5th Armored Brigade Press Packet
Colonel Francis V. Sherman Commander 5th Armored Brigade Colonel Frank Sherman is a native of Ware, Massachusetts, and was commissioned through ROTC as a Distinguished Military Student from The Citadel. COL Sherman first served with 3rd Squadron, 11th Armored Cavalry Regiment, Bad Hersfeld, Germany as Platoon Leader and Troop Executive Officer. Upon completion of the Armor Officer Advance Course, he was assigned to the 3rd Battalion (Airborne), 73rd Armored Regiment as the S-l and commanded Company C from 1988-1990, participating in Operation Just Cause. Following command, he was assigned to the Combat Maneuver Training Center, Hohenfels, Germany and served as an Armor Company Observer/Controller and Lead Writer. Upon graduation from the U.S. Army Command and General Staff College in 1995, he returned to Ft. Bragg as the Operations Officer for the 1st Battlefield Coordination Detachment, XVIII Airborne Corps and later as the S-3, of3rd Battalion (Airborne), 73rd Armored Regiment. He then served two years on the C/J-3 staff, U.S. Forces Korea as the Theatre Operations Officer and then moved to SHAPE, Belgium to work on the J-5 staff as the Balkans Desk Officer. Prior to his assignment at Fort Riley, he served as the Professor of Military Science at New Mexico State University. In July 2002, he took command of 1-13 AR and led the battalion through countless gunnery and gauntlet rotations, NTC rotation 03-04, and a one-year tour in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. During Iraqi Freedom, he led the battalion as they conducted combat operations in Northwest Baghdad, Iraq. He changed command in June 2004 and was then assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 for the 24th Infantry Division, where he oversaw the training and preparation of four separate Brigade Combat Teams in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. Following attendance at the Naval War College, COL Sherman moved to Fort Carson in July 2006 and was assigned as the Assistant Chief of Staff, G3 Division West. COL Sherman’s military education includes the Armor Officer Basic Course, the Armor Officer Advanced Course, the Command and General Staff College, and the Naval War College at Newport, Rhode Island. COL Sherman holds two degrees, a Master’s Degree in Business Administration from Boston University and a Masters in National Security and Strategic Studies. His awards and decorations include: the Legion of Merit, the Bronze Star Medal, the Defense Meritorious Service Medal (with I oak leaf cluster), the Meritorious Service Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), the Army Commendation Medal (with 2 oak leaf clusters), the Joint Service Achievement Medal, the Army Achievement Medal (with 3 oak leaf clusters), the National Defense Service Medal with Bronze Star, the Armed Forces Expeditionary Medal (with Arrowhead), and the Overseas Service Ribbon (with numeral “4”). COL Sherman also wears the Combat Action Badge, Master Parachutist Badge with one gold star, the Air Assault Badge, and the Ranger Tab. COL Sherman is married to the former Anna Hathaway of Dallas, Texas. They have two sons, Lukas and Francis III and one daughter, Maria.
CSM Joseph E. Stout Jr. Command Sergeant Major 5th Armored Brigade CSM Joseph E. Stout, Jr. entered the Army in October 1984. He attended both Basic Training and Advanced Individual Training at Fort Bliss, Texas. After basic training, he immediately attended Jump School and was assigned to the 3d Battalion (Airborne), 4th Air Defense Artillery Regiment, 82d Airborne Division in February 1985. CSM Stout served in the battalion as a Stinger gunner, Team Chief, Section Sergeant and First Sergeant before returning as the Battalion CSM. CSM Stout deployed with 3-4 ADAR to Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm and Iraqi Freedom. He is currently assigned as the Brigade Command Sergeant Major, 5th Armored Brigade, Division West where he has been since July 2007. CSM Stout’s assignments include three tours with the 82d Airborne Division; two tours at the Joint Readiness Training Center, Fort Polk, Louisiana as an Air Defense Observer/ Controller; a tour with the 172d Infantry Brigade (Light) (Separate), Fort Wainwright, Alaska, as the Stinger Platoon Sergeant; and a tour with the 31st Air Defense Artillery Brigade, Fort Bliss, Texas, as the Intelligence Sergeant Major. CSM Stout’s awards and decorations include the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal (4OLC), the Army Commendation Medal (2OLC), the Army Achievement Medal (2OLC), the Good Conduct Medal (7th Award), the NCO Professional Development Ribbon with numeral 4, the Overseas Ribbon, the Army Service Ribbon, the National Defense Service Medal (one star), and the Kuwaiti Liberation Medal from the countries of Kuwait and Saudi Arabia. He is also authorized to wear Venezuelan Jump Wings and the German Shutzinsneir. CSM Stout’s schooling includes all levels of NCOES, the First Sergeant’s Course, Jumpmaster School, Air Assault School, Pathfinder School, AMO School, MAC Affiliation Course, the Air Force Arctic Survival School and the Combat Lifesaver Course. He is a Class 53 graduate of the U.S. Army Sergeants Major Academy. CSM Stout, who hails from Trenton, New Jersey, is married to the former Tiffany Main of Gordonsville, Tennessee. Together, they have four children and stepchildren.
