Members of 1st Marine Special Operations Battalion practice breaching aboard ship at night, June 7th, 2013. Marines train for visit, board, search and seizure (VBSS) at the highest level. U.S. Marine Corps photo

Individual Training Course students with Marine Special Operations School at Stone Bay, N.C., participate in the field training exercise Raider Spirit. Raider Spirit is an eight-day culminating event for the first phase of ITC training, where students run light infantry scenarios as a field team. U.S. Marine Corps photo by Cpl. Donovan Lee

The MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course (MASC) is a 4-week course that produces snipers trained to special operations standards. Marines attending the course will already have passed a basic level course such as the USMC Scout Sniper Basic Course, NSW Sniper Course or the Army's USASOC Level 1 Course. The MASC is split into 5 blocks:

• Block 1: Fundamental skills, Ballistics, and live fire at 100-200meters.
   
• Block 2: Ballistic software, sniper equipment, engagement techniques, known distance shooting, and equipment practical application.
   
• Block 3: Sniper Tactics and employment, foreign weapons, ballistic testing, Glass shooting, Unknown distance shooting (day and night) with 5.56LR, 7.62LR, .300WM, and .50 Caliber rifles, and moving target shooting.
   
• Block 4: Qualification on the MASC qualification course, a composite score based off of four separate and timed drills including barricade shooting, day and night unknown distance, and spotter qualification.
   
• Block 5: Aerial sniping, Explosive loophole breaching, Loophole shooting, Side prone shooting, High angle shooting, Urban hides, Vehicle hides, Surveillance equipment practical application, and the culminating exercise; a four day reactive scenario in which sniper teams locate targets, conduct surveillance, and eliminate targets as part of a Marine Special Operations Team, utilizing the full spectrum of SOF assets and equipment.

The MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course (MASC) is a 4-week course that produces snipers trained to special operations standards. Marines attending the course will already have passed a basic level course such as the USMC Scout Sniper Basic Course, NSW Sniper Course or the Army's USASOC Level 1 Course. The MASC is split into 5 blocks:

• Block 1: Fundamental skills, Ballistics, and live fire at 100-200meters.
   
• Block 2: Ballistic software, sniper equipment, engagement techniques, known distance shooting, and equipment practical application.
   
• Block 3: Sniper Tactics and employment, foreign weapons, ballistic testing, Glass shooting, Unknown distance shooting (day and night) with 5.56LR, 7.62LR, .300WM, and .50 Caliber rifles, and moving target shooting.
   
• Block 4: Qualification on the MASC qualification course, a composite score based off of four separate and timed drills including barricade shooting, day and night unknown distance, and spotter qualification.
   
• Block 5: Aerial sniping, Explosive loophole breaching, Loophole shooting, Side prone shooting, High angle shooting, Urban hides, Vehicle hides, Surveillance equipment practical application, and the culminating exercise; a four day reactive scenario in which sniper teams locate targets, conduct surveillance, and eliminate targets as part of a Marine Special Operations Team, utilizing the full spectrum of SOF assets and equipment.

The MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course (MASC) is a 4-week course that produces snipers trained to special operations standards. Marines attending the course will already have passed a basic level course such as the USMC Scout Sniper Basic Course, NSW Sniper Course or the Army's USASOC Level 1 Course. The MASC is split into 5 blocks:

• Block 1: Fundamental skills, Ballistics, and live fire at 100-200meters.
   
• Block 2: Ballistic software, sniper equipment, engagement techniques, known distance shooting, and equipment practical application.
   
• Block 3: Sniper Tactics and employment, foreign weapons, ballistic testing, Glass shooting, Unknown distance shooting (day and night) with 5.56LR, 7.62LR, .300WM, and .50 Caliber rifles, and moving target shooting.
   
• Block 4: Qualification on the MASC qualification course, a composite score based off of four separate and timed drills including barricade shooting, day and night unknown distance, and spotter qualification.
   
