Glock and the U.S. Military

[Saddlebag Preacher]

I am just curious, but does any of our military branches special teams use a Glock of any model? I know many civilian LEO agencies do, but I never heard of any military unit. Thanks..

 

[TestPilot]

Army Rangers used some Glock.

The guys formerly known as Delta used Glock 22.

 

[tarosean]

As far as I know Glocks are not issued to any unit in our military..

There are a lot of reports and verifiable images with elite troops with them thou... So they do obtain them.

 

[malakili]

Possibly around 940 pistols according to this:

https://www.fbo.gov/index?s=opportu...bc6931379d3a518fe25d22bbee1&tab=core&_cview=0

 

[Mman]

Have seen National Guard soldiers in public transit stations with glocks all the time.

 

[Zerodefect]

I've seen Glocks on them. No idea who, or what, they were though.

 

[herdman]

Glock 19 with some troops and Glock 26 as well. Mostly special operations troops. I think Army CID carries Glock 19 or 26 as well as Army Ranger units, some Army special forces.

Beretta M9 is the standard issue for Army, Marine Corps, and Air Force. Not sure about the Navy. Nave special operations use Sig P226(MK 25). Marine Corps special operations use new and improved 1911. HK pistols also found in high speed military units. Also rumored to still use the 1911 in some Army special forces.

 

[AJChenMPH]

Have seen National Guard soldiers in public transit stations with glocks all the time.

Which stations? All the NG soldiers (and airmen) I've seen at NY Penn, Newark Penn, and the WTC PATH station have M9's.

 

[LeonCarr]

Cough cough Army Special Forces in my Glock Armorer Class cough cough

 

[Quiet]

US SOCOM uses Glock pistols.

All the following have been used in US SOCOM units.
9x19mm Glock 17
9x19mm Glock 19
.40S&W Glock 22
.45ACP Glock 21

 

[RustyShackelford]

glocks....

Glock sidearms are in use by a few US armed forces but not a lot.
Glock 21 .45acp models were common in SW Asia with tier one special ops. To my knowledge, the USAF Security Forces(what were SPs) used the Glock 19 9mm in some duty stations.
During the end of US military operations in New Orleans, post Katrina era, I saw National Guard MPs from Louisana had Glock 17 9x19mm pistols.
In 2012, I saw a few MPs in New York City around the subway stations & train areas, Grand Central that wore both Beretta M9s & Glock 17 pistols. The MPs were in the New York National Guard. They also wore different holsters & web gear.

 

[Saddlebag Preacher]

Wow, more than I thought. I knew the M9 was standard issue and maybe a few had Sigs besides a 1911 here and there. Good information.

 

[herrwalther]

I have served with many units and have friends in many more. Have never seen or heard of anyone using Glocks. M9 is very prevalent. SIG 226 or some variation of the P pistols being a distant second.

 

[jamal28]

One of my friends who was an army ranger was issued a glock 19 on his 3rd tour of afghanistan. Word is they got rid of there beretta's because there guns were wearing out and breaking more frequently and alot of soldiers didnt trust the guns reliability. He also told me he was issued speer gold dot 124gr (standard pressure) hollowpoints.

 

[bdb benzino]

The military doesn't issue hollow point bullets, just an fyi.

 

[Onmilo]

The military doesn't issue hollow point bullets, just an fyi.

Yes it does.
Mainly for Criminal Investigation units and Special Operations involving combatant terrorist operations.

There were several Government Contracts for purchase of Glock G19 pistols.
These weapons were issued to indigenous Police and Military Organizations
in Iraq and Afghanistan.
The U.S. Military personnel that trained these units also carried the Glock pistols while involved in the training parameters.

There were several small private and approved lot purchases of Glock 9mm handguns by Military Air Wing Units during both Iraq 1 and Iraq ll.
These purchases were approved because there wasn't time to upgrade the official issue .38 caliber revolvers using M41 130 grain FMJ ammo which were considered obsolete and ineffective weapons.

