Manual of Arms for the M16A1 Rifle

Compiled from FM 22-5, Drill and Ceremonies, August 1968

General
1. Carry the M16A1 rifle slung over your right shoulder in a position similar to sling arms for the rifle. Inspection arms with the rifle is not a precision movement and is only executed as part of the manuals of arms for the rifle, when the unit is formed and dismissed, or for an inspecting officer.
2. When parade rest, stand at ease, or rest is commanded, keep the rifle slung unless otherwise ordered.
3. To salute while at sling arms, on the command ARMS of PRESENT, ARMS, the sling is grasped with left hand to steady the rifle. The palm of the left hand is to the rear and the forearm is horizontal. At the same time, the sling is released with the right hand and the first count of the hand salute is executed as described in paragraph 23. At the command ARMS of ORDER, ARMS, the right hand and arm are moved to the side as in the position of attention and then the original position of sling arms is resumed.
  e. When at sling arms, parade rest, rest, at ease, and stand at ease are executed as from order arms except that the rifle is held slung with the right hand. When the command REST is given, the rifle may be unslung. When calling a squad or platoon to attention, the position of parade rest at sling arms is assumed on the preparatory command.
4. The nomenclature of the rifle is shown in figure 26.
Inspection Arms
1. The command is INSPECTION, ARMS, and it is executed only from sling arms.
2. Inspection arms, without the magazine, is executed as described below. At the command of execution grasp the sling with the left hand at a point near the shoulder (1, fig. 27). Lift the rifle from the shoulder, withdrawing the right arm from between the rifle and sling. Grasp the small of the stock with the right hand and bring the weapon diagonally across the body (2, fig. 27). Grasp the pistol grip with the left hand (3, fig. 27), thumb over the lower portion of the bolt catch (4, fig. 27). Release the grasp of the right hand, unlock the charging handle with the thumb, and pull it to the rear. At the same time apply pressure on the bolt catch, locking the bolt to the rear (4, fig. 27). Push the charging handle until it is locked in its foremost position and grasp the small of the stock with the right hand. Release the grasp of the left hand and regrasp the lower portion of the handguard (5, fig. 27). Elevate the rifle up and to the left, at the same time rotating it 90° so the handgrip is pointing away from the body. At this time visually inspect the chamber to see that it is clear and then return to port arms. The rifle should be held diagonally across and approximately 4 inches from the body.
3. PORT, ARMS is the only command given from inspection arms. On the preparatory command, place the fingers of the right hand on the back of the pistol grip with the thumb (without pressure) on the upper part of the bolt catch (1, fig. 28). On the command of execution, press the bolt catch allowing the bolt to go forward and pull the trigger with the right thumb (2, fig. 28). Regrasp the pistol grip with the right hand to support the rifle. Release the grasp of the left hand and place it over the magazine feed well, with the thumb and fingers forming- a U (3, fig. 28). With the fingertips, close the dust cover (4, fig. 28). Grasp the upper part of the sling with the left hand (5, fig. 28) and return to sling arms.
4. When inspection arms is executed with the magazine in the rifle, grasp the sling with the left hand at a point near the shoulder (1, fig. 27). Lift the rifle from the shoulder, withdrawing the right arm from between the rifle and sling. Grasp the small of the stock with the right hand and bring the weapon diagonally across the body (2, fig. 27). Grasp the base of the magazine with the left hand, fingers and thumb forming a U and the tip of the middle finger on the magazine release button (1, fig. 29). Depress the magazine release button, withdraw the magazine and insert it behind the belt, in front of the left hip, with the open end down and front to the right (2, fig. 29). Grasp the pistol grip with the left hand (3, fig. 27) and complete the movement as described in b above.
5. Execute port arms as described in c above except, after the dust cover is closed replace the magazine with the left hand and resume sling arms.
Stack Arms
1. The M16A1 is stacked in line and the designation of stackmen remains the same as described in paragraph 73a, except the command of PREPARE SLINGS is not given.
2. On the command STACK ARMS, the stackman and the men to his right and left perform the following movement simultaneously:
  1. The stackman unslings his weapon and cradles it in the crook of his right arm with the butt of the weapon on his hip. He tightens the sling and adjusts the keeper to form a 4- inch loop next to the upper sling swivel (a palm's width within the loop; 1, fig. 30). When tight, the sling should lay along the right side of the pistol grip. After the loop has been formed, the stackman places his rifle directly in front of and centered on his body with the barrel to the rear. The heel of the rifle butt is on the ground on line with the toes of his shoes. The stackman grasps the rifle by the upper portion of the handguard with his left hand. The first two fingers of the left hand hold the inner part of the loop against the rifle. He reaches across the front of the rifle with the right hand, grasps the outer part of the loop, and holds it open for the insertion of the other rifles. He holds the rifle vertically at all times (2, fig. 30).
  2. The man on the stackman's left reaches across his body with the left hand and grasps the sling at a point near the right shoulder and unslings the weapon. With the right hand, he grasps the handguard midway between the carrying handle and the front sight. Holding the weapon in a vertical position, he regrasps the small of the stock with the left hand and lets both arms hang naturally, the weapon in a horizontal position, muzzle to the right, and carrying handle to the rear (2, fig. 30).
  3. The man to the stackman's right unslings his weapon in the same manner as the man on the left. He then grasps it at the small of the stock with the right hand. Holding the rifle in a vertical position, he rotates the carrying handle to the rear and regrasps the handguard with the left hand midway between the carrying handle and the front sight. He then lowers the weapon to the horizontal with the muzzle to the left, carrying handle to the rear and arms hanging naturally (2, fig. 30).
  4. When the stackman has placed his rifle in position, both men move the foot nearest the stackman 18 inches to the oblique and toward the stackman. The man on the stackman's left inserts the muzzle of his rifle into the loop (held by the stackman) to a point approximately halfway between the flash suppressor and the front sight. He holds his weapon in this position until the man on the stackman's right inserts the muzzle of his rifle in a similar manner and above the rifle of the left man (3, fig. 30).
3. The butts of both rifles are swung outward and down to the ground until the stack is tight with the rifle butts on line and approximately 2 feet from the baseline. The long axis of the butts is placed on the ground to prevent damage to the front sight assemblies (4, and 5, fig. 30). After the stack is completed, extra rifles are unslung and passed to the nearest stack on the right. To pass the rifles, grasp the handguard near the front sight assembly with the right hand. Then, with the rifle held vertical, it is passed with fully extended arm to the right front. The man on the right grasps the handguard of the rifle with his left hand near the slipring, brings the rifle to the center of his body, and regrasps the handguard near the front sight assembly with his right hand. This action continues until the stackman receives the rifle and places it on the stack with his right hand. Rifles are placed on the stack in a manner to prevent damage to the front sight assemblies.
Take Arms

