excellent place to equip a position. Often snipers prepare so-called “stumps” for themselves. This can be either a real hollow stump or a handmade stump on a frame. From under it you can observe without fear of being noticed, and shoot if necessary. Of course, all snipers know about “stumps,” which is why before entering a position they are often “shot through” independently or with the help of infantry. It's never a bad idea to protect yourself from enemy snipers. Sniper shelters are often armored with our own resources and improvised means. In general, there are no limits to tricks. Nowadays the wire “spider” is in use. Metal rods on one bolt, assembled into a structure reminiscent of an umbrella. Lay it out, camouflage it, cover it up - that’s it, the position is ready. You observe from there, you have found a goal - it’s a pity and go to a new place. Disguise is life.
After the camouflage lesson we moved on to the obstacle course. A sniper pair, represented by a fighter with a sniper rifle and a soldier with a machine gun (there may be a second sniper in his place), had to quickly and trying not to stick out, overcome open space with obstacles, covering each other with fire. Soldiers from the support group provided explosions, smoke and shooting, trying to somewhat complicate the actions of the sniper pair. Some obstacles in the field were set on fire for greater naturalism.
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Snipers conduct combat operations as part of, for example, a motorized rifle unit. This means that a rifleman, a machine gunner, a grenade launcher, a radio operator, a gunner and other important guys are going on the attack (or sitting on the defensive - it doesn’t matter). A full-time medical instructor is with them. That is, in the event of a wound on the battlefield, one of the comrades will be able to carry the wounded, and a first aid specialist will provide this same assistance in the shortest possible time, which is why he is appointed in each unit.
Another thing is the work of a sniper pair consisting exclusively of a pair, outside the combat formations of the unit. Two people work separately from everyone else, sometimes at a considerable distance from their own. And in case of injury, there will be no one to provide even first aid. Except for yourself and your partner. All that remains is self- and mutual assistance - there are no other options.
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The most common task in this case is to determine where the soldier is wounded and how to help him. The sniper has few means of providing assistance - mainly a tourniquet and an individual dressing package.
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A special exercise was devoted to practicing the skill of quickly evacuating a wounded sniper from a dangerous zone with his partner. Noticing that a soldier is in trouble, a colleague approaches him on his belly, finds out how and where he was wounded, applies a tourniquet, stops the bleeding and bandages his comrade with individual bags. When the bleeding has stopped, and there is no immediate danger of death from the injury or blood loss, it is necessary to evacuate the wounded.
During the evacuation process, the sniper must try to perform all his actions unnoticed by the enemy, bending down as low as possible and using available means of camouflage. In our case, the wounded sniper was conscious according to the conditions of the task, so he was instructed to hold both sniper rifles on himself and help while crawling, pushing with his “good” leg.
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The actions to evacuate the wounded were observed by a medical officer and a guard lieutenant of the medical service. In his opinion, the task was completed with a “satisfactory” rating. First medical aid was provided quickly, correctly and in the proper volume, but at the crawling stage the fighters did not bend low enough to the ground and presented a good target for the enemy.
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Then, according to plan, everyone proceeded to the shooting range past the elegant green “tanks”. The snipers shot in a prone position from conventional SVDs with conventional quadruple PSOs at a distance of 100 meters. The distance is not typical, but given the number of film crews and the desire of all those present to reach the targets after shooting, it is convenient for everyone.
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At the end of the race, I was able to talk with one of the officers of a separate sniper company. The following issues were discussed:
What problem can an ordinary soldier, trained as a sniper, solve with his ordinary rifle?
Can confidently hit a target at a range of 200-500 meters. At these distances, all standard exercises are practiced as planned. In a real battle, a shot at a distance of more than 500 meters is simply impractical. For what? And such a situation rarely happens. During military operations in the city, it is completely excluded. And we must not forget about the need to identify the target as an enemy. The four-fold PSO sight mounted on the SVD rifle does not really allow this. How to make a decision to hit a target without being sure that the target is the same?
How often do shootings take place? Do you shoot a lot in your company?
In our unit, shooting takes place two to three times a week. The minimum is weekly, but this is rare. The unit is newly formed, so the attention to us is appropriate; we need to train our personnel intensively. Let's cook. We don't spare cartridges.
Are there any sniping “stars” among new sniper recruits?
Eat. About 10 percent shoot really well and show outstanding results. Practice in this matter is not enough, you also need talent. So there are excellent shooters among seasoned contract soldiers with extensive experience and among conscripts who, before their service, never came close to sniper weapons. Sniper is a calling. You need to feel this and be able to control yourself. This is truly a necessary condition. Emotions, breathing, mood - everything should be in harmony with the rifle. The basics of shooting training are taught to a soldier using standard tools, for example, the commander's boxes KYa-73 and KYa-83 make it possible to clearly and intelligibly convey information about the conditions necessary for an accurate shot. This is both the theory and practice of aiming. Later we move on to live fire exercises.
How about hitting a target the size of, say, your head? Distance - kilometer.
