Page 52 - Mercian Eagle 2016

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Sniper Platoon
This year has proved to be a busy one for the Sniper Platoon, stepping straight in to
a Sniper Selection Course after Christmas leave. Run at Leek Trg Area, hopefuls
where put through a series of tests and assessments to see who had the aptitude to be successful on the Sniper Operator Cadre.
With the Sniper selection over, those who showed signs of potential were added to our ranks and were quickly deployed with the remainder of the Platoon to Poland
with the 2 MERCIAN Battlegroup. The Snipers had the opportunity to work with other nations’ Sniper
Platoons to compare
distributed training, students from
2 MERCIAN and 1 RIRISH began the course with 2 two weeks of Skill at Arms and PowerPoint presentations at the Dale Barracks before moving to Nesscliffle for a three week fieldcraft phase. This really proved challenging for the students as the ground really didn’t lend itself to Sniping, students were seen again and again and again during stalks and camouflage and concealment exercises but were kept assured that with time and practice they would be successful. The next three
skills and equipment,
the Spanish with their
.50 Barratt Sniper rifles
proved interesting to
those who have not
yet seen or had the
pleasure of firing it.
While the Platoon were
busy in Poland, myself,
Cpl Gines and LCpl Green were busy traveling the length of the country on recces and conferences preparing for the Sniper Operator Cadre.
The ten week Sniper Operator Cadre was the first to be run since becoming
weeks focused on
their shooting ability
in Atcar, Otterburn
and Kirkcudbright; Otterburn lived up to its reputation and provided us with horrid weather conditions for the entire week! However, after moving to Kirkcudbright the sun baked us all
and provided excellent shooting conditions. Here the students also got the chance to conduct a live stalk which was challenging for most, only 3 of the 11 students were able to get into a position in time but
those that didn’t took away some valuable
Ex ANAKONDA: Exchange Training with Spanish Snipers
Members of Sniper Pl: Winners Bde OSC 2016
lessons for Badge Week. Final exercise
was conducted just north of Kirkcudbright in the Galloway Forest, a place none of us want to return to ever again! The terrain was worse than Brecon and the Midgies were the worst anyone had ever experienced! The students were put through their paces on tasks which included Observation Posts, Recce Patrols, Section Stalks, Counter Sniper and Raids. The students ‘dug out blind’ from start to finish on what was a very demanding final exercise.
The tenth and final week was the Badge Test at SENTA, here the students put everything they had been taught over the last 9 weeks in to the pass or fail tests. Four students were quickly put under less pressure after passing their live stalk but for LCpls Fox and Handforth the retest on day two only added to the pressure. The NAVEX, static map reading exercise and judging distance test were also quickly passed by all, but unfortunately LCpl Fox and Handforth were both unsuccessful
on one test each resulting in re-sits on the next available course. A highlight during this week was an incredible shot from Pte Britton who achieved a 900m first round
hit from the most awkward firing position imaginable, while being watched by about 40 spectators. He was cocky enough to signal to us his success with a cheesy grin shortly after hearing the strike on the steel target, a very good shot and good end to a busy and long ten week course.
This really proved challenging for the students as the ground really didn’t lend itself to Sniping
Sniper Cadre 2016: Stalk Training
THE MERCIAN EAGLE