(_b_) _Qualifications governing selections._—Each member of the sniping group should be a well-trained, intelligent, disciplined soldier; a dead shot at short and mid ranges; brave, yet cautious; cool, observant, patient, resourceful, and prompt. In addition to the above, the noncommissioned officer in command of the group should be a competent instructor in all that is included in the training of the sniper and should possess good judgment in the selection and preparation of snipers’ posts. (_c_) _Training._—In addition to the preliminary training contemplated in (_b_), the following features should be specially developed: _Rifle practice._—The sniper must become expert in a broader sense than is implied by the word as employed in ordinary marksmanship classification. Ordinarily his target will be a small and fleeting one, and his training should be such as to enable him to quickly and accurately deliver a single shot at objects varying from a 4–inch loophole at 100 yards to those the size of a man’s body at 800 yards. The small object at short range will be the most frequent target and indicates the most important rifle training. The character of the target emphasizes the importance of extreme accuracy of fire, and accuracy of fire implies, in addition to correctness of aim, correct knowledge of range, a correct knowledge of external influences, such as light, heat, moisture, wind, and the personal equation of the firer and the rifle. The sniper must continually practice both with the military sights and with the adjuncts supplied him and under conditions closely resembling those that will obtain in actual trench work. The importance of concealment will usually result in fire being delivered from rest, and the handling of the rifle must not be accompanied by exposure of his position. The soldier who has been thoroughly trained in the courses prescribed in the Small Arms Firing Manual will have no difficulty in improvising firing exercises with small bobbing or disappearing targets that will develop skill along the lines indicated above. In every exercise the judgment of the firer should be expressed as to the influence of a cold piece, a hot piece; clouds, heat, moisture, wind; a worn rifle; fouling; recent cleaning and oiling, or whatever existing condition may exert an influence on the path of the bullet. The estimation of ranges and their determination by use of range finders should form an important part of the training of a sniper. _Reconnaissance_ and _scouting_.—Under this head is included all manner of observation with a view to obtaining information. The sniper’s field of action will be limited, but within its sphere it will be governed by the same principles that are prescribed for reconnaissance parties and scouts, and will include the intelligible rendering of reports.