Chapter 41: Sniper Training

  An excellent sniper not only needs to learn how to make accurate shots, but also needs to learn camouflage techniques to protect himself, know how to track and observe the enemy, understand hand-to-hand combat and wilderness survival skills, and know how to set up traps. The installation and removal of mines is also something that must be learned. Because only by mastering all this can a lone sniper ensure his safety on the battlefield. Learning these things is not an overnight task.

  Although Bao Yulin had received 16 weeks of training and achieved excellent results, those were just some basic training that every soldier who joined the French Foreign Legion must learn. After arriving at the Second Parachute Battalion of the Foreign Legion, Bao Yulin began his sniper training.

  The FR F1 sniper rifle produced by the French government arsenal at Saint-étienne is a gem among sniper rifles. The gun is not heavy, only 5.2 kg, but holding it for nearly 8 hours a day is not a pleasant thing to do, especially since you can't move.

  The person in charge of training Bao Yulin was a British man named Ball, whose name sounded fake at first glance. However, this didn't matter much here, as it seemed that only Bao Yulin used his real name. Ball was a warrant officer and an excellent sniper. Many times, he was used as a training instructor. Over the decade of serving in the foreign legion, many snipers were trained by him, and he was a meticulous person.

  Barr felt that Bao Yulin was a very strange person. Generally, those who served as snipers were assigned after completing their new recruit training, and at least he had never seen anyone with the right to choose willing to come to the 2nd Parachute Battalion. Generally, those with the right to choose would all choose to go to the 13th Regiment stationed in Djibouti to serve as tank drivers. Not only was the salary more than twice that of the 2nd Parachute Battalion, but also because they were stationed overseas and responsible for defending Djibouti, they generally wouldn't have combat missions. Who becomes a mercenary if not for the money and French citizenship? To obtain French citizenship, one must first ensure that they can survive in the Foreign Legion for 5 years. But Bao Yulin used his right to choose to join the most dangerous 2nd Parachute Battalion, and even chose the most dangerous job of a sniper, which made Barr feel that Bao Yulin was somewhat looking for death.

  Barr did not know that Bao Yulin became a sniper to prove to everyone that he was an excellent soldier. He was not afraid of death and would never surrender, no matter what time it was, he could use his loyalty to demonstrate his honor. This was also the reason why he chose to join the French Foreign Legion, after all, the French Foreign Legion did not require allegiance to France, being a soldier was just a profession. Mercenary work was a dangerous job, but it was the easiest place to show military honor. He hoped that one day, he could tell everyone with his achievements that he was an excellent soldier and his behavior showed the honor of a soldier.

  Ba Er's training method was almost harsh. At first, he arranged for Bao Yu Lin to hold a gun and make aiming poses every day, then drew shoe prints with chalk under Bao Yu Lin's feet. Next, he began to explain tactical theories and technical means. Bao Yu Lin had to stand holding the gun while listening to his explanation, which often took one or two hours. If there was a slight drop in the muzzle or a stumble during this process, punishment would follow.

  Although the weather was not hot, every day when he came down, sweat could be poured out from Bao Yulin's boots. However, he did not complain because he knew that if Barbell became a world-renowned mercenary sniper instructor, there must be his reason.

  Bao Yulin's performance was very satisfactory to Bal, who of course knew how hard it was to hold a gun still for so long. However, being a sniper is a very dangerous and boring job. On the battlefield, a sniper may need to lie in wait for several days without moving, always ready to fire at any moment, and only when the target appears can they shoot and kill the enemy.

  After several days of observation, Ball discovered that Bao Yulin had great potential to be a sniper. Firstly, he was very patient and could endure loneliness, even going for days without speaking if not asked anything. Secondly, he was very quiet, and after several days, Ball observed that whether he was present or not, Bao Yulin would stand still in the designated area, holding his rifle motionless. Imagine putting such a sniper in a hidden location, it's likely no one could find him. Of course, the most important thing for a sniper is to be able to use the sniper rifle to kill people. In Ball's opinion, Bao Yulin had much to learn. Perhaps on the battlefield, snipers fire the fewest bullets, but their bullets are the most efficient.

