U.S. Marines getting rifle upgrade as commander pledges to outfit "every grunt" with "coolest...

Did you get to your AO via vehicle of a long walk,

1stSgt Nelson Kerr - We all drove from the FOB to wherever the incident was. They set up security, some mounted, some dismounted.

I walked/ran in an 80lb bomb suit with whatever the appropriate render safe tool or explosive was from our safe area down to where the IED/roadside bomb was. Distance varied on the size of the hazard. Usually a fair distance though to keep my team out of immediate danger. M-4s were fine for me as I had enough shit to carry.

In the case you cure I would think that people would go for the heaviest firepower possible despite the weight. But how about a foot patrol on moutainous or in the heat of a desert day? Whatever weapon s chosen has to be a comprimise between all possible missions. The Marines just made that compromise at 5.56 . I dout they did so without talking to a lot of Marines with operation experience.

1stSgt Nelson Kerr - Like I said, nobody wants more weight on a ruck march or patrol. If they got a AR in 7.62 AR-10 equivalent) for a couple guys in each platoon it would be a big force multiplier. I don't believe everyone in each squad needs it, nor do they. It would still be lighter than the 240 and 249 Gunner's load.

Not just infantrymen in the USMC carry rifles,