The United States Marine Corps has disbanded its scout sniper program as part of its restructuring plan to adapt infantry battalions to future warfare. The scout sniper program, which has been in existence since World War II, has received criticism from the USMC Scout Sniper Association, which called the move “misguided” and “ill-advised.”
According to a memo from Lieutenant General David J. Furness, the deputy commandant for Plans, Policy, and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps, the scout sniper platoons will be transitioned to scout platoons. This means that infantry battalions will no longer have sniper attachments, but instead will have scouts who will provide the commander with information.
Marine Corps officials believe that the new scout platoons will be better utilized by leadership throughout the branch and will provide the battalion with continuous all-weather information gathering. A new MOS, “Reconnaissance Sniper,” will be established within the Reconnaissance Battalions. The new scout platoons will consist of 26 Marines, a first lieutenant, and an infantry gunnery sergeant, which is larger than the traditional scout sniper platoons.
The USMC Scout Sniper Association criticized the transition away from sniping and blamed senior leadership within the Corps for not giving the scout sniper platoons the resources they need. The association has called on the Commandant of the Marine Corps to reconsider the policy decision.
The change is part of the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 plan to restructure the branch in response to the changing landscape of warfare. The transition to a scout platoon will allow Marines to focus their training and evaluations on scouting. Designated marksmen, who receive additional marksmanship training but are not snipers, will still remain within infantry companies, along with precision rifles.
Starting in the fiscal year of 2024, there will be “zero allocated seats” for the “Scout Sniper Basic Course.” The transition has received criticism from the USMC Scout Sniper Association and has been the subject of a plea to reinstate the historic group.
»Marine Corps disbands its best sniper reconnaissance platoons«
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