How does an army sniper section fit in to a unit?

2021-03-09T13:07:51-05:00

How does an army sniper section fit in to a unit?. Squad, platoon, company etc. Do they hang out in between platoons or are they part of HHC?

Response by MSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2021 1:22 PM

2021-03-09T13:22:16-05:00

Thinking about going to the Sniper Course?

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2021 2:30 PM

2021-03-09T14:30:08-05:00

A section as part of HHC.

Response by SFC Casey O'Mally made Mar 9 at 2021 2:34 PM

2021-03-09T14:34:09-05:00

How do they fit in a unit?

If they are doing their job, they are invisible. :-D

Seriously though, it is going to depend on the unit. In a standard light infantry unit, IF there is a sniper section, it will be in the HHC. Back in my day (which is WAY back) they were part of the Scout Platoon.

Response by CW3 Kevin Storm made Mar 9 at 2021 3:59 PM

2021-03-09T15:59:42-05:00

With regards to the Units MTOE is how.

Response by 1SG Dennis Hicks made Mar 9 at 2021 4:07 PM

2021-03-09T16:07:35-05:00

In my day all line platoons had one sniper in each platoon, I don't remember if they had spotters. They were subject to be cross assigned to other platoons or wherever the CO needed them, this was in an Abn Infantry company 70's thru late 80's.

Response by SPC Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 9 at 2021 4:48 PM

2021-03-09T16:48:50-05:00

At my prev infantry unit, we had a scouts platoon in HHC which consisted of the sniper and recon section. On deployment the snipers were assigned to each company. They were put in whatever platoon the CO wanted.

Response by SFC James Cameron made Mar 9 at 2021 11:18 PM

2021-03-09T23:18:11-05:00

What’s not covered here is the primary function of the Sniper Section. As a Battalion asset, the Sniper and Scout sections serve as the eyes and ears of the BN Commander; and should, realistically, do more surveillance and target acquisition than trigger pulling on individual targets. It doesn’t always get practiced as such, but in a perfect world...

Response by SSG Harry Outcalt made Mar 11 at 2021 5:22 AM

2021-03-11T05:22:03-05:00

IT depends on the particular unit's organization table. Sniper sections can be additional task while individual Snipers are assigned a regular position in a squad, or the section can be part of a Weapons Platoon. Back in the day in the 101st Abn Division . The Sniper section was an additional duty all Sniper trained and qualified personnel were assigned to a normal infantry squad, but could be detached for Sniper operations or used in the role within there assigned Platoons. As A Sniper trained and Qualified , meaning assigned a additional Sniper weapon and Scope. As the Ncoic of the Sniper Section of my Company as well as a Squad Leader of a Infantry Squad. The Sniper aspect was an additional duty assignment i took on when needed , along with my primary responsibility of being Pointman. The answer to your question really depends on the number of personnel assigned to the company's, my situation was based on being short personnel, if we had a full complement of personnel then the Weapons plt would have control of the Sniper assets, to allow the Company Commanders the additional ability to adapt in Combat where pin point accuracy was needed. Otherwise they would simply be an additional skill trained Soldiers in regular squads..

Response by 1LT Private RallyPoint Member made Mar 12 at 2021 6:56 PM

2021-03-12T18:56:26-05:00

Every infantry battalion has a Scout Platoon and a Mortar Platoon in their HHC. The Scout Platoon is comprised of a section of scouts and a section of snipers.