text: Offensive Considerations in Counterinsurgency
  Mission
  • Snipers must have clear engagement criteria and a thorough understanding of the ROE.
  Engagement criteria must be refined so the individual sniper can make the correct engagement
  decision while the target is engageable.
  • Once an engagement area and a sniper position are identified, then leaders should determine a
  mutually supporting position for a security team to occupy.
  • Current and planned locations of sniper teams should be tracked by the headquarters
  responsible for the area in which the snipers are operating. Often this means designating their
  locations as a no fire area that can be tracked by all forces operating in the area to prevent
  fratricide.
  Enemy
  • Sniper positions need to be defendable in case of compromise by the enemy.
  Terrain and Weather
  • Snipers, small kill teams, small observation teams, and small capture teams can aid
  commanders in denying terrain and freedom of movement to insurgent elements while
  providing security to sensitive or critical sites in both rural and urban areas.
  Troops and Support Available
  • In addition to a robust communications capability, commanders resource these elements with
  linguists, medical personnel, surveillance equipment, and sustainment resources. The QRF
  is typically involved in the detailed planning of these operations and can be deployed forward
  to minimize reaction time.
  • SKTs, SOTs or SCTs are task-organized with sniper-qualified personnel or squad designated
  marksman, weapons squads, and specialty skills personnel. They may be comprised
  of sniper-qualified individuals or squad designated marksman.
  TECHNIQUES
  5-180. All sniper operations in COIN should consider sniper positions, sniper security sniper insertion
  and sniper extraction.
  Positions
  • Tactical leaders must continually analyze the OE for potential sniper team overwatch positions.
  Leaders reconnoiter to determine the suitability of potential positions. Leaders reconnoiter
  to determine the suitability of potential positions. When employing sniper teams, leaders ensure
  each position provides mutual support against a threat.
  • The insurgent often will engage from areas of passive support, and where he has a sense
  of security. Detailed reconnaissance and accurate knowledge of the OE allows leaders
  to recognize advantages and disadvantages of different positions and types of areas. There are
  two basic areas for sniper positions in an urban environment—residential areas and industrial
  areas. Both areas include the use of elevated positions or ground level positions. Roofs are not
  always the best place to operate since roofs are often not the highest location in the area and are
  often wide open with little cover. Successful position selection techniques in COIN are—
  Rent Uninhabited Dwellings or Other Structures
  • Teams are careful not to establish a pattern or expose the property owner to the insurgency.
  Owners may compromise the snipers.
  Positions in Locally Occupied Homes
  • Teams, however, must consolidate the family in one part of the house with a security element.
  When exfiltrating the residence, compensation should be provided to the owner.