5th Armored Brigade Honors CAMPAIGN PARTICIPATION CREDIT World War II Normandy Northern France Rhineland Ardennes-Alsace Central Europe
5th Armored Brigade Lineage •
Constituted 25 August 1942 in the Army of the United States as Headquarters, 5th Tank Destroyer Group
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Activated 01 September 1942 at Camp Hood, Texas
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Inactivated 04 December 1945 at Camp Kilmer, New Jersey
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Converted and re-designated 08 February 1951 as Headquarters, 5th Armored Cavalry Group, and allotted to the Regular Army
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Activated 02 March 1951 at Fort Leonard Wood, Missouri
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Withdrawn 01 January 1975 from the Regular Army and allotted to the Army Reserve; concurrently converted and re-designated as Headquarters, 5th Brigade (Training), and activated at Lincoln, Nebraska
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Inactivated 15 September 1995 at Lincoln, Nebraska
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Withdrawn 24 October 1997 from the Army Reserve and allotted to the Regular Army; concurrently converted and re-designated as Headquarters, 5th Armored Brigade, and activated at Fort Carson, Colorado
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Inactivated 16 October 1999 at Fort Carson, Colorado
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Activated 1 December 2006 at Fort Carson, Colorado
Symbols of the 5th Armored Brigade
The shoulder sleeve insignia re-designated for the 5th Armored Brigade was originally approved for the 5th Brigade (training) by letter DAAG-HDP-A, the Institute of Heraldry, 29 February 1984. It is symbolic of education and enlightenment. The V-shaped chevron suggests the number of the brigade and the repetition of the V-shape illustrates the basic tenet that all learning is accomplished by repetition. The colors are adapted from the 89th ARCOM insignia.
The distinctive unit insignia re-designated this date for the 5th Armored Brigade, was originally approved for the 5th Brigade (Training) by letter DAAGHDP-A, The Institute of Heraldry, 23 August 1984. This is symbolic of the original unit's home area and World War II service consisting of five campaigns in the European Theater are represented by the elements of this design. The gold color of the spearhead denotes the historic armor association of the unit; the V-shape alluding to the spearhead tactics employed by armored forces during World War II, and further expressing the numerical designation of the unit (V for 5). The color blue relates to the state flags of Kansas and Nebraska and to World War II service in Normandy and Northern France. The red castle tower, symbolic of the enemy's European stronghold, refers to the action at the Maginot Line, and with its five battlements, further represents the unit's service in the Rhineland, Ardennes and Central Europe campaigns.
