In a masterful display of bureaucratic navigation and requirement tailoring, the U.S. Army Special Forces deftly maneuvered to procure the Glock 19 pistols, fundamentally altering the landscape of sidearm utilization within Special Operations Command (SOCOM). This stratagem has since become an exemplary case study of acquisitions within the military, particularly when set against the backdrop of standardized issue weaponry.

The Glock series, with its polymer-framed, striker-fired design, has come to define the modern handgun’s evolution, influencing the development of many civilian, law enforcement, and military firearms, including the military’s M17/M18 MHS from SIG Sauer. Yet, in a decisive move by the U.S. Army Special Forces, the Glock 19, an Austrian design, was selected to meet SOCOM’s unique requirements.

Historically, the Beretta M9 had been the U.S. military’s primary sidearm since 1985, and it remained so throughout much of the Global War on Terror. Despite this, there was an undeniable push within the elite units for a lighter, more versatile handgun, as demonstrated by the elite Delta Force’s adoption of the Glock 22 in .40 S&W. This decision influenced the broader SOCOM community’s preference for Glock pistols.

As the younger generations of Army Special Forces personnel, particularly those from the 18X program, joined the ranks, they brought with them the inclination for Glocks. However, the challenge was the military’s procurement process and its allegiance to the M9. To overcome this, Special Forces operators artfully crafted a requirement in the mid-2000s for a concealable handgun for use during operations in civilian attire, a requirement that notably mirrored the characteristics of the Glock 19.

The Glock 19, while compact and perhaps less suited for the heavy combat environments of Iraq and Afghanistan compared to its larger counterparts, fulfilled the SOCOM need for a concealable weapon. Passing the rigorous testing and evaluation process, it was adopted as Special Forces’ compact pistol. However, the distribution was not widespread; the Glock 19s were initially issued based on mission-specific needs, with Operational Detachment Alphas (ODAs) trading them among deploying teams.

This changed in 2016, when SOCOM fully embraced the Glock 19, allowing units across branches to acquire the pistol and Army Special Forces to issue it to all team members. The adoption trajectory was bolstered two years later when SOCOM standardized with the Trijicon RMR Type 2 red-dot sight, further cementing the Glock 19’s role within Special Operations.

The Glock acquisition serves as a lesson in the pragmatic and inventive procurement strategies not unique to the Army. It parallels other instances such as the U.S. Marine Corps’ initial adoption of the Heckler & Koch HK416 as the M27 Infantry Automatic Rifle, which later became the standard rifle for Marine Corps infantry.

related images you might be interested.