I wonder if anyone knows how to become a sniper? Let's first understand who a sniper is. This is a soldier trained according to a special program, perfectly mastering the art of camouflage, mark shooting and observation. He can destroy the target from the first shot.
The task of a sniper is to eliminate the enemy, coherent and commanding personnel, defeat important masked, moving, appearing and open single targets (officers, enemy snipers, and so on). Such a shooter uses a sniper rifle equipped with an optical sight and other specific devices that facilitate aiming.
Quite often, well-aimed fighters in other branches of the armed forces (aviation, artillery) are called snipers.
The term "sniper" first appeared during the First World War in the British troops. It came from the English word "snipe" - it is a small and fast bird, the flight path of which is unpredictable. It is difficult to hunt for it: a shot must be carried out offhand.
Russia
And now let's look at the question of how to become a sniper in Russia. It is interesting that back in 2011, in four Russian military districts, they decided to massively train combatant snipers. It is planned until 2016 to provide all motorized rifle and tank brigades with a thousand superbly trained shooters capable of destroying the enemy from a distance of about two kilometers. The military says there are not enough specialists for high-precision destruction of enemy targets.

What sniper weapons will they get? To equip the shooters of the land units intend with sniper rifles Dragunov (SVD) caliber 7.62 mm. By the way, earlier the Russian Ministry of Defense reported that it was no longer going to purchase these obsolete weapons. In addition, the fighters will receive a 9-millimeter Vintoreza. They promised to purchase imported small arms for special forces units. And sniper pairs had to equip a small-sized laser reconnaissance device and means of calculating the initial data for the aimed shot.
How to become a good sniper is a difficult question. For this, it is necessary to undergo special training every three years in training centers. The shooters are trained by instructors who were engaged in the Solnechnogorsk Center, which prepares high-quality personnel. In general, a training program has been developed for sniper schools, providing for mastering a set of knowledge, skills and abilities, including on artillery fire adjustment, counter-sniper training and guidance of military aircraft.
Sniper schools recruit both contract soldiers and conscript soldiers. This new selection and training system has several stages and levels. Now the “green” recruits do not fall into snipers following the results of the first trip to military exercises. First, future professionals go back to school. In district training centers, they not only master the secrets of precise fire, but also study SVD in detail.
Education in Russia
Many are interested in how to become a sniper in the army. The training course of conscripts lasts only three months, which is very small for a real sniper. The military eliminates the shortcomings in the forced training of new recruits when contract soldiers come to special schools to replace conscripts. They are prepared according to an extended program.
By the way, the Russian army’s leadership has changed its views on the use of first-class shooters. The head of the General Staff, Nikolai Makarov, said that each ground brigade would form a separate sniper unit.
In fact, the chief of the General Staff said that only snipers can save Russia. He recalled that the coups in North Africa and the Middle East were “a signal for all countries,” and explained that now the Russian heroes should be “ready for the worst schemes”. According to general’s words, it turns out that the Armed Forces are reformatting to stop local conflicts.
The Chief of the General Staff also said that now snipers play an important role in hostilities, especially in urban areas.
What a sniper should know
Quite recently, the former commando Anatoly Tsyganok criticized the training of snipers. He said: “If the Ministry of Defense prepares snipers for three months, then in the end they won’t be professionals. These will be ordinary soldiers who can destroy a target at a distance of 500 meters. After all, a real sniper accurately shoots at least one and a half kilometers. For example, the Alpha group has been training such personnel for three years, and only two years as the president’s security service. ”
Many commandos say that in the training group of the shooters of the FSB of Russia, only human anatomy has been studied for three months. The next three months, future snipers learn to determine the direction and speed of the wind. Another month is spent on studying ballistics - the shooter should know everything about the behavior of a bullet in the air. And only one week a sniper learns to shoot in a solar halo and prepare weapons so that the optics do not glare during the shooting.