Much depends on the weapon, on the sight, on the position, on the strength of the wind, on experience. In general, it happens. Not a miracle. Especially in order to set a personal sports record.
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What can you say about SVD? Good rifle?
How can I say it for sure? I think the weapon is immortal. And its advantages in practice outweigh any idle talk. I think it is morally outdated, but for widespread use in the army it is still “just right.” There is no need to compare it with custom foreign rifles equipped with multi-thousand-dollar sights - after all, there is nothing like this in large quantities in the army and never will be. But there is an SVD with PSO. And for its tasks it is still an excellent tool. Those who wish, as elsewhere, apparently in the army, can buy any sight for their own. Yes, there is such a practice, we constantly try something new. Personally, I am not a supporter of such “weighting”; I believe that the simpler it is, the more reliable and better it will be.
A very important detail - the SVD rifle is difficult to damage due to inept handling. Sometimes there is no time to clean. In really extreme conditions - I took off my sock, hastily cleaned the dirty mechanism, it will work. When conditions are normal, there is no time pressure - mandatory cleaning after each use. If the rifle still breaks down or behaves strangely, it is officially sent to a weapons workshop for repairs. After the repair - again the fitting-tuning-shooting procedures. I can't remember a rifle that was damaged by poor handling. Wear and tear - yes. Nothing lasts forever.
Are any specially selected cartridges used during preparation?
No, only those that come in zinc with the inscription “Sniper”. Normal cartridges. Reliable. But there are all sorts of single people - bumps often happen.
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Is the rifle assigned to a specific fighter?
The rifle is assigned to each fighter individually. He prepares the weapon “for himself” - he customizes it, leads it to a normal battle, shoots it, cleans it, grooms it and cherishes it.
Is there any rivalry within the military team?
There is some informal competition among the fighters; the spirit of rivalry, of course, is inherent in the male team. Usually everyone knows who is capable of what, if a person shoots well - of course, he enjoys authority among his comrades. Shooting straight is prestigious.
If necessary, is it possible to make a decent sniper from an ordinary soldier taken at random?
Most likely no. Snipers are the elite. Everyone can't be the best. And besides, in fact, snipers, there are many other needs. We need smart soldiers for relief groups, cover, and reconnaissance. Of those who have already joined the ranks of snipers, some are leaving. There is always sifting out. I changed my mind, I couldn’t cope, I’m unfit for the job. Such people are simply transferred to other units, for example, to ordinary motorized rifles.
Is some foreign experience used in training our snipers? Is there anything new in sniper business?
In my opinion, all the most important things have long been invented. Sniper business is very painstaking. You need to carefully and especially for yourself “sharpen” the experience that has been accumulated for a long time. The memories of Red Army snipers help a lot in this matter. From foreign experience, we found a German training film about sniper training, made for training Wehrmacht snipers, useful. For example, the wire fan as the basis for frame camouflage was borrowed from there. We are studying the memories of our veteran snipers and scouts, that’s for sure. Fortunately, they are now on the Internet.
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What other types of training are required for a sniper, besides physical, shooting, medical and psychological?
For example, a sniper undergoes additional engineering training. It cannot be said that it is very deep, but it is quite capable of detecting, for example, a mine. Disposal of an explosive object is not the task of a sniper. If he finds it, he’ll just go around it or mark it. Well, engineering reconnaissance has not been canceled.
What does a sniper usually carry with him on a mission?
The less load a sniper carries, the better. The main cargo is weapons, ammunition, instruments, water, food. Sometimes, if conditions allow, a walkie-talkie. The food is very ordinary. Packed rations, chocolate, stewed meat.
How does a sniper feel when he hits an enemy?
There is no remorse or horror. There is satisfaction from a well-done task that was taught. He did his job perfectly - well done, rejoice. What is there to worry about? (Hmm, the sniper who killed more than one German with his SVT during the war experienced approximately the same feelings - the author.)
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How do snipers get hit?
Voluntarily. At your own request. After a tough selection, of course. Only those who want to serve us. This is in our own interests. We have a special purpose unit, we need, in addition to discipline, personal aspirations. People come, of course, different ones. There are more sensible ones. From ordinary, but professionally suitable, we make good and excellent snipers. And about the “elite” - this is not just said. This “ideology” is imposed on the recruit, it is extremely important, without it it is difficult to develop and self-develop as a warrior. Yes, some people, as they say, take wings; a sniper rifle, again, not everyone gets it. They even say: only the sniper has a rifle, the rest have weapons. Well, we have distinctive signs. These are chevrons. Chevron must be earned. Only two companies in the entire brigade wear them - snipers and release companies. Chevron is truly prestigious. A great reason to be proud of yourself. The soldiers understand this.
During the sniper run, not only snipers worked in pairs, but also photographers.
ORGANIZATION AND ARMAMENT OF THE SNIPER UNIT
SNIPER TEAM ORGANIZATION
A properly organized sniper team consists of two people, a sniper and an observer. They are both qualified and fully trained snipers, so it would be more accurate to say that the team consists of two snipers. However, in order to be effective, one of them will fire (the sniper) while his partner watches (the observer), and alternate between these duties regularly.