SGT Alan Westbrook Forward Operating Base (FOB), Joint Mobilization Site (JMS), (FOB) Westbrook Westbrook was constructed for National Guard and United States Army Reserve Soldiers for use during their theater immersion training in preparation for deployment in support of Operations Enduring Freedom and Iraqi Freedom. The Forward Operating Base will provide both life support and a realistic environment from which related training will take place over an extended period of time. The concept of the FOB is to facilitate the "Theater Immersion Concept" and replicate conditions within the area of responsibility which presents near realistic conditions with respect to permanent base camp operations with adequate space and equipment/material to meet capacity, security, force protection, life support, maintenance and training requirements for battalion-size task forces. BACKGROUND: FOB Westbrook is dedicated after SGT Alan Westbrook. Alan Westbrook joined the New Mexico Army National Guard in 1981 and was discharged in 1986. He then came back in the Guard in 2001. After the events of 9/11, he volunteered and mobilized with Battery B, 1/202 Field Artillery Battalion, which validated here at McGregor Range Base Camp 13 June 2003 prior to providing force protection of White Sands Missile Range from 26 May 2003 through 1 March 2004. December 2004 SGT Westbrook deployed to Iraq with the 126/h Military Police Company. He served his fellow Soldiers, his Unit, his Community, his State, and his Country with distinction until he was killed by an Improvised Explosive Device (lED) on 1 October 2005. He received the Bronze Star Posthumously for his actions in Iraq, and his other awards include: Purple Heart Medal, Army Achievement Medal, Reserve Component Achievement Medal, National Defense Service Medal, Iraq Campaign Medal, Global War on Terrorism Expeditionary Medal, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with M2 Device, Army Service Medal and the New Mexico Distinguished Service Medal. CURRENT STATUS: FOB Westbrook is operationally complete, with ongoing improvements.
Shoulder Sleeve Insignia Description: On a seven-sided embroidered item vertically divided through the center, dark blue and red, the upper ends of the item at a 45° angle, the sides slanted outwardly at the top and the base coming to a 90° angle point, consisting of a yellow reversed triangular-shape throughout surmounted at top by a white star, all between two white stars; all within a 1/8 inch (.32 cm) dark blue border. Overall dimensions are 2 1/4 inches (5.72 cm) in width and 3 inches (7.62 cm) in length. Symbolism: Flag blue is the color traditionally associated with the Infantry units. The tri-colors of the insignia represent the Brigade’s Armor heritage and its alignment with the 42d Infantry Rainbow Division. The three stars signify the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team heritage; also illustrating the unit’s home state, New Jersey, the third state of the union to sign the U.S. Constitution. The middle reversed triangular-shape suggests the letter “V” for Victory, denoting victory over the enemies at home and abroad and underlining the unit’s mission to defend and protect the nation. Background: The shoulder sleeve insignia was approved on 22 January 2008.
Distinctive Unit Insignia
Description: A Gold color metal and enamel device 1 1/4 inches (3.18 cm) in height overall consisting of a shield blazoned as follows: SHIELD: Tierce in pairle Or, Azure, and Gules, in chief two socket bayonets in saltire, points up, of the last. CREST: On a wreath Or and Gules, a lion’s head erased of the first, charged on the neck with four fusils of the second. Attached below the device a Dark Blue scroll inscribed “JERSEY BLUES” in Gold. Symbolism: The tri-colors represent the three units combined to form the 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team. The crossed bayonets, symbolize close combat, unit readiness, and the Infantry branch affiliation. Background: The distinctive unit insignia was approved on 27 December 2007.
Deployment History of the 50th IBCT The 50th Infantry Brigade Combat Team (IBCT), comprised of 2,800 New Jersey Army National Guard members, headquartered in Lawrenceville, New Jersey with elements across the state, was alerted in October 2007 for a Security Force (SECFOR) mission with mobilization in support of Operation Iraqi Freedom. The 3,000-strong IBCT has six battalions. Soldiers from two battalions were brought on active duty orders in order to undergo Soldier Readiness Processing (SRP) in November and December 2007. The SRP continued at Fort Dix, N.J. through the end of January for the remaining four IBCT battalions, with make-up times in March. Time frame: Pre-Mobilization training and administrative operations are conducted prior to deployment to prepare the soldiers for their mobilization: January 2008: The 50th IBCT participates in the Soldier Readiness Program completing and resolving all administrative, legal, medical and dental issues prior to deployment. April 2008: Annual Training, a period of 23 days scheduled at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA, is used to refine the basic skills of the soldier. The unit is scheduled to be mobilized for a total of 12 months in accordance with the 19 January 2008 Secretary of Defense directive limiting National Guard mobilization time. Early Summer 2008: The one year mobilization is scheduled to begin early summer 2008 with stateside mobilization training of less than 90 days at Fort Bliss, Texas. Fall 2008: The unit is scheduled to deploy to Kuwait for acclimatization for approximately two weeks in Fall 2008. After this two week period, the scheduled “boots on the ground� time in Iraq for nine months will begin. Late Spring 2009: The 50th IBCT is scheduled to redeploy to the U.S. and demobilize, all within the 12 month active duty time period.
