Initially, the effort was centered on donations of various items primarily from generous S/SA members that were sent directly to SSPs deployed in OIF. By 2005, in the interest of accountability, the responsibilities of procurement/shipment were assigned to two primary and separate sources (with considerable assistance from a couple of other folks within the Association):  one source for health & comfort items; the other for tactical/field items.

Given that our OpAss efforts would ultimately be measured in terms of 'credit or blame', we tried to 'standardize' and structure the support system in such a way that was more accountable, applicable to the mission, and equitable among the units. Accordingly, thru the process of standardization we needed to transition from miscellaneous 'donated' items (some of which were of limited applicability) from well-intended individuals, to standard 'kits' of items specifically procured for the scout/sniper mission. Such transition dictated that cash fund-raising became the much-desired alternative to individual donations of miscellaneous items. Also at that juncture, the deployed units' points-of-contact information was removed from general access on our website and relegated to very-limited access by only the Association's cadre, thus to boost unit security while deployed.  This was also done in an effort to further foster accountability thru elimination of miscellaneous, unsolicited shipments of marginal/non-applicable items outside the OpAss parameters established by the S/SA.

As to tactical support, the Association has established policies that preclude providing certain types of equipment such as munitions, small arms magazines, small arms optics, etc, that in the event of malfunction/failure might fault the mission or endanger the Marine's life. Certainly, notwithstanding budgetary constraints, we would provide ONLY the very top-of-the-line support for our Marines. The realities of available funding, on the other hand, dictate considerable discretion in what we can send while maintaining accountability, applicability, and equity among the units. Thus, provided the items passed our preliminary field tests, the choice was made to provide 'good/suitable quality' optics, etc. for up to ten young Marines for the price of otherwise sending the 'top-of-the-line' high-end items to one. Thru the process of 'standardization', any feedback from the field will likely be applicable to ALL the units, so additions/changes are made accordingly.

Obviously, the Marine Corps provides the individual Marine snipers' basic load of combat equipment, so we concentrate on areas of support where there might be further contribution to the scout/snipers' mission. The Scout/Sniper Association's OpAss efforts are not in providing primary equipment to the individual sniper, but to SUPPLEMENTING THE UNIT. Given the prevailing nature of operations within the two combat theatres, our tac-kits vary somewhat depending on which theatre the unit is deployed. The basic tac-kits include hide materials, small arms cleaning equipment, small binos and spotting scopes/tripods, optics maintenance items, SSDS batteries, sniper data books, IR filters, IR strobes, wind meters, etc, etc. Kits bound for Afghanistan also include water purification kits and periscopes, etc.

Accordingly, since its beginning, the S/SA's Operation Assist has provided in excess of $60K of supplemental support to more than two-dozen scout/sniper platoons deployed in the War On Terror.  Feedback from the units has been very favorable, and the Assn is VERY appreciative of all cash contributions to 'Operation Assist'!....100% of which are directly applicable to supporting the young warriors at the tip of the spear.... the Marine Scout/Snipers.