MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course
U.S.M. C. Photo
MARSOC Marines pictured while undertaking the MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course at the Marine Special Operations School at Camp Lejeune, NC.
The foremost Marine is taking aim with a M40 7.62x51mm bolt-action sniper rifle.
The MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course (MASC) is a 4-week course that produces snipers trained to special operations standards.
Marines attending the course will already have passed a basic level course such as the USMC Scout Sniper Basic Course, NSW Sniper Course or the Army's USASOC Level 1 Course.
The MASC is split into 5 blocks:
- Block 1: Fundamental skills, Ballistics, and live fire at 100-200meters.
- Block 2: Ballistic software, sniper equipment, engagement techniques, known distance shooting, and equipment practical application.
- Block 3: Sniper Tactics and employment, foreign weapons, ballistic testing, Glass shooting, Unknown distance shooting (day and night) with 5.56LR, 7.62LR, .
300WM, and .50 Caliber rifles, and moving target shooting.
- Block 4: Qualification on the MASC qualification course, a composite score based off of four separate and timed drills including barricade shooting, day and night unknown distance, and spotter qualification.
- Block 5: Aerial sniping, Explosive loophole breaching, Loophole shooting, Side prone shooting, High angle shooting, Urban hides, Vehicle hides, Surveillance equipment practical application, and the culminating exercise; a four day reactive scenario in which sniper teams locate targets, conduct surveillance, and eliminate targets as part of a Marine Special Operations Team, utilizing the full spectrum of SOF assets and equipment.
