Fact File

Police Sniper vs. U.S. Marine Sniper

D.C. Police Sniper

Weapons and Uniform

  1. Primary weapon: Remington 700VS police sniper rifle
  2. Caliber: .308
  3. Round: 180-grain Nosler Partition
  4. Scope: Leupold 6.5 X 20
  5. Rifle accessories: Harris 1A2 bipod
  6. Secondary weapons: M-16A2 & M-4A1 (5.56mm), Remington 870 12-gauge shotgun, Colt M635 & Uzi (9mm), SIG-Sauer P-226 (9mm), 37mm gas gun

Mission

To prevent crime and the fear of crime, as we work with others to build safe and healthy neighborhoods throughout the District of Colombia

Established

April 1984

  1. Range of operations: District of Columbia
  2. Unit size(s): Typically six-man teams that operate independently or in conjunction with other units depending on scope of mission

Schools

Washington, D.C. MPD-Emergency Response Team basic training course

Training

  1. Training (prerequisites): MPD Police Academy graduate and record review and approval
  2. Training (screening): Firearms proficiency test, urban obstacle course, written test and oral interview conducted by ERT senior members
  3. Training (OJT): N/A
  4. Training (school): Six-week MPD-Emergency Response Training basic training course involving PT, pre-incident contingency planning, rappelling, chemical agents, cover and concealment, urban & rural stalking
  5. Training (advanced): One week of sniper training including weapons safety, ballistics, marksmanship, position, weather and light conditions, cover and concealment, target indication, distance judgment, map and compass and communications
  6. Graduation rate: More than 80 percent

Qoute

"When people are in trouble, they call the police. When the police are in trouble, they call SWAT!"

— From ShootingTimes.com article on Los Angeles Police Department's S.W.A.T., by Gary Paul Johnston. To read the article visit: http://www.shootingtimes.com.

U.S. Marine Sniper

Weapons and Uniform

  1. Primary weapon: M-40A3
  2. Caliber: .308
  3. Round: M-118LR
  4. Scope: Unertl 10 power
  5. Rifle accessories: Sight rail system for quick scope, Harris bipod, five round magazine box, adjustable stock and cheek piece
  6. Secondary weapons: M-4 Carbine (5.56 mm), M-16A2 (5.56 mm), M-9 pistol (9mm)

Mission

To serve as the precision fire element for an infantry battalion and to provide precise target acquisition

Established

September 1965

  1. Range of operations: A mission specific global force
  2. Unit size(s): Two man sniper/observer team to four-13 member squad platoon

Schools

Quantico, Va.; School of Infantry East, Camp Geiger, N.C.; School of Infantry West, Camp Pendleton, Calif.; Kaneohe Bay, Hawaii

Training

  1. Training (prerequisites): Training (prerequisites): GT score of 100+, rifle expert, 1st class PFT, strong swimmer, no NJP within six months
  2. Training (screening): Obstacle course, endurance courses, pool training, full-pack field training with added weight
  3. Training (OJT): Between 30-90 days with snipers while evaluated
  4. Training (school): 10 weeks divided into four weeks of marksmanship and six weeks of field skills including stalking, survival, a "Hell Week," an administrative "Chill Week" and a weeklong final exercise
  5. Training (advanced): After two years in fleet, sniper attends scout/sniper advanced course, Quantico, with hopes of becoming chief scout or platoon sergeant
  6. Graduation rate: Less than 70 percent

Qoute

"It's takes a whole lot of brains and a whole lot of guts. It's a thinking man's job. You've got to have some serious G-2 upstairs."

— Sgt. Christopher Sharon, Quantico sniper instructor