Glock pistols set the benchmark for modern handguns, influencing designs across civilian, law enforcement, and military markets. Of course, with the U.S. military adopting the Sig Sauer M17/M18 as its official sidearm, Special Operations Command has gone to standardizing the Glock 19 as its preferred handgun. What brought about this change was how Army Special Forces went about procurement in quite an innovative manner.
The Beretta M9, which was adopted in 1985, was initially the basic sidearm for the U.S. military during the War on Terror. A large number of soldiers, however, criticized it due to its weight and the perceived inadequacy of its 9mm round against the .45 ACP cartridge of the M1911. By the early 2000s, Glock had been heavily praised for its lightweight, polymer-framed pistols that created a sensation in civilian competitions, law enforcement, and foreign militaries.
Younger generations of the Army Special Forces were entering the force and asking for Glock pistols due to the use of the Glock 22 by the elite Delta Force. It was not easy to acquire a new combat handgun, so they had to go around the bureaucracy. Special Forces cleverly identified a requirement for a concealable handgun, tailoring the requirement specifically to the Glock 19. The small size of such a pistol was pretty necessary for operations when soldiers had to run around in civilian clothes during the War on Terror.
In 2016, SOCOM officially adopted the Glock 19, provisioning it for its wide issuance across the branches. By 2018, SOCOM had still gone another step further in refining its piston capabilities with the adoption of the Trijicon RMR Type 2 Red Dot Sight, largely influenced by the already successful fielding by the Army Special Forces with the Glock 19.
The Marines also recognized the advantages of the Glock 19. In 2017, they standardized the Glock 19M as the M007 Concealed Carry Weapon for issuance to all criminal investigative special agents and members of Helicopter Squadron One, more commonly known as HMX-1, which supports the President of the United States. Its compact size and improved ergonomics made the Glock 19M very suitable for concealed carry, something that was highly essential in specific missions undertaken by the Corps.
According to Chief Warrant Officer 5 Christian Wade, a weapons expert with the 2nd Marine Division, the Glock 19 made for an exceptional tool to be carried concealed compared to the M9. The features of the Glock 19M, like its lightweight polymer frame and ambidextrous controls, easily carved a niche for it within the Marine Corps Criminal Investigation Division and other specialized units.
Even with its popularity, the Glock 19 still had some competition in the field. One major choice in the evolution of the military’s sidearm came with the 2017 decision of the U.S. Army to adopt the Sig Sauer P320 variant as the M17/M18. However, the Glock 19 has still shown its utility in some operations, and reports of it being fielded by elite units point to further use within the U.S. military arsenals.
In this, the Glock 19 goes from a civilian favorite to a military one. Simply underlining the flexibility and flair for the future in the choice of proper tools for their tasks made by U.S. Special Forces and elite units is done through the military development of equipment standing behind the Glock 19 proof of a need for innovation and practicality in modern warfare.