The M3 MAAWS transitioned into an Army program of record 2013 from being a SOCOM tier 1/2 weapon for more than 20 years. As the Infantry Brigade Combat Teams (IBCT's) missions evolved, the material and threat capability gaps, driven by weight and range, within Infantry was apparent. Several Operational Needs Statements (ONS) were submitted from IBCT's commanders beginning of 2010. Due to the nature of the conflict, primarily in Afghanistan combat commanders requested a weapon system with the M3 MAAWS characteristics: man-portable, re-loadable, range that exceeds 1250 m with a variety of ammunition options organic to the Infantry platoon.

This later on resulted in the system being considered in the ARCIC Capabilities Determination for Rapid Transition (CDRT) review. The units that had experience with the M3 MAAWS voted to retain the weapon as an enduring capability. That resulted in DA G3 directing the requirement for the 578 systems that were acquired to fill the ONS submissions to fall under PM Crew Served Weapons for subsequent actions.

Even though the M3 MAAWS is a program of record, there is currently no intent (MCoE position) to do anything beyond fielding the already acquired 578 M3 systems. The 578 equates to approximately 1 system per infantry platoon in the active duty only (IBCT's). However, the National Guard (NG) IBCT's capability gaps, missions and threats in combat are no different than an active duty IBCT on the battlefield.

The background or logic to why the National Guard is not included in this program does not seem to make sense. The impact of not receiving this weapon system may jeopardize NG mission success or IBCT survivability.

Therefore we want to stress the importance of balancing this capability within both active duty IBCT's and NG IBCT's.