Hello if I were to join the US Army today and were just a regular infantry foot soldier, what rifle would I be issued for normal combat use?

In other words, what is the standard infantry rifle of the United States Army?

I ask this because I'm confused. I've heard that the rifle is the M16A2. And I've also heard that it's the M4. And now I hear it's this M4A1. Which one is it? Thanks.

M16A2. The others are mainly for troops who need a more compact weapon, such as tankers, SF, Paratroops, etc.

From: www.hqmc.usmc.mil/factfile.nsf/7e931335d515626a8525628100676e0c/6a60172b3db3d5ce8525627b0062d928?OpenDocument

M16A2 5.56mm Rifle
Primary function: Infantry weapon
Manufacturer: Colt Manufacturing and Fabrique Nationale Manufacturing Inc.
Length: 39.63 inches (100.66 centimeters)
Weight, with 30 round magazine: 8.79 pounds (3.99 kilograms)
Bore diameter: 5.56mm (.233 inches)
Maximum effective range:
Area target: 2,624.8 feet (800 meters)
Point target: 1,804.5 feet (550 meters)
Muzzle velocity: 2,800 feet (853 meters) per second
Rate of fire:
Cyclic: 800 rounds per minute
Sustained: 12-15 rounds per minute
Semiautomatic: 45 rounds per minute
Burst: 90 rounds per minute
Magazine capacity: 30 rounds
Unit Replacement Cost: $586

Features: The M16A2 5.56mm rifle is a lightweight, air-cooled, gas-operated, magazine-fed, shoulder- or hip-fired weapon designed for either automatic fire (3-round bursts) or semiautomatic fire (single shot) through the use of a selector lever. The weapon has a fully adjustable rear sight. The bottom of the trigger guard opens to provide access to the trigger while wearing winter mittens. The upper receiver/barrel assembly has a fully adjustable rear sight and a compensator which helps keep the muzzle down during firing. The steel bolt group and barrel extension are designed with locking lugs which lock the bolt group to the barrel extension allowing the rifle to have a lightweight aluminum receiver.

Background: The M16A2 rifle is a product improvement of the M16A1 rifle. The improvements are:
* a heavier, stiffer barrel than the barrel of the M16A1;
* a redesigned handguard, using two identical halves, with a round contour which is sturdier and provides a better grip when holding the rifle;
* a new buttstock and pistol grip made of a tougher injection moldable plastic that provides much greater resistance to breakage;
* an improved rear sight which can be easily adjusted for windage and range;
* a modified upper receiver design to deflect ejected cartridges, and preclude the possibility of the ejected cartridges hitting the face of a left-handed firer;
* a burst control device, that limits the number of rounds fired in the automatic mode to three per trigger pull, which increases accuracy while reducing ammunition expenditure;
* a muzzle compensator, designed to reduce position disclosure and improve controllability and accuracy in both burst and rapid semi-automatic fire;
* a heavier barrel with a 1 in 7 twist to fire NATO standard SS 109 type (M855) ammunition which is also fired from the M249 Squad Automatic Weapon (SAW). This further increases the effective range and penetration of the rifle cartridge. The M16A2 will also shoot the older M193 ammunition designed for a 1 in 12 twist.

The M4 carbine is slowly being fielded to the majority of the Army.  I am in the Hawaii Army National Guard and the MI company I belong to received a batch of M4s for the GSS operators.  If you're going infantry there is a good chance you will be issued an M4.  Maybe not in Boot Camp but most likely in your regular unit.  M4s were issued exclusively to SOF units but in the last few years they are getting abundant.  
Renny

What's MI? What's GSS? Is the Army National Guard infantry treated the same as regular Army infantry. Maybe there's a difference between National Guard troops and regular Army troops?

I guess this means I have to ask a second question. Is the M16A2 being phased out for the M4 carbine? And which M4 is it? The M4, M4A1, M4A3? Is there an M4A3?? What about an M4A2??

   Up here, all the infantry battalions have gone to the M-4. My company went M-4 around a year and a half ago. I carried an A2 with the 203 for another 6 months till we got the mounting setup for the 4.
   The pogues and remfs pretty much all have A2s still. Some of theirs look brand new ,as rarely as they get used. All our A2s were nice and shiny silver on the corners and stuff.
   The M-4A1 is mainly a Ranger and Special Forces weapon right now. Although with a couple inches of 550 gut anyone can have their own A1.Not that we'd ever try that or nothin' though.

203, Are you at Fort Wainwright?  Can you tell me what is 550 gut?

   Cleco, no I'm not at Wainwright, I think I would go insane in Fairbanks. I'm down "south of range" at Fort Richardson. 550 gut is the little filler threads in 550 para-cord. If you tie a little loop of it, hook it around the arm that bears on the ratchet( no I don't know the proper name) , pull it back a little and loop the end around the takedown pin...instant full auto. I've only seen it done once, it would definitely be noticed once you fired and get ya a good ass chewin'.

What's a pogue??? What's a remf???

It never ceases to amaze me how all the military guys assume everyone knows all their stupid jargon. It must make them feel cool. Personally, I find it annoying.

Anyway, please speak layman. Thanks.

We don't use the jargon to sound cool, it's just everyday speak for us. Since most of us in the military live near the bases, everyone seems to know what we're talking about.

To answer your question I don't know about the Army. Here at the Air Force bases all the SF (the Air Force Military Police) are all using M4's. Every now and then I see an M16A2, but for the most part it's M4's (which we for some reason call GAL-9's).

Rear Echelon Mother F*cker.

Pogue = a fake, a wannabe......a guy who is probably an admin assistant to the company captain, who dreams all day about fast-roping onto a target and shooting 3k people with one magazine of 5.56, not using cover or concelament, with no need for backup or other fire support.

In other words, what most military officers think is a sound op order prior to sending your rear end out into the mix!

Just kidding of course....

...SUA SPONTE...

Unit Replacement Cost: $586 [>Q]

The $586 price on M4 aren't the worst part. How about $89 for a Grease Gun, $250 for a Tommy Gun and $500 for an MP5A3.

Quoted: The $586 price on M4 aren't the worst part. How about $89 for a Grease Gun, $250 for a Tommy Gun and $500 for an MP5A3.

Things that make you go HMMMMMMM.