Additionally, since the Army sniper is armed with a slow-firing, low-capacity bolt-action rifle, his partner needs a high-capacity automatic weapon - I recommend the M16A2 rifle with the M203 40mm grenade launcher - to protect the team during unexpected fire contacts at short distances. Both men switch weapons when changing their duties. With only two members, the sniper team must act as one unit to seize every opportunity to accomplish its mission and survive in a very dangerous environment. Compatibility, a willingness to share responsibility, and a willingness to alternate responsibilities without pettiness, grumbling, or avoidance are absolutely necessary qualities. We have compiled a list of responsibilities of the sniper and observer, but it is necessary to understand that within the limits of this responsibility there is always a joint effort; the responsible team member ultimately sees it completed, but to a certain extent his partner contributes to everything that gets done.
Some jobs are shared between team members, such as dividing a section so both can observe, but even here there must be a rotation of duties and rest, otherwise one team member will develop eye strain. And always, one is resting, the other is working, one is guarding while his friend is digging, and so on. This is a real team effort.
The team member with the most experience should be the team leader, but his primary job is to train his partner and bring their skills up to par with their own so that they can switch responsibilities completely without any reduction in their combat capabilities.
TEAMWORK
Most often, the novice sniper serves as an observer, but some organizations believe that the more experienced of the two should observe as he is likely to be better at determining ranges and assessing winds and targets. Due to the nature of their service, police snipers do not exchange weapons - each must have his own rifle. But police snipers also must rotate duties, rest, and share work, otherwise they will not be able to operate during a prolonged operation - and, in fact, most incidents that ultimately lead to a police sniper shooting are prolonged ones.
Combat units are organized based on the mission, weapons, regulations, and terrain in which they will fight, and are balanced for flexibility and simplicity to maintain unit control. These factors apply equally to the organization of sniper units and to a tank division. From these factors, two main concepts for organizing sniper units developed: centralized and decentralized.
The organizational structure for sniper units most often found in the US military is a centralized one, with snipers assigned to their own battalion-level platoon that operates directly under the control of the intelligence chief (S2) and the operations officer (S3). As shown in the diagram, this type of sniper organization exists in US Marine Corps (USMC) and US Army light infantry units. In most structures using this organization, snipers also serve as battalion scouts, which suits their skills and missions well. In fact, the USMC officially calls them "scout snipers" and is assigned to the Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) platoon.
There are many advantages to having a centralized sniper platoon. First, they can train together and concentrate their efforts on sniping, under the supervision of platoon leaders who evaluate and support their requirements. Secondly, since they are a battalion asset, their role is considered and included in every battalion operation.
Centralization provides greater flexibility in combat, allowing the battalion officer responsible for the use of snipers to concentrate or disperse snipers according to the situation and combat mission. For example, all snipers could be concentrated along one enemy approach path, concentrated within a company area if the terrain is best suited for sniping, or dispersed equally, with three sniper teams assigned to each company or one team for each line platoon. They can also carry out independent actions under the control of the battalion.
A decentralized organization exists in the US Army Ranger units and some reserve components. This approach, shown in the top diagram, involves splitting up snipers and assigning one team to each platoon at all times.
Given that the Rangers often conduct raids and ambushes in platoon-sized units—they are, after all, America's leading commando force—it makes sense that they would want to integrate as many platoon-level assets as possible. Forming such a platoon team allows all members to become accustomed to working together, honing their tactical and other skills in unison.
How such decentralized sniper teams are used in operations is determined by the company or platoon commander; at the battalion level, snipers or sniping are not taken into account in planning.
The downside to this type of organization is that the emphasis on sniping may be reduced and the snipers may not be trained to the same high standards as if they were in the same platoon. But this is usually corrected by the supervision and instructions of the battalion commander.
We must not forget that in reality any military organization can change significantly to adapt to circumstances on the battlefield, as has happened in every American war. In peacetime, even a small change in unit personnel requires congressional action, but in wartime, your unit commanders have considerable leeway to adapt to the situation. When bullets start flying, the only thing that matters is what works.
We saw this clearly recently in the War on Terror. Before the attacks of September 11, 2001, the US Army had three two-man sniper teams in each airborne and light infantry battalion and four teams in mechanized infantry battalions. Based on combat experience in Afghanistan and Iraq, many units have added a third man and a .50-caliber Barrett rifle to each sniper team, plus a fourth non-sniper, to improve security and add another pair of eyes for observation. In 2004, the 7th Infantry Division tripled the number of snipers by deploying 18 sniper teams to each battalion. Each 12-man U.S. Special Operations Forces "A" team now cross-trains at least two members as snipers.6 The U.S. Marine Corps has also shown its confidence in snipers by adding them to its traditional observation and target platoons ( STA) of 17 battalion level personnel. But the greatest increase in precision shooting in both the Army and Marine Corps has been the significant increase in the number of Designated Marksmen.
