Question about US Army

[radx]

I was wondering how regular infantry soldiers get issued M4s in some cases and M16s in the others? Why aren't they all issue M16s? I see some guys carrying M4s and other guys carrying M16s in the pictures from Iraq and Afghanistan. Thanks.

[James]

I think it depends on the unit and/or their mission. I don't know, though, as I was never in the Army. Hopefully someone with more knowledge will answer.

[Ratamacue]

As far as I can tell, the heavy (not sure if that's the right term) infantry divisions, i.e. 3rd ID, 4th ID carry the M16A4 whereas units like the Airborne, Rangers, or Cavalry carry the M4 since they need something easier to carry in confined spaces like the inside of an APC. That's my knowledge at least, someone correct me if I'm a moron.

Army switched to the A4 version?

[Ratamacue]

Army switched to the A4 version?
Take a look at pictures of the 3rd ID as far back as the initial invasion. Virtually all of them are carrying A4's.

[100_Percent_HOOAH]

Army switched to the A4 version?
Take a look at pictures of the 3rd ID as far back as the initial invasion. Virtually all of them are carrying A4's.

A4 is used in basic now, instead of the A2. This is true at Ft. Benning, at least, I'm not sure about other BCT sites.

[Pandy]

How the army issue weapons is based on need. If a platoon needs 30 Rifles, 12 M249s, 8 M9s, 12 M203s, etc etc etc. They'll get it. Based around the unit, it will be given an M4 or M16 for it's rifle. Rat's correct on Airborne, Rangers, Cav, some Mech Infantry on the M4 Rifle. Others like I.D. units, get the good old M16A2 or A4.

[dghost]

Army switched to the A4 version?
Take a look at pictures of the 3rd ID as far back as the initial invasion. Virtually all of them are carrying A4's.

A4 is used in basic now, instead of the A2. This is true at Ft. Benning, at least, I'm not sure about other BCT sites.

when I went through that depended on if you were going through ITB or BCT. ie, the pouges got the A2's and the Infantry guys got the A4's.

I would also like to point out that Heavy (ie, Mech) units use APC's far more than Light units. remember kiddos - an uparmored humvee is not an APC, however the Bradley is.

as far as the real reason that you see Heavy units with M16A4's and Light unit's with M4's... traditionally, heavy units have less cash to spend on replacing perfectly good equipment as the maintenance costs of the vehicles usually makes it hard. the ability to replace an Infantry companies perfectly good M16A4 rifles with M4's gets de-prioritized when it costs the same amount as it would to replace a single Bradley transmission and engine.

for a garrison army most of the heavy life involves bradley gunnery. the problem with that is when they deploy and SMs assholes start to pucker as they realize that someone seriously miscalculated the costs of maintaining the vehicles during constant ops for a year in addition to the costs of acctually supplying the troop with all the **** that they need.

if only war was the way garrison commanders view it, eh?