From article
The United States Marine Corps disbanded its elite and historic scout sniper program as part of its extensive revamp to adapt infantry battalions to future warfare.
The age-old MOS (Military Occupational Specialty) has been around since World War II, and one nonprofit organization representing the renowned Scout Snipers is calling the Corps move “misguided” and “ill-advised.”
“We’re shocked and saddened that our Marine Corps leadership seems to have forgotten the lessons learned in combat, paid for with the blood of our members,” the USMC Scout Sniper Association wrote on Facebook.
A memo from Deputy Commandant for Plans, Policy, and Operations at Headquarters Marine Corps, Lieutenant General David J. Furness, called for the “immediate transition of Scout Sniper Platoons to Scout Platoons” meaning that infantry battalions will no longer have sniper attachments, but instead scouts who will “provide the commander with relevant, reliable, accurate and prompt information.”
Marine Corps officials believe that the “newly designed Infantry companies were insufficient to offer the Battalion continuous all-weather information gathering,” and that the new Scout Platoons will be better utilized by leadership throughout the branch, according to the memo.
Instead of completely moving away from sniping, a new MOS “Reconnaissance Sniper” will be established “within the Reconnaissance Battalions.”
“The shift to a Scout Platoon will allow those Marines to focus their training and evaluations on scouting, providing commanders the right tools to accomplish their mission,” Marine spokesman Capt. Ryan Bruce told the Marine Corps Times.
The memo also stated that designated marksmen — Marines that receive additional marksmanship training but are not snipers — will still remain within infantry companies, along with precision rifles.
The transition away from sniping was called out by the USMC Scout Sniper Association, which blamed “senior leadership” within the Corps for not giving the Scout Sniper Platoons the resources to meet the Marine Corps needs
“Rather than do away with Scout Snipers… perhaps our senior leadership should invest the little bit of time and effort it would take to better train, equip and organize the highly skilled and motivated Scout Snipers who are already giving their all in defense of our Nation,” the organization fired back at the memo on Facebook.
The abrupt and controversial change comes as part of the Marine Corps Force Design 2030 plan to restructure how the branch operates with the changing landscape of warfare.
“We urge the Commandant of the Marine Corps to reconsider this ill-advised policy decision,” USMC Scout Sniper Association wrote in a plea to reinstate the historic group.
https://nypost.com/2023/03/04/marine-corps-shutting-down-its-elite-scout-sniper-program/amp/
Why?
cranio-rectal inversion
“We’re shocked and saddened that our Marine Corps leadership seems to have forgotten the lessons learned in combat, paid for with the blood of our members”
There is no good reason
Oh, but there is. The [DS] has been consistently weakening our Armed Forces for several years now. By eliminating Scout Snipers, a highly specialized and trained cadre of elite warriors, it degrades the overall effectiveness of the Marines...thereby degrading the US Armed Forces overall.
One of the things that makes the US so feared on a battlefield is its highly specialized units.
So..... "observe & report." Mall cops. Sad.
Yep. What's the good behind the decision? Nothing. God forbid some deep stater gets tapped in the head...does seem like they want to defang the Marines for some silly reason..gee I wonder why....😁
Getting rid of tanks, too...
They are kind of obsolete in a 5th gen war.
In other news, the USMC introduces new MOS “Combat Diversity Karen.”
Shit. One of my grandsons goes to Marine boot-camp in June, was supposed to go into that unit.
I've been training him to shoot, calculate ballistics/adjustments, since he was 5yo. Kid is one hell of a marksman, a natural, at 18.
He should get a job teaching Patriots to shoot instead of joining the currently woke Marine Corps.
Make sure they don't jab him....
He's already told them it will be declined (in writing).
This appears to be one of many changes being made to the USMC. The 2030 Plan under Commandant seems to have a lot of Marines discouraged. Many combat seasoned enlisted Marines disagree with a number of changes being made at the top. I want to believe the best, but I find myself questioning those at the top. Last quarter they had to drain the pool to make enlistment quotas. We know that minimum requirements are being lowered to try to boost enlistment numbers. I personally know of members of the military and their families discouraging young people from joining. For me personally, Afghanistan was a story that I followed in greater detail than most things and it makes me sick to this day to think about it. This administration does not have their backs. East Palestine reinforces to me the idea that they care little for the individual lives of those who have entrusted them with governance. I am still HOPEFUL for the same reasons that many of you are. My earnest hope is that this will all turn around sooner rather than later.
So how are we supposed to win a war with Russia? Or China?