Movement Techniques/Stalking

I don't mean the kind of stalking that can get you arrested. Let me preface this by saying that I have had several people approach me through various mediums and express an interest in learning some of the tactical aspects of long distance precision shooting, but they want to concentrate mainly on the shooting aspect. What most people fail to realize is that without knowing how to move from one point to the next, you may not even get a chance at a shot at your intended targets. When this subject gets brought up in conversation, I know that most people envision either one or two people already in a shooting position, waiting to take a shot at their target - all that's left to do is shoot and scoot. We won't concern ourselves with targets in this particular segment because without knowing how to make your way to and from an FFP (Final Firing Position), targets are irrelevant. There are several things to take into account when moving to an FFP or stalking/tracking your target. To name a few:

1. Climate/Weather Conditions
2. Terrain/Environment
3. Adverse Elements (enemy forces if military)
4. Adjusting for Changes in Intelligence (during movement and upon reaching the FFP)

Let's start with considering climate and weather conditions. Most people when watching these movies about snipers or containing snipers see most of them in a jungle or other combat environment, usually during the day and it's almost always in ideal weather conditions if there isn't an apropos abandoned building to use for cover, concealment and/or protection from the elements. No matter what the situation, there always just seems to be the ideal makings of a hide wherever they find themselves. It also seems to take no time in the movie for the sniper or sniper team to get to their FFP. This can lead a soldier who is considering becoming a sniper to believe that you will only be deployed under the most ideal temperatures and it's easy as a snap to get to your FFP which will always be well fortified from weather and enemy fire, especially if it's a S.W.A.T. type sniper or sniper team in an urban environment. None of these things will ever be a certainty. Before I go into weather, let me quickly dispell a myth. As a long distance precision shooter in a tactical environment, one can expect never to travel alone unless under exigent circumstances to the likes of which I have never seen or heard of. There will always be a spotter with you. Having a spotter is essential as the designated shooter has plenty to worry about and the equipment necessary for a full operation is too much for one person to transport by themselves. The spotter will also reduce the amount of error that can be made in target ranging, determining wind value and follow up after a shot is taken. One of the many other purposes the spotter serves is acting as point man (leading the shooting team to the FFP) as well as 50 percent of the security element during tactical movement, also known as "the creep".

Starting before the creep and lasting until egress from the FFP and extraction, weather must be considered. If this is a career choice you are considering, start by assuming that you will be deployed in less than ideal climates. You will get cold. You will also get hot. You will get wet and so will your equipment, making it heavier and far less comfortable. Mud and dirt will find its way through your clothing to the most tender and sensitive portions of your body. Wet clothes, mud, dirt and sweat will cause your clothing and equipment to chafe you something awful. In addition to weather causing these problems for you and depending on what region of the world you find yourself in, you will likely share your hide space with insects and other wildlife such as snakes and sometimes your team will be required to sleep there. There are no outhouses or field expedient bathrooms on a creep (you wouldn't be able to get up to go if there were) so void yourself before you move out or risk having to soil yourself during a mission. In a tactical environment, long distance precision shooting is a less-than-glamorous, dirty job with often long hours and difficult physical demands such as negotiating obstacles during long creeps and remaining still for hours at a time. If I haven't painted enough of a picture, let me know.

Once all logistics are in place, it's time to move out. After mechanized insertion into an area of operations (AO) if there is any to be had, there are going to be five primary methods of movement to your FFP. Before going into those movement techniques in depth, some things have to be taken into consideration. First of all, if deployed as part of a precision shooting team, it's a safe assumption that you're either training for, in close proximity to or in a hostile environment. For that reason, every movement must be calculated, well thought out and deliberate. Operate under the assumption that every portion of your route is likely under observation unless you're able to confirm otherwise. Not just your movements but the movements of things around you could be under observation. It is for this reason that the agitation of your environment be minimal such as brush, branches and the like so take great care during movement not to get caught on branches or brush as movement of vegetation can be seen from hundreds of meters away. Movement of a shooting team is measured in feet and inches in an arena where everything else is mils, degrees and meters (yards if you're in the Marines.) It should also be said that care should be taken to stop, look and listen often. The frequency at which this should be done is left to the discretion of the team but a good guideline to follow is stopping often enough to assess any unnatural sights and sounds but not so often that a timeline is broken and the mission becomes compromised. Taking the most direct route is also in most situations is typically discouraged. Creeping in a field environment can require travel over rough or uneven terrain or through dense brush and vegetation during movement to an FFP. If there is a road or defined route of travel anywhere along your route, chances are you won't be taking it. The most you will do is cross it which will only happen if your safe and timely arrival to your AO warrants it. Depending on the time and light of day, shadows or shaded areas can be used to increase the commission of undetected movement. Starting with the fastest method of travel, five movement techniques will be examined.

