Airmen Train at Royal Air Force’s Basic Sniper Course

By Tactical-Life

The following is a release from the 23rd Wing Public Affairs Office:

He shivered in below-freezing temperatures, as pouring rain seeped through his muddied uniform. Clouds blanketed the night sky, casting a darkness difficult to defeat. Even with night vision technology, it was hard to see past his rifle.

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As his mind wandered to his hunger and lack of sleep, the sniper turned his thoughts back to the mission at hand. Staff Sgt. Joseph Crotty, the 822d Base Defense Squadron NCO in charge of standards and evaluations, would have to stay focused to get through this training.

Crotty and Senior Airman Phillip Hopkins, the 822nd Base Defense Squadron fireteam leader, both endured this scenario and many others during the Royal Air Force’s Basic Sniper Course. The intense nine-week training allowed the Airmen, who both have already been through the U.S. Air Force’s Sniper Certification Program, to further develop in-depth knowledge of their specialty.

“The RAF sniper school is one of the toughest schools we send Airmen to, but it is not just about shooting,” said Col. Michael Ross, the 820th Base Defense Group commander. “It trains endurance, field craft and …read more

Source:: Tactical Life