My guest today is John “JJ” Robinson who has been instrumental to many authors (myself included) in answering questions and verifying FBI procedures for our novels. He’s right. I did twist his arm, but I don’t think I hurt him too much. BTW, John is a screen writer, and I’m excited about his latest venture and wish him all the best with it. Please welcome John “JJ” Robinson to Help From My Friends Friday.
So, You Want to be an FBI SWAT Sniper
By: John “JJ” Robinson
As one might expect, the Federal Bureau of Investigation requires myriad and varying qualities of its employees, particularly those who graduate to the level of Special Agent. When Donnell realized my background included SWAT, she twisted my arm and asked me to expand upon those duties. Now that my arm is out of the sling, I’ve completed the article and broken it down into sections. Happy to answer questions left in the comments.
John “JJ” Robinson
BACKGROUND:
HISTORY of SWAT
The concept for a dedicated law enforcement critical incident response unit originated in the late 1960s. At that time, many states were faced with an increase in violent crimes of a nature and intensity that exceeded the established response capabilities of many local law enforcement agencies. As a result, several large cities developed units comprised of individuals with prior military experience dedicated to responding to these critical incidents.
The Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD) is attributed with developing a special team of officers trained in weapons and tactics that closely resembled military (infantry and Special Forces) units. They referred to this new unit as their “Special Weapons and Tactics” (SWAT) Team. The LAPD SWAT Team concept proved to be the matrix for many other law enforcement agencies, including the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI).
ORGANIZATION OF A SWAT TEAM
Structure of a typical SWAT Team is usually based on the military organization template for a Squad-sized component. There is a Team Leader, Assistant Team Leader, several Operators and Snipers. All the team members are trained in the general use of SWAT weapons and tactical aspects of the team. However, many of the team members are trained in specialty skills, e.g., breachers, snipers, etc. There is familiarization and cross training between the various specialties to ensure the capabilities are not compromised in the event a team member is unavailable or injured.
Each SWAT Team usually has two (2) Snipers, as they are typically deployed in pairs. One Sniper is the primary “shooter” and the other Sniper is the “observer”. The “shooter” is responsible for being behind the gun and focused on the target(s). The “observer” is responsible for providing the “shooter” with tactical updates and environmental information that is critical to the “shooter”, e.g., wind direction and speed, temperature, distance to target(s), etc.
SNIPER MISSION
Typically, the Sniper Team is the “first in and last out” of the critical incident site. Prior to their deployment, the Sniper Team will analyze any available information on the incident site(s) (maps, aerial images, photographs, etc.) to determine the best location for an observation point. The Snipers will then unobtrusively approach the critical incident site and establish an Observation Point (OP).
Once in place, the Snipers start to relay information on their observations of the critical incident site to the Assault component or Tactical Operations Center (TOC). This could include the number of potential hostiles, hostages, weapons, etc. The Snipers will also relay any information or observations to assist the Assault component of the SWAT Team in developing a plan for their entry. Upon the initiation of the assault, the Snipers would provide tactical support (cover) as the Assault component of the SWAT Team approaches and enters the target site. This coverage will continue until the Assault component extricates from the site or the site is neutralized.
SNIPER ATTRIBUTES
To discuss the attributes of a good Sniper, I believe you first have to understand what being a Sniper entails. The following are the two (2) major “Sniper Skill sets” that are considered critical to performing the duties of a good Sniper. The ability to master these skill sets is the prerequisite to being a good FBI Sniper.
MARKSMANSHIP
The first thing that people usually think of when they discuss Sniper attributes is marksmanship. This is defined as the ability to shoot accurately and consistently from long distances. Mastering marksmanship takes many hours of practice under a variety of conditions and distances. It can take several years for a Sniper to become proficient with his assigned “long gun”. And it takes constant practice to retain that proficiency.
During my tenure as a Sniper, we utilized a modified .308 caliber Remington Model 700. We were required to shoot/qualify with our rifle on a minimum of once every month.
There are many conditions that can affect the accuracy of a Sniper’s shot. And the Sniper is responsible for knowing all these conditions. He/she must adjust the weapons sighting based on environmental conditions that exist at that time. These conditions include sun, wind, precipitation, elevation between the target and the weapon and temperature. The Sniper also has to consider the adjustments necessary to account for the change between a “cold shot” (the first shot from a rifle) and his/her subsequent shots.
Every Sniper meticulously maintains his/her weapon. In addition to maintaining his/her weapon, the Sniper also keeps a “dope book” with his/her weapon. This book is extremely valuable to the Sniper, as it contains all the sight adjustments that are necessary based on the various environmental conditions. Every time the Sniper shoots his/her weapon, they make notes in their “dope book”.
Ammunition is also a factor that could affect the Sniper’s accuracy. All commercial ammunition is identified by a lot number. This number indicates when the ammunition was made at the factory. A Sniper would ideally like all his ammo to come from the same lot number, as there can be minute differences between the bullets from different lots. This minute variation can have a major effect on a 180-grain bullet traveling 200 yards.