DESIGNATED MARKS
Although the concept dates back to the earliest days of the infantry, in the early 21st century Americans showed significant interest in platoon- and squad-level infantrymen having the additional duty of designated marksmen. The Marine Corps even issued custom-made M14 and M16A3 rifles for them, respectively, for platoon and squad marksmen. The Designated Marksman Rifle (DMR) is a precision-enhanced M14 rifle that combines a McMillan match barrel and stock with a pistol grip with an adjustable cheekpiece. I have seen various versions that have the traditional Marine Unertl 10x sight, or the Leupold Mark 4 M3 sight, or even the PVS-10 day/night sight. Although these specially selected marksmen receive additional training in marksmanship and field skills, they do not qualify as snipers.
This is also typical for sharpshooters in Marine Corps squads. Armed with heavy-barreled match-grade M16 rifles mounted with Trijicon's Advanced Combat Optical Gunsight (ACOG) 4x or Leupold scope, these marksmen bring additional optical surveillance and precision fires capabilities to every infantry squad, although the Marines they had not yet been officially authorized for infantry.
The Stryker Brigade Combat Team (BCT) has three sniper teams at each battalion headquarters, plus an additional three-man team in each company. However, like the Marine Corps, the Army added a designated marksman to each squad of nine-man Stryker brigades, armed with an M16 or M4 carbine and an ACOG 4x scope. Although these marksmen receive specialized training like their Marine counterparts, they are not fully trained snipers. In both branches of the military, the concept is that such designated marksmen fill the gap in capability between infantrymen armed with automatic rifles and fully qualified and armed snipers - or, put another way, designated marksmen provide effective fire beyond the effective range. range of conventional infantry (over 350 yards, up to 550 or 600 yards), giving US forces an advantage over their automatic rifle-armed opponents.
SELECTION OF SNIPERS
Frederick Russell Burnham, an American explorer and adventurer who led British scouts in the Boer War, described his scouts as “half wolves and half hares.” What a fitting description for a sniper - and how exactly Burnham pointed it out! For Burnham, the most accomplished scouts were the Scots of the Highlander regiment known as Lovat's Scouts; 16 years later, these phenomenal forest men formed the first sniper unit in the British Army. Yes, a sniper is a brave tempter of fate, but he must also be a wise seer: “He who shoots and walks away lives to shoot the next day.”
This controversial nature - which also includes the fact that sniping can attract some undesirable elements - requires special attention when selecting snipers. To this we must add reliability. “This is the only combat unit where we can order two people to go and do a mission,” says Lt. Col. Michael
Michael Phillips, former commander of the fire training course at Fort Benning, “I think that because so much is asked of them, we need to make sure that only those who are truly worthy get promoted.” sniper".
What should you look for in a sniper candidate? Since sniping involves a triad of skills - marksmanship, field skills, and tactics - I believe that a candidate sniper must have experience, interest, or demonstrated ability in at least one of these areas. Preparation will strengthen this base and polish him in other skills.
It is foolish to think that you are recruiting trained people; The selection process is more about identifying people with the best potential, whom you then train to a standard level. Most of all, I am interested in the candidate's perspective and attitude, not necessarily in his knowledge, which can be expanded during the training process. Is this person's training worthwhile? This is the main question.
A World War II British Army directive when creating sniper teams paid attention to candidates' attitude towards sniping as well as their skills, requiring candidates to be “selected and suitable men who take pride in it; the best marksmen, skilled in field skills, confident in their self-confidence, possessing great courage and unrivaled patience.”
Marksmanship
When we start talking about marksmanship, the candidate must be at least a qualified expert rifleman - a level that, as he soon learns, is only the starting point for sniper-level shooting.
His weapon handling ideally goes beyond his expertise with the service rifle. My interest in firearm performance began as a child when I began handling a rifle alone in the woods at age eight. Perhaps the candidate was a competitive marksman, or perhaps he has a greater understanding and experience with weapons than the average police officer or soldier. Skip Talbot, world record holder for the 1,000-yard shot with a .50 caliber rifle, believes that “long-range shooters are like trainers of wild stallions; they are born, not made.”
The candidate becomes a better marksman because in order to hone and maintain his sniper skills he must shoot frequently. Therefore, the candidate must have an interest in firearms and technical matters beyond the layperson's level; natural curiosity about things like ballistics, bullets, and optics. Hunting experience is especially helpful because the sniper candidate has already learned the consequences of inaccuracy or slow reflexes.
Field skills
Field skills include many additional skills that a sniper must develop—things such as wind judgment, camouflage, and observation. The importance of sport and hunting experience cannot be underestimated, for how else can a young person learn such skills?
I give more importance to those who hunt elusive animals. Squirrel, turkey, or deer hunters can develop into excellent marksmen. Bowhunters know a lot about flora and fauna and camouflage.
But there is more to it than just certain skills. It is a relationship, a deeper level of trust and compatibility with nature, what I call “closeness to the earth.” Anyone who has spent his youth in the countryside, especially in places like Alaska, Montana, Maine, Minnesota, or Idaho - or who has simply walked in the woods - develops his own concept of the relationship between himself and nature, the forest, weapons - directly about life.
