Photo By Cpl. Evan Falls | Marines assigned to Scout Sniper School load a simulated casualty into a CH-53 in an...... read more read more
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Marines from Scout Sniper Course 3-17 took the final step in becoming scout snipers during a live-fire exercise aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Nov. 21.
The exercise began the night prior to the final exercise with the students being inserted and setting up ambushes at various locations on range SR-9. The morning after, students observed targets roughly 1,000 meters downrange at around 7:30 a.m. and began sending rounds downrange shortly thereafter.
Midway through the exercise, the students began to get overrun and fell back as they called for close air support. Two AH-1 Cobra attack helicopters were on station to provide notional support.
“We portrayed it as we saw fit,” said Gunnery Sgt. Rollie Pennington, staff noncommissioned officer in charge, Scout Sniper Course. “If it looked like you were going to get shot by a target, then that’s what
happened.”
After air support drove the enemy backwards, the students were given a chance to consolidate and check their ammunition. After coming into contact with the enemy once more, the students repelled the assault and moved back to Landing Zone Flamingo, where they were extracted by two CH-53 Sea Stallions, provided by Heavy Marine Helicopter Squadron 461, to LZ Dove and transported by a medium tactical vehicle replacement back to SR-9.
To become a sniper, one must work closely with allies and coordinate actions beforehand.
“This type of teamwork can’t be replicated through technology or simulation,” said Lt. Col Sean Carrol, commanding officer, Advanced Infantry Training Battalion. “Planning, rehearsing and executing together will give us the edge when these Marines are called overseas.”
The purpose of the exercise was to simulate combat as realistically as possible by using live rounds, simulated casualties and targets that go down when shot.
“It was very stressful,” said Cpl. Jason Callaway. “Becoming a sniper is a very stressful job. They try to make it as real as possible by using live rounds, bounding back and forth and getting in our face. It makes it a lot more stressful, but you have to adapt.”
The exercise was the final exercise before the students graduated SSC and became full-fledged scout snipers. Class 3-17 graduated today.
| Date Taken: | 11.21.2017 |
| Date Posted: | 12.27.2017 08:41 |
| Story ID: | 257503 |
| Location: | CAMP LEJEUNE, NORTH CAROLINA, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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