I find the whole article strange. One of my admin billets was School's NCO (never went to Sniper School myself, but I know their SOP). Doesn't follow that Snipers would be employed like this, its reactionary and dilutes their strengths.
Also, the writers tossed in the term "marksmen" with snipers. Marksmen is a rifle badge, the two terms are not used together like this in the USMC.
I missed the 'marksman' comment.......I think during my time, that would be barely making the grade.
I think that there is a misuse of the term 'sniper' here. What the Marines are doing is creating picked men within a rifle squad to act in an overwatch role. These shooters -- call them snipers if you want -- are equipped with whatever equipment can be found or scrounged. Basically, it's just getting the best equipment into talented hands.
These shooters do not get training in fieldcraft or the other things required by truly longrange shooting. Besides the engagement ranges are shorter.