In order to better understand exactly how snipers are valuable, one needs to consider their mission, training, and equipment. His secondary mission is the collection and reporting of information. Both missions are very specific and dangerous. The U. S. Army Sniper School is five weeks of intense training. Before a student can even be considered for attendance to sniper school, he must meet stringent qualifications and pass a mental examination.
Classes are usually small, but have a high failure rate.
The second, third, and fourth weeks are composed of practical exercises and tests covering everything taught during week one. Emphasis is placed on developing stalking skills. After the fourth week and all the field orientated tests have been completed, the students that are left, participate in a four day field training exercise which is run as a real life mission. The students form two-man teams. One is the sniper and the other is his spotter.