Posted on 03/04/2023 7:26:48 PM PST by Golden Eagle
The United States Marine Corps disbanded its elite and historic scout sniper program as part of its extensive revamp to adapt infantry battalions to future warfare.
The age-old MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) has been around since World War II, and one nonprofit organization representing the renowned Scout Snipers is calling the Corps move “misguided” and “ill-advised.”
“We’re shocked and saddened that our Marine Corps leadership seems to have forgotten the lessons learned in combat, paid for with the blood of our members,” the USMC Scout Sniper Association wrote on Facebook.
A memo from Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policy, and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps, Lieutenant General David J. Furness, called for the “immediate transition of Scout Sniper Platoons to Scout Platoons” meaning that infantry battalions will no longer have sniper attachments, but instead scouts who will “provide the commander with relevant, reliable, accurate and prompt information.”
Marine Corps officials believe that the “newly designed Infantry companies were insufficient to offer the Battalion continuous all-weather information gathering,” and that the new Scout Platoons will be better utilized by leadership throughout the branch, according to the memo.
Instead of completely moving away from sniping, a new MOS “Reconnaissance Sniper” will be established “within the Reconnaissance Battalions.”
(Excerpt) Read more at nypost.com ...
My assumption is sniper skills will be degraded if they don't train together on their specialization. However, having them integrated more directly with an overall battalion may be more efficient for movement on the battlefield.
Replaced with social workers?
“Marine Corps eliminating its elite scout sniper platoons”
Take that, Putin!!!
Chesty Puller rolling over in his grave.
This is sooo stupid.
L
“Simple Re-org? Or something bigger?”
I think they may fear that the snipers they train won’t always shoot in the direct they command them to.
No women are capable, and they can’t reduce the requirements....So, it had to go...
In my opinion, there is no reasonable substitute for a sniper.
What is the preferred sniper weapon? Eg barrett .50? And how much does it weigh?
A tactical nuke can be a serviceable substitute for taking out an individual in difficult circumstances.
Elite snipers don’t fit in with the new Diversity Inclusion and Equity policy.
We keep repeating this error throughout history - build up our sniper capability only after we’re engaged in war, then delete it.
It would be a welcome change if our military leadership learned from history and avoided making the same bad decisions that hurt us in the past. They deserve the horrible recruiting & retention stats.
Not to worry; they will be retrained and absorbed into the Elite Tap Dancing and Glee Club platoons.
Replace wih Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity LGBTQXYZ advocacy platoons.
Swear to God, Obama sits and plots how to weaken the country he and his father despised.
“Susan (Rice), go tell Joe to: 1) stop any energy initiatives, 2)eliminate bail, 3)get the FBI to.....,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13,14.....”
Bad mistake.....and FJB and his merry band of evil flying monkeys 🐒...
Yeh, they dont need no steenking recon. 😣
I don’t like it but this isn’t a terrible move. Scouting/recon are going to be the premium skill that coincides with the transformation the Marine Corps to deal with China. Snipers are not going to be a major player. The sniper association hasn’t gotten the memo on that yet. I assume they will also operate drones.
The creation of the designated marksman in each infantry squad can do most of the work snipers were doing, up to 800m.
Why not at regimental level? Marines rarely form Marine Expeditionary Brigades. All the logistics for snipers are more suitable at the Division’s Recon Battalion.
Being replaced with the Pantywaist Platoon
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