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  "Baoyulin, here are 1,000 rounds of ammunition. Today you must finish them all!" On the shooting range, Ball threw the ammunition in front of Baoyulin.

  "Yes, sir!" Bao Yulin didn't ask why. From their interactions over this period of time, Bao Yulin knew that Bal was a pure military man. Although he didn't speak much, whatever he did had a very clear purpose.

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  "There are 2,000 rounds of ammunition here. Today, all must be fired and none can be wasted." Ball walked away as usual after throwing down the ammunition. Now Bao Yulin's shooting distance was already at the farthest effective range of the FR-F1 sniper rifle, and Ball didn't dare say that he could hit the target with all 2,000 rounds.

  Bar's demands grew higher and higher every day, originally only requiring Bao Yulian to complete a certain number of shots each day. Gradually, there were requirements for shooting accuracy. As time went on, the daily training volume reached an astonishing level.

  Bao Yulin didn't say anything when he came out, and he didn't need to. As the training progressed step by step, Bao Yulin understood that war couldn't be won just with a fearless revolutionary spirit and a strong fighting consciousness. Sometimes, perhaps an unremarkable sniper could decide the outcome of the war. The People's Liberation Army was very brave and fought fiercely, but in some technical means and methods, they were far inferior to these mercenaries.

  Don't look at Bal's usual silence, but Bao Yulin's training results have been reported by Bal. Bal's evaluation of Bao Yulin is: he is a born sniper. If the goal of this task is to hit the target, then this person is Bao Yulin.

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  Bao Yulin did not know any of this. He was just very surprised that a few months later, he was not only promoted to Wu Zhang out of turn, but also sent to Djibouti.

  "Bao Yulin, you are the best sniper I have ever seen. I've taught you everything I can, and it was my suggestion to send you to Djibouti. I don't know what's on your mind, but it seems like you're eager to die in battle. I don't want you to die so soon, that's why I suggested transferring you to Djibouti. I hope you can live a few more years in peace." Bar said this after Bao Yulin received his transfer order.

  "Thank you!" Bao Yulin said sincerely, he thanked Ba Er from the bottom of his heart. After this period of systematic study, Bao Yulin only then understood that if the opponent was a professional sniper team on the Vietnamese battlefield, or Wu Hongmei was a professional sniper, he would not have survived until now.

  "No need to thank me, I can see it for myself, you've been on the battlefield." Bar hesitated for a moment, as it was not appropriate to discuss others' history in the Foreign Legion. However, through their interactions over time, he didn't think Bao Yulin would say anything: "A soldier's value is not measured by how many people he has killed or what earth-shattering feats he has accomplished, but rather by his loyalty and contribution. Sometimes, not everyone's loyalty and contribution will be recognized, but that doesn't matter. What's key is having a standard of measurement in your own heart. God will record it all."

  Bar said these words after careful consideration. In the foreign legion, there are all kinds of people, but someone like Bao Yulin is really rare. He had already received orders and would be going to Lebanon on a mission in a few days. Originally, Bao Yulin should have followed him, but he only knew that Lebanon was very dangerous at present. For Bao Yulin's safety, Bar used some means to transfer Bao Yulin to Djibouti.

  "Be careful on the front line" Bao Yulin didn't know what to say, he and Hope Baer could come back safely.

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  A few days later, Bao Yulin arrived in Djibouti and was promoted to exempt him from many new recruits' labor. In addition to his professional characteristics and dislike of communicating with others, he became a person outside the circle. However, Bao Yulin didn't care, he was more concerned about the situation in Lebanon, worried about Bar.

  Following Ball's recommendation, Bao Yulin has become a new sniper training instructor.

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