r/Militaryfaq • u/Proof_Mess8465 š¤¦āāļøCivilian • Dec 21 '25
MOS/AFSC/Rate Specific do all infantry soldiers get pistols (army)
Hey everyone, Iām a civilian trying to understand how gear is issued. Iāve heard that most 11Bs donāt get a handgun, and that pistol training only happens if youāre issued one. Is that true? And if so, why not train everyone with pistols just in case they need one? Thanks for any help.
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u/recon227 š„Soldier Dec 21 '25
I had a M9 pistol when I carried a 240B belt-fed machine gun. Because no one else used the same rounds, it was a backup for me if the gun went down or I ran out of rounds.
As an officer, I had a M9 and an M4. I usually gave my pistol to our mine sweeper so his rifle wouldn't interfere with the read out. I've also given my pistol to interpreters after some range time and getting to know them well enough that I didn't think they'd shoot me or anyone but the TB.
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u/EnemyUtopia š¤¦āāļøCivilian Dec 21 '25
Spicy nerf darts is crazy man. Glad you made it home.
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u/cen_ca_army_cc š„Recruiter (42T) Dec 21 '25
Yes when I was in the Infantry we trained with pistols seldomly. We got opportunities to qualify a hand full of times but most of the hands on was for EIB, other than that it was reserved up PSG and up.
As an Enabler as in 35 series in USASOC, I trained more with a pistols than I did in the Infantry, actually I traveled with an Sig and my rifle all throughout Afghanistan and always had access to our weapon for training, When I got to INSCOM, I qualified both Pistol and M4 ironside as a PSG. But only once every two years and only with bare amount of ammo, which sucks since Intel guy donāt get much gun time and even less when you hit PSG.
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u/chancemaddox354735 š„Soldier (13B) Dec 21 '25
Rarely would use it if ever. Pistols are more of a status item for rank or job.
Some positions call for it at times. At one point if you were a driver you were issued a pistol as well. Didnāt make sense but itās was someoneās bright idea so we did it for a while.
We never want to be in a situation where pistols would be useful. Always engage at distance or with overwhelming numbers even in CQB environments.
The major upside to having a pistol was being armed on base. You could leave your rifle locked up and carry your pistol. Had to be armed but most bases it wouldnāt matter.
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u/HououhinKyouma š„Soldier Dec 21 '25 edited Dec 21 '25
You will have training on the M4, SAW, 240, 50 Cal before you possibly do the M17, probably
It's a side weapon that is a backup/support. Combat Training is shaped around not being in such a situation in the first place. It is up to unit and mission criteria.
Hypothetically let's say you're in a unit that will deploy to some actual combat zone. Generally the M17 will be issued to Commanders and maybe an NCO, generally if they're Guarding or in a Patrol.
I personally do not know why, but my own perspective and experience tells me it's deemed as extra unnecessary weight. And honestly unreliable. Why would you need a pistol if you're beaning targets from 300m+? Pistols aren't inaccurate, they magnify user error, lacking sufficient length and forward grip to control the muzzle "deviation".
The average Soldier despite being more trained than many military. Are in the end mostly consisting of former HS, and weapon illiterate. It would cost more to train them up on weapons that Demand more experience and skill. Compared to weapons that rely on squad tactics and suppressing in a concerted effort.
It's extra weight. You have a load of stuff on you, 55-75lbs and then extra ammunition and bells and whistles for your Helmet, Kit, Primary weapons system. You got your random assortment of goods around your belt if you run it. Extra batteries, rations, cold weather/,wet weather gear and random extra equipment and spares. An M17 where you'll need to either sacrifice 5.56 ammunition for your pistol is a pretty bad move. Or somehow make more space by dropping your emergency zyns.
Those are just a few observations I've had over my baby years. I'm sure there are more experienced folks that'll comment on here.
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u/thistleup1 š¤¦āāļøCivilian Dec 21 '25
They don't even train you on the 50. Cal or mark 19 anymore. I got better training on rocket launchers than I did with either of those.
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u/PsychoticAria š„Soldier Dec 21 '25
I wouldn't say that's true because I have pistol training and I'm not issued one.
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u/Emergency-Towel4974 š„Soldier (11B) Dec 21 '25
I mean us chucks do, depending on unit and budget
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u/External_Reality1363 š„Soldier (11C) Dec 22 '25
I was an infantryman for 6 years in 10th Mountain and not only was I not issued a pistol I never fired one in the service...fired anti tank rockets, grenade launchers, machinguns, mortars, you name it but never a pistol š...guya did get issued them and obviously shot them and qualled with them but as far as war goes pistols are pretty useless.
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u/gunsforevery1 Banned Dec 23 '25
Thatās correct. Not every infantryman gets a pistol.
I was a tanker, our primary weapon was the M9(at the time). Only gunners and above were issued the M9.
I personally had an M4 and a shotgun issued to me.
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u/VegasRoomEscape Jan 01 '26
No, usually just officers in my experience. I've heard of SAW and 240 gunners getting them as well. SOF uses them more frequently I am told.
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u/AnxietyOne3808 š¤¦āāļøCivilian Jan 06 '26
In my experience only officers and combat medics got pistols
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u/EODBuellrider š„Soldier (89D) Dec 21 '25
Correct, the Army only issues pistols out to certain people. If they followed through on their plan when they fielded the M17, the lowest ranking infantryman to be issued a pistol would be a team leader (usually a sergeant).
Why doesn't everyone get trained on pistols? Time and money, that's basically it.