The unit continues to train on key tasks that all Infantry soldiers and support elements should be able to conduct, with a focus on the mission tasks as time progresses. The 50th IBCT is part of the best equipped, best trained Army in the world today and is ready for this mission. Family Support has been carefully integrated into all pre-mobilization and mobilization plans and are top priorities for this command. •
New Jersey’s largest National Guard deployment since World War II.
• Over 30 percent of the brigade’s members have been previously deployed to locations including Iraq, Afghanistan, Guantanamo Bay Cuba, or the Sinai Peninsula. • Fort Bliss, Texas, the scheduled stateside mobilization training site, is optimal as it is considered the Army’s premier operations training site. Fort Bliss will further prepare the 50th IBCT troops with realistic “theater immersion” training.
MEDIA FACT SHEET 5th Armored Brigade Public Affairs Office Building 9424 Camp McGregor, New Mexico
Media Fact Sheet – Detainee Operations, Combat Lifesaver
Overview •
The U.S. Government is unwaveringly committed to the long-term missions in Iraq and Afghanistan. Deploying units assist in the security of the operational environment and build the professionalism of Iraqi and Afghan Army and Police forces, so they become enduring institutions that contribute to national cohesion and stability. As Coalition troops hand over security responsibility to the Iraq and Afghani governments, U.S. force levels will adjust accordingly.
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The 5th Armored Brigade, First Army Division West mobilized elements of the brigade to Fort Bliss, Texas in February 2007 to support the training of deploying multi-service units and Soldiers.
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Using trainers and Operation Warrior Trainers with current operational experience, 5th Armored Brigade is committed to providing deploying Soldiers with tough, realistic, hands-on, theater immersion training.
Key Points to Know •
5th Armored Brigade, First Army, Division West Soldiers are recognized as expert trainers at all levels of the Army. The brigade was selected for deployment to Fort Bliss due to our demonstrated ability to prepare soldiers for the rigors of war. Our Active, Reserve and National Guard Soldiers are committed to the highest training standards; since 2003 we have trained over 70,000 National Guard and Reserve Soldiers deploying around the world in support of this Global War on Terrorism.
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Our goal is to replicate Iraq or Afghanistan at Fort Bliss. Soldiers live in Contingency Operating Bases (COBs), where Soldiers interact with Iraqis or Afghans, and they patrol and work in villages and towns designed to replicate conditions in theater. We call this "theater immersion" training. We want Soldiers to face theater-specific challenges for the first time in training, not in a combat zone.
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Immersion training allows trainers to create more events over longer durations leading to intuitive, life saving responses from Soldiers, regardless of the situation in which they might find themselves.
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The training is tough, repetitive, hands-on, realistic and theater-specific. It produces leaders and Soldiers who are confident, competent and disciplined in their skills, knowledge and abilities.
Detainee Operations •
At the heart of US military detention and interrogation operations is a two-fold purpose: First, we detain dangerous people to remove them from the battlefield and prevent them from achieving their goal of killing and maiming innocent people for political gain. Second, we interrogate them to gather intelligence that will help us thwart efforts by other likeminded individuals who believe killing and maiming innocent people is an acceptable method to achieving their objectives.
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Detainees are categorized as Enemy Combatant, Retained Personnel, and Civilian Internees.
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We continue to take seriously the need to question terrorists who have information that can save lives. But we will not compromise the rule of law or the values and principles that make us strong.
Combat Lifesavers •
Training Soldiers in advanced lifesaving techniques enables them to render lifesaving procedures in a life-threatening situation
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Tough, hands on, repetitive training provided in CLS enables soldiers to react instinctively under fire – evidenced by the performance of MAJ Taylor, MAJ Jason and First Sgt McFarlane, credited with saving the lives of Bob Woodruff and John Vogt during an IED attack in January 2006.
PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE SOLDIER Product Manager
Clothing and Individual Equipment
Specifications Component Materials: 50% cotton, 50% nylon that is treated to be wrinklefree Color: Universal camouflage pattern Size: 37 coat sizes, 36 trouser sizes Status: Starting 1 October 2007, deploying forces will be issued two ACUs and two FR uniforms. On 1 January 2008, deploying Soldiers will be issued four FR uniforms.
Army Combat Uniform The Army Combat Uniform (ACU) consists of a jacket, trousers, and patrol cap in the universal camouflage pattern, moisture wicking T-shirt, and Army Combat Boots (temperate and hot weather). The new ACU is the culmination of many months of research and development by Soldiers for Soldiers. The ACU enhances Soldier performance by providing a functional, ergonomic uniform that can be tailored based on mission. The ACU does away with requirements to procure uniforms focused on specific environments, making the ACU acceptable worldwide. The Army black beret is authorized for wear with the ACU. The ACU, including component materials, is manufactured in the United States using the same industrial base that produced the Battle Dress Uniform, ensuring the highest quality control and supporting the American work force. The ACU is worn with ancillary items, including hook-backed embroidered U.S. Army tapes, name tapes, and rank and shoulder sleeve insignia. The ACU is washable, decreasing outof-pocket expense to Soldiers. A flame-resistant ACU (FR ACU) has the same design but is made of advanced FR fabrics.
PM Soldier Equipment October 2007 http://www.peosoldier.army.mil
Product Manager
Clothing and Individual Equipment
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PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE SOLDIER Product Manager
Soldier Survivability
Specifications Component Materials: IOTV/OTV/DAP/ ESBI Carrier: Cordura®, Kevlar®, and/ or Twaron®. ESAPI/ESBI: Composite ballistic ceramic plate with coated ballistic fiber backing Color: Universal Camouflage Pattern Weight System: 9.30 pounds to 33.11 pounds (size medium) depending on configuration; OTV: 9.30 pounds; ESAPI: 10.9 per pair (size medium); DAP: 5.03 pounds; ESBI: 7.75 pounds per set Size: IOTV: X-Small through XXXX-Large with tall sizes available in medium, large and X-Large; OTV: X-Small through XXXX-Large; ESAPI: X-Small through XLarge
“We saw that it did work. We didn’t go out the [base] gate without our helmets and vests on. It’s hot and heavy, but the protection is worth it.” – CPT Eric Hillerson on the IBA and ACH
Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) is the most up-to-date body armor available. IBA is a modular system that consists of an outer vest, ballistic plates and attachments that increase area of coverage. IBA increases survivability by stopping or slowing bullets and fragments and reducing the number and severity of wounds. The Outer Tactical Vest (OTV) and Improved Outer Tactical Vest (IOTV) protect against fragments and 9mm rounds. The addition of the Enhanced Small Arms Protective Inserts (ESAPI) plates and the Enhanced Side Ballistic Inserts (ESBI) add protection and can withstand multiple small arms hits, including armor-piercing rounds. The OTV/IOTV is compatible with the Deltoid and Axillary Protectors (DAP), which provide additional fragmentation and 9mm protection to the upper arm and underarm areas, as well as the Groin Protector and Throat Protector. The IOTV has throat protection and underarm protection built in, and is compatible with the Deltoid and Groin Protectors. The sideopening IOTV also increases area of coverage over the frontopening OTV. The IOTV comes in 11 sizes, including three tall sizes, whereas the OTV comes in eight sizes. The IOTV is also lighter than the OTV, and features a quickrelease handle so Soldiers can instantly remove the vest in emergency situations. The IOTV is more than three pounds lighter than the OTV, and includes multiple adjustment points to improve fit, weight distribution and load-carriage capabilities. The IOTV also has a mesh lining for better ventilation. With all inserts and plates, the total IBA system weight with the IOTV, size medium, is 30 pounds, compared with 33.11 pounds with an OTV.
