Statistically 55% of stellar Marines will fail out of Marine Corps Sniper School. There are a variety of reasons behind this, but recent research has show that there are 5 key predictors of success in Marine Corps Sniper School. Keep reading to see if you could be successful in one of the toughest schools the Marine Corps has to offer.
Common Misconceptions about Snipers
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Having a background in Marine Corps infantry operations and having attended the Marine Corps Scout Sniper Platoon Commander course I have some idea about what makes a good sniper, and how this particular school is run. However, before we get into the detailed stats we first need to review sniper basics.
The Basics of Snipers and Sniping
In the Marine Corps each infantry, reconnaissance, and Raider battalion has their own snipers. Each unit will divide them up separately. In an infantry battalion snipers are part of their own separate platoon. In Recon battalion they are an integral part of each team. Marine Raiders also employ snipers as part of their distinct teams, similar to Recon battalion.
Snipers are tasked with two missions. They primarily gather intelligence to support their battle field commander. For example, they might set up a firing position, observing a mountain pass to see if elements of the enemy are using that route to flank friendly forces.
Or they might set up in an urban hide in advance of a major assault to provide location of enemy forces for future operations. These types of reconnaissance and observation operations are the most common types of mission set given to Marine Corps Snipers.
They are more famously known for providing lethal, precision fires supporting a variety of operations. Often times they will infiltrate an area and provide lethal precision fire on targets of opportunity, or they might provide terminal control for smart bombs, and other types of fire support.
These missions are incredibly difficult to pull off without being compromised, and they require an incredibly smart and tough Marine that is capable of thinking outside of the box. This is why the Marine Corps selects stellar Marines to attend their Sniper Schools.
Unfortunately, the statistics show that 55% of these Marines will fail this course. This is a fairly staggering figure considering the quality of personnel that are selected to attend.
This caused Captain Gregory Jaunal to study what traits if any could predict successful completion of Marine Corps Sniper School in his excellent research thesis at the Naval Postgraduate School.
Scout Sniper Data
Captain Jaunal found that the Marine Corps was currently staffed at around 60% of the total requirement for scout snipers. In his thesis he dives into all the requirements to attend the course, and the specifics of the course itself. He was curious to find what if any of the prerequisites for the course best predicted successful completion.
He also wanted to know if there were any psychological traits that were predictive as well. Effectively he was examining the tangible and non tangible qualities that could predict success at Marine Corps Sniper School.
To do this he examined all the data related to the prerequisites such as: fitness scores, ASVAB scores, enlistment location, shooting scores, and much more.
He also sent out a psychological questionnaire that examined each attendee’s personality traits. The questionnaire tried to determine each student’s level of “grit,” openness, conscientiousness, extroversion, agreeableness, and neuroticism.
5 Key Predictors of Success in Marine Corps Scout Sniper School
With lots of nerd science and scientific equations Captain Jaunal was able to discover some interesting predictors of successfully completing Scout Sniper School. Here is a list of the highlights.
- Age between 21-23 years old: 9.4% higher probability of graduation
- From the Southwest, West Coast : 9% higher probability of graduation
- E5 rank: 18% lower probability of graduation
- Coming from Recon Battalion: 11% higher probability of graduation
- Less than 2 years time in service: 16% lower probability of graduation
- Previously dropping from course: 18% higher probability of graduation
- Not Rifle Expert Qualified: 11% lower probability of graduation
- PFT between 250 and 285: 6.8% lower probability of graduation
- Proficiency rating of greater than 4.4: 16% higher probability of graduation
- Conduct rating of lower than 4.4: 12% higher probability of graduation
- Increase in Grit Score 1/10th point: 60% higher probability of graduation
Discussion
There is quite a lot to digest here, but there are clearly some key points that we need to bring out. The first that jumps out to me is that grit matters. Psychologically speaking grit is basically stubbornness mixed with persistence. It had a huge impact on successful completion.
The next biggest predictor of success was having failed the course. I would argue that it wasn’t the failing that was predictive. It was the returning to try again that actually predicted success. This is also probably another way of saying grit. Successful completion of this course also seems to require more mature Marines as those with less than 2 years in service tend to not do well.
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I also thought it was slightly hilarious that Marines with high proficiency ratings in their primary job did very well, but Marines that simply had good conduct marks did not. It appears that knowing your job is more important than being friendly and likable.
Incidentally Capt. Jaunal found some small relationships between the other psychological variables and success, but they were predictive at less than 5% levels.
Recommendations for Scout Sniper Hopefuls
First and foremost you need to be a goal oriented person who will keep working for months or years to accomplish your goals. If you aren’t this type of person then your chances of graduating will go way down.
You need to be tough and in great shape. This is one course where your ability to run, and ruck will be more important than strength.
Lastly I would recommend that even if you fail, you continue to train and prepare for your next attempt at the course. It’s not your failures that matter it’s what you learned from them that will ultimately make you successful.
Comments or question? Put them below!
I would add that having good senior HOGs in the platoon with experience will greatly increase your chances as well as they will have you trained and prepared mentally and physically long before you get a school spot. Also, marines that attend the Pre-Sniper course (if it is still up and running) have a greater chance at success.
What are the physical fitness tests required for the scout sniper STA course?
Each platoon is going to set their own. I’d google around or try and find someone who recently did the indoc.
If allowed, some older more mature marines would be more successful at this then those young pups!
I am not in the Military,I am a Fulltime Gunsmith Rifle builder. Having been fortunate enough to know a few of these men. I can say that I notice the “Grit” factor. Right away.
I smiled as I read this article. I was the Weapons Training Battalion Corpsman when Carlos Hathcock was standing up the first permanent sniper school at Quantico.
Smiled because the description brought back memories of Gunny Hathcock.
who rates the “grit” cadre? is it subjective or objective? are “spear evals” used? I had 3 schools where ONLY cadre rated students. what classmates had to say was not used. at one school, rats were flagged by cadre, at another, it was COMMON to has the ass kissers visit the liaison office several time a week to back stab the unpopular Marine
Grit is measured by self assessment based upon answers from a questionnaire
I would be interested in data in relation to academics. The majority of Marines who fail the course are due to 3 key areas. Shooting, stalking, and academics. I failed my first indoc. Passed my second. Passed school my first go around luckily. It’s a hell of an experience, that’s for sure!