The most field expedient method of movement is the sniper walk. This method is typically used in order to cover the optimum amount of ground in the shortest span of time. While the sniper walk is the fastest means of movement, it is by no means fast. Keeping in mind the calculated and deliberate nature of every movement that should be made in the field, this movement technique is usually reserved for use in moderately high and dense vegetation and brush and some of that rough or uneven terrain I referred to earlier. If a team were to have to cross an open field, this would be the last movement technique to use as the sniper walk is the highest profile method of movement. When it has been determined by both members of the team that the sniper walk can be used, both team members should be on their feet standing with a moderate hunch in the back and slight bend at the waist. The shooter should keep their weapon close to the body and carried with the muzzle pointed towards the ground. Each step is taken one at a time, more so than the standard stride. Each step should be taken with the toes touching ground first and rolling the foot back to the heel until the entire foot is on the ground, distributing body weight slowly and steadily throughout each lowering of the foot. This is to minimize the possible snapping of twigs laying on the ground or the upturning of any leaves or rocks. The goal is to leave a minimal signature if any indicating your route. This can be difficult but it is not unattainable and the sniper walk will be your best bet as there is a minimum of dragging equipment or body parts leaving a minimal signature of travel, if any. There is no set pace or speed for the sniper walk. Let the environment be your guide - What kind of concealment is around you? How far do you need to go and how fast do you need to get there? Can the walk be used to get you closer you your AO at no sacrifice you your concealment? If the sniper walk isn't prudent at a given time but you must cover as much ground as you can in a short amount of time, then the hand-knee crawl might be a better option for you.

The hand-knee crawl is the second highest profile and second fastest means of movement available to the shooting team. It is used best when there is cover or concealment that is waist height or higher available such as large rocks, fallen trees or natural concealers such as shallow depressions. During the hand-knee crawl, there are three points of contact on the ground. the rifle is carried in the strong/firing arm while the weak/non-firing arm and both knees are used for mobility. The closest likeness to the hand knee crawl is someone who lost a contact lens and is on the ground looking for it. Great care must still be taken to ensure that nothing is dragged on the ground such as equipment or body parts of either team member to minimize or prevent any signature being left behind to be detected, possibly leading to your own detection.

The next movement technique is commonly taught to all soldiers upon initial training and is called the high crawl. Typically the profile of an individual performing the high crawl is roughly twelve to fourteen inches from the ground. Keep this in consideration when making the decision to move in this manner. This technique is significantly slower than the hand-knee crawl and is typically used for shorter distances, usually no more than 100 meters. Weapons are slung across the bends of the elbows on top of the forearms and movement is made with the pads of both elbows and the entire legs. Both feet are kept as flat on the ground as possible with the toes pointed outward. As one leg is pulled up until the knee is about at about waist level, the opposing elbow is brought forward. This movement is less fluid than the hand-knee crawl and the sniper walk and affords the user more frequent opportunities to stop, look and listen. It also leaves the soldier half way home to being in the prone firing position, more so than any other movement technique. The high crawl also affords the team the ability to look in the direction they are traveling. If the high crawl provides too high of a profile and time is not of the essence, the low crawl may be suitable for use.

