WHY SNIPERS NEED TO ATTEND A LEVEL II SNIPER COURSE

I was recently approached by a Level I Sniper alumni who was lobbying his agency to send him to our Level II Advanced Sniper Course for continuing education.??His agency command’s response to the request was that they thought that the course was “…more of a want than a need…”?I’m reminded of a quote used in our Level III Sniper Course – Leadership, Training and Utilization of Police Snipers:

Question:?What happens if we invest time and money developing our SWAT Snipers by providing them ongoing up-to-date and advanced training and then they leave our agency?

Answer:?…..well, what happens if we don’t…….. and they stay?

Statistically, approximately 66% of snipers attending our Level I course return to take a Level II Advanced Sniper course.?In comparison to other sniper training providers, we find that their training schedules reflect a lower demand for their advanced class offerings over their basic sniper courses. [1]

The contemporary SWAT Sniper concept cannot be taught or learned in a 5-day basic training event.??In fact, the skillset necessitates a commitment from both the individual sniper as well as his/her agency to continue training and growth beyond the basic sniper class.??The study of the knowledge and skill involved in this specialization can turn into a career-long endeavor for the dedicated LE SWAT Sniper.??Conversely, failure to support continuing education for a SWAT Sniper specialist can turn into a career-ending endeavor should the Sniper not be able to present up-to-date training in the aftermath of high-profile shooting and places legal liability on the agency for failure to train.

In 2016 SPS/HGTG introduced a Sniper Training Standard program based on our training and experience in the specialization.?Today, the Sniper Training Standard identifies a minimum standard of two levels of training for snipers – Basic (Level I) and Advanced (Level II) and recognizes 43 areas of training that should be addressed annually. [2]?For Sniper Section Leaders, training should continue with SWAT leadership training (Level III or equivalent) and further specialized training as required or professionally desired.???After 30 years of teaching, I am no stranger to furthering my own skill and knowledge and seeking out ongoing training.?When you believe that you’ve reached a learning pinnacle and what you know is good enough to get by, brace up for a fall.

Law enforcement, as well other professions, requires continuing education and retraining for general service as well as certain occupational specialties on an annual basis.?The standard of new or updated training every 2 – 3 years for specializations is considered best practice by many in the training industry and some organizations require annual retraining to maintain certification.[3]

SPS/HGTG concentrates on the core skills of Marksmanship, Tactics and Fieldcraft in our Level I Sniper course and this has served our program and our alumni well.?In our Level II Sniper course, we expand the concepts of Level I and push the sniper to perform in mixed terrain, urban environments and under limited time constraints based on real world sniper resolved incidents.?

The Level I and Level II program lay a solid foundation for a well rounded LE SWAT Sniper who can bring improved skillset back to his team.?A well-trained Level II Sniper who is wholly committed to his craft will continue to study and grow his skills in this unique LE SWAT specialization.?SPS/HGTG has had the opportunity to contribute to the career development of LE SWAT snipers from city, county, state and federal agencies from across the US and Canada.

SPS/HGTG considers the attendance of LI and LII sniper courses to be a baseline of the training needed for the SWAT Sniper and our training program goes on from there to Level III – Leadership, Training and Utilization of SWAT Snipers, Level IV -Mixed Terrain Target Interdiction and our latest course, Sniper Night Vision Operator.?The SPS/HGTG sniper training program and catalog continues to grow and evolve to meet the challenges and threats of the contemporary world and is one of the broadest sniper centric training catalogs offered by a single entity.?

[1] Based on published training calendars of six nationally recognized sniper training providers schedules showed a 2 to 1 ratio of Basic to Advanced sniper training courses.

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[2] SPS/HGTG Sniper Training Standards ?2016-2023 available to LEAs by subscription request

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[3] Ex.: Annual In-service training for LEOs required by POST standards in most states, Recertification for LE instructors certified by state and private entities

Denny Elliott’s career in law enforcement spanned over 29 years.?He served in agencies in Kentucky and Tennessee and as a Federal Law Enforcement Officer.?His work in LE Special Operations began early in his career and he has served as a task force counter-drug field operator, SWAT operator, Sniper, Sniper Section Leader, Team Leader and Commander.?He served as chief LEO in two agencies and has been involved in training since the early 1990's.?Denny spent the last five years of his LE career assigned as the training commander for a Tennessee Sheriff's Office with over 300 sworn personnel where he oversaw a full-time training staff managing all agency training.?He retired as a Lieutenant. ?He is a member of the NTOA, IALEFI, ILEETA, TLETOA and American Sniper Association.?He is a certified instructor in Firearms, Tactical Rifle, Force on Force, Defensive Tactics, Baton, Edged Weapons, LE Ethics and Below 100.?He developed the Level I, II, III and IV Police Sniper Courses, Sniper Night Vision Operations Course, the Law Enforcement Firearms Instructor Trilogy Courses, Law Enforcement Designated?Marksman Course and various other tactical training courses of instruction which are owned by Sniper Pro Shop and presented by the High Ground Training Group.?He is the CEO of SPS and Master Instructor with HGTG.?Sniper Pro Shop is a GSA schedule training provider for homeland security and firearms training.

Website: www.sniperproshop.net

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/sniperproshop/