Not the M9!
 

Fellow QP's,

I'd like know who the approval authority is for authorization to carry something other than the M9 or 1911. If you're on a team that has done this before, please PM me. I'm trying to establish precedence andavoid reinventing the wheel.

Thanks in advance...

My guys had this same discussion with the USASOC CSM when he visited us in OEF not too long ago. They didn't get anywhere. We have been begging for .45's for years and it's just not happening from what we've heard. With that said..don't underestimate the creativity of SF NCO's.

I was told that requests to carry other weapons had been put in during OIF I or II but, so far, had not been approved. That was just before we left for OIF V. They have still not been approved as far as I know.

SFC W

every time we get ready to go we get the whole G.O. #1 rule about POW's. Haven't heard (or seen) of any waiver's or exception to policy for other types.

Ask 3rd Group
 

Quite a few years ago 3rd Group requested pistols to outfit Soldiers not otherwise authorized M9s. They got 45s straight from the depot at Anniston.

The Group plan worked out so support guys got M9s out of the arms rooms and the ODAs got M1911s. Granted this was a while ago and I don't know if it's still happening (I doubt it).

Boy. Things have changed. Weapons for us(Vietnam Era) was pretty much whatever you wanted, as long as it worked, didn't jeopardize the mission or team mates and plenty of ammo was available. One of our guys carried a Ppsh 43 in his briefcase when we went into town. We also had a Thompson sub mg, M2 Carbines, AK's, SKS' a French MAT49, an M1D sniper rifle( I should have taken that), etc. My personal side arm was an aluminum frame Colt Commander in 45ACP.

Here's an important lesson to learn. Become good friends with the EOD detail closest to you....Or whoever gets captured weapons....

We carried pistols other than M9's and so do other groups. Where the authorities come from I dont know, but they are there.

If you have to use your pistol. You should go looking for a belt fed weapon :)
just my 2cents

Haha! Yeah, it'd be pretty bad if it ever came down that. Insha allah and what not...

To clarify, I'm looking for authorization to carry Glock 19's for concealability purposes. 'Nuff said on that, right? I know there's some 10th Group guys from house in the IZ who did this legally. If you're out there, help a brutha out.

Few guys here that just came from C 1/10 said thats what they all had is glocks it was issued I will ask what the deal was.

I know some of the bteams in 7th had Mk-23's cause the teams didnt want them cause they were so big, and A15 had .45's when we replaced them in Iraq. The 19's were justified by us for concealability, like c1/10

The M11 is your best concealability bet.

The G19s may have come from a HN order.

TR

Glock's; Sig's; 1911 platforms, et al are authorized but considered by "planners" to be non-standard to the general force structure. A subtle yet key distinction. All you need to do is to be able to justify in your force structure (talk to the force-mod folks) what you want and ensure the procurement process abides by that. Big difference between POW's amd the base-line for what you are carrying "as a military unit".

Where I am now, we had Glocks, for whatever-the-hell the reason they switched them out to M-11's. My opinion as to why would probably get me fired so I'll STFU. All military weapons go through a LOW review and the above platforms all have memo's affirming their legality.

I've carried the M-9; the 1911; a glock 19 and a glock 26 at different times downrange. No worries.

Be careful about the legal hacks out there that may to say " you can't carry concealed" downrange. BS.