Outside of 2014\u2032s \u201cAmerican Sniper,\u201d featuring a fake baby and Bradley Cooper as slain Navy SEAL marksman Chris Kyle, there aren\u2019t very many pop culture samples that delve deep into military sniper culture. As a result, the internet is, predictably, full of myths about this hallowed profession \u2014 namely their kill shot skills and bathroom habits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In order to set the record straight, Observation Post caught up with former Vermont Army Guard sniper Kyle Hinchliffe to ask all the questions you\u2019d actually want to know about being a military sniper.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What should people thinking about becoming military snipers really consider before setting their sights on it as a career, and what are some the essential skills you need?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Basic, basic rifle marksmanship, without a doubt. Everyone thinks you need to do all this crazy math to shoot far away, but honestly, the basics are the most important, as well as patience. So much patience. Honestly, training with a scout platoon is the first go-to, just to see if being with a specialty platoon is for you, because it\u2019s way different than being on the line. And well, enjoying shooting is a big part of it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
How did you first learn to shoot, and what led to precision shooting?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I grew up hunting in rural Vermont and it was always a part of that. I guess that\u2019s really where it started. I just kind of fell into it, too. I didn\u2019t mean to be a sniper, it just kind of happened.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What really differentiates combat sniper training from other types of training?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
I think the energy. Everything else is so high energy, you\u2019re always go-go-go. With anything precision rifle, you need to be able to maintain calm on a different level, really be able to maintain your composure and such. I\u2019d say the amount of training you get is a big part of it. There are different types of trainings, like your KIMS games, stress fires. We do a lot of different small trainings at once that can really help you try to remember everything you do, no matter what\u2019s going on.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What do you think about the fact that one of the most frequently asked questions about being a sniper is about your bathroom habits. Do snipers wear diapers?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
It is the most common question! I hope not. I really hope not. I can confirm right now, I have never once pissed myself. It\u2019s different times though, you know? Vietnam-era, things were a little different. Now, there\u2019s not as much having to crawl on the ground for days on end without moving kind of a deal. So, no.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What\u2019s it really like to don a Ghillie suit?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Dirty and itchy. Whenever you see Ghillie suits in pop culture, 90 percent of the time, you have like the giant Chewbacca suits \u2014 but those are not it. They usually give you a base, and you have to cover it with leaves and [vegetation]. You never see that part in the movies.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
What else does pop culture get wrong about snipers?<\/b><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Two things. It\u2019s always like a single guy out there or a team of snipers […] a lot of the time, at least when I was in, we had three-man teams versus like the single lone sniper crawling around. You have your shooter, your spotter, and you have a security element with you as well, usually a third individual, whether they\u2019re on the radio, they usually have some kind of high-firing weapon or shorty saw […] something like that. But yeah, we usually are just like a small team out in the middle of nowhere. The other thing is that it\u2019s usually not a one-shot kill. It\u2019s the second shot. Your first shot is always a cold bore, and it\u2019s not exactly great. A lot of the time it\u2019s the first shot and then a correction.<\/p>\n\n\n\n