Several sports help develop this attitude, including tracking (catching animals and birds using traps and snares), hiking, mountaineering, camping, and canoeing. These athletes learn to read the weather, see tracks in the natural environment, understand topographic maps, observe fauna, move stealthily - and many other related skills.
But before you think that city dandies have no place in sniping, don't forget that all of our ancestors once hunted day and night for their survival, and that all these skills are hidden within us, and that the less experienced A city boy can learn to excel in the woods if he completely immerses himself and uses himself. These are forgotten, but not lost, arts.
The best compliment in the Special Operations Forces SOG was, "He's good in the woods," meaning the man had mastered the whole gamut of ancient warrior and forestry skills required for jungle warfare. And most of the SOG jungle soldiers, like yours truly, grew up in cities.
But we had a natural talent within us, an instinct for hunting other people, which some of our colleagues applied to surfing or football. It is wonderful to watch a young soldier develop these military skills and find, often to his own surprise, that hidden deep in his mind and body they have always been the makings of a warrior. He was always close to the earth, but did not know it.
A little about hunters
But traditionally, a person, as a potential sniper, was distinguished by hunting experience. The Germans historically called their snipers "jaegers" or "hunters", as close as the connection is.
The Russians especially liked snipers with hunting experience. Their greatest sniper of World War II, Sergeant Vasily Zaitsev, was a hunter and trapper in the Ural Mountains before the war.
The best Australian snipers of World War II were experienced kangaroo hunters who knew that a poorly placed shot would ruin the hide, so they grew up learning to take headshots from a distance. Stealth and shooting at random were their way of life.
Returning to the United States, it must be noted that, more than all other factors, small arms and hunting are essential components of the modern American experience. The United States probably has more hunters per capita today than any other major country.
But you don't have to be a hunter to be a sniper; indeed, some experienced snipers have no interest in hunting. A friend of mine, a former Green Beret who is a sniper for a major metropolitan police department, decries the "unnecessary" destruction of wildlife - but won't hesitate to take out a bad guy with his McMillan rifle. He is a marksman, a good tactician, and also uses other skills well. Steve and I can debate the ethics of hunting, but there is no doubt that he is a competent sniper - without any hunting experience.
Tactics
I'm not sure how a sniper candidate can develop his sense of tactics in any other way than by studying military history - and reading books is one way to do this.
The study of military history helps develop an understanding of the relationship between fire and maneuver, cover from fire and from observation, and concentration versus dispersal. The most suitable tactics are small units below the level of Napoleon or Clausewitz.
I highly recommend Sun Tzu's The Art of War, a Chinese treatise on deception and war written in 300 BC, which is useful for snipers. For example, Sun Tzu wrote: “When you are near, pretend you are far; when you are far away, pretend you are close.” This book is required reading for CIA officers.
The implicit quality I look for in cadets is “tactical sense,” the ability to see tactical opportunities and threats in order to quickly assess a situation and draw a plan in the dust. Some of this comes with experience, but much of it, I believe, is a gift from God.
Serious boxers and hand-to-hand fighters probably have a better and more natural grasp of the basic principles of tactics, as do chess players and participants in some team sports like football. I would give extra points to the candidate if he was a paintball player.
Physical state
A physically strong shooter holds his rifle more steadily, has solid muscles to withstand recoil better, he carries the load without premature fatigue, he remains alert longer, he can go further and faster.
Many police S.W.A.T teams. (Special Weapons and Tactics) training is difficult and takes a long time and maintains a high level of physical fitness. But whether your tactical team does this or not, you have to stay in shape, otherwise you'll start to avoid tension by subconsciously going into a low trot when you should be using a low crawl, or visibly walking around a wall instead of sneaking over it. Poor physical fitness, laziness, and bad tactics go hand in hand.
The Army fitness test is good for police, although the S.W.A.T. teams I'm familiar with have higher fitness standards, approaching the level of Special Operations Forces and Ranger units.
As for vision, a sniper needs at least 20-20.15 vision since most of his work is observation. Glasses? Correctable vision is acceptable as long as the sniper has non-glare lenses and carries a spare set in his equipment.
Smoking
It is better that the candidate for sniper is not a smoker, but this choice is better left to the sniper, and not to the one who should select him. Smoking should not be used as a basis for exclusion, any more than drinking alcohol or coffee, which will interfere with sniper performance to a certain extent.
The sniper must understand how smoking affects his performance. During the day, his cigarettes will produce smoke and odor, while at night they create a visually noticeable light. His marksmanship may be impaired if he does not have nicotine available at the right time, while his sense of smell may not be sufficient to detect odors associated with hostile activity or danger.
A pack-a-day smoker creates high levels of carbon monoxide in their blood, which reduces normal night vision by 20 percent at sea level, an effect that increases with altitude; at 10,000 feet, he loses 40 percent of his night vision.
I would encourage snipers to quit smoking, but I would also suggest that coffee drinkers switch to decaf for better nerves.
