U.S. Marine scout snipers are highly trained Marines, skilled in sniping and reconnaissance. Scout snipers have a secondary military occupational specialty (MOS) code of MOS 0317 that can be earned by both infantry and reconnaissance Marines.

Scout snipers have two main roles. One role is to use precision weapons to deny the enemy freedom of movement and disrupt their operations by shooting key personnel such as commanders, radio operators, messengers, etc. They may also take out hard targets such as communications equipment, armored vehicles, generators, etc. The other role of scout snipers is to carry out reconnaissance and surveillance operations for their assigned battalion.