As an ex-sniper with the United States Marine Corps, Arthur Cordes knows how important it is to be properly informed about what a sniper’s job is all about. Cordes joined the United States Army in 1983 after graduating from high school and served for two years before moving to the Marine Corps. According to the Department of Defense, the average number of rounds that were expended in Vietnam to kill just one enemy soldier with an M-16 was a whopping 50,000. With the latest sniper training in the United States Marine Corps, the average number of rounds needed by snipers in the Marine Corps to kill one enemy soldier was just 1.3 rounds.
The first United States Army Sniper School was founded in 1955, after the Korean War ceasefire. The current United States Army Sniper School is located at Fort Benning, Georgia and was started in 1987. The program at the school lasts for five weeks. The Army National Guard Sniper School at Camp Robinson, Arkansas was established in 1993. After joining the Marine Corps, Arthur Cordes trained to become a sniper.
Many people believe that to become a good sniper, you need to be a good shooter. However, that is not entirely the case. In fact, only twenty percent of the course involves shooting. It takes patience, discipline, and the ability to work alone apart from excellent marksmanship skills to become a good sniper. The sniper course also includes camouflage, concealment, and observation exercises. After leaving the Marine Corps, Arthur Cordes started working the hazardous and waste removal and emergency response industry.
