Marine snipers reflect on OIF II experiences, support overall mission

[SR-25]

AR RAMADI, Iraq(Jan. 26, 2005) -- Marines returning from combat deployment overseas traditionally reflect on their experiences and often present lessons learned for the benefit of future Marines and operations.

Marine Corps scout snipers performing counter-insurgency operations during Operation Iraqi Freedom II are proving no exception.

For snipers, the tangible purpose behind passing down knowledge based on experiences is to not simply further the evolution of the ‘art and science’ of shooting at the enemy from concealed positions. The ultimate goal is to help save the lives of other Marines in future combat.

“We are getting some good feedback from sniper and recon platoons on lessons learned and enemy sniper capabilities and limitations in Iraq,” said Gunnery Sgt. Robert J. Reidsma, Marine Corps sniper school staff non-commissioned officer-in-charge at Marine Corps Base Quantico. “There are definitely unique challenges for sniper units in Iraq. Some of them are the desert and urban environments, and the simple nature of people and their animals that roam around that could cause mission compromise. Another is the over tasking of sniper teams as they are limited in numbers.”

Overcoming these challenges with their specialized infantry skills, Marine scout snipers near the end of their current deployment in Iraq are finding their experiences have a unique perspective.

“Sniping in general has come a long way, but in Iraq sniping is not your traditional mission where you have a platoon or a large enemy force and you can move around to take them out,” said Sgt. Herbert B. Hancock, chief scout sniper, Company B, 1st Battalion, 23rd Marine Regiment, and a 35-year-old police officer from Bryan, Texas. “It’s a non-threatening environment until you see a threat presenting a weapon or intent before you can actually engage them. Our job involves a lot of observing and gathering information on target areas or specific targets.”

During the past six months, Hancock and his fellow reserve Marine scout sniper, Cpl. Geoffrey Flowers, have been working as a team in the field, side by side with other Reserve Marines with “Bravo” Co.

“Spotting and observation skills are very important out here,” said 22-year-old Flowers who is also a student from Pearland, Texas.

Their success and combat effectiveness in Iraq as a sniper team has been based on their strong observation skills, tactical insertion into an area and remaining undetected.

“The big thing in Iraq since (Fallujah in April 2004) has been the concern that a scout sniper team will get killed and there are limits on how far we can advance from the Quick Reaction Force,” explained Hancock. “So what we have done is use the grunts to help advance the sniper team further out to a house or whatever. By doing this we can employ sniper teams to better support the overall mission and the unit as a whole.”

Additionally, Marine scout snipers’ help prepare for missions by talking with commanders to show them how snipers and regular infantry can work together.

“If we get into a bind, we have an infantry fire team behind us that we can fall back on for support,” said Hancock. “They have more firepower and are an effective, more immediate reaction force. I think initially when the war in Iraq started out, sniper teams were being compromised because they did not have that immediate reaction force to fall back on. I haven’t seen it done much before in the past, but we have been using is to great effect, allowing for much more freedom of movement.”

Hancock added that an area that may seem non-threatening could suddenly change with insurgents seemingly coming out of nowhere—out of a house in a dense city block or in a rural village—and potentially compromising the snipers’ mission.

“Unlike snipers during OIF I we also learned to deal with threats by calling for fire, which is typically done at the company level and we have done that about half a dozen times out here,” said Flowers.

Hancock said snipers also use company mortars as a sort of versatile and far-reaching immediate suppression QRF.

“If we are hiding but somehow get compromised we rely on the 60mm mortars to suppress the threat just enough to give us a window to pull back,” said Hancock.

By using all available assets, especially in a case where close air support may not be immediately overhead, snipers have been very successful at suppressing enemy targets quickly, said Flowers.

“If we need more firepower we can call up to battalion or regiment, but in the meantime we have the company mortars and the infantry fire team covering,” Flowers added.

If things get really hot, snipers can rely on support from the air.

“Once you get into a bind out here and if the threat is persistent, it’s not long before word gets out and then you have close air support from the air wing,” said Hancock. “Situations in areas here can change at any time. It’s tricky and hard to figure out.”

Hancock said snipers and regular infantry also work with Marine human intelligence teams to really learn about a certain area.

“We can ask friendly sources certain questions to find out information and that’s how you get to know the people and an area to develop your targets,” said Hancock. “We try to stay proactive versus reactive.”

Hancock said when he and other scout snipers get back from Iraq they will continue to work with the Marine Corps Sniper School and present their overall lessons learned during the past six months.

“So far there is no doubt that OIF I is nothing like OIF II and OIF II may be nothing like OIF III,” said Flowers. “Unlike before, we now have (improvised explosive devices) and an insurgency to deal with. Our advanced sniper school teaches counter-insurgency tactics and how to operate in an insurgent environment, which is what this is. We are using all the stuff they taught us.”

As for the future of Marine Corps sniping, instructors foresee more use of snipers in Stability and Security Operations.

“With their higher level of observation and surveillance—along with their equipment—snipers can reduce collateral damage and have precision fire,” said, Reidsma. “We are also adding things to the sniper curriculum like classes on counter snipers and SASO related topics. Bottom line is our snipers are doing an excellent job and little change is needed in the form of additional training.”