The perfect primer on the M27 IAR.

I sometimes get fired up about certain issues.

The lack of leadership that I'm seeing from certain offices in the Marine Corps is one of those things that has me punching walls.

The perfect example of that disconnect between getting a shiny new toy and knowing how you're going to use it is the M27.

Its in the fleet.  Its being used everyday.  But Headquarters Marine Corps, the School of Infantry and Marine Gunners have left the hardwork of "figuring" it all out to the Battalions, Companies and Platoons running ranges/getting ready for deployment.

They have better things to do than to develop doctrine.  Tweak it?  Yes.  Develop it?  No.

If you're curious about the lack of thinking that has gone into the adoption and use of this weapon then I direct you to the Marine Corps Gazette and an article written by Maj John A. Custis.

He digs down into the issues surrounding this system and its well worth a read. Spoiler Alert.  The Major believes that we need this weapon.  I believe that we're taking a blast from the past and just getting capability that was lost when someone got the bright idea that a 3 round burst was a better option than full automatic (the M-16A1 had it!)