Not many people who have heard about camouflage know what a ghillie suit is. And unless you are looking very carefully, you might not see it at all. Landowners would hire men to patrol their properties and repel illegal hunters in the beginnings of the ghillie suit. They were known as ghillies and would make suits from rags and frayed textiles to camouflage themselves in the brush and wait for illegal hunters.
Nowadays ghillie suits are implemented for a variety of activities from the deadly act of sniping to the much less deadly game of paintball. The camouflage remains the same even though the textiles have changed over time. The modern day ghillie suit wearer looks like a pile of leaves when they are being still and can stay undetected even when the opposition or target comes within a very close range to them.
Ghillie suits have always been associated with sharpshooting because of their uncomplicated design and high effectiveness. Around the period of the conclusion of the eighteenth century the art of sniping began. To destroy and break the spirits of the enemy, guerillas would shoot at enemies from hidden spots. As weapons started to be more exact and were efficient from over 100 meters, assassins appeared more and more in the battlezone.
The implementation of sharpshooters in military engagements changed the the technique in which battles were fought. Before snipers were deployed officers would stand with troops and give orders during a war. Infantry warfare went from direct encounters to more covered, flanking techniques as more and more officers were killed. To keep from being assassinated, officers had to try and mix in with the common soldiers. More covered spots such as forests and mountains became the choice terrain over open areas as sniping techniques became more prevalent. As more vicious and far-away tactics were implemented in combat, the rules of engagement that military men before held onto was forgotten.
To pick off high-ranking commanders and to demoralize enemy troops during World War I, every side had ghillie suits and shooter tactics. The skill to remain unseen for snipers lies within the suit; textiles hang down and give the sharpshooter incredible camouflage protection. There are many different types of the suit so that the wearer can blend in with surroundings no matter what environment they are in. A desert ghillie suit, for example, would look a lot different than a ghiilie suit for the woods.
Modern day sharpshooters still continue to use the suit for safety and cover while on important operations. Since a sniper often works solo or with one other person the ability to stay hidden is necessary for a sharpshooter's security. A well-made suit to cover the sniper is the most essential asset besides the gun. A sharpshooter's life would be severly compromised if they didn't have the ability to remain hidden until it was time to take the shot. To an sniper, the getaway is just as essential as the actual shot. Several times during the getaway the shooter will use the camouflage of the suit to get them out without harm.
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