Marines with 2nd Battalion, 8th Marine Regiment, 2nd Marine Division conducted a scout sniper screener at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina, April 3-7, 2017.
The Marines were searching for highly qualified candidates to train and send to the Scout Sniper Basic Course. Once Marines completed all the required training, they would become part of the scout sniper platoon within the unit.
“We’re running this so we can select the appropriate guys to join the platoon and get them ready for school,” said 1st Lt. William A. Anderson, a platoon commander with the unit. “We have Marines who meet the same standards required to go to the Scout Sniper Basic Course, so we try to replicate those conditions here to set them up for success.”
They tested the candidates’ ability to complete basic rifleman skills as well as examined the Marines’ character.
“We are trying to evaluate some of the more intangible things such as maturity and aptitude,” Anderson said.
Marines conducted activities such as foot patrols and land navigation while working on little food and sleep. All the Marines who tried out did it on their own volition.
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Photo courtesy of US Marines