Staff Sgt. Phillip Cho, a US Army sniper in the 11th Airborne Division based in Alaska, shares his insights on the realities of being a sniper. While Hollywood often focuses on precision marksmanship, Cho emphasizes that there's much more to sniping than just shooting. Fieldcraft and concealment are crucial aspects of the job that are often overlooked in movies.
Cho highlights that being a good shot is just one part of the job, and that combining skills like range estimation, target detection, and precision marksmanship is what makes a successful sniper. He also stresses the importance of training, saying that if you can perform well under pressure in training, you can do it in real life.
In addition to shooting, snipers need to be skilled in hide-and-seek-like games to detect targets and stay hidden from patrols or trained observers. They also need to be able to call for fire missions and artillery, and navigate challenging environments like heavily wooded areas or urban settings.
Cho notes that nerves are a natural part of the job, and that complacency is unacceptable. He also shares his preference for the M2010 sniper rifle chambered in .300 Winchester Magnum cartridge, calling it the "quintessential sniper rifle."
Snipers carry a significant amount of equipment, including observation and communication gear, extra batteries, and ammunition, which can weigh around 60-80 pounds in the summer and up to 120 pounds in the winter. Effective concealment is crucial, and Cho emphasizes the importance of mastering the art of disappearing in depth and shadows in one's environment.
Overall, Cho's insights offer a unique perspective on the realities of being a sniper, highlighting the importance of fieldcraft, concealment, and training in addition to precision marksmanship.
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