Scroll down for course description, equipment needs, & schedule below.

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The OTOA does not teach one specific “Tactic.” The OTOA instructors teach “Principles.”

• The OTOA response protocols are built around basic principles.
• Violation of basic principles develops into poor tactics.
• The applications of fundamental principles lead to safer tactics.

The OTOA Basic Sniper School commences with classroom instruction, covering essential topics such as equipment selection, setup, ammunition selection, and a comprehensive internal, external, and terminal ballistics review.

The range instruction component focuses on honing fundamental marksmanship skills. This includes training on alternative shooting positions, zeroing a rifle, mastering grouping techniques, and ensuring precise scope tracking.

Live-fire exercises and function drills are strategically designed to evaluate the reliability of the rifle/optic combination in real field conditions.

Students will engage paper and steel targets up to 300 yards (range dependent) using a variety of improvised positions.

The course concludes with a preventative maintenance and equipment care session, ensuring a holistic understanding of sniper operations.

COURSE SCHEDULE

DAY 1

0800-1000 - Paperwork, Waivers, Intros, Basic Sniper Power Point Scope Theory
1000-1030 - Shooting Positions/Marksmanship
1030 -1100- Data Books/Cold Bore
1100- 1130- Ballistics
1130- 1200- Weapons Maintenance/Weapon breakdown/Explain torque specs
1200- 1230 Lunch
1230- 1245- Prone Demo/ Show Press Check/ Explain Ocular adjustment
1245- 1345- Check Rifles/ Confirm Zeros at 25 yards
1445- 1630ish (End of Day) - Range Time

• Grouping Drills
• 5 Dots
• Low Magnification Vs. High Magnification shooting
• FBI Qual
• Scored Event
• MISC Drills if Time Allows

DAY 2 

0800-0845 - MIL/MOA Range Estimation/Range Card PPT
0845-0930 - Mil-Dot Range Estimation Exercise
0930- 1030 - Sniper Deployment/Equipment
1030-1100 - Camouflage/ Urban hides
1100- 1200 - Greenside Concealment Exercise
1200- 1630ish (End of Day) Range Time

• FBI Qual
• Grouping Exercise
• 100-yard Scope Drill (4 MOA/ 1 mil up/down/left/right)
• Suppressor Demo/ Barrel Harmonics Demo
• Tripod/ Shooting Sticks Demo
• Tripod Drills 100 - 58 yards
• Scored Event
• Shooting from and around Barricades
• OTOA Qual

DAY 3

0800-0830- ASA Data
0830-0900 - Legal
0900- 1000 - Sniper Shooting Debrief
1000-1100 - Observation/Intel/Kims Game
1100-1200- Kims Game / Observation Exercise
1200- 1630ish (End of Day) Range Time

• OTOA Qual
• Unsupported Shooting (sit/kneel/stand)
• Weak side prone (50 yards)
• Data Collection 25 yards
• Ammo Differences Demo (the 3-round group with different types of ammo)
• Suppressor Demo/Rifle Cant/ Barrel Harmonics Demo
• Multiple targets/Rapid Bolt
• Scored Event

DAY 4

0800-1000 - Multi-Jurisdictional Ops and Moving Targets
1000- 1600 Range Time

• OTOA Qual
• FBI Qual
• 100-yard confirmation
• 150 – 300 yards DOPE and No DOPE
• Coordinated Fire
• Scored Event
• Tripods- Standing/Kneeling @ 200 yards
• 1-time only OPOTA QUAL Opportunity

1600- 1630 – TEST Review

DAY 5

0800- 0900- TEST
0900 - 1300 Range time

• OTOA Qual (1/2 MOA Sniper Coin Opportunity)
• FBI Qual
• Scored Event (stress shoot)
• Sniper Observer Drill – (Faces)
• Shooting with full callout gear
• Final Competition (Head to Head challenge)
• Misc Drills if Time Allows

1100- 1300 - Moving Targets

1300- 1400 - Instructor Critiques need to be completed before the Certificate will be available on the OTOA  website: Present Top Gun Certificate/ Hand out Coins

EQUIPMENT LIST

The following is a detailed list of what each student brings to the 5-day Basic Sniper training:

Body Armor

Any of the following three options is acceptable:

• Level III “Tactical” body armor
• Plate carrier and Level II or Level III soft body armor
• If you DO NOT have "Tactical Body Armor," Concealable Level II or Level III is acceptable
• Ballistic helmet (if issued)

Precision rifle with adjustable turret scope, bipod, and sling

All precision rifles are REQUIRED to be "ZEROED" at 100 yards before you arrive for the first day of class.

Ammunition

• Five hundred (500) rounds of match-grade ammunition.
• NO GREEN TIP, ARMOR PIERCING, OR STEEL CORE AMMO

ANY / ALL EQUIPMENT for a “call out” or SWAT / SRT activation

• Tactical team or training uniform for 5-days – mandatory
• Gloves – we recommend gloves compatible with weapons manipulation
• Clear eye protection – mandatory
• Hearing protection – mandatory
• Ball cap – mandatory
• Pen and notebook – mandatory
• Water and food – mandatory - NO MEALS PROVIDED
• Binoculars, spotting scope
• Weapons cleaning supplies
• Databook, Data PDA, Data Computer, or Data Phone app
• Sunglasses, Bug spray, and sunblock - recommended
• Inclement weather gear for both cold and wet weather - recommended
• If you are allergic to bees, outdoor plants, or animals, please bring your epinephrine pen or other medication.

OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT

• Spotting Scope
• Pruning Shears
• Shooting Mat / Alternate shooting support, i.e., backpack, tripod, shooting sticks, etc.
• Ghillie Suit

MEDICAL

If you are allergic to bees, outdoor plants, or animals, please bring your epinephrine pen or other medication.

Life-threatening allergies and pre-existing injuries or conditions must be reported to the OTOA training staff on day one of training.

LODGING, TRAVEL & MEALS:

The course cost does not include ammunition, lodging, transportation, and food.

• Attendees are responsible for their ammunition, lodging, transportation, and food.

Any tactic, technique, or technology covered at any OTOA advanced training or annual training conference MUST be applied in compliance with the United States Constitution, the Ohio Revised Code, and the rules and regulations of an attendee’s employing law enforcement agency.

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