CAMP HANSEN, Japan — When Marines are about to enter a building housing an enemy, it's good to know someone is watching over them, especially when that someone can send a 7.62 millimeter round through the enemy's eye, if need be.
In operations involving the Marine Corps Base Provost Marshal's Office Special Reaction Team, that someone is known as a marksman observer — SRT's version of snipers.
Special Reaction Teams are the Marine Corps' version of SWAT teams. They perform operations such as counter terrorism and hostage rescue.
The MCB team conducted marksman observer training on Camp Hansen, Dec. 14, to maintain their sniper skills and identify some "new blood," to serve as SRT snipers, according to Gunnery Sgt. Eric Meek, the SRT staff non-commissioned officer in charge.
Meek explained that SRTs are comprised of two elements: an entry element and marksman observers. During an operation, the entry team enters the area and deals directly with the situation while marksman observers, located at strategic points, function as snipers, he said.
"Marksman observers have a two-part mission," Meek said. "One is to observe and get firsthand intelligence to pass to the rest of the team, and two is to provide cover for the entry team on the ground."
In order to become designated a marksman observer, SRT Marines go through demanding sniper courses. To maintain their designation, the Marines must perform a monthly marksmanship qualification test, which was part of the day's training.
"The active (marksman observers) with us have to come out here once a month and qualify with their weapon at 100 yards and put five rounds into a 3 inch diameter target with 100 percent accuracy," Meek said.
The Marines qualified with the U.S. Marine Corps Designated Marksman Rifle — the standard weapon for marksman observers. They also fired the U.S. Army's M-24 Sniper Weapon System.
"A marksman observer has to know the weapon they're going to operate with," Meek said. "So we also train with the M-24s, which are the Army's sniper rifles that they give to us because we provide SRT cover for the Army all over the island."
A major part of the training was to bring in a new marksman observer. The team had two going into the training, and Meek said they used the training to identify one more qualified candidate.
"We're pulling one over from the entry team," he said.
The Marines from SRT's entry team who were interested in becoming a marksman observer were instructed on how to use the DMR and shot on the qualifying range. The Marine chosen for the slot was picked based on a number of variables, including how well he fired.
"They saw how well we shot, who was most interested and also other things, like our personality," said Lance Cpl. Jesse Zeitz, an entry team member with SRT and the Marine chosen for the marksman observer position. "Sometimes you have to sit there for a long time, doing nothing; not everyone can do that."
Zeitz said that the job of a marksman observer was perfect for him.
"I'm stoked," he said. "This is something I've wanted to do. I get more to do, more training and I get an awesome job."