I have always wondered how weapons are issued in the Army. What I mean is who (or what) determines whether a soldier is issued a M4, a SAW, a shotgun, who carries the Javelin, who carries the M249 etc.

Is a personal choice? Is it done by shooting qualifications? by physical size (let the high school linebacker carry the heavier weapons).

How is that determined? Do soldiers have any choice? (For example if a soldier prefers the M4 to the SAW is he allowed to switch etc. Also what is the policy on sidearms do all soldiers carry one? is it a choice?

Finally hand grenades, are hand grenades still issued?

Are their differences in policy between US. ARMY/USMC

Can somebody INFORMED, explain to me how it works.

most of it is determined by job and doctrine. a lot of it depends on your job, rank, and how you are used in that position according to doctrine. there are certain weapons systems assigned to infantry teams and that is how the composition is laid out.

with other jobs, it depends on rank, location, and mission.

does that help?

Originally Posted by Team Infidel

most of it is determined by job and doctrine. a lot of it depends on your job, rank, and how you are used in that position according to doctrine. there are certain weapons systems assigned to infantry teams and that is how the composition is laid out.

with other jobs, it depends on rank, location, and mission.

does that help?

Yes thanks, but could you elaborate? Perhaps give a few example?

If your in the infantry what job(s) what kind of jobs = what type of equipment. Perhaps the reasoning behind such decisions.

Is there any flexibility in such things or is it fixed?

There is ALWAYS flexibility encorporated into how a squad is equiped. Especially in today's military. I think that is what makes us so unique. Different missions deal with different types of equipment. Plus we employ an Assemetric way of fighting today's battle.

If you look in FM 7-8 http://www.globalsecurity.org/milita...y/army/fm/7-8/ it will show you those types of doctrinal correct ways to employ on the infantry side of the house.

^^^Right on, sir.

It can be dangerous to differentiate weapons with respect to rank, because then the enemy can see who is who from relatively far away, bad juju.

From my angle. I and all my soliders are issued the M-4 and the M-9 as TO&E for our MOS, MP. I also have soliders assigned to lug M249's and as members of Crew Serve teams, and some assigned to have M203's attached to their rifles.

As a Plt. Sgt I generally assign my 203's and 249's and gunners on the crew serves from my most exiprienced soliders, but thats just me.

Which again differed from my unit which had new guys armed with M249s.
It's always different. Depends on the unit.
Same goes with a lot of things. Though they always say it's a common culture, once inside you can tell that each company is somewhat different. That was my experience anyway.
I know this is RoK Marine but I think some things are universal across the board.

Yeah, the new guys and screw ups usually get the guns when we're stomping around the bush for a couple of weeks however on wartime operations it goes to experienced soldiers.

Originally Posted by Wallabies

Yeah, the new guys and screw ups usually get the guns when we're stomping around the bush for a couple of weeks however on wartime operations it goes to experienced soldiers.

It has been my experience (Army 1961-1967 [Vietnam] ... Navy 15+ years [Grenada]), that the screw-ups aren't around long enough to worry about what they carry - they end up on permanent KP or assignment as cooks. As far as the rest, depending what your squads NORMAL tactical assignments are ... you will be issued weapons in keeping with tactical doctrine. Squad Leaders, Platoon Sergeants, and Platoon Commanders will assign weapons to those who have the qualifications and experience.

The Platoon will sometimes operate with 'Short' Squads in order to field a Special Squad. If necessary, 'Special Squads' will be made up of 'volunteered' members of the platoon's regular squads. It isn't always necessary to short the squads - sometimes a platoon will be carried over-strength in order to be able to have the Special Squad without shorting the normal 11 or 13 man squads (the normal complement I am familiar with ... I think this is still normal manning).

New doctrine and new weapons may very well have made some major changes ... however ... basic combat SOP hasn't changed all that much ... you still have to practice fire and maneuver today, as you did in battles of yesteryear. Basic differences do exist when the firefight is guerilla warfare as practiced in Vietnam. Part of the difficulties encountered, was learning new skills before you were killed - something that modern soldiers are taught at the advanced infantry training centers of today's military.

So in answer to the original question, weapons and who carries them is determined by tactical doctrine, special needs, qualification of personnel and finally - assignment by Squad Leaders, Platoon Sergeants and Platoon Commanders.

Originally Posted by mmarsh

Yes thanks, but could you elaborate? Perhaps give a few example?

If your in the infantry what job(s) what kind of jobs = what type of equipment. Perhaps the reasoning behind such decisions.

Is there any flexibility in such things or is it fixed?

We used to have different designations for different types of infantry, like 11M for mechanized infantry and 11H for TOW missiles. Now, you just have your 11B's (infantryman) and 11C's (indirect fire infantryman) for enlisted soldiers. I don't know how officer MOS's work.