Mental abilities and personal qualities
To understand and apply the complexities of ballistics, adjust a rifle scope, plan combat operations, and outwit his enemies, a sniper needs intelligence.
He also needs wisdom, for his usual combat encounter greatly irritates a vastly superior enemy. Like an agile mongoose, his strike and dodge tactics outsmart the deadly cobra. This requires composure in stressful situations.
Easily excitable, prone to adrenaline rushes, “hurray” types are the direct opposite of a calm, dispassionate, thinking sniper. They can adapt with great effort, but it is not so easy.
These observations also apply to police snipers. The Assault Team member needs to be bold and aggressive, ready to burst through doors and engage their opponent in close-quarters firefights. His whole job is to break through the risk and accurately defeat his target. But a police sniper must be careful, methodical, mature. His task requires avoiding risk, minimizing accidents, and taking every chance to prevent the suspect from carrying out aggressive actions.
The sniper must be compatible with his teammate. I didn't say have the same personal qualities, I said compatible. But they should be about the same size, so that one can pull the other out if he is disabled. Teaming Hulk Hogan with an average sized man means they will both die if the larger one is seriously injured.
Getting back to personality, there is no need to use the Lone Wolf type. Sniping is a team effort, to which each person must devote himself fully, and not feed off the efforts of his partner.
Patience
Particular emphasis must be placed on patience, which World War I sniper Captain H.A.V. McBride said was the most important quality in a sniper. Whether he is a police officer waiting for a terrorist during a lengthy hijacking operation or a soldier dispassionately peering into an enemy trench for [several] hours, a sniper must be able to make a perfect shot within 10 minutes of arrival or 10 minutes after arriving. hours of waiting.
The most accomplished long-range shooters I know are “slow-walking, slow-talking” guys, men like Lance Peters, an Olympic-level shooter who won a silver medal at the Pan American Games. Possessing an analytical mind, patient, dispassionate, planning their every step. Of course, these people have emotions, but they have learned to overcome them in order to mentally push the stress and anxiety into oblivion.
As a form of self-discipline, patience allows a sniper to lie motionless in the humidity and cold for hours, waiting for a shot he knows most likely won't even come. But just to make a possible shot, he works his way through the discomfort, as calm and ready as if it were a confident blow.
Psychological picture
Most men become snipers because they are confident, proud of their skills, and want to get the job done and be the best. They wish to fight as a small unit, so that success or failure, life or death - their very destiny - is largely determined by their own efforts. In an environment that is often ruled by mindless cruelty, they want to fight smart. They embody the American spirit.
However, for certain reasons, the mystique of sniping can attract the wrong element - the shadowy "wish-to-bes", those who think glory comes through killing. Abnormal psychos and pathological braggarts do not live long in war, because the so-called “entertainment killers” are usually cowards who cannot endure the dangers of real combat.
Those who think they are on Divine missions or those who hate their moms and dads are quickly identified and disqualified. What is much more difficult and subtle, I think, is purging those who will never risk fire; those who, when all the chips are on the table, do not make a shot or get confused or hide instead of shooting. However, the purpose of a psychological survey is to eliminate the crazy, not to identify those who have true courage.
Law enforcement agencies often have formal psychological interviews of sniper candidates and even administer diagnostic tests like the Minnesota Multiphasic Inventory. Given the large commitments and attendant dangers associated with firing a high-powered rifle in an urban environment during peacetime, no police agency wants to have people too quick to fire a shot.
My biggest concern with a psychological review is that it depends on the subjective opinion of the psychiatrist, who may not fully appreciate the stress and reality of the sniper environment. It may exclude top candidates because they like firearms or are gun enthusiasts.
"Be ready"
I think attitude reflects spirit, but the key in assessing attitude is observing what a devoted man does, not what a braggart says. Actions, not words, have true value. Will he go when others go? Is he behind his comrades? Will he endure pain and discomfort for the sake of success? Does he give of himself, or does he only take? Will he risk himself when given the chance? And ultimately, will he follow orders and take the shot?
Unlike most soldiers and police officers, it is difficult to know whether a sniper will shoot at a target that is distant and does not pose an immediate threat to him. He may have plenty of time to study the target and notice how similar it is to his Uncle Ralph. I don't know of any cases where a policeman or soldier couldn't shoot a bad guy standing nearby who was shooting at them. The marksmanship could be bad, it could ricochet, but no expressions of emotion or social taboos influenced [in this case] the good guy.
But something happens when a sniper looks through a scope and sees a pair of living eyes. It is the eyes that distinguish a living person from a target.
I haven't been able to find a means to determine who won't be able to take the shot, so until that actually happens, you can never be sure who is "ready." And this highlights the importance of realism in training, of making sniper targets so realistic that they don't look too different from the real thing. Take special care to ensure that the sniper's target has eyes.
The Ultimate Sniper:
An Advanced Training Manual for Military
Nikolai Makarov, the chief of the general staff, said that each brigade of the Russian Armed Forces will be assigned a special unit consisting exclusively of snipers. Since the course of military operations has changed significantly in recent decades, snipers are no less in demand in battle than entire armadas of tanks. However, Russia does not have the appropriate sniper rifles, so the Russian military will have to purchase them abroad.
