[Spc. R. B. Rees]

Hey Ya'll,

I'm an Army Sniper currently deployed in Iraq. It's been an adventure to say the least. Gear shortages, a command still unsure of how to properly employ my team, and an enemy who has all the elusiveness of the Viet Cong.
The fact I've had to buy my own spotting scope, laser rangefinder, and police type vest to wear under the Ghille that I made by hand, doesn't bother me. If the Army's short of funds, far be it from me to not help out a bit. Did I mention they did have funds for wide screen TV's, new furniture, and two copy machines in the Company TOC?
It really doesn't bother me all that much that they owe me every sent of travel pay/per diem/ and lodging for the time I was in Sniper school and not allowed access to the chow hall "cause Snipers stink"
What bothers me most, is for all the trouble, hard work, and danger I endure, my promotion was canned when I graduated Sniper because it's an E-4 slot.
There's a famous quote from Apocolypse Now, "everyone gets what they want, I wanted a mission...and for my sins they gave me one".

Take Care,
Scouts Out

 

[Dead Roman]

gimmie an adress, ill send grub and ammo.

 

[mele]

Boy, sure sounds like things haven't changed much..... unfortunately.

Yep, get that address out, there are many on these forums who would love to help you guys out.

Take care, be safe, and keep us posted on events

MEL

 

[madgunsmith]

What do you need? Please let us know and we will send it to you.

Nothing would make me happier than to know that something we sent you helped in bringing some two-legged varmints to bag.

Mad

 

[AK]

Although I do not like the fact that American troops are in Iraq, I'll help 'em. I can't do much, because Canadian currency is about as valuable as horse-piss in the ocean, but put an address up and I'll send what I've got around, should you need it.

Ghille that I made by hand

My opinion, this is the only way to make a ghillie. Ghillies are always as unique as the sniper wearing it, and in my experiance, handmade ghillies are much better in the field than "Factory Suits."

Looks like snipers have one of the most dangerous jobs in the military but don't get any kind of recognition for it other than less training, funds, and this bullshit with the promotion.

 

[Jeff_850]

hi,

i would like to say that everyone here appareciates that your fighting for our freedom
im sorry that everonye else gets the funds and mis-uses them while you have to get your own equipment for war

take care and stay safe and tell us what ya need there are members here who would be happy to help

 

[ir0nside]

While your superiors and departments might not respect you ..

.. be rest assured that we all do. I know I certainly respect the devotion and heart you've put into your role. Keep it up, and if you were strong enough to make it that far, you're certainly strong enough to make it through their scathing biases!

 

[mele]

I had one CO who really understood sniper and how to employ us, and he was great. In fact, I was in the same boat (E4 promotable, but in an E4 sniper slot, not allowing promotion). He did a cool thing, put me in as a team leader (for a fireteam, an E-5 slot) but I only had one member in my team, my sniping partner. So, our fireteam was a Sniper Team. I got my E-5, and was still the team leader for our sniper team.

After that CO moved on, I kept things going okay, but then I ETS'd about a year after that and the sniping program went down the tubes.

Sniping and Sniping Employment is a very very big hurdle for the US Army. They like their M1A1's, M2A2's, Patriot Missiles, etc. Snipers are not valued too much unless you get a good CO who understands.

MEL

 

[muzzleblast]

I'm sure even a lot of little things might be nice, like a Mildot Master or a slope doper and a can of chaw. Or a logbook, or a scientific calculator or a palm pilot, etc.

I know of a few organizations in the US who are truly doing a ton to help snipers in need, and I'm sure lots of other people here know of them if they cannot actually help themselves.

 

[AK]

Sniping and Sniping Employment is a very very big hurdle for the US Army. They like their M1A1's, M2A2's, Patriot Missiles, etc. Snipers are not valued too much unless you get a good CO who understands.

But you served in a Mech division, right? Light Infantry C/Os would be much more appreciative of their snipers as they don't have the M1A1s and M1A2s to run roughshod over any target with.

 

[mlammers]

Hey guys have you heard of the adopt a sniper program, at Snipersonline. I have my money into them, and they have a program to adopt snipers in the US service. Maybe we could get the forum to adopt him, or even his unit. I might be able to get som armor from work, I will have to check on that. What other gear do you need, I have some sniper friends(military and LE)who might be able to help too. This could work! Mel what do you think?

ML313

Know your enemy and yourself and you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles-SunTzu

Practice does not make perfect,PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT-OSP Drill Instructor

 

[AK]

AdoptASniper? Sweet. Pick a unit, pick some sniper teams. Set up a PayPal account or similar so I can toss in some of my worthless currency, because God knows nothing useful militarily is coming out of Canada.

 

[muzzleblast]

Thats one I was thinking of, Mlammers!

The late Bruce Robinson had a program he called "Goodies for Grunts" that I think his wife still operates and maybe they would want to help as well. Its really inspiring to see people at home doing so much. It must feel great to get packages.

AK, I think we're hovering around 80 cents US...not bad at all.

 

[Duct Tape]

id defineatley donate some money,thats defineatly a better way to spend my money than buying **** for me.

I just want to personnaly thank you for putting your life on the line to serve our country,i truly apreciate the efforts of all you guys over there,and i cant wait to join up myself.

 

[Dead Roman]

dude i would definately be more inclinced to throw a 50 spot at at paypal account every month, thats like pennies off a months pay and would make a big difference for these guys.


think about that, if 10 peopl off this board threw 50 bucks a month at those guys, he and his partner would have 500 dollars a month to spend on gear or whatever needs they had. thats a pretty big help, and i donno bout you guys but thats hardly anything off a month for me.

 

[AK]

AK, I think we're hovering around 80 cents US...not bad at all.

We're up! We can make some kind of a difference!
*Insert special Irish jig AK normally reserves for states of extreme inebriation here.*

think about that, if 10 peopl off this board threw 50 bucks a month at those guys, he and his partner would have 500 dollars a month to spend on gear or whatever needs they had. thats a pretty big help, and i donno bout you guys but thats hardly anything off a month for me.

You know the best part about this? It's not going for a widescreen.

 

[Drew]

Count me in

 

[mlammers]

Hey guys, I will contact the program today to get more details, see what we need to do. I think it would be nice if we could set it up to come from the whole group of us, who knows if we get enought stuff and cash, might be able to adopt more than one.

ML313

Know your enemy and yourself, and you need not fear the outcome of a hundred battles-SunTzu

Practice does not make perfect, PERFECT PRACTICE MAKES PERFECT-OSP Drill Instructor

 

[mele]

I have a sticky for the adopt a sniper program in one of the other forums. I would be much more inclined to adopt a sniper (or sniper unit) specifically for these forums. Mlammer, if you can head up this project, I would be MORE than happy to sponsor it hear and do what I can! Let us know what you find out.

A question was asked of me about being mech and how a light infantry CO would value a sniper team more... it is freaking sad to say that this isn't as true as we would like. I don't know why most US Army commanders just don't get it. It certainly is getting better, and the Light guys do seem to understand at least a little bit better, but it is no where near where they should be or even close to what the USMC commanders understand and value.

MEL

 

[mlammers]

No problem Mel, I am following up today, I left a VM, and sent an email with the question of possible adopting a specific sniper or unit, will see what they say. Hope it works out, would be good to help one of our guys from the forum.

Had to edit so Scratch wont get me, fear the Grammar PD HA HA

ML313