Armorers will soon issue most officers below the rank of colonel and all staff noncommissioned officers the M-4 carbine instead of the M9 pistol.

The change comes from a recent review of lessons learned along with knowledge of emerging weapon technology and will amount to a reduction of M9 pistols in the operating forces, according to MarAdmin 378/07.

The decision on the policy comes from recommendations made by the Marine Corps Equipment Review Group, explained Lt. Col. Patrick A. Beckett, combat integration officer for the Fires and Maneuvers Integration Division, Marine Corps Combat Development Command.

Beckett explained carbines allow for an increased engagement range and ability to tailor the weapon to accomplish evolving missions, utilizing a variety of associated weapon accessories like lasers and optics.

The Marine Corps will continue to filter carbines into the operating forces until the approved-acquisition objective is met, according to Beckett.

The Marine Aircraft Group 16 armory here is the only unit aboard the station that currently has carbines in its arsenal, according to Sgt. Emilio Luna, an armory technician for the MAG-16 armory.

The message also announced the replacement of the M-16A2 service rifle with the M-16A4, but until there is a carbine or an M-16A4 for each Marine who rates one, the Corps’ arsenal remains in a transition period.

“While in this transition time we must guard against any degradation in the operating forces’ capability,” reads the message. “No organization shall dispose of weapons until their replacement weapons have been fully fielded.”

Until the weapons systems are fully fielded, those who qualify to carry the M-4 don’t have to re-qualify on the weapon in order to carry it on deployment, according to Luna.

According to Beckett, Colt Defense Systems, the company that makes the M-4, will continue to field the weapons as they become available to the operating forces throughout fiscal year 2008 or until the approved acquisition objective is met.