Key To Success
(STALKING)
“Do not go where the path may lead, go instead where there is no path and leave a trail.”
~ Ralph Waldo Emerson
The act of taking a shot is only one small part of sniping. It’s the culmination point of hard work and calculated risks. At some point there is a beginning. The Sniper has to know where they are, where their target is, their planned route and consider what they might encounter on the way. This is the skill of Stalking; moving undetected into a position to have significant impact on the target.
Prior to beginning a stalk the sniper will assess three things in relation to each other:
Enemy Positions.
Lines of Advance.
Final Fire Position.
This is a study conducted from maps, imagery, patrol & intelligence reports and any other available source of information. From the information gathered a plan will be formed in line with the commanders intent and contingencies made should that plan have to change. This is done discreetly, limiting knowledge of the plans to maintain security and safety.
Enemy Position.
The sniper has to consider the position of the enemy and how to best approach it, to get within effective range. Additionally it needs to be taken into account the disposition of the enemy, their strengths and weaknesses, routines and how they operate, the most likely and their most dangerous course of action in response to sniper activity. When setting off the enemy picture is composed from gathered information. At the earliest opportunity the sniper will get to a position to physically view the target and confirm the situation. At this point plans may need to be slightly amended or completely changed.
There is no point embarking on anything in life if you have no idea at all of where you are going or what your trying to achieve. Equally you don’t have to wait until you know everything, just enough to get going. A rough direction and ‘aim’ will suffice. Detail can be gathered on the way. When you know more, refine your plan and communicate them to those who need to know. You can try and influence the acts of others or guess what they might do but understand you only really control what you do. Your plans may have to bend in order to achieve your aim.
Lines of Advance.
Before and during the Stalk the Sniper will make the following considerations;
Risks.
Exposure.
Disturbed Wildlife.
Sense of Direction.
Observation.
Alertness.
Personal Camouflage.
If Risks are to be taken, and they will be at sometime, then they are best taken early in the process when the impact is lessened and easier to recover from. Whilst moving forward exposure to others is inevitable but it can be minimised by your posture. Whilst stalking it’s knowing when to run, when to walk and when to crawl. These can be simple metaphors for how to conduct yourself. Speed can be of the essence but draw unnecessary attention; sometimes you just need to go low and slow. So long as you’re moving in the right direction.
Disturbing wildlife can bring unwanted attention and make an enemy more alert. Making the snipers job even harder.
Although some areas may seem attractive to use they are best avoided. Keeping your intentions hidden from an adversary until in a position to act on them offers an increased chance of success.
The necessity to remain concealed can cause orientation problems, especially if the route has many changes in direction. It’s vital that they keep in mind the intended destination. The sniper will do this by choosing a reference point. Something that can be identified quickly and easily in relation to where they are going.
Being able to orientate and keep in mind where we are going in life is invaluable. There will be many twists, turns and distractions to negotiate. It’s easy to get disorientated and end up in trouble. By maintaining a sense of direction, using reference points in our life. Even if you head off in a wrong direction it’s easier to get back on track.
As they continue to advance the Sniper will stop regularly to observe. To reassess the ground and the situation. From a consolidated and concealed location the Sniper will observe the surrounding. Confirming what they thought and looking for what has changed. Looking for the absence of the normal and the presence of the abnormal! Indications that not all may be as it seems. If they had been detected further advancement may be compromised.
It’s easy to be buoyed by confidence, especially if everything is going to plan. Even if your plan is going well others may have noticed and taking steps to improve their own position, further their own interests at your expense. Without being over cautious and suspicious to the point of paralysis it can be good to stop, assess and adjust if necessary. A simple change in direction, a preemptive act at the right time can avert failure.
The Sniper has to continuously evaluate their personal camouflage against the vegetation and construct of the area they are moving through, as well as the back drop to their position.
Blending in with your surroundings allows a certain freedom of movement, the ability to get into a position of choice with little obstruction. Once you’re there, then you can act to have the effect you want.
Final Fire Position.
From the beginning the Sniper will have an idea of where they will set up from. When getting to a position where they will first be able to evaluate the target. This is also the time to re-evaluate the planned Final Fire Position. If not all is as expected it’s better to adjust now than get into a position that is untenable. The Final Fire Position should offer cover from fire, cover from view and allow the Sniper to operated their weapon system. If operating with others it should have communication, inter-locking arcs of fire and able to mutually support. Critically it has to be somewhere that they can move on from, to recover and progress to the next task.
It’s good to know where your heading but don’t be so wed to it that you can’t adjust. If something isn’t quite right, doesn’t fit your requirements then do something else no matter how much you’ve invested in getting to where you are. If all is going to fail at the very end then all your efforts have been for nothing. A Final Fire Position is not the end. It’s simply the position you want to be in at that stage. You’ll be able to operate effectively for a period of time but at some point you will have to give it up and move on.
Summary
Have a plan in life, get as much information as you can then get on the move, don’t wait for the perfect plan. Keep yourself orientated and aware of your surroundings. Take risks when necessary but take steps to avoid distractions and drawn into areas that are best avoided. Do what you need to do to conduct yourself with impunity and adjust when necessary. When you’re ready to demonstrate your intentions do it from a position of your choice. Preferably with support from others. When you’ve achieved what you can be ready to move on and build on your success.
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