History of the USMC Sniper School - Rohrer, Bob Rohrer

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The trip to the Canadian Sniper School seemed an excellent opportunity demonstrate the advantages of the sniper to our rather reluctant Basic School Staff. With Charlie Reynold’s permission, I decided to offer an open invitation to the Basic Officer’s School Staff to observe our efforts at the Canadian Sniper School in Frederickton. I started on a “schmoozing campaign” designed to put our school graduates in the light of a battlefield force multiplier. A few carefully placed phone calls to the staff of the Basic School gained quite a bit of initial interest. All officers, especially senior officers, love to go on “boondoggles” to observe foreign armed forces in action. Initially several were seemingly anxious to attend, with at least one Bird Colonel who seemed exceptionally enthusiastic. I called Jack in Canada and alerted him to our possible entourage to watch the “Ball Pein Hammer” and his minions in action. Within a day, Jack got back to me to let me know the entire staff of the Canadian School was preparing to cease all instruction to welcome the United States Marine Corps! Uppss… This wasn’t at all what I had in mind, but you can no doubt envision what was going through the Canadian Armed Forces mindset! Now what? It seems that the Canadians were preparing to impress their American Cousins. I told Jack to stand by, and I would keep him posted. The following day, the ratfinks at the Basic School had “bagged-out” on the trip to Canada. I suppose the attendance by the Basic School hierarchy at something that smelled of marksmanship, was suddenly offensive to those who envisioned “anti-dingers” sitting on promotion boards, thus once again “The Anti- Dinger” mentality had reared its ugly head. While we taught the Canuks some lessons in advanced marksmanship, their woodcraft skills were outstanding, due in at least in part, to having rifles that weren’t in the same league as the M40A1 (if ya’ can’t hit ‘em, ya’ gotta’ get close!). We learned a new lexicon of terminology that was added a bit at a time to our slowly expanding Marine Corps sniping influence. We had such terms as “Sniper Hide” (we had just called ‘em positions), “Gillie Suits” (we were using plain old camouflage with appropriate twigs – don’t laugh, since Carlos “offed” at least 93 of the offending blighters using such archaic methods, good shooting positions, and “sans” the more modern terminology!). Gillie Suits had been used by Scottish Game Keepers to fend off poachers, but the name stuck and has since become one of the well recognized terms utilized in modern sniper training. Ron McAbee used the Frederickton experience to tune up his woodcraft, thus adding to his expertise in helping both Jack and Carlos in later classes. We learned as we went as the old saying goes. A humorous side note on Culver and McAbee’s return to the States occurred at the Montreal Airport. Jack and Carlos had driven to Frederickton in Jack’s Jeep, while Mac and I had flown into Canada. In those days, it was common for male travelers to wear sport coats and ties, as opposed to the current garb of “tee shirts” and blue jeans. While waiting in the lobby, a nicely dressed young lady accosted Mac and I identifying herself as a Canadian Governmental employee making notes on those coming into and leaving Canada. The young lady asked what our business was in Montreal. Mac, always having a well honed sense of humor and looking to be much the more impressive of the two of us was the first to be quizzed. What are you doing in Canada the nice looking young lady asked? Mac looked down at me (he was about 6” taller of the two of us) and said in what might well have been a Russian accent. 10
His answer was, “Ve can tell them NOTHING Comrad!” Always having a quick comeback, I answered with, “Help, I vish to defect!” The young lady screamed and went running off down the concourse. Mac and I went into the head and hid for almost two hours until our plane was just ready to take off. Traveling with Mac was always a thrill! Jack later attended the British Royal Marine Sniper School in England (unfeeling oaf! I wanted to go myself, heh, heh, heh…). Here he learned much about urban sniping, much as we had been taught in Canada based on the Brits’ experiences in Northern Ireland. We were learning, and keeping track of our new found skills. Upon his return from England, Jack told me that one of the first things he noticed was that some squared away British Royal Marine was always standing close behind him in the “Mess”, but saying nothing. Upon heading into his quarters that evening, the British Marine had apparently followed him home! After about a day or so of having his British Marine “shadow” follow him around, Jack asked him if there was something he (Jack) could do for him? “On no sir,” was the reply, “I’m your ‘batman’!” “Batman?” asked Jack, “what in the hell is a batman?” “Sir, I’m here to make sure your uniform is pressed, your shoes are shined, and your wine glass is always filled!” Jack laughingly told me that he wasn’t at all sure he couldn’t get used to the British way of doing things. The Brits have always had a certain sense of style! Using our newly developed skills, we started writing the new Marine Corps Sniping Manual, always seeming to have new chapters added as things progressed. I used my personal collection of Marine Corps Sniper Weaponry on a yellow pegboard, trimmed in red and set up in such a fashion that we could take it where ever we went to make our points, and impress our new prospective students. Heading back to the Marine Corps Basic Officer’s School, I finally got them to allow us to give the new lieutenants a rundown on the usage of snipers to control the battlefield by holding up entire units using hit and run tactics. The ability of a Marine Sniper to make the enemy “leak and squeak” (bleed and yell in pain) has a marvelous psychological effect on advancing troops. Being hit at extreme distances by unseen assailants is always distressing to the uninitiated. The “Thirteen Cent” kill is always an impressive way of making your point. The Officer Instructors at the Basic School agreed to would give us what we asked for, but they scheduled it following all of the subjects in the curriculum. These kids had already finished the Basic Officer’s Course, and were to be taken into a classroom for an hour of indoctrination with the Basic School Company Commanders constantly chiding the new lieutenants that they had only a short time to return to their rooms to get dressed in their finery and get ready for having their “tassels” switched to the other side of their mortarboards. 11
Page 1 and 2: I The Start of Modern Marine Corps
Page 3 and 4: Model 70s (from both the Rifle Team
Page 5 and 6: good pair for the sniper evolution
Page 7 and 8: In the meantime I discovered that a
Page 9: School (encompassing everything fro

History of the USMC Sniper School - Rohrer, Bob Rohrer

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