United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper
United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper (MOS 0317, formerly 8541) was a secondary MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) designator of U.S. Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines that have graduated from a U.S. Marine Corps Scout Sniper School. Scout Snipers must earn the rank of Lance Corporal, be selected by their battalion to join the scout-sniper platoon, and complete an approved scout-sniper course in order to receive this designation. As of December 2023, Marine scout snipers (0317 MOS) have been reorganized as MOS 0322 Reconnaissance Sniper Marines, as part of a 26-Marine Scout Platoon.[2]
United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper
1943–2023
United States of America
Close-quarters combat
Direct support of infantry and reconnaissance units
Reconnaissance
Special operations
Platoon (8–10 men)
A Marine Corps Scout Sniper was a Marine highly skilled in fieldcraft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire, on select targets, from concealed positions in support of combat operations.
Scout Snipers provided close reconnaissance and surveillance to the infantry battalion.[12] By doctrine, a Scout Sniper was a Marine highly skilled in field craft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire on selected targets from concealed positions in support of combat operations.
Scout Snipers in Marine infantry battalions fell under the Surveillance and Target Acquisition (STA) units initially, and subsequently to the infantry battalion's Scout Sniper Platoon (SSP), usually within the Headquarters and Service (H&S) Company or Weapons Company. Marine Scout Snipers were trained at one of the four school house locations.
The term "Scout Sniper" is only used officially by the Marine Corps, but it does not imply a differing mission from the U.S. Army Sniper. An Army Sniper's primary mission is to support combat operations by delivering precise long-range fire on selected targets. By this, the sniper creates casualties among enemy troops, slows enemy movement, frightens enemy soldiers, lowers morale, and adds confusion to their operations. The sniper's secondary mission is collecting and reporting battlefield information, Section 1.1 FM 23-10 Sniper Training.
The Marine Corps is unique in its consolidation of reconnaissance and sniper duties for a single Marine. Most other conventional armed forces, including the U.S. Army, separate the reconnaissance soldier or scout from the sniper. In the U.S. Army, the 19D MOS, "Cavalry Scout" is the primary special reconnaissance and surveillance soldier and the term "Infantry Scout" refers to a specially trained infantrymen that functions in a reconnaissance and surveillance capacity, while "Sniper" refers to a specially selected and trained soldier that primarily functions as a sniper.[13] Most military forces believe that the separation of reconnaissance and sniper capabilities allows for a higher degree of specialization.
After graduating the basic course, Marines were given the opportunity to obtain a variety of other courses to further refine their skills.