Becoming a Sniper (merged)

[bender]

Hey,
I‘m new to the CF, i‘m just about to finish my QL2 course as a reservist. When i finnish my school I was thinking about going Reg force, my goal is to enter sniper training. I‘m curious if you have to be hand picked for this training or if you can just enter the course and see if you have the brass to finnish. If anyone has some info on the subject please let me know. Thanks

 

[King]

I heard that you are picked to go on the course and have to be a good shot with your C7 to get on. However you‘ll never make it on that course while your in the reserves, gotta go Reg Force first.

How‘s the weather in Newfieland? Where else besides St. John‘s is the RNR?

 

[bender]

Weathers as good as it gets i suppose! The snow is finally starting melt.

1st battalion HQ, is in St.John‘s. 2nd battalion is located in Corner Brook, Stephenville and Grand Falls.

 

[meathead]

There is a guy that i went throught battleschool with who got to take part in a sniper course as a reservist but he did not get to do all parts of the course. The course is very expensive, sometimes too expensive for the reserve units to spend on one soldier. Your best bet is to join your unit‘s rifle team if there is one and shoot as much as you can. Participate in CFSAC if you can....that is where he was when he was offered the course.

 

[rcrman]

A few friends of mine went on a sniper course run by my old unit. First like any "specialty course" you have to prove yourself before hand. ie time in rank, JLC possibly, show that at least your not a s***pump, like some of the other morons stuck in a rifle section for 20 yrs. that kind of stuff. They are not going to put a Pte on it right away, obviously. I suggest like some of the others, to get into a unit rifle team. Or like myself even try for it, make a name for yourself, stand out. "Marksmanship Training Camp" through your unit will help to determine selection for months of work before CFSAC. Great learning experience and you‘ll shoot more there in a week then just your yearly PWT shoot. Also have a proven shooting record. 1 st class shot and marksman qualifications on the PWT help...the higher the scores that you can attain year to year so much the better. And also...it all about who you know as well... if you know the right "click". Get into a recce platoon will help possibly lead into that type of training. Might take a few years...but if your checked out and shoot like say "Carlos Hathcock (u.s. marine in vietnam) then great hopefully you‘ll get selected. Also if you get on a course like that...then shine, soak everthing up like a sponge. Listen and apply yourself...work hard and it will pay off. Good luck...all the best.
Grubby


[ 10 August 2001: Message edited by: Grubby ]

 

[TOW2B]

Shooting is the esaiest part of that course.The toughest part is not failing yourself.You are expected to perform at 100% at all times under your own guidance.The instructors are there to teach,not hold your hand and if you screw up there are no second chances.To get on the course you mustbe nominated, shoot Marksman on a Level 3 PWT,be Basic Recce Qulaified,non-smoker perferred,20/20 or better corrected eyesight,not be colour blind,pass a TKT on basic recce,be emotionally stable,be in good physical condition,and have a head for mathematics.If you feel you can‘t cut the mustard don‘t apply as you are taking a slot from someone who could make it.As for Reservists getting the course?I have not seen one ever on a course(since 1984 anyway).


:skull: WITHOUT WARNING WITH OUT CONCIENCE :skull:

 

[rcrman]

Tommy,

Wow great info...! What does TKT stand for? some sort of test? Great info...thanks for sharing.

Grubby

 

[Soldier of Fortune]

What if you wear glasses and dont have 20/20 vision? Can you still be accepted onto the course?

 

[TOW2B]

TKT stands for Threshold Knowledge Test,it is the basic amount of info that should have been retained from a course.As far as the vision thing goes I think it was in the past observed strictly but now don‘t know (I took my course 8 yrs ago).I think you can get in as long as you can function without glasses (in case you lose them on a stalking ex)but you have to ask your self am I an asset or a liability to my team????Or you could always PLAY THE DISCRIMINATION CARD LIKE EVERY ONE ELSE OUT THERE!!!!!

 

[Soldier of Fortune]

Is this the Canadian sniper rifle?

www.snipercentral.com/c3a1.htm

 

[Doug VT]

Yeah that‘s the 7.62 rifle that we use. It‘s pretty good overall.

 

[TOW2B]

The C3 is a barely adequate system that has been in need of replacement since was introduced.The ad-hoc "improvements" are stop gap at best what is required is a modern sniper system that can guarentee the required accuracy at range,and which can guarentee a hard kill of a subject wearing body armor at range ie a .300 Mag or better,a .338 LAPUA Mag System would be the ideal.

 

[colgan]

The CF could not use the 300mag or the 338mag because they are not nato cals. right?

 

[TOW2B]

The rest of NATO is looking at these calibers as a standard for Sniper Rifles.The .308168 gr BTHP Norma Match that is used now is not a standard round either.Sniper rifles require specialized ammunition with very even balistic performance,the standard NATO 7.62mm FMJ does not produce the required ballistic performance and is not used by any NATO Army‘s Snipers except as a last option.As a rule Match Ammo usually produced on contract by Civi/Custom ammunition plants is used.

 

[centurion]

Tommy,
I‘m going to defer to what seems to be your vast, if not first hand knowledge of the subject. A question of my own, if you can. Does not the Canadian mindset of being humane enter into the type and size of round. IE: ok to use anything around .30 cal as anti-sniper(personnel), but only larger stuff (.50 etc) at the platoon level and only for fire suppression? I gather we would use what is avail and best suited, and damn the media. Just wondering if there is a policy. Heard it may be one reason for phasing out the . 50 Browning HMG as it is considered too inhumane for anti-personnel. Just wonderin‘.

 

[towhey]

[No message]

 

[TOW2B]

The .50 cal was never banned from engaging pers check the pam it states that the max effective range for anti-pers is 1850m.The reason that it is not usually used in this role is the fact that it is/was more effective engaging APCs with armour piercing ammo.The drill is that the .50s would engage the APCs and the GPMGs would mop up any one spilling out of the disabled vehicle.There is nothing preventing it‘s use against pers in the Geneva Convention or the Hague Accord,all that is stated is that "the ammunition must not be altered to cause undue suffering or injury".The main reason for the phasing out of the HMG is the fact that the new family of APC adopted by Canada mount a 25mm Cannon which is much more effective in that role.All in all the GPMG was found to be the better anti-pers weapon as it has a greater volume of fire and can put more rounds per square foot in the Beaten Zone.I hope this answers your question.

 

[centurion]

Thanks Tommy,
Somewhat yes. Actually what I was referring to was the size (.50 cal) not the means of delivery (Browning HMG). I was wondering about our doctrine with something like the Barrett .50 and such.

 

[TOW2B]

The McMillan .50s that were recently adopted by the CF are used primarily in the anti-material role.They allow the sniper teams to take out installations such as Air Defense Radars,missiles,etc.The anti pers application is still there but is not very high on the task list because it is simply not cost effective when a .30 cal can do the job just as good.In short why use a sledge hammer to swat a fly.

 

[centurion]

Tommy,
That‘s the ticket. Thx.