To take arms with the M16A1 the movements remain the same as described in paragraph 77,except all men return to sling arms after receiving their weapons.

Referenced Paragraphs:

Hand Salute and Eyes Right
1. For instructional purposes, the command is HAND, SALUTE. This is a two-count movement and should be taught by the numbers. On the first count raise the right hand until the tip of the forefinger touches the lower part of the headdress or forehead just above and slightly to the right of the right eye, fingers and thumb extended and joined, palm down, upper arm horizontal with the elbow inclined slightly forward, with the hand and wrist straight (fig. 10). On the second count (READY, TWO) drop ybur hand and arm in the most direct manner to your side as in the position of attention.

To Stack and Take Arms
1. The squad in position, on line behind the stacks, takes arms at the command TAKE, ARMS.
  1. At the command ARMS, the stackman passes each extra rifle towards its bearer. The rifles are handled in the manner described for passing them to the stack (left hand at the balance, right hand at the upper part of the handguard). As the men receive their weapons, they resume the position of order arms.
  2. After all extra rifles have been returned, the stackman grasps the base rifle, holding the loop open as in stack arms.
  3. The men to the right and left of the stackman take one step to their left and right fronts, respectively. They reach down and grasp their rifles, bringing them to a horizontal position. They grasp the rifles as shown in 4, figure 43. The man to the right of the stackman frees his rifle from the stack first. Each man returns to order arms after retrieving his rifle. He does this by guiding and steadying the rifle with his left hand as in the next to the last count of order arms (fig. 17).
  4. The stackman adjusts the sling of his rifle before returning to order arms.