MCRP 12-10B.1, page 124

b. Offensive Employment. Snipers should be used to gain and maintain contact with the enemy. This enhances security and prevents surprise by keeping constant and unrelenting pressure on the enemy. Some of the considerations for sniper employment include: (1) As the “eyes” of a commander, a sniper increases the commander’s flexibility by gathering and transmitting information on fire support targets. (2) Snipers attack those targets that affect the enemy’s ability to wage battle and those that will cause the maximum amount of confusion on the battlefield. Potential targets for a sniper are: Officers and noncommissioned officers Enemy snipers and marksmen Engineer personnel Personnel guarding crew-served weapons Communications personnel and equipment Fire support observers and/or equipment Commanders of armored vehicles. c. Combat on Urbanized Terrain (1) Snipers can be employed to operate for extended periods of time from hidden positions to dominate and establish a “no-man’s land,” screen flanks, protect the rear, and deny the enemy access to certain areas or avenues of approach. Snipers can operate with the covering element to deliver accurate fires in support of search elements. Optical devices enhances their ability to detect movement and engage it instantly. (2) Snipers can also support (by fire) infantry movement across streets. They can provide immediate precision fire on enemy machine gun nests and enemy snipers. The best countersniper weapon is the sniper. Snipers are assigned the following supporting missions: Delaying and inflicting casualties on the advancing enemy Observing and reporting potential targets Covering (by fire) avenues of approach and obstacles Military Operations on Urbanized Terrain 4-11