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Originally Posted by tostado22  I got selected to attend sniper school  . Its going to start in april. I can't wait to go and as soon as I get the packing list Im going to start on my ghillie suit. Probably go with a multicam base and go from there. I will need to refresh myself on the MIL range estimation formulas and practice some of that. Should be a good time though. Just got to finish my psych eval to complete the packet.
Does anyone who has made a ghillie have any advice? Im planning on cutting up one of my old duffel bags and using that to reinforce the knees, elbows and chest. The only thing Im not sure on is making the hood. Mostly whether or not I should use a boonie cap or an actual loose fitting hood of maybe some type of netting or mesh. |
Yeah- start making that sucker now or youll be up doing it all night while youre at school. When i went through in 06' it was balls to the wall non stop from 0400 PT to usually around 2200 or 2300. Classes, range. Smoke sessions. Ive heard they really toned it down though. I used an old set of BDUs. Then, i cut up some sleeping mat peices and sewed them into the elbows and knees of the suit. I used canvas for the entire front of the suit, double stitched (takes a LOT of time) and shoe gooed the seams. For the back, its 1x1 inch netting. You need to alternate your jute (strips of burlap) and your empty squares 1 for 1. you then need to attach 550 cord onto the empty squares. This will allow you to practice the 50 50 principle of 50 percent jute/artificial camo and 50 percet natural vegitation (which during stalks, you may be switching out on a regular basis). Make sure you burn the ends of that 550 cord. Make each peice about 3-4 inches long so you can easily tie stuff to it. Dont over do the jute, if you look like a stupid wookie, youre wrong. Make sure your shoulders and arms are covered as well. youre going to sweat like hell in that thing. Leave room for a camelbak. Also, sew a couple of utility pockets on near your wrists and maybe one in your lowerback underneith your netting. Oh yeah, get some fire retardant and spray that damn thing down good.
Brush up on-
-Range Estimation
-Target Detection (work on your obversation techniques)
-Get in shape. Youll have to take a PT test the 1st or 2nd day and schoolhouse PT was no slouch when i was there. Theres some BIG hills out the back of the school house... you will be running and buddy carrying up those. A lot.
-Stalking washes a lot of people out. Better get smart.
-Fundamentals of marksmanship
-Hope you have a good short-term memory because KIMS games are going to whoop your butt.
-There are elements of recon operations in this school that you will be learning about.
-Learning to cut for sign and track people
-Basic pistol
The mil formula we teach in the army (and im sure they still put out at school) is Height of target in Inches x 25.4/Mils high. Also applicable for width. You will be expected to use this formula through you M3A to estimate range on Etype sillouettes and other targets at ranges of up to and beyond 1000M. The test is eyes, bino and optic. More error for eyes and bino. 5 or 10% only for optic.
Buy and study FM 23-10. That is your new 7-8. Read it, love it, know it, memorize it, live it. Piasters got good book out called Ultimate Sniper that worth reading as well- but KISS- keep it basic. Much of what is taught comes right out of 23-10.
There are at least 1-3 written tests a week that you HAVE to pass. Ive seen guys fail out of the academic portion of school.
Bring lots of note paper. I still have all my notes from class and I could fill a box with them. That course should really be at least 8-10 weeks long instead of 5. There is enough information jammed into that course to fill 12 weeks easy.
Dont miss. Say hi to Mr. Carty and Leroy for me. If you have any other questions, feel free to ask.
*** OH YEAH- if you built your ghillie suit like crap, its going to fall apart in the ghillie wash.......
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