page_title: Designated marksman
section_title: Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
hierarchical_section_title: Designated marksman / Worldwide use / Israel Defense Forces (IDF)
context_page_description: The designated marksman, squad advanced marksman, or squad designated marksman is a military marksman role in an infantry squad. The term sniper was used in Soviet doctrine although the soldiers using the Dragunov SVD were the first to use a specifically designed designated marksman's rifle. The analogous role in the Israeli army is sharpshooter.
  The DM's role is to supplement the attached squad by providing accurate fire upon enemy targets at distances up to 600 metres. Due to the need for repeated effective fire, the DM is usually equipped with a scoped semi-automatic rifle called a designated marksman rifle. Like snipers, DMs are trained in scouting and precise shooting, but unlike the more specialized "true" sniper, they operate as an intrinsic part of an infantry fireteam and are tasked to lay down accurate support fire at valuable targets as per tactical necessity, thus extending the reach of the fireteam.
context_section_description: The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) implemented significant changes to sharpshooting doctrine in the 1990s. Doctrine, training program, and courseware were completely rewritten and snipers were issued the bolt-action M24 SWS instead of the M14 rifle. A major change was the introduction of a new battle profession – the designated marksman (קלע סער, "kala sa'ar" in Hebrew) – intended to improve the accuracy and firepower of an infantry platoon and compromise between the role of a sniper and an assault rifleman. These soldiers were generally called "squad snipers" to describe their role. They are armed with SR-25 rifle and sharpshooter variations of the IMI Tavor TAR-21 (STAR-21), M16A2E3 and M4 carbine.
caption: SR-25 rifle
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