The slideshow reinforces the widely held group of ideas that being a sniper is a "process" of mastering a series of "technical skills." Interestingly, the mastery of the technical aspects--ie., shooting well, being able to calculate ballistic requirements, keeping appropriate and accurate records, having an array of life-preserving fieldcraft skills, and being able to effectively communicate through various means, etc. etc. etc.--is usually a given. Invariably, the candidates have already demonstrated, in other settings, a mastery of ALL of these skills. The real skills that each and every candidate must POSESSESS and be fully aware of are his psychological and philosophical attitudes and skills. All of the "I think I can do it" bravado, bluster, or being highly motivated means nothing. It is the inability (failure) to pass the psycholgical evaluation tests and requirements that eliminates most candidates. The "dirty little secret" is that the most important tool for a potential sniper is the "muscle that sits between his ears." Being a sniper requires a well-prepared and extremely strong brain, along with being an introspective very stable self-contained and self-sustanining person. Being a sniper, has nothing to do with being "cool," "tough," or "special" in the usual sense associated with sports heroes or movie stars. Wannabes and compensating bullies are "smoked out" and do not get very far. Gee...all of this time, I thought to be an effective (one of the top 10%) Marine was just a matter of being strong and highly motivated!!???
On her show Katy Curic (sp) asked a sniper what did he feel after shooting an enemy? He had a slight pause to gather his thoughts and dead panned with "a little kickback"!
As a former Marine Scout/Sniper I find it interesting that the Corps was not (often is not) the subject of this article/slideshow. I have shot with and against Army snipers and while they have some superb shooters, as a whole the Marine Scout/Sniper Corps is much better trained as a whole, significantly more deadly. I know I hold some bias but I have seen it played out over and over again in and out of combat.
