Snipers and CQB

[Gunpoint]

For operators: What percentage of training time do your snipers dedicate to CQB and other SWAT missions?

[Tracy]

All of our snipers (18 per troop) were qualified for Room Combat and CQB in general. Qualified meaning they could go through the door instead one of us assaulters. The only thing they didn't do without guidance was custom explosive breaching charges and assault planning.

The way we used snipers was three-fold: As a solution in itself, as the cover element for the assaults, and for Recon and Surveillance tasks. During the R/S phase, the snipers were the ones that plotted the optimal approaches to the target area and entry points.

That help?

[Gunpoint]

Tracy-

Thanks for the reply. I'm not looking for "help" per se, just interested in seeing how other teams use snipers. Ours probably spend 50-60% of their time in sniper-related tasks and 40% in CQB work. Plus, I was talking LE teams...your ex-mil, right?

[Tracy]

Originally posted by 1811:
Tracy-
...Plus, I was talking LE teams...your ex-mil, right?

1. Retired Special Forces.
2. When we go through door, the bullet doesn't care if you're blue or green.

Soapbox Rant:
Let reiterate: The military does NOT endorse a "Spray and Slay" mentality. We have to account for our actions as much as police. Law Enforcement operates under Color of Law, we operate under Color of Policy. Either way, cops and soldiers can go to jail for screwing up.

Sorry, but the 'tone' of your reply sort of set my teeth on edge. My apologies if I misinterpreted.

Rant Ends.

[RECON5]

1811 - Not currently with a team, but I can speak on my previous experience, which is still accurate since I stay in contact with those guys.

70% Entry / Tactical Training
30% Sniper related duties / training.

All members are trained for entries and since the majority of our work came from running forced entry search warrants they were often utilzed in that capacity. The Snipers were utilized for that specific purpose on all Hostage / Barricade Operations (approx 15-20 per year), and in the last few years even more so on rural search warrants (most noteably meth labs) as cover for the entry team. Our Snipers did perform the intell fuction as well, but while on the team I did conduct Scout Operations on Barricade / Hostage Situations and in a cooperative effort with the Snipers. The difference being I would normally join the entry team when those duties were completed. I understand they are soley using the Snipers for this function now.

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REMEMBER 1*

[SSMV]

On our SRT, our snipers were all trained in CQB so that they knew exactly how we operated; and vice-versa, we were all trained as snipers. This gives you two different advantages, one everyone knows everyone else's mission and how they operate; two, if someone goes down or is out sick or on leave, any other team member can take his place without having to take a crash course.

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Semper Fi

[benelli]

All our snipers attend the monthly sniper training (10 hrs) and then our regular SWAT training day (also 10 hrs). They are cross trained as entry personnel although we rarely use them for that...

[Gunpoint]

Tracy-

No "tone" intended...I have worked with a fair amount of military teams that do CQB, and agree with your comment about nothing matters when you go through the door...its basically the same mission. It was an observation, nothing more.