IRAQ
American troops are slowly helping Iraqi forces convert from Russian designed AK-47s to American M-16 and M-4 assault rifles. The process involves taking one Iraqi brigade at a time and putting the troops through a 21 day course on how to use the M-16. The training involves a lot of time spent on marksmanship, as well as the need for keeping the M-16/M-4 clean. Neither marksmanship or weapon maintenance have ever been major priorities in the Iraqi army.
So far, only the more elite commando and SWAT units have received the American rifles, in addition to a few infantry brigades. Marksmanship and cleaning issues aside, Iraqis like the M-4 because it is two pounds lighter than the AK-47. This is a big deal for Iraqis, who tend to be smaller than U.S. troops.
Many Iraqi troops are not keen on getting the M-16. They know it is more accurate, and that they are getting more target practice to improve their shooting skills. But the M-16 requires more maintenance. You have to clean it a lot. The less accurate AK-47 was much more tolerant when it came to sand and dust.
However, Iraqi NCOs and junior officers tend to prefer the M-16 for its lighter weight, and lighter ammo. The M-16 ammo weighs more than a third less than AK-47 rounds. That extra accuracy and ammo can be a lifesaver in combat.
AFGHANISTAN
John Schmidt, 38, instructs Afghan national army soldiers at Kabul Military Training Center on the functions of their new M-16s March 2. The soldiers, as part of Kandak 102, are the first to receive the rifles during training here; they’re in their seventh week. Schmidt, from Lawton, Okla., is with the Camp Alamo Mentor Group’s Basic Warrior Training branch.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Derek Renaud, 34, of Angola, New York, offers some tips to an Afghan national army soldier trying to zero in his weapon at Kabul Military Training Center, March 17. Renaud, officer in charge of the range during qualification and zeroing of M16s, mentors ANA recruits as they learn to use their new M16s. He’s a member of the Camp Alamo Mentor Group’s Basic Warrior Training branch.
U.S. Army Staff Sgt. Derek Renaud, 34, of Angola, New York, looks on as an Afghan national army soldier tries zeroing his weapon at Kabul Military Training Center, March 17. Renaud, officer in charge of the range during qualification and zeroing of M16s, mentors ANA recruits as they learn to use their new M16s. He’s a member of the Camp Alamo Mentor Group’s Basic Warrior Training branch.
Afghan National Army Kandak Receives First M-16s for Field Training
CAMP ALAMO, Afghanistan
Afghan national army recruit Mirza Budin, 24, sat with dozens of his fellow Kandak soldiers on the parade field, March 2, putting his new M-16 through functional checks.
Budin, a member of Kandak 102 here at the Kabul Military Training Center, is among the first to get the new rifles in hand during training. For their Kandak it was week seven and coalition mentors were busy explaining the nuances of the new weapon to them.
“I’m not sure yet, but I think it’ll be good,” said the clean-shaven soldier when asked what he thought about the addition. “Based on what I’ve been told, it’s a very good rifle, but I haven’t had an opportunity to shoot it yet. I’m looking forward to using it.”
As are the rest of the Kandak if the cheers let out during the training is any indication; but first things first – as training in the use and maintenance of the M16 is the most important aspect, according to instructors.
“Compared to the M-16, AK-47s require little maintenance,” said Lt. Col. Sean Nikkila, KMTC Mentor Group Operations officer. “They do not need to be cleaned as often, and are easy to handle. M-16s require regular cleaning, which is a new concept to many of the ANA soldiers who are familiar with the AK-47.”
The 38-year-old officer from Tigard, Ore., said while the AK-47 is easier to maintain, they’re not very accurate.
“Only a very experienced marksman will be effective past 150 meters with the AK47,” said Nikkila. “M-16s are very accurate for a moderately trained marksman to distances up to 350 meters or greater. This makes the M-16 a very valuable weapon in terrain with large distances where ANA soldiers may be able to engage anti-coalition forces beyond the range of an AK-47 used by the enemy. M-16s also use the standard 5.56mm NATO round. This allows the ANA to utilize ammunition provided by coalition countries that is of high quality and compatible with other NATO weapons.
These advantages aren’t lost on the ANA soldiers now roaming the training center ranges.
“Soldiers are impressed with the M-16,” said Nikkila. “The rifles are in very good condition when compared to the AK-47s they had. Since the M-16 has been in the U.S. inventory for over 40 years, we have high quality training materials that have been well tested over the years.”
ANA instructor Master Sgt. Zabi Ullah said the major “challenge will be in getting accustomed to the weapon. They’ll need to get comfortable with it, but so far the response has been good from those receiving the rifle. I hope they remain positive.”
Zabi, a five-year veteran of the ANA, said Kandak 102 will soon get to use their new weapons in a comprehensive field training exercise. “To complete their training, the soldiers will take part in an exercise testing their ability to implement squad movements, ambush tactics and firing at night.”
