Photo by Cpl. Jimmy Serena Jr. Armorers Lance Cpl. Fernando Delgado, left, and Lance Cpl. Kenneth Ross inspect the 790 new A4s, which will be used on the firing ranges for rifle qualifications.

The A4s are replacing all the rifles for Headquarters and Service Battalion, the Staff Academy, Marine Security Guard School and Security Battalion.

The weapons were unloaded in three days and were quickly distributed to the companies who needed them.

‘‘We have been waiting to upgrade ourrifles for quite a while,” said Gunnery Sgt. James Warrington, maintenance chief ofOrdinance Maintenance Section. ‘‘Theserifles will be put to good use in all the training that goes on here.”

According to Maj. Chris Fain, operations chief of weapons training battalion, Quantico is one of the last Marine Corp installations to fully integrate to A4s.

‘‘Now everyone who goes to the range will be able to qualify with the A4s,” said Fain.

Both weapons are 5.56 mm rifles that are lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder- or hip-fired weapondesigned for semi-automatic fire with one shot at a time or three round bursts.

Both weapons have a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guards open to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver⁄barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension,allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

The difference between the two weapons is the M16A4 has a flat top upper receiver and detachable carrying handle. The flat top upper receiver has an integral rail that is used to mount optical devices to the weapon. The rifle provides Marines the flexibility to configure their weapons with accessories required to fulfill an assigned mission.

Although a majority of infantry units use the M4, the A4s are the only other weaponsissued in combat. With the integration of these weapons into training, Marines will now train with the weapon they will most likely use in combat.

— Correspondent: jimmy.serena@usmc.mil