Marine Force Recon purchased small lots of Glock G21 .45 acp handguns for testing and evaluation.
Since that time the MEUSOC 1911 type handguns became issue and the G21s were likely turned in for destruction.


Since ALL Special Operations Groups have come under the banner of SOCOM there has been a trend to fewer and fewer personal choice sidearms and greater reliance on current inventory issue of M9 M10, M11 and MEUSOC SOCOM 1911 handguns.
There are also small quantities of Mk23 Offensive handguns and Sig P239 9mm pistols in inventory for special issue.

All this information is public and can be confirmed. HTH

 

[bdb benzino]

Learn something new everyday, thanks.

 

[moxie]

AFOSI has been issuing hollowpoints forever. Early on for use in custom 1911s made at Lackland. Since about 1991 9mm in their Sig 228s. There might be upgrades there.

 

[herkyguy]

I've seen HP rounds OCONUS. Certainly not the norm, but there are some.

 

[jamal28]

Bdb benzino rangers are apart of special ops and they use alot of things the regular army doesn't use including hollowpoints trust. My friend is telling the truth. He also said some guys in specs ops have used the usp 45 and sig 220 (brought with there own money) but it comes down to your commanding officer and if he wants u to deploy with it.

 

[jamal28]

Onmilo i heard that rumor too about some special unit using the glock 21 but why in the heck would they destroy it the guns.

 

[Revolver Ocelot]

As far as I know Glocks are not issued to any unit in our military

The military doesn't issue hollow point bullets, just an fyi

I'm presently in the Army as a small arms repairman, and I will tell you that the answer to both is Yes they are issued, and only to Special Operations.

Big Army however will not waste the money on hollow points for us, and also would never trust us with something that doesn't have a safety.

Since ALL Special Operations Groups have come under the banner of SOCOM there has been a trend to fewer and fewer personal choice sidearms and greater reliance on current inventory issue of M9 M10, M11 and MEUSOC SOCOM 1911 handguns.
There are also small quantities of Mk23 Offensive handguns and Sig P239 9mm pistols in inventory for special issue.

While many of those are still in use many are no longer the standard choice of side arm, your information is slightly outdated.

Matter of fact is the most common handgun I see these days with Army special operations is the Glock 19, though you will occasionally see other glocks in other calibers with certain units, (even seen a glock 30 before that was issued).

The Navy seals use mostly the MK25 and the HK P30, there are exceptions there, and Marsoc uses the new colt M45, but I can't verify anything else that the Marines may use for pistol as I did not work closely with them.

 

[RustyShackelford]

Mac-v-sog....

Author & SF veteran(Major, 0-4/retired) John Plaster wrote that in the SOG, the SE Asia special operations group, members could request or requisition nearly any firearm they wanted & get it in approx 72hr.
This military unit had volunteers and service members from all the branches but was mostly US Army & Army field grade officers(COs).
The "teams" had 3 US military or CIA(para military or PMs) with 5/6 "mercenaries" or native troops that were paid to help MAC-V-SOG over the years.
Most SOG unit members used CAR-15 5.56mm rifles or AKs. A few used Uzi SMGs or "Swedish K" 9mm but Plaster wrote many SF guys liked the punch of the CAR-15.

To my limited knowledge, in the GWOT & SW Asia, most "operators" could buy or get customized whatever they chose. Armorers & gunsmiths were ready to trick out or modify any guns needed for a special mission or covert op, .

 

[moxie]

SOG = Studies and Observations Group

Full abbreviation = MACV-SOG = Military Assistance Command, Vietnam - Studies and Observations Group

 

[herrwalther]

Author & SF veteran(Major, 0-4/retired) John Plaster wrote that in the SOG, the SE Asia special operations group, members could request or requisition nearly any firearm they wanted & get it in approx 72hr.

Then vs now. In WWII, soldiers were shipped firearms in the mail from friends or family to kill the Nazi/Jap heathens. Something that would never be allowed now. With how much the military likes to micro-manage rank and file soldiers, I am surprised we are allowed to bring our own knives overseas.