MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. – Every Marine is a rifleman but soldiers stole the shooting awards from recent students of the Scout Sniper Course 1-18 who graduated at Camp Geiger on Marine Corps Air Station New River, April 13.
The SSC normally only teaches Marines, but among the graduates of Course 1-18 were two soldiers who became the “high shooter” and “high stalker” of the class.
“Sgt. [Clinton] Scanlon and Sgt. [Bryce] Fox were both previous Army sniper graduates and we had an expectation that they would at least be familiar with the skills that we teach in this course,” said Staff Sgt. Craig Chandler, acting chief instructor, SSC 1-18. “They were both extremely easy to work with and they shared their knowledge with the other students in the class who aren’t as familiar. Some of the things that were different to them that they had to adapt to was that they don’t shoot the M40A6. They shoot the M2010 and they don’t shoot known marksmanship.”
Although the Soldiers had to adapt to the way Marine snipers operated, it didn’t stop them from being the best in the class.
“I scored the highest point average on the ten graded stalks we do,” said Fox. “Stalking is when you put grass, leaves and any natural vegetation around you on your body and then you sneak up [on a target] using individual movement techniques. You take a shot without being seen and then you shoot again. The [instructors] do a walking sequence to try and lock on you. If you don’t get found, you pass.”
Scanlon graduated the class as “high shooter” for scoring the best overall score on the rifle ranges.
“We did go through U.S. Army Sniper School so I think we definitely had a leg up on some of the fresh Marines right out of the fleet,” said Scanlon. “It was clear that everyone here knew what they were doing and the instructors were able to get the guys here shooting very well.”
Both soldiers enjoyed working alongside Marines and look forward to future opportunities to train together.
“It was a great course that has all the information to get a sniper going in any community, Army or Navy,” said Scanlon. “After this, I’d like to attend one of the advanced Marine Corps Sniper courses, but for now I’m going to go back to my unit to get my guys trained up on the things I learned here.”