Snipers in Iraq are the same situation as the rest of the troops in the theater: they lack equipment to get the job done.
See the floppy hat? Helmets get in the way. Same with bulletproof vests. They must take them off to work and then put them back on when needing to move.
Here is a letter emailed from Iraq to the website:
My name is SGT John xxxxxx currently deployed to Mosul Iraq with the First Stryker Brigade as a company level Sniper. I have a three-man team. For some reason the Stryker brigade figured a three man team would be better than the traditional two-man team. It has been working well for us. We are able to maintain a better degree of security as well as sustain ourselves on longer missions. To tell you a little about myself i have been in the army for approximately 4 and 1/2 years. I have completed army sniper school and graduated honor grad. I have attended the Marine sniper school at Camp Pendleton and have done sniper training with the Seattle SWAT team. I am always trying to improve my knowledge as a sniper to improve my lethality and survivability. I have been here in Iraq for 6 months now. When I return to the states I have a SOTIC date slotted so I will attend that as well when I return. I have been in the Sniper community for about three years. I have found that there is no better job in the military. When I get out, I am planning to continue my work as a sniper hopefully in a SWAT team or as a private security.
Like I said, I've been in country for about 6 months and we have faced allot of problems over here with employment that the schools do not teach so it's made my job pretty difficult. We have been able to adapt and overcome our challenges but unfortunately, it has been at our own cost because the unit does not see the reason we need different gear than the line platoons. We have had to purchase rappelling harnesses, rope, carabineers, and flack vest's that allow us to seat the rifles in our shoulders better, along with other comfort items. On April 9th all hell broke loose here in Mosul and we were up on an OP. My shooter spotted approximately 150 personnel with RPG's and AK's inter mixed with civilian personnel. He was able to fire three shots before the crowd dispersed. He killed two and wounded one at a 430 meters while under indirect fire. Now the shot does not seem that difficult but if you add the fact that he was firing from the 5th story out of a 12 degree loophole and the persons were running. I am proud of my shooter for making those shots. We were in heavy fire for about 5 hours that day and in all my company killed about 30 NCF and sustained no friendly injuries. I just thought I would tell you a little bit about us.
SO anyways I heard about this program through Strykernews.com. They had an article and I was curious about this program, for we are always looking for newer equipment and better tactics. I have no idea how this program works but I am proud to be a sniper when I see fellow snipers in the community are back home looking out for us snipers over seas fighting this horrible war on terrorism. Myself and my team wanted to relay our thanks to those snipers back home for all the support. I am curious to hear more about this program and how we can get a "Sniper Care Package." Thank you very much for all your support, and in the words of the greatest man that ever shot "Keep your head down, and your powder dry," Carlos Hathcock. I've also attached a pic of myself and my team. I am in the middle. My shooter SPC Furman on the right and my RTO SPC Peters ako "Rabbit"
Sincerely,
SGT John xxxxxx
Army
Mosul Iraq
For all those of you who get mad when you hear about our troops not being supported, here is a chance to do something which will directly affect our troops.
Adopt a Sniper.