Dragunov Rifle
In order to understand how to become a sniper, you first need to hold the Dragunov rifle in your hands. This product has a caliber of 7.62 mm. The rifle was created by a group of designers in 1958-1963 under the leadership of Evgeny Dragunov. Weapon automation is based on the exploitation of the energy of powder gases transported through the barrel channel to the gas piston. From SVD open fire rifle cartridges 7.62X54 mm with tracer, conventional and armor-piercing incendiary bullets, as well as sniper charges. You can shoot from SVD ammunition with expansive bullets.
This is a great sniper weapon. From it fire lead single shots. The carbine is equipped with a PSO-1 optical sight , and it is also possible to mount an NSPUM night sight on it.
Lyudmila Mikhailovna
Do you know who Lyudmila Mikhailovna Pavlichenko is? This is a female sniper of the 25th Chapaev Rifle Division of the Red Army. Pavlichenko is a Hero of the Soviet Union. After the war ended, she worked as an employee of the General Staff of the Navy of the USSR and had the rank of Major of the Coast Guard.
Lyudmila is the most successful female sniper in world history. On her account is 309 deadly hits (confirmed) in the rank and file of the enemy army.
In general, it has long been believed that war is a male occupation. But in June 1941, when the German army stormed the borders of our country, the whole people rose to defend its independence. And adults, and children, and men, and women stood in the way of the enemy with weapons in their hands!
In the wonderful chronicle of the Great Patriotic War, a colossal number of women's names are recorded, which were awarded the military awards of the Soviet Union. In it you can read about the pilots, and the signalmen, and about the partisans. The nurse, the scout, and the sniper girl also defended their homeland. And one female fighter became a full gentleman of the soldier's order of glory.
The famous girl sniper Lyudmila Pavlichenko in brutal battles eliminated almost the entire battalion of the enemy! People will always remember Alia Moldagulova, Tatyana Kostyrina, Natasha Kovshova, Masha Polivanova, Tatyana Baramzina, Nina Pavlovna Petrova and thousands of other female shooters. The glow of the stars they acquired in fierce fire battles will never fade.
Selection of candidates for ATS snipers
And now we will tell you how to become an ATS sniper. When selecting candidates for such a position, experts use professional-psychological selection. In its process, two critical aspects are fulfilled. The first is the identification of individuals who, by their moral, psychological, professional and psychophysiological qualities, cannot fulfill the tasks of a sniper. Thus, the number of qualification errors and nervous breakdowns in the course of hostilities or special operations is reduced, and the possibility of future mental illness is reduced.
You are pondering the question of how to become a sniper. First you need to study the psychophysiological and psychological indications for appointment to this position:
- chronic ailments;
- condition after illness;
- reduced psychological stability, belonging to a risk group , a tendency to mental maladaptation;
- low degree of development of qualification-relevant parameters;
- increased anxiety, fear, anxiety;
- excessive impulsiveness, intemperance, a tendency to effective response;
- emotional and vegetative inconstancy (frequent blanching or redness of the face, sweating, constant trembling of the eyelids and hands);
- touchiness, irritability, a tendency to negative emotional and evaluative reactions.
The second aspect is the determination of the degree of moral-psychological, psychophysiological and qualification readiness of candidates for the implementation of combat work of a sniper.
For all candidates, the following parameters are evaluated:
- value-legal orientation (impeccable sense of duty, determination);
- moral postulates;
- clarity of motivation (voluntary desire to solve a difficult work task);
- level of claims, self-confidence, adequacy of self-esteem, social maturity (responsibility, realism, determination in a difficult situation, flexibility of behavior);
- intellectual string (general intelligence, heuristic and operational thinking);
- resistance to physical and mental stress;
- level of self-control (poise, restraint, self-control).
Important nuances are also called the ability to quickly understand a dynamically changing and complex environment, well-developed perception, coordination of movements, speed-strength endurance and spatial orientation.
Features
And while some are pondering the question of how to become a good sniper, we will consider the training of shooters for groups to combat armed intruders. Such lessons are distinguished by characteristic features, the main of which is that the firing distance here is 300-400 m. And in the army, snipers are offered a distance of two to three times for training. Moreover, a sniper serving in the police must be able to correctly determine the target, take into account the presence of hostages, members of his group or random persons who may be present near the offender, be able to be in the same position (for several hours), be prepared to answer for the court in the future their deeds.
