Ghillie suits: a sniper's most important item

Everyone has heard of camouflage, but far fewer have seen a ghillie suit. Unless you look very closely, you may not even see one. The ghillie suit dates back to Scotland. Known as ghillie suits, they were made from rags or frayed cloth and worn in the bushes to wait for poachers.

Today, ghillie suits are used for a variety of activities, from lethal shooting to paintball, which is not a deadly game. While the materials used have changed, the concept of covering oneself remains the same. Even when enemies or landmarks approach at close range, those wearing modern ghillie suits remain invisible and appear as a pile of sticks in the woods.

Ghillie suits have been associated with sniping because of its simple concept and high effectiveness. Towards the end of the 18th century, the art of sniping began. To break and shatter the enemy's spirit, rebels sniped targets from a distance. Snipers only appeared when weapons became more accurate and the marksman could be more than 100 meters away from the target.

The use of snipers in military conflicts changed the way wars were fought. Before snipers were deployed, officers stood beside their troops and gave orders during battle. Infantry warfare changed from direct combat to covert siege techniques as more and more commanders were killed. Commanders had to try to blend in with lower-ranking soldiers to avoid being shot. These tactics moved the fighting from open fields to safer areas for both sides, such as forests and hills. As more brutal and distant fighting techniques were used, the rules of behavior that soldiers once held were forgotten.

During the First World War, all sides used ghillie suits and sniping techniques to kill high-ranking officers and demoralize enemy forces. The fabrics hung down and provided incredible camouflage for snipers. There are many styles of ghillie suits, allowing the wearer to adapt to the terrain anywhere, whatever the climate. For example, a ghillie suit in the desert will look very different from a ghillie suit in the jungle.

Modern snipers continue to use ghillie suits for protection and concealment during emergency missions. In most cases, there is one sniper or a spotter and another sniper. A well-made suit covering the sniper is the most important asset besides the weapon. Without the ability to remain undetected until it is time to fire, the safety of the sniper is extremely compromised. For the sniper, escaping after firing is just as important as firing. During the escape, the sniper uses the camouflage of the ghillie suit several times to escape unharmed.