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)?

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 PFC 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 are the 2 functions of a flash hider?

What is overmatch?

Explain the difference between thermals and night vision

What does LMTS stand for?

What does EST 2000 stand for?

What are the 2 purposes of the LMTS and EST 2000?

What are the 5 textbook descriptions of the M4?

What is the weight of an M4 with a 30 round magazine?

What is the maximum range of an M4/M16?

What is the muzzle velocity of an M4?

What does ACOG stand for?

What are the 4 most common malfunctions of the m4?

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 PV2 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 is Minute of Angle?

At about distance of 100 meters, how many inches will a 1 minute of Angle change?

If the target is 100 meters away, and you change your aim by exactly 2 minutes of Angle, how many inches off will your shot be?

What is the maximum effective range for the m4 on a spot target?

What is the maximum effective range of the m4 on an area target?

What is zeroing?

What is grouping?

What does LFX stand for?

What is the BUIS and what is its purpose?

What is a stoppage?

What is the acronym to remember Immediate Action for the M4?

What does the acronym SPORTS stand for?

Describe each step of SPORTS.

Describe the steps of immediate action on the M4.

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 PVT 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 TC covers rifle marksmanship for the M4?

What are the 8 phases of the cycle of function?

What is the primary safety of the m4?

What does a "Green" safety status mean?

What does an "Amber" safety Status mean?

What does a "Red" safety status mean?

What does a "Black" safety status mean?

What is the standard zeroing range with Iron Sights?

What is workspace management?

What are the 3 different firing modes for the M4, not including safe.

What does PMI stand for?

What is the circle size for a Soldier to qualify a good grouping?

What is immediate action?

What is remedial action?

What are the 4 fundamentals of marksmanship? Aka, what are the 4 things you need to focus on to shoot accurately?

Geared more towards NCOs, this episode will help anyone prepping for a Sergeant Audie Murphy Award Board. This prestigious award is difficult to attain, and few earn it. You will have to memorize the official bio of Audie Murphy, whom the award is named after. This 1-hour loop will help anyone who is trying to attain this award achieve that goal.

"Audie Leon Murphy was a legend in his own time. A war hero, movie actor, writer of country and western songs, and poet. His biography reads more like fiction than fact. He lived only 46 years, but he made a lasting imprint on American history. Audie was born on a sharecropper's farm in North Texas on June 20, 1924.As a boy, he chopped cotton for one dollar a day and was noted for his feats of derring-do and his accuracy with a gun. He had only 5 years of schooling and was orphaned at age 16. After being refused enlistment during World War II in both the Marines and Paratroopers for being too small (5'5") and underweight (110 pounds), he enlisted in the U.S. Army a few days after his 18th birthday. After basic training at Camp Walter’s, Texas, and advanced training at Fort George G. Meade, Maryland, Audie was sent overseas. He was assigned to the famous 15th Infantry Regiment of the 3rd Infantry Division where he fought in North Africa, Sicily, Italy, France, and Germany. He earned a battlefields commission for his courage and leadership ability as well as citations and decorations including every medal for valor that America gives. He was also awarded three French and one Belgian medal. Lieutenant Audie Murphy was the highest decorated soldier in American history. Discharged from the Army on September 21, 1945, Audie went to Hollywood at the invitation of movie star James Cagney. He remained in California for the rest of his life and was closely associated with the movie industry, both as an actor and a producer. He acted in 44 films, starring in 39 of them. His best known film was "To Hell and Back," adopted from the bestselling book of his war experiences by the same name. Most of his movies were westerns. In 1955, Audie Murphy was voted the Most Popular Western Actor in America by the Motion Picture Exhibitors. Audie wrote the lyrics to 16 country and western songs, the most popular of which was "Shutters and Boards," written with Scott Turner in 1962. The song was recorded by over 30 pop singers, including Jerry Wallace, Dean Martin, and Porter Waggoner. He was an accomplished poet; unfortunately, only a few of his poems have survived. In 1950 Audie joined the 36th Infantry Division ("T-Patchers") of the Texas National Guard and served with it until 1966. He was a Mason and a Shriner and belonged to several veterans’ organizations. Audie Murphy was killed in a plane crash on a mountain top near Roanoke, Virginia on May 28, 1971. Fittingly, his body was recovered 2 days later on Memorial Day. Audie could very well be the last American war hero. He was the greatest combat soldier in the 200 year plus history of the United States."

Becoming a Drill Sergeant is a goal many soldiers have, and few complete. Before including "Drill Sergeant" as your short or long-term goal, I recommend that you memorize the Creed and understand what Drill Sergeants actually stand for. Spoiler: it's more than just torturing trainees.

With this one-hour loop, you will be able to passively listen to this episode and solidify what you need to know to get promoted, or win your soldier of the month board.