United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper A United States Marine Corps Scout Sniper ( MOS 0317 , formerly 8541 ) is a secondary MOS ( Military Occupational Specialty ) designator of U . S . Marine Corps infantrymen and reconnaissance Marines that have graduated from a U . S . Marine Corps Scout Sniper School . A USMC Scout Sniper is a Marine , highly skilled in fieldcraft and marksmanship , that will deliver long - range precision fire on selected targets , from concealed positions , in support of combat operations . A USMC Scout Sniper Team is a detachment of one or more sniper teams performing an assigned task of engaging selected targets , targets of opportunity , collecting and reporting information , or a combination of all , contributing to the accomplishment of the supported unit ' s mission . Surveillance and Target Acquisition ( STA ) Platoons , very similar units , existed until shortly after the Gulf War . They consisted of Scout Snipers and Intelligence Marines . A Scout Sniper Platoon is composed of 8 - 10 Scout Sniper teams , some of which are specially suited for night operations and fully capable of operating in complete darkness through use of night vision scope s and infrared laser equipment . Typically , each Scout Sniper team has two members . One sniper is equipped with a long - range , specially - made sniper rifle such as the M40 ; he also is frequently issued an M9 9mm pistol . The other sniper is typically armed with an M16 series rifle and uses a high - power spotting scope to spot targets and follow - up shots for the shooter . The shooter / spotter relationship is not always set ; some platoons establish designated shooters while other platoons have team members switch off . Within a platoon there are four Special Application Scoped Rifle s ( SASR ) , chambered in the . 50 caliber such as the M82 , or M107 . These can be issued to a team as needed to give supported commanders the option of taking out heavy equipment or heavily armored targets . Scout Sniper teams train to engage man - sized targets with the M40 out to 1000 yards , and can be effective at a range of up to with the M82 , if the environment is right . Overview . Scout Snipers provide close reconnaissance and surveillance to the infantry battalion . By doctrine , a Scout Sniper is a Marine highly skilled in field craft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire on selected targets from concealed positions in support of combat operations . Scout Snipers in Marine infantry battalions fell under the Surveillance and Target Acquisition ( STA ) units initially , and now , more formalized , they belong to the infantry battalion ' s Scout Sniper Platoon ( SSP ) , usually within the Headquarters and Service ( H & S ) Company or Weapons Company . Marine Scout Snipers are trained at one of the four school house locations . The motto of the Marine Scout Sniper is " One shot , one kill . " The term " Scout Sniper " is only used officially by the Marine Corps but it does not imply a differing mission from the U . S . Army Sniper . An Army Sniper ' s primary mission is to support combat operations by delivering precise long - range fire on selected targets . By this , the sniper creates casualties among enemy troops , slows enemy movement , frightens enemy soldiers , lowers morale , and adds confusion to their operations . The sniper ' s secondary mission is collecting and reporting battlefield information , Section 1 . 1 FM 23 - 10 Sniper Training . The Marine Corps is unique in its consolidation of reconnaissance and sniper duties for a single Marine . Most other conventional armed forces , including the U . S . Army , separate the reconnaissance soldier or scout from the sniper . In the U . S . Army , the term " Infantry Scout " refers to a specially selected and trained infantrymen that functions in a reconnaissance and surveillance capacity while " Sniper " refers to a specially selected and trained soldier that primarily functions as a sniper . Most military forces believe that the separation of reconnaissance and sniper capabilities allows for a higher degree of specialization . Scout Sniper Basic Course . The Scout Sniper Basic Course or SSBC is considered to be one of the hardest schools in the Marine Corps . Attrition is normally around 60 % , but can be much higher . There are currently four different school houses in the Marine Corps that offer the Scout Sniper Basic Course . In 2009 , a major change in curriculum occurred with the Scout Sniper Basic Course ( SSBC ) and it was shortened from the traditional 10 week course to a 8 week course . This was done concurrently with the removal of the Advanced Course and the addition of the Team Leader Course of 4 weeks . This reduction of 1 weeks is because of the removal of the course ' s mission planning phase and the addition of this curriculum to the Team Leader Course . Missions are still conducted during the course ' s last week , but are now not a major part of curriculum . In 2010 , a new curriculum was introduced , with shooting as the course ' s primary focus and stalking a secondary focus . The new course is now 12 weeks long . It is no longer called the Scout Sniper Basic Course . Because of the new and extremely difficult shooting qualifications it is now called Scout Sniper Course , as it is no longer considered basic . There are 9 straight weeks of shooting qualifications , before the majority of field training . Basic requirements . These are the basic requirements that must be met in order to attend school , Units vary with Indocs and Pre - Reqs . Minimum Requirements : As per HQMC School Quota Message : Other schools . After graduating the basic course , Marines are given the opportunity to obtain a variety of other courses to further refine their skills . Duties . A Marine Corps Scout Sniper is a Marine highly skilled in fieldcraft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire , on select targets , from concealed positions in support of combat operations . Controversial use of the " SS " symbol . In February 2012 , U . S . media reported that Marine scout snipers had been using the double Sig rune ( ϟϟ , " SS " ) in its " Armanen " form ( ) to symbolize their function since at least the 1980s . The same stylized double rune was the symbol of the SS , Hitler ' s shock troops Nazi organization that was instrumental in conducting the Holocaust . Strong media criticism of this practice ensued . The Commandant of the Marine Corps gave orders to stop it , issued an apology , and ordered an investigation into the prevalence of this practice . A Marine official was quoted as saying that their leadership believed that the Marines did not understand the logo ' s significance . The Military Religious Freedom Foundation , which had helped circulate an image of snipers posing with a blue " SS " flag , questioned this assumption , writing that the flag was sold by a website dedicated to German World War II and Nazi memorabilia .