Some fortunate man — possibly you — is happening the hunt of a lifetime due to the Marine Scout Sniper Heritage Basis. The journey will occur in northern England later this yr, not removed from the border with Scotland, the place the winner and their visitor can be wined and dined like Highland Lairds of outdated. They can even get some prime tier taking pictures instruction from UK Particular Forces and U.S. Marine Scout Sniper instructors, after which put these expertise to make use of whereas stalking roebuck, fallow deer, and pink deer. Sure, I’m jealous.
The muse is promoting raffle tickets for this hunt to boost funds for a Marine Scout Sniper Battle Memorial which can be constructed in Semper Fidelis Memorial Park, subsequent to the Nationwide Museum of the Marine Corps. In case you haven’t been to that museum, you’re lacking out. It’s one of the fascinating, and shifting, army museums I’ve ever visited. It’s best to put it in your bucket checklist.
Raffle Particulars
The drawing is occurring quickly. The deadline to get tickets is midnight March 16, with the winner being chosen the following day. There are a selection of packages to select from however, as they are saying, you’ll be able to’t win for those who don’t play.
The hunt dates are versatile. The muse has gone to nice lengths to make the logistics as seamless as attainable. All prices are lined, from journey to meals and lodging. Simply get your self to the airport and they’re going to do the remainder. You don’t even have to deliver your personal rifle – they’ll have one ready for you.
Accuracy Worldwide, which makes the best sniper rifles on the earth, has partnered with the muse to make this attainable. They’re offering the rifles for the hunt which is able to happen on personal land totaling greater than 10,000 acres. The winner can be accompanied by a information your complete time whereas stalking – this isn’t a tree stand hunt. Did I point out there aren’t any bag limits on the sport?
The Marine Scout Sniper Battle Memorial
Marine Corps Scout Snipers are identified for his or her understated professionalism and their ingrained reticence. They aren’t given to broadcasting their exploits, which is one cause it’s taken till now for a memorial celebrating their wealthy historical past to return to fruition.
“What the memorial means to me and the sniper neighborhood at giant is a approach to come collectively to honor and bear in mind the snipers that paved the best way for future snipers and to recollect the blanket of freedom and safety they supplied,” mentioned Phillip Velayo, a Marine Scout Sniper Teacher who served from 2007 to 2018. “Being a sniper was greater than the title of the man doing sneaky squirrel stuff. The infantry checked out us because the eyes and ears of the unit, and as issues shifted within the battlespace we had been the guardian angels of the infantryman – or the man within the X as we known as it – so they may do their job extra successfully and safely.”
The memorial’s design captures this sentiment. The proposed design reveals a two-man Scout Sniper staff, mixing historic eras. The Marine on the rifle is a recent determine, whereas his associate is a World Battle I period sniper pointing down vary.
This captures the breadth of Marine Scout Sniper historical past. The primary Scout Snipers — that time period is one the Canadians first employed — acquired instruction within the ultimate years of World Battle I, after which noticed motion in conflicts in locations like Belleau Wooden, which turned the stuff of legend in Marine Corps lore.
Among the many most notable tales the memorial captures is that of Corporal John Henry Pruitt, a Scout Sniper who gained two Medals of Honor (one from the Navy and one from the Military) for his exploits within the Battle of Blanc Mount Ridge. He was the U.S. Army’s first sniper to win the MOH.
“Cpl. Pruitt, singlehandedly attacked two machine weapons, capturing them and killing two of the enemy. He then captured 40 prisoners in a dugout close by. This gallant soldier was killed quickly afterward by shellfire whereas he was sniping on the enemy,” his official quotation reads partially.
Pruitt is only one of many Scout Snipers with extraordinary tales the memorial honors, mentioned Tim Parkhurst, the muse’s president and a former Scout Sniper who had a 25-year profession within the Marine Corps.
“We’ve got three Medal of Honor recipients that had been Scout Snipers,” Parkhurst mentioned. “However this memorial honors each Marine Scout Sniper who did the job and who was killed in motion — going again to the start, by means of the current day and into future conflicts. The memorial is for our fallen.”
Different Methods to Assist the Memorial
To lift the funds to assemble the bronze statue, which is being carried out by Sabin Howard who created the Nationwide World Battle I Memorial, the muse can also be promoting Scout Sniper-themed flasks and decanters. (Keep in mind that the Marine Corps birthplace was the Tun Tavern in Philadelphia on November 10, 1775, and is our army’s oldest service department.) Each the flask and decanter are restricted version objects.
The Sniper Cartridge Drinks Flask is a scaled up M118LR spherical, which is the 7.62x51mm (aka .308 Win.) spherical that Marine snipers have used for many years. The cap is a clone of the 175-grain Sierra Match King Open Tip Match (OTM) bullet the M118LR makes use of. Product of CNC machined aluminum, the flask holds 1.5 ounces of your favourite sipping beverage – which is one shot, a nod to the Scout Sniper’s “one shot, one kill” ethos. Solely 762 can be made.
In case you actually need a show-stopping piece, try the M40A6 Sniper Rifle Decanter. This factor is cool as hell. It’s produced from stainless-steel and glass and the rifle set inside it’s based mostly on a scan of an precise issued M40A6 sniper rifle positioned on the Weapons Coaching Battalion armory at Quantico.(The M40 is without doubt one of the rifles in my story on the Greatest Sniper Rifles in Motion At this time.)
This sturdy decanter is available in a presentation case, weighs 10.7 kilos, and holds 1.5 liters of distilled goodness.
Marine Scout Snipers Getting Their Due
I’ve been lucky to get to spend time with many Marine Scout Snipers over time. I’ve shot with them in competitors, I’ve frolicked with them on the Weapons Coaching Battalion at Quantico, and I’ve change into good buddies with a number of as properly.
Their legacy is one value preserving and celebrating and I can’t wait to see the memorial in particular person as soon as it turns into actuality. I hope you’re keen to assist too. It’s for an excellent trigger and also you would possibly find yourself with a hunt of a lifetime within the discount.
