by Matt » Sat Jan 25, 2014 10:01 am
Being a sniper is about more than being sneaky, it's about recon, and knowing where your enemy is going before he knows. A good sniper is in constant contact with the CO, feeding valuable intel about the enemy whereabouts. When you are informed about where the enemy is headed, you can be ready with an ambush. During the ambush, your sniper becomes a force multiplier, taking out SAW gunners, squad leaders, any targets of opportunity. It's a beautiful thing when it all comes together.
Unfortunately it rarely plays out that way because most "snipers" are god knows where, don't have good radios, or don't listen to the CO. Or they have a CO who doesn't understand how to fully utilize the sniper. A sniper without command to report to is just a dude in the bushes with a gun. He may as well be a third team because he'll probably get shot by friendlies, nobody knows he's there and he's often wearing a ghillie.
If we're talking about "sniper" in the way I have defined it above, I'd say yeah there probably is a shortage. It's not an easy job. I've never done it, never had the patience.