Intersting Question about Armed Forces Weapons

[85FourEyedGT]

Ive always wondered this..

You know how M4's that the armed forces use have plenty of awesome attachments?

I mean, Acog, EOtech, forward grips, lights, lasers, etc...

Ive noticed that every soldier has a different setup, some use Acogs, others just use red dot sights, some with magnifiers, some prefer the forward grip and some dont,

My question is, how do they go about "customizing" their rifles? Do they simply ask the armory to add these for their preferences? do they have to buy them? do th m4's come like that whether they like it or not?

Its always been in the back of my head because it seems that every soldier has a different setup on their rifle

[CavTrooper]

Usually you get stuff from your unit and add what you want/need/are told to. Alot of it is personal preference, some of it is SOP.

[dwa]

for me usually the optic and fire control is what the unit wants, how you mount it is up to you. generally a flashlight and pistol grip is included and somepeople will get one they like more. sometimes theres a few sopmod stocks floating around and some people also buy them.

[85FourEyedGT]

Ok, Well thats good, I thought it would be F'ed up if our soldiers had to buy all the optics for their own rifles, had to make sure!

[Colt]

I bought a few goodies for my son - apparently they didn't issue what he preferred - but there were some limitations as to what he could add.

[rayra]

varies from unit to unit. Some unit commanders allow a greater degree of customization than others. Some units actually budget for more advanced gear / accessories. Or use 'unit funds' that everybody chips into. Lots of ballistic eyewear and FRS radios bought that way.
In 2003-2004, most of the Marines with optics were buying them out of their own pockets. Later units were issued, and some units rotating in were taking possession of advanced gear from sister units rotating out. This is particularly how things were handled with the early issuance of plates for body armor, until the supply situation caught up.