MARINE CORPS AIR STATION NEW RIVER, N.C. – Every Marine is a rifleman but soldiers stole the shooting awards from recent students of the Scout Sniper Course 1-18 who graduated at Camp Geiger on Marine Corps Air Station New River, April 13.
The SSC normally only teaches Marines, but among the graduates of Course 1-18 were two soldiers who became the “high shooter” and “high stalker” of the class.
Army Sgt. Clinton Scanlon, left, stands next to Army Sgt. Bryce Fox, right, after graduating the Scout Sniper Course at Camp Geiger on Marine Corps Air Station New River, April 13. The graduating class of 1-18 hosted the two Soldiers who became the course’s “high shooter” and “high stalker.” Scanlon and Fox are Soldiers from the 2d Battalion, 505th Infantry Regiment. (U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Madrigal)
“Sgt. [Clinton] Scanlon and Sgt. [Bryce] Fox were both previous Army sniper graduates and we had an expectation that they would at least be familiar with the skills that we teach in this course,” said Staff Sgt. Craig Chandler, acting chief instructor, SSC 1-18. “They were both extremely easy to work with and they shared their knowledge with the other students in the class who aren’t as familiar. Some of the things that were different to them that they had to adapt to was that they don’t shoot the M40A6. They shoot the M2010 and they don’t shoot known marksmanship.”
Although the Soldiers had to adapt to the way Marine snipers operated, it didn’t stop them from being the best in the class.
“I scored the highest point average on the ten graded stalks we do,” said Fox. “Stalking is when you put grass, leaves and any natural vegetation around you on your body and then you sneak up [on a target] using individual movement techniques. You take a shot without being seen and then you shoot again. The [instructors] do a walking sequence to try and lock on you. If you don’t get found, you pass.”
Scanlon graduated the class as “high shooter” for scoring the best overall score on the rifle ranges.
“We did go through U.S. Army Sniper School so I think we definitely had a leg up on some of the fresh Marines right out of the fleet,” said Scanlon. “It was clear that everyone here knew what they were doing and the instructors were able to get the guys here shooting very well.”
Both soldiers enjoyed working alongside Marines and look forward to future opportunities to train together.
“It was a great course that has all the information to get a sniper going in any community, Army or Navy,” said Scanlon. “After this, I’d like to attend one of the advanced Marine Corps Sniper courses, but for now I’m going to go back to my unit to get my guys trained up on the things I learned here.”
Story by Cpl. Juan Madrigal
As someone who got alot of flack in mid 2000’s in USAF for its tattoo policy, it is really nice to see a more relaxed stance on sleeve tattoos and tattoos in general.
I had to look twice. I didn’t even realize his sleeves were rolled up.
And this makes me wonder….has anyone ever tattooed their arms camo?
Nice winner look 😀 LMAO he could not look more arrogant for this pic
Yay all the Army E-5s beat the Marine E-3’s
Yeah but they probably have the same time in service
Good job. Glad to see their humility and the cross training. Especially when you see the amount of chest pounding marines going on about their snipers being the best and their school being the hardest.
Ouch, that’s going to leave a mark.
Not really, nobody in the community really gives a shit. They were already Army qualified Snipers going through the USMC basic course with dudes that might have not barely touched an M40 before. Good on them for performing and good on the HOGs on staff for putting on a good program.
Boom, 2Panther!
I’d hope they’d be highshooter and honor graduates, they’d already been through Army Sniper School and are E-5 Sergeants. Most Marine Corps Scout Sniper Course candidates are boot E-3 Lance Corporals or sometimes more experienced E-4 NCO Corporals with less than two years in the Fleet.
I’d like to see how they’d do against Marine E-5 Sergeants up in Quantico with the Scout Sniper Team Leaders Course or Advanced Scout Sniper and Intel Section Selection Course.