A Sniper’s Insight: Connecting long-range shooting techniques to everyday life.

Growing up, I'm sure we all have seen a movie or two about a sniper engaging a target from hundreds or thousands of yards away. To me, it looked semi-simple at the time. The sniper sneaks his way into enemy territory in a giant ghillie suit, lays down, maybe adjusts his sniper scope a few times, and then shoots his target. Mission Accomplished!

Several years down the road, I found myself at Navy SEAL sniper school. It was a dream job of mine to go to this school because it would allow me the chance to become my platoon's pointman, which was a heavy responsibility that I wanted to challenge myself with.

We were learning a whole bunch of math equations to calculate the distance to a target, how to shoot a moving one, and the time it takes for the bullet to travel there. But a few snipers shooting fundamentals is what stuck with me the most. I'm now able to use these techniques and apply them to my everyday life. My goal is for you to be able to utilize them in yours as well.

Body Position:

A sniper's body position before taking a tough shot is paramount. The mission may require him to have to remain motionless in the same exact position for several hours, therefore, he has to be comfortable. Additionally, if his body position is unstable in any way, he is likely going to miss his shot.

How does it relate to our lives? Well, is your body positioned correctly? You have to be able to have an honest conversation with yourself about your current health and fitness. Health and fitness should be the #1 priority in everyone's lives. If this aspect of your life is lacking, correct it. We will be unable to help our loved ones if we ourselves are ridden by self-induced medical conditions because of a poor diet and workout regime. In this day and age, we are spoiled with easy access to essentially any type of information we are seeking. The issue is not, not knowing information on how to do something, rather, it is actually just simply grinding out that hard work.

There is a phrase I really connect with. “Hard work looks simple.”

Most people know how to achieve a fit healthy body. I need to eat a healthy well-balanced diet of clean whole foods, hydrate properly, and workout hard everyday. Pretty simple route to success.

Benefits?

Your relationships will improve, you will sleep better, become a more confident person, and discover levels of the human body and mind that you didn't know were possible. Trust me, the mind and body are capable of tremendous resilience. Pushing hard in the gym will test your willpower and resolve. It will force you to battle negative thoughts that are trying to convince you to stop. In return, it's going to help level your mental toughness 1% higher each day.

Sight Picture/Alignment:

If a sniper has a poor sight picture in his scope, or if his reticle DOPE (data of previous engagement) is incorrect, his shot will miss the target. Or even worse, he will shoot an unintended target. As shooters, we are 100% responsible for every round that leaves our firearm.

I like to utilize sight picture/alignment when I'm writing down my life goals. Do I have a clear view of what my goal actually is? I need to be able to clearly identify and describe my goal to someone if I'm asked. Be descriptive and thorough when writing down your goals in life and give yourself a timeline you would like to complete it by. If your life is a mess and isn't in-line properly to successfully complete your goals, then how can a reasonable person visualize victory.

Trigger Pull:

One of the most vital aspects of long range shooting. The way you place your finger on the trigger, taking the slack out, and slowly adding pressure directly back are key factors for cracking off a good shot. You must remember, the errors of a poor trigger pull are exponential when shooting long distances. Let's say we are missing by 2 inches with our handgun at a 5 yard target. A sniper might miss by multiple yards with that same trigger pull.

Can a sniper hit a target without pulling the trigger in the first place? Well, of course not.

How often do you hear your friends/family/strangers in your lives speak these phrases?

I hate my job. I'm out of shape. I don't like the relationship I'm in. I'm upside down on my finances.

Here is the answer to your problem. Pull the trigger.

You're out of shape? Great, pull the trigger on that gym membership you keep talking about.

You hate your job? Fine, pull the trigger on that great business idea you shared with me last year.

If you are unhappy with the way an aspect of your life is going, then change it. Find out what you want, how you are going to successfully get there, and pull the trigger.

Additionally, do not be afraid to lean on your friends for advice or reach out to someone who has what you want. Humility, it's a fantastic human trait to have.

Avoid putting it off until tomorrow, that day might not ever come.

Follow-Through:

After the shooter breaks his shot, it's imperative that he holds his finger down on the trigger to properly manage the recoil, steady his reticle on the target, and reset the trigger for any follow-up shots.

When you decide to actively make changes in your life and pull the trigger, you will fail often. We are human beings and far from perfect. Do not get discouraged and quit when you fail or arrive at roadblocks along the way to your goals. Instead, use it as motivation to work even harder, discover new paths to your goals, and enjoy the resilience levels your mind is acquiring each time you hit one that roadblock. Having proper follow-through after you fail at something means to see your goal through until the end.

Embrace the failure when it comes, harness it, and use it as motivation to not let it break you. Never quit.

- Zack Ferguson is a 6 year Navy SEAL

Zack Ferguson | Instructor | SEAL

Zack is a former Navy SEAL team 7 veteran with multiple deployments to Iraq, Yemen, Africa, and the United Arab Emirates. He served as his platoons Lead Sniper/Pointman, JTAC, Combatives Instructor, and Weapons Ordnance Specialist.

Additionally, Zack is a competitive 10th Planet Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, as well as an amateur MMA fighter. His goal is to continue to reach and connect with people through his Jiu-Jitsu content to help show that there are other communities out there to join when veterans leave active duty. It is a great lifestyle to re-acquire a purpose and to be a part of a community. Ironically enough, Zack met DSG instructor Angel Cortes through his OG Pumpkin Jiu-JItsu event.

He is an instructor for the Graceful Warrior Project, a non-profit organization that aims to equip in-duress women in Africa and Haiti with self-defense skills. Haiti is considered the “rape capitol of the world.” Zack finds tremendous pride and satisfaction knowing that teaching his self-defense instruction will help save women's lives.

He has a Bachelor of Science degree in Organizational Leadership from the University of Charleston.