To me shooting, (be it requalification, recreational, or competition), was simply practice for greasing the enemy.

We needed the National Competition to keep us sharp, and hone our “man killing skills” against the other armed forces. Success in such National Competition helped to make sure that we got the necessary appropriations to carry on our work of passing the latest advanced shooting techniques on to the rest of the Marine Corps.

I told the General that the Division Commanders … that the prospective sniper should be required to fire in the division matches to assess their marksmanship skills.

– Dick Culver

A great overview of the history of the USMC Scout Sniper School as written up by a man that was there, then-Major Richard Culver.

http://www.bobrohrer.com/sea_stories/history_of_the_usmc_sniper_school.pdf