sharpshooters

Sharpshooters are infantry specialists tasked with precision rifle fire at extended ranges, distinguishing them from ordinary infantry by higher training in marksmanship, observation, and camouflage. The concept originated with the adoption of rifled firearms in the 18th and 19th centuries, which gave individual shooters the ability to hit targets beyond the range of smoothbore muskets. During the American Civil War, both Union and Confederate forces formed dedicated sharpshooter units and companies whose members were selected for accuracy and used rifles with improved sights to disrupt enemy leadership, artillery crews, and skirmishers. Similar developments occurred in European armies, where marksmen and sharpshooter detachments operated in advance lines or hostile terrain.

In modern service, sharpshooters are typically embedded within infantry units or organized into small teams. They train to engage high-value or choice targets, perform reconnaissance, and support unit objectives by suppressing key threats. Equipment has evolved from rifled muskets to specialized rifles equipped with telescopic sights, rangefinders, and advanced optics; ammunition may be selected for greater range, accuracy, or stopping power. Tactics emphasize camouflage, movement discipline, range estimation, wind reading, and stealth, though many contemporary usages emphasize precision and controllable fire rather than solitary infiltration.

The term is often distinguished from snipers and marksmen: snipers operate in pairs or teams with concealment and intelligence gathering, while marksmen are skilled shooters within broader infantry roles.