Many are interested in how to learn how to shoot exactly at the target. This is a serious question, and the answer will be as follows: the selection of ATS snipers is very tough. Candidates are selected on a voluntary basis. It’s not enough just to have the desire to be a sniper. Usually people are selected for such a position from participants in shooting competitions or from people with obvious shooting ability. In addition, candidates should have practical knowledge of ballistics.
And also those who want to be a sniper should have colossal experience in law enforcement, and have excellent knowledge of police activities. Usually preference is given to mature, calm and patient individuals. Pay attention to emotionally balanced, non-smokers and non-alcoholic individuals.
Before asking a question about how to learn how to shoot, you need to pay attention to personal qualities. Management always selects candidates with good physical fitness who are able to withstand heavy loads. Excellent health means instant response, breath control, precise muscle control. It is very important that the sniper has excellent vision and increased stamina. Agree, if the shooter loses or breaks his points, he will become defenseless. In addition, the glasses reflect the sun's rays, and, therefore, give out the location of the sniper. By the way, such a valuable employee must constantly improve his professionalism and improve.
Selection
It is known that a sniper shot can change the story. Therefore, candidates for this position are selected with a level of intelligence above the average. In addition, the future shooter should clearly and clearly communicate with his walkie talkie, be able to understand ballistics, communications, optics, navigation, and so on. Experts also check the degree of observation of the newcomer, visual memory and the ability to analyze, collect useful data, apply them in different situations.
Selection, as a rule, is divided into two stages. First, the available information on the level of development of abilities, health status is studied. What qualities of a sniper are important in work? Usually pay attention to the physical, business, psychophysiological and moral-psychological parameters of the individual. Then testing is carried out to determine the level of development of these qualities.
So, not every great shooter may be a sniper. Therefore, when evaluating candidates, experts always show integrity and firmness.
In order for the sniper to always have a high psychological tone, he is regularly subjected to a psycho-diagnostic examination (they talk, test, observe). For the prevention of stressful diseases, regular relaxation exercises are recommended. They are necessary for building self-confidence, eliminating inhibition and combating anxiety, a specific fear of going to surgery.
"Gods of war"
In the military environment, snipers are called "gods of war." You will never find them in a crowd, in appearance they are no different from ordinary people. No one will notice that the shooter is shell-shocked, and that his eyes have seen death more than once.
Snipers are people with tremendous combat experience, excellent marks on shooting, unlimited exposure and steel nerves. These are fearless people.
In general, the work of a sniper is associated with iron calm: he can hold a target for up to three days.
Do you know how candidates are tested? A novice is put on a chair near the window, they point him to any object and are forced to look at him for twelve hours without taking his eyes off! Agree, not everyone is capable of this!
And there is such a test: in training at night, snipers are raised and one at a time brought out into the field. They are handed a rifle, demonstrate the target (person), and say: "Shoot!". If the sniper does not pull the trigger for five seconds, the test fails. In fact, such a specific fighter must be ready to immediately shoot what is shown to him.
In general, this work is like a dangerous game. It is both exciting and cold-blooded. They say that sniper combat is like chess.
Famous arrows
Do you know that great snipers are not only in the Soviet Union? We list them in order:
- In World War I, Francis Pegamecebou (378 liquidated soldiers and officers of the enemy) was known.
- Finnish-Soviet War (1939-1940): Simo Hyäuhä (542 liquidated Soviet officers and soldiers).
- The snipers of the USSR are known in modern history: Tuleugali Nasyrhanovich Abdybekov, Akhmanov Makhmud, Akhat Abdulkhakovich Akhmetyanov, Zaitsev Vasily Grigoryevich and others.
- The Vietnam War presents us with the following snipers: Carlos Hatchcock (USA), Chuck Mavinni (USA) and Adelbert Waldron III (USA).
So, we examined how you can learn sniper business, and we hope that this article will help those who wish to choose this profession.