Today, we are going to memorize your answer for the board question "Describe the M4 Carbine." There are 5 characteristics that they are looking for, and there is no strict order you have to recite for you to get the point. However, you need to be confident and solid in your answer, so I recommend memorizing them in a specific order so that you don't waste time trying to remember which ones you've already said.

This guide will teach you the easiest order to memorize them.

The M4 is described in five precise technical terms: it is a 5.56 millimeter, magazine-fed, shoulder-fired, gas-operated, air-cooled carbine. Each term tells you something critical. The caliber (5.56 mm) reflects its NATO-standard round. Magazine-fed means it draws rounds from detachable magazines. Shoulder-fired refers to how it's braced for accuracy. Gas-operated describes its semi-automatic firing cycle, using gas from fired rounds to cycle the bolt. Finally, air-cooled means it does not rely on liquid or forced air cooling systems.

In simpler terms, describe the M4 as follows:

5.56 mm

Magazine Fed

Shoulder Fired

Gas Operated

Air Cooled

Together, this description defines the M4’s combat role: lightweight, versatile, and built for rapid fire in sustained combat.

You can memorize these 5 characteristics in any order you please, but I like to memorize them in a specific sequence where I visualize myself manipulating the m4 in a chronological order. First, you need to grab the round, which is a 5.56 millimeter. Then put it in the magazine, and put the magazine in the M4, as it's magazine fed. Then put it on your shoulder, as it's shoulder fired. Then, once you fire it, the gasses will cause the bolt to move and complete all of the elements of it's cycle of function. Gas operated. Once it's hot, nothing is going to cool it down except the air around it. Gas cooled.

The 8 cycles of function are important for every soldier to understand if they want to be a proficient marksman. One of the easiest ways to memorize them is to simply repeat them over and over out loud. This episode is a guide to help you do exactly that.

The 8 cycles of function are:

Feeding

Chambering

Locking

Firing

Unlocking

Extracting

Ejecting

Cocking

In this episode, we aren't going to just ask and answer a bunch of questions about TC 3-22.9. No, we are going to focus on questions that are at a difficulty level that every SPC should be able to answer.

The episode is broken into 4 chapters:

The Pre-Test

The Lesson

The Re-Test

Repetition

Feel free to jump into the Pre-Test, and if you know everything, skip to the next difficulty level. If you want to know more about a question, stick around for the Lesson, where we will teach you what everything means. Then we'll re-evaluate at the Re-Test, and help you have it down consciously and sub-consciously in the Repetition chapter.

The questions we are going over are:

What does "Weapons Hold" weapon control status mean?

What does "Weapons Tight" weapon control status mean?

What does "Weapons Free" weapon control status mean?

Why does the M4 use 25 meters to zero when it's actually set at 300 meters?

What are the 3 phases of ballistics?

What are internal ballistics?

What are external ballistics?

What are terminal ballistics?

What are the five phases of rifle marksmanship training/basic rifle marksmanship (BRM)?