The OTOA Basic Sniper School instruction begins in the classroom with an understanding of equipment selection and setup, followed by ammunition selection and internal, external, and terminal ballistics review. Range instruction focuses on fundamental marksmanship skills, including alternative shooting positions, rifle zeroing, grouping, and scope tracking. Live fire exercises and function drills are designed to test the soundness of the rifle/optic combo in field conditions, and students will practice engaging paper and steel targets out to 300 yards (range dependent) using a mix of improvised positions. The course concludes with a preventative maintenance and equipment care session.
Students must pass the OTOA Qualification Course of Fire and Exam and a written exam to complete the course successfully.
This is a hands-on, high-intensity course in which students practice tactics and techniques in the field.
This course is restricted to OTOA Members and sworn officers of a United States governmental agency.
Body Armor is MANDATORY for this class. Any of the following three options is acceptable:
Ballistic helmet (if issued)
All precision rifles are REQUIRED to be "ZEROED" before you arrive for the first day of class.
Precision rifle with adjustable turret scope, bipod, and sling
Ammunition
ANY / ALL EQUIPMENT for a “call out” or SWAT / SRT activation
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.
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
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
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
Day 4
0800-1000 - Multi-Jurisdictional Ops and Moving Targets
1000- 1600 Range Time
1600- 1630 – TEST Review
Day 5
0800- 0900- TEST
0900 - 1300 Range time
1100- 1300 - Moving Targets
1300- 1400 - Instructor Critiques need to be completed before the Certificate will be available on OTOA website; Present Top Gun Certificate/ Hand out Coins