Nikolai Makarov made a statement to reporters about special sniper units for each brigade of the armed forces, while at the same time complaining about the general quality of armed equipment produced in Russia. For example, he spoke negatively about the newest Russian T-90S tank, which was exhibited in Nizhny Tagil and studied by Prime Minister Vladimir Putin. Makarov claims that the tank has many shortcomings that need to be eliminated before it is put into service. True, at the same time, Makarov spoke positively about the tank’s rifle turret, saying that it is in no way inferior to the best foreign analogues, and in some characteristics it is superior.
But at the same time, he argues that today the nature of military operations is changing significantly, so Russian gunsmiths must constantly adapt to this.
Makarov believes that today each brigade should be assigned a special sniper unit. Since today the role of snipers is increasing significantly, most of the combat operations are carried out in cities.
Many domestic experts fully support this decision. Alexander Khramchikhin, head of the analytical department of the Institute of Military and Political Analysis, believes that this can become a useful innovation if all the necessary reforms are carried out correctly. Moreover, implementation does not require so many resources - snipers are usually recruited from privates and sergeants. It should be recalled that today a sniper is assigned to each company, but they did not undergo special training and did not carry out combat missions independently - only as part of a combat unit.
At the same time, a unit of snipers can either be used en masse to destroy large concentrations of enemy manpower, or be distributed among various units. All this depends on what tasks the unit faces at a particular moment. This is exactly what Andrey Frolov, an expert from the Center for Analysis of Technologies and Strategies, reports. It was decided to introduce such an innovation after studying the experience of the Chechen wars, as well as the Georgian campaign, which took place in 2008.
Most likely, the snipers will be armed with foreign rifles. Therefore, the Ministry of Defense is already purchasing sniper rifles from the British company Accuracy International.
British and Finnish rifles could become the best weapons for such special-purpose units, Frolov argues. He believes that this market offers quite a large selection, so you can give preference to the most suitable models.
However, it is still possible that preference may be given to the old SVD, proven in battles around the world. However, Frolov believes that it has many disadvantages from the point of view of an experienced sniper. In total, at least 10 thousand rifles will be needed to arm the sniper units.
Frolov also spoke negatively about the quality of such domestic rifles as SV-98, SV-99, OSV-96 (12.7 mm caliber).
At the same time, it should be recalled that over the past few years, the Russian state defense order did not include sniper rifles at all. However, if the Ministry of Defense approaches a defense company, then specialists will be able to confidently provide suitable designs that can satisfy all requirements.
In the Moscow region, by the end of the month, shooting will be carried out using pistol, automatic and sniper weapons. Moreover, both Russian and foreign samples will take part here. Perhaps it is based on the results of these shootings that a decision will be made on the purchase of rifles.
It is no secret that in connection with the introduction of combined arms formations Ground forces special sniper units , the troops began to form a phased and multi-level system for the selection and training of snipers. After completing the stage of recruiting individual sniper companies, all snipers will undergo special training in training centers every 3-4 years. For the newly formed sniper training schools, training programs have been developed that provide for mastering a set of knowledge, abilities and skills, including artillery fire adjustment, army aviation guidance and counter-sniper training. The instructors, from among whom the sniper training schools that will be newly formed by December 1 at the district training centers (DTCs) will be staffed, have completed a special cycle of fire training (COTS) in the city of Solnechnogorsk.
At the finish line, a trained sniper will be able to act both as part of a unit and independently (or in pairs). The formation of sniper units in the Ground Forces, staffed by professional contract soldiers and undergoing systematic training in sniper schools at the Educational Training Center and at the Central Coordination Center (Solnechnogorsk), is scheduled to be fully completed in 2016.
Due to the variety of fire missions performed, sniper units are armed with several types of rifles with different indicators of basic combat properties. In addition, each sniper is issued a personal weapon - a pistol. In addition to weapons and sights, the sniper pair is equipped with optical-electronic surveillance equipment - a small-sized laser reconnaissance device, binoculars and means for determining the initial data for shooting. Individual and group equipment of a sniper pair includes a sniper complex, uniforms, equipment and other equipment necessary to perform tasks and maintain life.
We managed to get into one of these newly formed separate sniper companies (27th Motorized Rifle Brigade) in order to find out how combat shooting of snipers is carried out, including in pairs and with the use of fire support, what happens in tactical and special training (movement, equipment and camouflage of the firing position ), why psychological testing of snipers is needed and what is the situation with medical training.
Several qualifications have been introduced for future fighters of individual sniper units, one of which is psychological. A specially trained civilian psychologist (formerly an officer), using established techniques for predicting a soldier’s behavior at the early stages, identifies people who do not have the proper level of neuropsychic stability. Testing is ordinary. Each candidate receives a form, the psychologist reads out the questions and statements, and the subject answers. For example, one of the tests, consisting of 86 questions, allows you to divide all candidates into 4 groups. Of these, only those included in groups 1 and 2 can be recommended for enrollment with subsequent admission to combat sniper weapons. Psychological selection during recruitment, as the psychologist said, is very strict.
