Babacanoosh's library

Jack Coughlin is the author of Shooter. Most of his books are filled with nonsense which he has decided is how snipers SHOULD be. I stopped reading when he said he making long range precision shots on instinct alone because he knew his rifle so well...you can get hits on target using approximations, but that is NOT being a sniper or precision shooting.

For example, an accurately zeroed M40A3 with the elevation dialed in somewhere between 300 and 400 yards, you can aim center mass and make torso hits anywhere from 50-750 yards. Hitting a target with a scoped rifle is something a monkey could do, being a trained US Marine Corps Scout/Sniper is extremely more involved than being able to place rounds on target.

I'm being generous when I say that shooting is only 10% of the snipers game. The emphasis placed on shooting is often misinterpreted because when it comes time to need that 10% you had better have all your ducks in a row and make that shot. The adage of needing 110% of heart into the game is not a helpful suggestion in that line of work, it's a necessity. A Scout/Sniper is given tasks, not missions.

When you complete Scout/Sniper school, you are generally more capable of doing a platoon commanders (an officer, usually O3) job in the battlespace than he is. Essentially, you ARE doing the same process they are, just with 2-4 guys and less firepower...but better results.

Jack's whole book was essentially a thesis for a new "breed" of sniper, one that can keep up with the fast pace of today's war. He was right that the lines and battles moved much to quickly for Scout/Snipers to be effective during the onset of the war. However, eventually the lines stopped moving and we became an occupying force. For the last 3 or 4 years the war has been a literal snipers paradise where they seem to be the only unit type tallying effective engagements...provided they have officers which allow them to do their job...the brass typically has a micromanagement problem.

What's important to note is that Jack submits the concept of MSST or Mobile Scout Sniper Team (I could be mistaken on the exactness but it's something along those lines). What Jack fails to realize is that putting a guy on a HMMWV with a scoped rifle is not a sniper mission. This is "any monkey with a scoped rifle getting hits on target" in action. The quickly moving lines and need for immediate and accurate fire is why the Marine Corps *used* to require rifle qualification with open sights out to 500 yards. Both the Army and USMC adopted schools to train Squad Designated Marksmen.

The type of mission is what separates a DM from Sniper, not the weapon type. A DM is rifleman who's a good shot and has better equipment to match his ability.

A sniper is a master of tactics, fieldcraft AND marksmanship. They think on their feet and make their own decisions. A Scout/Sniper assistant team leader is responsible for over $1,000,000 of sensitive and classified equipment. They sign their name on the dotted line, not the brass. They plan missions, they liaison with different sections for food, water, security, intelligence, and more. They even talk directly to aircraft on station and can order them to drop bombs ANYWHERE no questions asked.

I was in Scout/Sniper school shortly after Shooter was published. The instructors held a particular hatred for Jack and the book. Two of them are mentioned by name in Trigger Men, all Jack does is talk about how awesome he is.

I don't know about you, but the first thing that springs to mind when someone tells me how great they are is, "If they are so awesome, why do they feel the need to point it out? Shouldn't I see it for myself."

Which brings me to my next point kids, "No one cares what you say, only what you do."

Which is similar to "actions speak louder than words", a phrasing of which is most texts of all religions.