Enemy Inside the Gates

As the world's urban areas continue to increase in size the possibility of U. S. forces conducting military operations in urbanized terrain also increases. However, the weapon systems the U. S. procures and employs obtain maximum effectiveness in open terrain. These weapons prove less capable in urban terrain since their standoff and precision advantages suffer degradation due to buildings and the fleeting nature of enemy personnel. U. S. weaponry also causes a large amount of collateral damage that may also result in civilian casualties, which proves politically unacceptable. Potential adversaries of the U. S. realize these limitations and present a target set that proves difficult to locate and engage. The target set the enemy uses in urban terrain consists of enemy combatants mixing with non-combatants, enemy snipers, and special purpose teams. The enemy's urban target set present significant problems for U. S. forces operating against it. U. S. weapons systems cannot effectively engage enemy combatants and ensure that non-combatant casualties do not occur. Assets the U. S. possesses that can engage elements of the enemy's urban target set include U. S. Army and Marine Corps snipers. However, a determination on whether more snipers will effectively defeat the target set requires consideration. The argument proposes that the creation of a division-level sniper company meets the requirement for adequately providing coverage of large urban areas in order to defeat the urban target set without causing civilian casualties. This monograph analyzes the contemporary operating environment to articulate the enemy's urban target set. Next, a review of current U. S. Army and Marine Corps sniping doctrine, organization and training establishes the foundation for presenting the sniper's capability to defeat the urban target set. In order to provide a balanced argument, other possible solutions to engaging and defeating the target set receive consideration. The recommended sol

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