Joint Base Lewis-McChord, Washington. (November 8, 2024): In the movies, they appear like ghosts out of the forest, unseen until they take the critical shot. What viewers don’t see is the hours of grueling training, constant practice, and a strong ability to endure. We ask a lot of our Snipers.

In this photo by Staff Sergeant Adeline Witherspoon, Specialist Drew Topp emerges from the wood line after completing an infiltration mission. During this event, Snipers were dropped at designated grid points and then moved towards observers using natural vegetation to avoid detection. A Sniper is expected to be fit, up to special operations standards, and must be prepared for long, difficult field training. They are expected to be expert infantrymen well-schooled in fieldcraft, escape, and evasion. They must also be an expert in concealment, tactical movement, land navigation and, on top of all that, they must be an excellent marksman!

Of all these skills, the most important attribute of a Sniper is patience. As a Sniper approaches or waits for a target, hours, sometimes days go by before a single shot is taken. A Sniper may lie in uncomfortable conditions for days yet must be ready to execute the mission in an instant.

How does a Sniper maintain such extreme patience?

Websters defines Patience as “the capacity to accept or tolerate delay, trouble, or suffering without getting angry or upset.” Psychologists say it is a “wrestling match” between the body’s natural desire for safety and to avoid pain and the determination of the subject to endure hardship. This “contest” of wills is something every Sniper must win and is often the hardest part of the job.

To be sure, the answers are as varied as each individual. Some report that using mindfulness techniques, a form of meditation, can be helpful while others say doing breathing exercises is a must. How they do it is amazing.

Clearly, we ask a lot of our Snipers, don’t we?