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Hi guys,
im new to the forum could you help? I am currently a member of 3pwrr and am considering a transfer to 4 para croydon. Do 4 para have a sharpshooter carde? As that really interests me.
Thanks

Sharpshooters........Never heard of them except in films. You are a rifleman and trained to be that. If you can't shoot straight these days with the SA 80 ans SUS AT sight you wont have a very happy tour in one one or more of the combat zones. Once you have been with the unit for a while then you could ask about sniper course

dannywayoflife wrote:I am currently a member of 3pwrr and am considering a transfer to 4 para croydon. Do 4 para have a sharpshooter carde?

AFAIK, there is no such thing as a T.A. sniper course. I have been told that previous to the 1998 SDR, it was possible for blokes to go on the regular course (6 weeks?), but that has since stopped. There are some T.A. units that run internal "sharpshooter" courses, but I don't think it's something that is officially recognised as a qualification within the Army. Presumably they use the L96, but I don't know ...

Probably your best bet is to enquire directly with 4 PARA. Given the fact that the unit is now classed as Reserve rather than T.A., and has a very good relationship with its regular counterpart battalions, who knows what is available once you're in the unit!

What? isn't there a 2 week course you can do, I think its based at 15coy.

4 para had a recce platoon when i was in. sniper trained. however not clued up bout how its handled now so my advise would be get it from horses mouth during your aplication. i think it was the nottingham detachment that had them but i think they no longer exist?

Tab wrote:Sharpshooters........Never heard of them except in films. You are a rifleman and trained to be that. If you can't shoot straight these days with the SA 80 ans SUS AT sight you wont have a very happy tour in one one or more of the combat zones. Once you have been with the unit for a while then you could ask about sniper course

The sharpshooter cadre is little known outside the army. It is fairly new (started around 2003-ish). Essentially the sharpshooter is a soldier armed with a sniper rifle whos' role is to work as a company asset to provide immediate pin point fire support at company level in order to reduce collateral damage.

They do not work as snipers, and have a seperate training cadre. The shooting, observation and range estimation have to be on par with those of the sniper, but they don't do all the stalking/cam & concealment stuff.

gunner75 wrote:4 para had a recce platoon when i was in. sniper trained. however not clued up bout how its handled now so my advise would be get it from horses mouth during your aplication. i think it was the nottingham detachment that had them but i think they no longer exist?

Yep, the Nottingham location was ditched several years ago. Mid-90s possibly. I think the guys got relocated to Pudsey.

sharpshooters rarely get used as there is usually a couple of snipers attached to you

the chances of a STAB rocking up and gettin a 338 or L96.....burgh!
get yourself on the chub lad.....CHUB MAN! CHUB MAN SHUN!