To ensure the soldiers are ready for the test, Basic Warrior Training mentors include eight days of M-16 specific training in their schedule.
“The biggest difference will be in the zeroing and qualification,” said Lt. Col. Bradley Perrier, BWT Senior Mentor. “With the M-16, the soldiers are required to zero their weapon, and then qualify it. Each soldier has a different target and will know if they truly qualify. With the AK-47, the soldiers shot at the same targets previous soldiers fired on and really had no idea if they had effectively put a bullet in a silhouette. With the M-16 they know without a doubt.”
While Kandak 102 was the first to receive their M-16s, the swap out came in week seven. According to Perrier, Kandak 106 gets theirs in week two – right before Basic Rifle Marksmanship training begins.
“Up to this point the ANA soldiers have been extremely engaged,” said Perrier, from Whitehouse, Texas. “The soldiers were attentive and learned quickly.
Having already put their training to work on the range, soldiers from the 102nd Kandak still remain optimistic.
Following his turn on the range zeroing in his weapon Private Nazif Ullah, 20, from Baghlan province, said “We were familiar with the AK-47 … the resilience of it was good. We just received the M-16 now and don’t know how tough it is, but after firing it I’d have to say it’s better than the AK-47.” His partner agreed.
“In my opinion the M-16 is better than the AK-47 because I’ve fired both,” said Private Akhteyar Ahmad, 26, from Ningarhar province. “I found the M-16 better in marksmanship. I shot three rounds with the AK and didn’t hit the target at all. I shot three with the M-16 and hit the target twice.” It makes for a good feeling for everyone involved.
“They’re really excited about it,” said Sgt. 1st Class John Schmidt, a 38 year old from Lawton, Okla.., and BWT mentor. “They’re more excited about this than anything else we’ve been teaching them up to this point.”
Wild Thing’s comment……
Any weapon our troops can use to get rid of the enemy is a winner. My prayer is that these people they are training use them against the bad guys as well. Not being negative, but I always worry about that.
Except for the weight factor, I would rather have an AK-47 any day over a M-16. You could virtually throw the AK in a mud puddle, pick it up, and start using it. Not that easy with a M-16.
20 years back we assisted some Special Forces by allowing them access to our fabrication shops. As a thank you, they invited me to the base range to shoot some captured Soviet weapons…it was fun. These Green Berets said the would prefer the AK-47 to the M-16 in battle. They said the 7.62 round hits much harder than the 5.56 and the AK always works, no matter how dirty it gets.
My choice is and always will be the M-14, if you run out of ammo it can be used as a baseball bat.
When I was leaving RVN some outfits were being re-equipped with the M-16 and nobody liked them. They looked cheap and guess that’s why they were called, made by Matel.
I don’t know why someone decided to go to the expense of reequipping the ANA with M16s. The AK47 is a better Third World weapon. There are plentiful supplies of captured AKs, RPDs and ammo. Yes, the Afghans will like the lighter weight, but will they do the neccessary maintenance?
I bet some people somewhere are getting kickbacks on contracts for those M16s. Murtha??
Man do I ever agree with all of you, that AK47 was a reliable piece. I trained extensively on the M1 and M14 then just before we deployed we were issued M16’s, got some range time to qualify then shipped out. I hated the rifle, the stock was too slick, the damned thing was a dirt magnet, it didn’t ride in a vehicle well as it was too light, ultimately it found its way to the floor or got jammed between the drivers seat and the door, all too often on the floor wedged to the left of the clutch pedal out of reach. No freeways over there. In the field it needed constant cleaning, all of ours had to have retrofit buffer springs installed. I took to carrying the M16 and the M79 on road trips, that M79 rode well across the lap and never bounced into the floor boards, providing the necessary reaction time to retrieve that McNamara Mattel. Even then you never knew if it would fire, fire once then quit or you have use it as a single shot hand loaded every time. Another thing if it jammed you had to rod out the round with a cleaning tool. It didn’t tolerate dirt and we were in the dirt all the time. Safety was another factor, the safety catch was an afterthought. I’ll take that heavy M14 any day, there were the best combat rifle made. I like that Tom, Murtha, kickbacks in the same sentence, I’d bet on that.
I’m sure the Afghan Army won’t come to resent this being forced on them. I look for them to throw down the M-16/M-4 at the first opportunity to grab an AK.
Thank you all for your input.
I remember hearing Nam vets tell me about how the M16 did not work and how our guys were getting killed because of it. Back then LBJ was making money off of their sale ( of M16) to Russia, Russia was selling them to the VietCong. This is what I remember anyway.
This one other thing, awhile back I saw an article I think I post it not positive. Yesss I did but darn it I forget what I named it. Anyway it was about how Kerry was making tons of money off the war we are in since 9-11. His bashing of our troops and his bashing of the war etc. is all typical of a phony like Kerry is. Here he is making money off of weapons etc. for the war and he goes out and says how stupid our troops are etc.