PM Soldier Equipment October 2007 http://www.peosoldier.army.mil
Product Manager
Soldier Survivability
Troops Offer First-Hand Accounts of How Body Armor Is Saving Lives
U.S. Soldiers are volunteering dramatic personal accounts of how body armor is saving lives in Iraq and Afghanistan, demonstrating confidence in what the Army is doing to protect them. Interceptor Body Armor (IBA) is a modular system that features an outer tactical vest with hard protective plates inserts. Even before the latest improvements to IBA, Soldiers reported that body armor is doing what it was designed to do: stop or slow bullets and fragments and reduce the severity of wounds. SSG Jeremie Oliver, of B Company, 1st Battalion, 5th Cavalry Regiment at Fort Hood, TX, has been in Iraq since October 2006, wearing his IBA every day. “It works very well,” he reports. What happened to him belies that low-key statement. Oliver, a married father of four, was shot while on patrol on June 17, Father’s Day. “A shot rang out and I got hit in the chest,” Oliver said. “I was in a Bradley, standing up in the hatch, plotting a grid on my GPS. At first I didn’t know what had really happened, but then I felt the pain. I sat down, realized what happened, and opened my vest. The bullet had not penetrated the vest—so we continued the mission and went after the enemy.” SGT Paul Wolfley, platoon leader for B Company, 2nd Battalion, 506 Regimental Combat Team, took a hit in September of 2003. “It knocked me on my butt,” Wolfley said. “I looked down at my chest. There was no blood oozing out and I looked down on the floor of the Humvee and it was a tracer and it was burning. … I was fine and so I got up and I started shooting again.” Wolfley’s wife, Katie, remembers the shock of learning that her husband had been shot. “Had he not been wearing that armor, he probably would have died, or been very seriously wounded,” she said. “I’m very thankful for that armor.” Body armor is provided by the Army through Program Executive Office (PEO) Soldier, which is responsible for virtually everything the U.S. Soldier wears or carries. The organization’s Soldier-as-a-System approach ensures that equipment works in an integrated manner, thus preparing our troops for peak performance. SFC Jody Penrod described his combat experience with IBA: “I took a couple of [improvised explosive devices] and some shrapnel, and I had a fire bomb and it didn’t light on fire. So I was pretty pleased.” Penrod said the IBA vest protected his entire chest area, so he didn’t have so much as a scratch from the shrapnel in the blast. He recounted how insurgents had made Napalm-type bombs with soap so that it would stick to Soldiers while on fire. “I got some on my vest, but—it just went right out. So I was kind of happy that the vest didn’t go up in flames.” SSG Jason C. Ashline survived a round from an AK-47 while serving with the 10th Mountain Division in Afghanistan in 2002 thanks to his body armor. He stated at the recent dedication of the Massachusetts Institute for Technology’s Institute for Nanotechnologies: “If it weren’t for technology I wouldn’t be standing here today.” Ashline was hit twice in the chest during a 12-hour firefight with al-Qaeda insurgents. The slugs lodged in his body armor. He was stunned but unhurt, and was pulled to safety by his buddies. The Army doesn’t keep count of Soldiers who were not killed or injured, so documenting personal accounts of positive body armor experiences is difficult. Still, there are more stories like these and Army leaders at all levels recount apocryphal tales by the dozens. BG R. Mark Brown, Program Executive Officer, has repeatedly asserted that the Army is providing U.S. Soldiers with the best, most protective body armor in the world—bar none. “Force protection is the number-one priority of the U.S. Army. We value our Soldiers very highly and we do everything we can do to ensure they have the finest in force protection as they go into the battle,” Brown said. Brown said that PEO Soldier continues to make body armor and other equipment even better. “We don’t sit back and say, ‘Our job is done.’ “ The latest improvement to IBA streamlined previous improvements to reduce weight and bulk while increasing the area of coverage. The Improved Outer Tactical Vest has an emergency quick-release mechanism so that Soldiers can instantly remove the vest in emergencies. The vest also features multiple adjustment points designed to improve fit and reduce bulk.
PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE SOLDIER Product Manager
Individual Weapons
Specifications
M16A4 Rifle
Caliber: 5.56mm x 45mm NATO Weight without magazine: 7.8 pounds Empty 30 round magazine: 0.25 pounds Loaded 30 round magazine: 1 pound Overall length: 39.6 inches Barrel length: 20 inches Muzzle velocity: 3,110 feet per second Effective range: 600 meters Front sight: Adjustable front
The M16A4 Rifle increases the Soldier’s lethality and operational flexibility through improvements to the M16A2, the major infantry combat weapon used throughout the U.S. Armed Forces. The fourth generation M16, the M16A4 Rifle, features a performance identical to the M16A2. The M16A4 is a flat-topped M16A2 that incorporates a MIL-STD 1913 rail on top of the weapon’s upper receiver. This weapon, when combined with the M5 adapter rail system, is the basis for the M16 version of the Modular Weapon System (MWS). Physical differences between the M16A2 and M16A4 include a removable carrying handle with an integral rail-mounting system on the M16A4. When the carrying handle is removed, any accessory device with a rail grabber, such as an optical sight, can be mounted on the weapon. The M16A4 Rifle barrel is designed to accept the M203A2 Grenade Launcher, which can easily be assembled to the rifle, offering the user both point and area firing capabilities.
Rear sight: Target sight adjustable for windage and elevation to 600 meters Sight radius: 19.75 inches Cyclic rate of fire: 700-900 rounds per minute Fire control selection: Safe, semi, 3-round burst Upper receiver: Flat top with Backup Iron Sight
PM Soldier Weapons October 2007 http://www.peosoldier.army.mil
PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE SOLDIER Product Manager
Individual Weapons
Specifications
M4 Carbine
Caliber: 5.56mm x 45mm NATO Weight without magazine: 6.5 pounds Empty 30-round magazine: .25 pounds Loaded 30-round magazine: 1 pounds
The M4 Carbine replaces the M3 submachine gun, select M9 pistols, and M16A2 rifles for unit leaders, crews served gunners, vehicle crews, radio operators, light infantry, airborne/air assault, and combat engineers. It provides improved firepower compared to the M3 and M9 and allows for mounting of the latest generation fire control accessories without tools. It is one pound lighter than the M16 and more portable than the M16 series of rifles.
Overall length: 29.75 inches (retracted), 33 inches (extended) Barrel length: 14.5 inches Muzzle velocity: 2,900 feet/seconds Effective range: 600 meters area target Front sight: Adjustable elevation Rear sight: Full range backup sight adjustable for windage and elevation to 600 meters Sight radius: 14.5 inches Cyclic rate of fire: 700-950 rounds per minute Fire control selection: Safe, semi, 3-round burst Upper receiver: Flat top with Backup Iron Sight PM Soldier Weapons October 2007 http://www.peosoldier.army.mil
PROGRAM EXECUTIVE OFFICE SOLDIER Product Manager
Individual Weapons
Specifications Switch Settings: • 7 Night Vision (NVD) • 8 Daylight • 1 Extra Bright Optics 100% parallax free, antireflective coated lens system Length: 5.3 inches
M68 Close Combat Optic The M68 Close Combat Optic (CCO) allows the Soldier to engage targets to 300 meters, with both eyes open to maintain situational awareness. The improvements to the sight protect the inner tube, preventing damage to the sights in the field. The CCO incorporates a new LED with improved power efficiency, improving the battery life up to 30 times and increasing the number of brightness positions. The design of the battery compartment was changed to minimize the risk of electronic failure to and accommodate the standard AA batteries.
Weight: 14 ounces Width: 3 inches Weight: 14.4 ounces (M16A4/M4 configuration); 14.1 ounces (M16A2 configuration with auxiliary mounting rail) Dot diameter: 2 inches at 100 yards (2 MOA) Dot Brightness Switch Positions “For the guys who like to play Nintendo, the 68 is very simple. You put the red dot on it and that’s it. You don’t have to line up two sight pictures.” – SGT Paul Wolfley, Platoon Leader B Company, 2nd Battalion, 506 Regimental Combat Team
PM Soldier Weapons October 2007 http://www.peosoldier.army.mil
The Soldier’s Creed I am an American Soldier. I am a Warrior and a member of a team. I serve the people of the United States, and live the Army Values. I will always place the mission first. I will never accept defeat. I will never quit. I will never leave a fallen comrade. I am disciplined, physically and mentally tough, trained and proficient in my warrior tasks and drills. I always maintain my arms, my equipment and myself. I am an expert and I am a professional. I stand ready to deploy, engage, and destroy, the enemies of the United States of America in close combat. I am a guardian of freedom and the American way of life. I am an American Soldier.