[2] A USMC Scout Sniper was a marine infantryman highly skilled in fieldcraft and marksmanship, who can deliver long-range precision fire on high-value targets from concealed positions in support of combat operations.

The first Scout Snipers were trained near San Diego, California in 1943 and saw combat in the Pacific Theater of Operations during World War II.

Typically, each Scout Sniper team has two members: one is the actual shooter, equipped with a long-range, specially-made sniper rifle, such as the M40, and also frequently issued an M9 9mm pistol as a defensive side arm; the other is the spotter, typically armed with an M4 carbine and uses a high-power spotting scope to spot targets and provide ballistic information for the shooter.

These can be issued to a team as needed to give supported commanders the option of taking out heavy equipment or lightly armored vehicles.

Scout Sniper teams trained to engage man-sized targets with the M40 out to 1000 yards, and can be effective at a range of up to 1.25 mi (2.01 km) with the M82, if the environment is right.

In February 2012, U.S. media reported that Marine scout snipers had been using the double Sig rune (ϟϟ, "SS") in its "Armanen" form () to symbolize their function since at least the 1980s.

[6] Despite the official prohibition, the New York Times reported in 2020 that the "SS" logo continues to be used by Marines, "much like a secret handshake".

[12] By doctrine, a Scout Sniper was a Marine highly skilled in field craft and marksmanship who delivers long range precision fire on selected targets from concealed positions in support of combat operations.

An Army Sniper's primary mission is to support combat operations by delivering precise long-range fire on selected targets.

Minimum Requirements: As per HQMC School Quota Message: Marines who did not meet the following prerequisites would be denied entrance to the program and returned to their units.