After enlisting in a sniper company, a psychologist monitors each soldier individually. If necessary, individual lessons are again conducted with the sniper, during which an indicator such as, for example, “determination” can be adjusted and the necessary recommendations can be given. If adjustments are not possible and serious questions of psychological suitability arise, the psychologist may make a proposal to remove the sniper from service in a separate sniper company. Individual therapy is possible, and this type of therapy is typically provided weekly in small groups. They don’t bring anything “cinema” into a sniper’s mental training: no one eats live frogs or wraps the enemy’s warm intestines around their fist. They say that such training is not required for a modern military sniper.
The main qualities that a psychologist works to consolidate and develop are determination, courage, and adequate response to any new situations. Particular attention is paid to the actions of the sniper in a future battle, the most important of which is clear and quick prioritization.
"SVD" 7.62 mm Dragunov sniper rifle
"SVD" 7.62 mm Dragunov sniper rifle
Contract sergeant Velmatkin. Having served his military service in the army as a non-sniper, he was demobilized, thought about it and returned to the army again. I wanted to be a sniper. And so he did.
Contract sergeant Velmatkin. Having served his military service in the army as a non-sniper, he was demobilized, thought about it and returned to the army again. I wanted to be a sniper. And so he did.
Soldiers should be able to prepare this kind of camouflage suits with masks for themselves, preferably from improvised means. The main task is to hide the silhouette of the fighter and weapon, to protect the face and hands. Of course, there are a lot of special suits on sale today, but as the pros say, there are no really good ones that don’t require modifications or “customization.” And the price tag is usually invigorating. You will have to pay 5-6 thousand. It is, of course, available if you are an airsoft manager (this is without irony or jokes, if anything). What if a contract sergeant? Those who want to make a suitable and correct suit for themselves can come here . By the way, my friends from the police special forces, who fought a lot, made homemade sniper outfits are not neglected .
To begin with, the snipers, led by a young officer, demonstrated standard measures to camouflage their position. The situation was greatly complicated by weather conditions - snow fell overnight and began to melt in the morning. Wet, dirty, not autumn or winter. But it's raining. The snipers had to wriggle out as if in battle. A white camouflage coat is not suitable for areas not covered with snow, and a green one is not suitable for snow-covered areas. To the question - “ But what to do if you need to immediately go into battle?", the officer said that instead of a white robe, bandages and underwear would do, and instead of a green robe, equipment not visible from the outside "lyozhek" and special barriers.
The first of the snipers chose a place for the future "beds". The hole, sufficient to hide a lying person, was covered with heat-insulating “foam” and a raincoat. The fighter lies on his stomach and nests in a way that is convenient for him, and his comrade covers the person lying with a simple mat. We are, of course, talking about wicker "local" branches, twigs and lumps of snow in a flat design. Approximately above the head of the lying sniper, a hummock is arranged using the same method. The sniper thrusts his rifle into this very bump so that the field of fire and observation can be seen through the sight. In such cases, the barrel is bandaged so that the blued rifle does not stand out in the snow. A sniper can spend from several hours to several days in such a shelter.
Depending on the length of stay, a reserve is made for the volume of the shelter so that the lying fighter can warm up a little, eat, and drink. In winter, being in such a bed, as they said, is surprisingly not cold, unless, of course, the sniper has properly insulated himself. Great for insulation "local" spruce spruce branches under a raincoat. A small hole for ventilation allows you to breathe, and if inside is closed on all sides "beds" Also light a candle - it gets warmer. Including in the soul, as the sniper officer said. An affirmative answer was received to the question about natural needs. Yes. Where to go?
A nearby open position was occupied by a sniper with a white paper mask on his face (cheap and cheerful) and a piece of wire tied to a dummy. The dummy is additionally equipped with a micromirror responsible for bright reflections. I pulled the wire and the mirror glared. An enemy sniper may well shoot at the flash, and then he will be identified by simple observation. Well, then, depending on your luck.
A simple wire structure with branches and tufts of dried grass woven into it was installed in an open field. Even if there is no fish at all, this camouflage is good. It is light, mobile and, with skillful manufacture, impenetrable to an outside observer.
Old, broken armored vehicles are an excellent place to equip a position. Often snipers prepare for themselves so-called "stumps". This can be either a real hollow stump or a handmade stump on a frame. From under it you can observe without fear of being noticed, and shoot if necessary. About "stumps", of course, all snipers know, so before entering a position they are often "shoot through" independently or with the help of infantry. It's never a bad idea to protect yourself from enemy snipers. Sniper shelters are often armored with our own resources and improvised means. In general, there are no limits to tricks. Nowadays wire is in use "spider" Metal rods on one bolt, assembled into a structure reminiscent of an umbrella. Lay it out, camouflage it, cover it up - that’s it, the position is ready. You observe from there, you have found a goal - it’s a pity and go to a new place. Disguise is life.