All these considerations, and more, are factors that can impact on the proficiency of a Sniper’s marksmanship skill set. To be a successful Sniper in the FBI, a person should have some innate ability to perform and master all these marksmanship factors.
TRADECRAFT
The ability to accurately and consistently shoot a “long gun” from a distance (marksmanship) is a very important skill set for 
a Sniper. But that skill is useless if the Sniper cannot move into and from a position of concealment without being observed. The ability of the Sniper to move stealthily from one point to another is referred to as “stalking”. “Stalking” is a significant capability and skill that is given as much time in learning, training and practicing as marksmanship. The concept of “stalking” includes the methods and principles of movement, concealment and basic land navigation.
The FBI Sniper Schools are presented at the FBI facilities on the USMC Base in Quantico, VA. This is also the home of one of the best Sniper Schools in the world, The USMC Scout Sniper Basic Course. In the FBI Basic and Advanced Sniper schools, approximately one third of the training includes “stalking” exercises that can last up to four (4) hours each. The other two thirds of the training is dedicated to marksmanship and classroom training.
The basic attributes that are desired relative to the Sniper’s Tradecraft include endurance, physical fitness, skills in observation and detection, patience, organizational skills and excellent memory and vision.
CONCLUSION
If you possess these basic attributes and can master the Marksmanship and Sniper Tradecraft skill sets, you too can become a member of the FBI SWAT Team and maybe even a Sniper.
About the Author: John “JJ” Robinson is a retired Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI) Special Agent with 28 years of service. He was an Operator, Sniper and Sniper Team Leader in the San Francisco Division FBI SWAT Team for 16 years. He currently resides in Nevada and is the founder and Managing Member of O’Hana Security Consultants, LLC.
John, I think this article is fascinating. The discipline and wherewithal people of your ilk undergo is beyond impressive. Thank you for being my guest today and for all you do to assist writers..
Thank you Donnell. The pleasure has all been mine.
J
Having observed snipers in the course of my education with the Austin Police department, I think what they do is magic. I am in awe of all of them. Thank you for what you’ve done.
Thanks, Kaye, I agree, and what a great resource you have. John, piggybacking on Kaye’s comment. If you can, can you detail whether your assignments were mostly in the U.S. or overseas? Thanks!
Kaye,
During my Bureau service I have been deployed overseas to Iraq (twice), Kenya, Bosnia, Virgin Islands, England (three times) and Puerto Rico. Of these assignments, only one was related to SWAT duties. This was after the bombing of the US Embassies in Nairobi and Dar es Salaam in 1998. My division provided tactical support during the KENBOMB investigation.
My domestic SWAT deployments included UNABOMBER, the Freeman Investigation, the Geschke kidnapping and the search for Eric Rudolph after the Atlanta Olympic bombing.
Thank you for your kind words. But the credit all goes to the collective effort of the team and not to an individual. But your comments are appreciated! I loved being a Sniper. It was a constant challenge.
Best,
JJ
I read this with great interest. Thank you for your willingness to share. In my years as a civilian in law enforcement, I was an FBI-trained composite artist, and visited all the training areas of the FBI Academy while I was there. I worked with SWAT officers from my dept as well as others. They were nearly all Viet Vets. (I just dated myself!) Their training was intense, but thankfully they were rarely called up to respond to a situation.
Pamela,
Vietnam vets are a rare and disappearing breed. I am pleased that our society treats the modern vets with such honor. It was not so for those Viet vets. I served in the US Army from 1971 to 1978 in another foreign assignment (not Vietnam) and the general populace did not treat Vietnam era veterans well at all. But, that a story for another day. Or maybe not!
As a final note relative to being a Sniper, I consider the best shot I ever made while deployed as a Sniper was the shot that I did NOT actually have to make. I held back for a split second and the perpetrator dropped his gun. My stars, and his, were aligned that day!
Thank you again.
Best,
J
Wonderful overview. Thank you for sharing and for your service!
Thank you Marie and everyone who took the time to read the very short article on Snipers. If anyone has any further interest in the subject, I would like to submit this parting “shot”. I strongly recommend that they do some research in the greatest Sniper of our time. Carlos Hathcock was a USMC Sniper that had 93 confirmed kills in Vietnam. He was a Native American that represented all the attributes that a truly committed Sniper should possess and refine.
To all aspiring Snipers, he is a god! RIP “Whitefeather” brother Carlos!
Thank you all. I hope this helped.
PS I know Sniper is not a proper noun warranting a capital. But I do take the literary license out of respect for my brothers in arms. LOL
Best,
J
This is terrific information, John! Will research Carlos Hathcock! Thank you again for sharing your expertise!!
Thank you for allowing me the opportunity.
J
Thank you John, this was very interesting. My husband was trained as a sniper for his LE job but never talks about it. You did a great job laying out the requirements. Thank you.
Informative article. Thank you JJ.
You’re very welcome Sandy.
J
Hi Mr. John,
Thank you for the time and sacrifice you took for serving.
I was wondering if you have an email I may contact through. I have some questions regarding joining the bureau and possibly a swat team. Thank you sir.