From: Tactical Airsoft Magazine

The Roles:

Sniper vs. Designated Marksman
By: Patrick Scott

As many of you in the sport will attest, one of the least expensive ways to get into airsoft is by buying an airsoft sniper rifle. However, many, if not most, of the players who get into the sport this way find that they want to act more like Designated Marksmen rather than the Sniper that their equipment would dictate as their role. For many, this is because they find that they like the faster pace of going after their opponents. For others, it is simply because they do not understand their role in an airsoft engagement as a sniper. The purpose of this article, therefore, is to educate the airsoft community as to what each role entails, and how to act accordingly.

The Sniper
The role of the sniper, contrary to popular belief, is not to be an assassin-like
shooter. It is not the sniper’s primary job to find the target, eliminate it and move on to
another target. It is the sniper’s job to shoot when the situation calls for it. However, the
primary role of a sniper, believe it or not, is to observe and report. They are intelligence
gatherers first, shooters second.

Observation:
A sniper will use cover, concealment, stealth and guise to move himself into a
good position (also known as a hide, or hide site) where he can observe a wide area. As
stated before, his primary function is to observe and report any enemy movement or
activities. In today’s real combat zones, the sniper may even be equipped with video
equipment that can relay target information back to command. They even have the
capability to laser-designate (or lase) a target for precision munition strikes. However,
through all of this, he has not fired a shot himself.

For SWAT team snipers, their role is similar, but less involved than military snipers. Again, their primary function is to gather intelligence on the suspect(s) they have been called in to deal with as a team. This would be the best example I can give of thesniper being a team player. SWAT snipers continuously report anything relevant to the situation. Quite often, military snipers do too, as today’s combat environment has moved into cities and neighborhoods.

Taking the shot:
A sniper is not a strike element that operates completely independent of its parent unit. A sniper is a force-multiplier. Should the situation call for it, a sniper can take out a single target in a squad, platoon, or even a company sized element and cause that entire group to seek cover, rather than advancing on his unit’s or his own position. One shot just tied up as many as 50 opposition troops. This is the definition of force multiplication. One man tying up many.

However, the sniper isn’t taking shots at every target he sees. That’s the job of a
designated marksman. To do so would give away his position and he would have to move
to his fallback hide site, negating his presence for a time, and could take him out of the
fight long enough for the opposition to overrun his fellow team member’s position.
Obviously, this would not be beneficial to the overall mission. A sniper is very selective
of the targets they eventually shoot, so as to make get the maximum effect.

The Designated Marksman:
The designated marksman was instituted to fill the gap between snipers and the
average rifleman. In most cases, a sniper wouldn’t be effective on a patrol with an
infantry squad or platoon. However, there are often instances where a rifleman simply
doesn’t have the range and/or the optics to make the shot at longer than normal
engagement distances. Here is where the Designated Marksman’s Rifle, or DMR, comes
into play. In many cases it is simply a slightly modified service rifle outfitted with a
magnifying scope. Now, there are specially built DMRs that are made specifically for
servicing targets at the intermediate ranges that the designated marksman is meant to take out.

The individual who carries this weapon has been given some extra marksmanship
training to best utilize the DMR. However, they are not running around in ghillie suits
like snipers. They are outfitted and equipped just like a normal rifleman would be.
Standard uniforms, armor, helmet, etc. Basically, a normal soldier with an improved
weapon & some extra training. Not much more to being a designated marksman.
The designated marksman can, and should shoot at multiple targets as they come
available. As with a sniper, a designated marksman is a force multiplier. They have the
ability to engage targets before they can engage them, so that by the time the opposition
is within normal engagement distance, they are reduced in effectiveness.

Conclusion:
In conclusion, I would say to all of you who are in airsoft, or are planning to get into airsoft to research your chosen role, and buy/train accordingly. If you buy a bolt action rifle, chances are you need to be a sniper rather than a designated marksman. A
designated marksman needs the semi-automatic rifle for faster follow-up shots that snipers shouldn’t be taking. Can a sniper use a DMR? Sure. I see no reason why not. Many SWAT snipers use DMRs as their sniping rifle. But, again, be sure of your role and play that role when on the field. Nothing says “new guy” than a ghillied up guy running through the woods taking pot-shots at the opposition.