Esoteric knowledge loss: sniper schools example

WWII sniper programs were de-emphasized after the war as military priorities shifted. One generation later, Vietnam snipers largely relied on hunting experience rather than formal military training—with sniper school not being compulsory. Without institutional knowledge, better equipment alone couldn't guarantee results. The same pattern may affect specialized crafts: when technologies shift, accumulated practical knowledge can be lost if not systematically documented. Esoteric knowledge can vanish if the sole keeper dies without passing it on.