The low crawl is significantly slower than the first three techniques I mentioned, but provides the lowest available profile during movement. This movement technique is also taught to all military personnel during initial training. The differences between the low crawl and high crawl is that the head is completely on the ground turned to one side and the weapon is carried by the forearm end of the sling with the weapon rested over the top of the weak arm running along the forearm. All limbs remain flat on the ground. Movement is conducted in the same fashion as the high crawl. This technique is best in an environment with little cover or concealment for a calculated distance - the shorter, the better as the low crawl is not a technique you want to be using for an extended period of time. The low crawl does not afford you to monitor your direction of travel so an azimuth should be determined before movement is conducted. If faced with the unavoidable prospect of moving through an exposed area, the four techniques I have already mentioned will not be suitable - there is one technique left that can be used.

The sniper low crawl is the slowest available method of movement for a tactical shooting team to utilize. This movement is predominantly used in open, exposed vegetated areas. Traveling a significant distance using this technique can take hours. It is also the most physically strenuous and high-risk movement technique available. Any time a team utilizes the sniper low crawl, they are wearing ghillie suits during movement. Like the low crawl, all body parts maintain the lowest possible profile to the ground. The head can either be turned to one side or face down toward the ground (which can wear on the neck muscles leaving you stiff or sore). The rifle is held by the forearm end of the sling in the non-firing hand, preferably with the bolt lever facing up. Both arms are outstretched over the head "in front" of you with palms facing down and both legs are kept straight with feet flat on the ground with toes pointed outward. Fingertips and toes are used for forward motion so as not to make any major movements. The knees can bend slightly while moving, but it is highly discouraged. Like the low crawl, distance and destination should be predetermined before utilizing this technique. It is also important that prior to the use of the sniper low crawl that vegetation from the area the team is operating in be used to enhance the ghillie suit's camouflaging capabilities and reduce the risk of being detected. If the ghillie suit is properly camouflaged and the sniper low crawl is performed correctly, the risk of detection is minimal even in a wide open area such as a clearing or a field. Naturally, using this technique during night time decreases the risk of being detected exponentially. As with the high and low crawl, it is the most difficult to conceal any signature of movement due to the amount of contact with the ground and the dragging motion which makes this technique particularly effective in areas with nothing more than grass long enough to fall over. Grass that is too short will remain compressed by your bodyweight leaving a trail behind you for a significant amount of time and grass that is long but still able to remain vertical will leave a clearly marked path indicating where you have been clear up to your heels so employment of the sniper low crawl should be very selective.

These are the five primary stalking and movement techniques available in a tactical environment. People in this kind of environment will certainly not be confined to these five techniques for movement. There will likely be plenty of times if you're a member of a team that you and your team member will be humping through the woods like a couple of nature hikers because the situation gives license to do so. By all means, take that liberty where it presents itself as any time not having to be spent getting to an AO can be used to set up a hide or compare a few potential hides. Time saved during movement to an FFP also affords the team the ability to communicate to the main element any changes in intelligence the team initially received prior to deployment such as troop strength, number of targets, etc. Discernment is the key to knowing which technique to use to get from one point to the next at any given time.

The best way to learn each of these movement techniques is obviously to practice them. When and if possible, practice with as much equipment you can get your hands on to avoid setting unrealistic expectations in regards to ease of movement, speed, etc. Wear a ruck, ghillie up, build a weaponeer (a simulated rifle) to train with and head on out. Don't cheat yourself and crawl around a soccer field at a high school, you'll be denying yourself the challenge of more mission-realistic terrain and will likely be escorted off the property by campus security anyway. Find a local wooded park or a game refuge, insert yourself deep enough so as not to be reported by hikers or harassed by wildlife marshals and practice there. Don't wait for rain to stop. Bundle up and head on out in the rain. This is the time to learn to make any modifications to your ghillie or adjustments with your equipment to minimize discomfort, even though most efforts I have found to be completely futile. With practice, you will learn many more things than just how to move effectively. If you're considering making 'military sniper' an official part of your resume, training using these techniques will let you know if this is something you really want to go through with and if it is, it will give you an advantage when it comes time to start school. Good luck and don't do anything stupid.