A sharpshooter squad was a unit within the Imperial Army composed of individuals who demonstrated superior marksmanship and proficiency with a blaster compared to other soldiers. These squads frequently utilized sniper rifles.
Sharpshooter squads differed from typical Imperial Army squads in their organizational structure by not using the standard brevet system. Beyond their sharpshooting abilities, members received training in areas like demolitions and other specialized skills. Consequently, before each mission, the sergeant would promote the trooper whose skill set best matched the mission requirements to the temporary rank of brevet corporal. Every trooper received a complete briefing on the mission's goals and was deemed capable of independent action and improvisation should the sergeant and brevet corporal be killed during combat. Although light repeating blasters were not officially part of their standard equipment, most sharpshooter squads obtained them. Their confidence in the weapon's effectiveness eventually led to its adoption by standard line squads. Some sharpshooter squad members came from the Special Missions forces.