• Block 5: Aerial sniping, Explosive loophole breaching, Loophole shooting, Side prone shooting, High angle shooting, Urban hides, Vehicle hides, Surveillance equipment practical application, and the culminating exercise; a four day reactive scenario in which sniper teams locate targets, conduct surveillance, and eliminate targets as part of a Marine Special Operations Team, utilizing the full spectrum of SOF assets and equipment.

The MARSOF Advanced Sniper Course (MASC) is a 4-week course that produces snipers trained to special operations standards. Marines attending the course will already have passed a basic level course such as the USMC Scout Sniper Basic Course, NSW Sniper Course or the Army's USASOC Level 1 Course. The MASC is split into 5 blocks:

• Block 1: Fundamental skills, Ballistics, and live fire at 100-200meters.
   
• Block 2: Ballistic software, sniper equipment, engagement techniques, known distance shooting, and equipment practical application.
   
• Block 3: Sniper Tactics and employment, foreign weapons, ballistic testing, Glass shooting, Unknown distance shooting (day and night) with 5.56LR, 7.62LR, .300WM, and .50 Caliber rifles, and moving target shooting.
   
• Block 4: Qualification on the MASC qualification course, a composite score based off of four separate and timed drills including barricade shooting, day and night unknown distance, and spotter qualification.
   
• Block 5: Aerial sniping, Explosive loophole breaching, Loophole shooting, Side prone shooting, High angle shooting, Urban hides, Vehicle hides, Surveillance equipment practical application, and the culminating exercise; a four day reactive scenario in which sniper teams locate targets, conduct surveillance, and eliminate targets as part of a Marine Special Operations Team, utilizing the full spectrum of SOF assets and equipment.

An ISAF Special Operations Team member ( MARSOC ) assists with security while Afghan Local Police receive their first payments in Helmand province, Afghanistan, April 9. Afghan Local Police complement counterinsurgency efforts by assisting and supporting rural areas with limited Afghan National Security Forces presence. 

U.S. Marine Corps photo by Sgt. Pete Thibodeau

MARSOC conducting live fire drills

MARSOC Conducting live fire drills

MARSOC conducting live fire drills

MARSOC training during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise.

MARSOC training during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise.

MARSOC training during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise.

MARSOC training during a visit, board, search and seizure exercise.

Marine Raiders with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, conduct a simulated night-raid on a warehouse in Los Angeles, California, Sept. 3, 2015. 1st Marine Raider Battalion is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC in support of their regionally-aligned Theater Special Operations Command. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Scott A. Achtemeier / Released)

Marine Raiders with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, conduct a simulated night-raid on a warehouse in Los Angeles, California, Sept. 3, 2015. 1st Marine Raider Battalion is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC in support of their regionally-aligned Theater Special Operations Command. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Scott A. Achtemeier / Released)

A Marine Raider with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, transitions out of the water during a simulated underwater assault force night-raid in Los Angeles, California, Sept. 3, 2015. Training like this is conducted to meet Special Operations Forces dive requirements, and to enhance the understanding, planning and operational considerations when working in a joint operational environment with both special operations and conventional Marine Corps forces. 1st Marine Raider Battalion is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC in support of their regionally-aligned Theater Special Operations Command. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Scott A. Achtemeier / Released)

Marine Raiders with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, prepare for a night jump during a training evolution at Blyth, California, Aug. 27, 2015. 1st Marine Raider Battalion is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC in support of their regionally-aligned Theater Special Operations Command. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Scott A. Achtemeier / Released)

A U.S. Marine V-22 Osprey lands during a simulated night-raid to extract a team of Marine Raiders with 1st Marine Raider Battalion, U.S. Marine Corps Forces, Special Operations Command, at the end of a raid at San Luis Obispo, California, Sept.1, 2015. 1st Marine Raider Battalion is organized, trained and equipped to deploy for worldwide missions as directed by MARSOC in support of their regionally-aligned Theater Special Operations Command. (U.S. Marine Corps Photo by Sgt. Scott A. Achtemeier / Released)