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US Navy SEAL Sniper Course

by · March 2, 2012 · Posted In: NSWC
SEAL_SNIPER_SOFREP
I thought I’d just briefly highlight the US Navy SEAL course requirements (in brief), as not too many people are aware that we have our own Navy SEAL sniper program.

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For me, it was the highlight of my career when I was in charge of the US Navy SEAL sniper course as Course Manager during my last tour with the Teams. The work the students were doing overseas to support not only SOF missions, but regular Army and USMC was just fantastic. Chris talks about that in an interview when I was still running Kit Up as the main host.  Click here for the Kit Up interview.

Here’s a quick look at highlights and some past writing on the subject. I’ll post more on actual sniper gear on The Loadout Room soon!

SEAL Sniper Course Highlights

  • Approx. 3 months in length
  • Must qualify expert (again) to start the course. If you don’t, see you later….
  • Comms and Digital Photo course prior to Field Craft Phase (2 weeks), and focus is on Field Intel gathering and communication skills.
  • Scout phase includes stalking and field craft (integrated digital photography Recon work). Graded stalks and advanced marksmanship begin. (~4 weeks)
  • Sniper phase includes advanced ballistics, mental management training, practical shooting and testing. We test them with stationary and moving targets and individual skills out to 1000 yards in high wind (~7 weeks)

SOFREP SEAL sniper

The one thing that I would say really separates the SEAL course from the pack is the comprehensive curriculum and length of training (compare it to other courses and you’ll see). Also, graduates are tested and trained to operate as smart individual shooters (most of our missions utilize single snipers). This is a departure from the traditional shooter/spotter pair training methodology.

One thing for certain is that the SEAL sniper can self spot and make rapid assessments of where to place the next shot ALL without a spotter. You would not want to be on the other end of the equation with most military snipers, especially a SOF trained one…..

Brandon

 

About The Author

Brandon Webb is a former U.S. Navy SEAL with combat deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan, and elsewhere in the Middle East. His last tour in the SEAL Teams was as the Course Manager for the US Navy SEAL Sniper program, arguably one of the most difficult sniper courses in the world. He was formerly a contributing editor for Military.com, and currently the Editor-in-Chief of SOFREP.com. Brandon is regularly featured in the media as a subject matter expert on military affairs. An avid writer, his last two books (The Red Circle, & Benghazi: The Definitive Report) both hit the New York Times best seller list, and his writing has been featured in print, and digital media worldwide. You can follow him on Twitter @BrandontWebb
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Erek
Erek

I will be really impressed if you can explain Quantum Theory Dark Matter Composition....or the friggin' horse reticle. Seems the same to me. 

inquisitive
inquisitive

Why has NSW stayed with mildot reticle, minute adjust?  A game players, and now even reg USArmy & USMC have switched to the Horus methodology.  The new stuff crushes the old.

Old PH2
Old PH2

I tried out the Horus system when it first came out.  Loaded it onto my Handspring and loved it right away.  I had no idea USMC had began to use it. 

DesignatedDiver
DesignatedDiver

Did you know any of the Navy instructors that competed in the USASOC Sniper Competition?

ArcticWarrior
ArcticWarrior like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

Brandon,

Can you do a write up on fieldcraft? Its not glamorous but where I was at in a LRS-Det it could life and death. It would be interesting to see the finer points and prep you taught (OPSEC not with standing) Dogs and kids always were a danger to spoil your hide site.

Tango9
Tango9 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @ArcticWarrior dogs & kids... Arctic, those 3 words... I'm pretty sure the words "Mother F)*$#$" have been uttered by snipers because of those 2 things since the dawn of sniping.

KineticFury
KineticFury

 @Tango9 After reading Marine Sniper! a few years back, I would add snakes to to that list.

Canopylight
Canopylight like.author.displayName 1 Like

Wow, that is a long course. For comparison, SOTIC is 8 weeks and the Army Sniper School is about 5 weeks long. I was unaware you guys had your own course. Does the course have a maritime component that other courses don't have?

BrandonWebb
BrandonWebb moderator

 @Canopylight Yes, we add maritime during advanced training (after the 3 months).  We also do live tissue work (hunt elk,and deer) during advanced sniper training.

Old PH2
Old PH2

 @Canopylight I was in a command with a fellow PH2 that had made it through BUDS but washed out during "dive phase."  I'm sure I've got the nomenclature wrong. Anyhow, every SEAL/UDT, EOD guy I met was almost constantly going to one school or another.  Got to keep that spear sharp!  

ColonelProp
ColonelProp like.author.displayName 1 Like

Good Post Brandon. Liked American Sniper - good recommendation for certain! Your next magnum opus will be coming from Amazon upon release. I also am fascinated by 21st Century Sniper. Can't wait to dig into the details (I am a civvie ballistician by trade so that one will be some good ordnance porn for me) but have a serious case of bright shiny object disease holding me back....look forward to your upcoming posts.

Anon1
Anon1 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Am I the only one not seeing the link to the interview?

BrandonWebb
BrandonWebb moderator

 @Anon1 Good catch and thanks Anon1.  It's fixed and locked and loaded...

McPosterdoor
McPosterdoor

In Marcus Luttrell's amazing book 'Lone Survivor' I believe he described himself as the lone sniper in that team but also medic. How many disciplines does each member usually cross-train in? I'd be damn tough to have one discipline but multiple? Damn.

BrandonWebb
BrandonWebb moderator like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @McPosterdoor  it depends on the individuals desire and likes.  Most SEALs (enlisted) can do just about any job or go to any school they want.  IF they have a good reputation that is...

Old PH2
Old PH2 like.author.displayName 1 Like

 @McPosterdoor Every sailor preforms two or three functions.  He may have several NEC's within his billet, comparable to MOS's.  It is normal to have training in shipboard Damage control, firefighting.  But in the Airwing while I was there, Photographer's would help hang bombs, paint Aircraft, push engines for the AD's, even served as Plane Captains.  In air crew we were Observers, SAR swimmers, door gunners.  The list can go on and on. 

Old PH2
Old PH2

 @BrandonWebb That was a stupid question, sorry.  Old and distracted, beg pardon.

BrandonWebb
BrandonWebb moderator like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Old PH2 A good question. Difficult shot yes however, most trained snipers could make these types of shots. 

Dave
Dave like.author.displayName 1 Like

Brandon, one of your KitUp articles mentioned the difficulty shooting from helos and I saw an army sniper competition  on tv showing the same. In regards to the Maersk Alabama incident, is it as difficult or harder to shoot floating platform to floating platform or from a helo? Was the shooter a specialist sniper or could any SEAL sniper be called upon to do that mission?

Old PH2
Old PH2 like.author.displayName 1 Like

Oh I almost forgot, just picked up Kyle's book.  Not far into it, like his style. 

 

I'm still recovering from February,  as a family we go through the daily reports from Iwo Jima.  It only takes a couple of minutes each day, I started it a couple of years back when my girls grew up enough to understand.   

Old PH2
Old PH2

One of the things that made me get a little grumpy, was hearing that the USN Photo schools were closed and combined with all branches at Ft. Meade.  We regularly cycled students from unusual commands for training.  I wonder how many SW qualified MC's help teach the digital photo part of the course.

BrandonWebb
BrandonWebb moderator like.author.displayName like.author.displayName 2 Like

 @Old PH2 not sure on that one.  Kyle wrote a good book.

 

Erek
Erek

 @BrandonWebb It was a great read, I don't think he is a fan of boat guys. The DET that was out there let him down. Tragic. There are some good guys out there.