Where were you in 1998? Well in 1998 the U.S. Secret Service was purchasing duty weapons for sworn personnel - the Sig Sauer P229 to be exact.
Since 1998, many things within the Secret Service evolved - our integrated mission, as well as our duty weapon requirements. When Director Randolph Alles began his tenure with the Secret Service in 2017, he recognized the need to prioritize and address the need to modernize the Secret Service duty weapon; the P229 no longer met all of our updated mission requirements and was due for lifecycle replacement.
Discussions with end-users and RTC firearms instructors continually echoed concerns such as the lack of integrated light/accessory rail, the legacy DA/SA design, the increased weight compared to modern polymer-framed designs, and limited grip adaptability/customization for gun carriers. As discussions progressed, a need was also recognized for an updated assessment of ammunition and/or caliber requirements, as the .357SIG round accelerated wear and maintenance issues on existing weapons, not to mention the increasingly limited offering of various training munitions required by RTC, such as ‘Simunitions’, Frangible, Blank, and “Green” ammo.
By August 2017, the Use of Force Review Board requested RTC’s Firearms Policy and Development Section to formally take steps necessary to identify, procure, and deploy a new handgun system suitable for adoption and use by all Secret Service gun-carriers. In addition to the ammunition assessment, this process would also include addressing any necessary transition-related training, possible changes to the re-qualification requirements, capture technical and design requirements, and lay out testing procedures, all with relevant input from identified gun-carrying stakeholders, principally: INV, UND, SII, OPO, to include SOD, and TEC.
In December 2017, following comprehensive ballistic testing, RTC’s Firearms Policy and Development and Armory staff presented comparative ammunition performance data to the Use of Force Board. Citing no significant loss of critical terminal performance, the Board’s unanimous recommendation was to transition the Secret Service to modern 9mm ammunition for the future duty handgun.
Ultimately, this decision was concurred by Director Alles in January 2018.
At the same time, the Office of Training (TNG) began the process of identifying and requesting necessary funds for the purchase of new handguns, accessories, as well as the associated training costs, through the submission of the Resource Allocation Process.
Throughout 2018, RTC Firearms Policy and Development Section met with representatives from relevant end-users to identify the critical features for the new handgun selective process. These included:
• Striker-Fired: to provide enhanced trigger manipulation during training and qualification,
• Integrated Accessory/Light Rail: to allow for enhanced target identification in low visibility,
• Grip Modularity: to provide customization capability to support individual physical characteristics,
• “Family” Design (full-size to subcompact): to support diverse USSS missions such as the unique missions of SOD, CSU, etc.
• Marking-style Models: to support realistic and cutting-edge training, simunition, UTM, laser
• Next Generation Considerations: future compatibility with developing technologies (i.e. electronic sighting systems, RFID for inventory controls, etc.)
Market research also accelerated at this time as RTC procured sample guns from a variety of manufacturers to assess their reliability, accuracy, and ergonomics. By late 2018, using those features identified by relevant stakeholders, RTC drafted an acquisition proposal packet and began active engagement with the USSS Procurement Division.
RTC Firearms Policy and Development also stepped up efforts to leverage relationships with our law enforcement and military partners to ensure the next gen Secret Service handgun offered the most modern capabilities of the day, and was also optimized to address the future needs of the Secret Service.
After the Government Shutdown in January 2019, RTC was allocated FY19 funding to begin formal acquisition of a new handgun. Following the April 2019 contract award by Customs and Border Protection (CBP), RTC began a comprehensive validation testing process to determine if those selected handguns would meet the Secret Services’ stringent requirements. RTC procured and tested three distinct models and conducted an exhaustive assessment of accuracy, safety, technical compliance, and 10,000 round live-fire testing.
Upon conclusion, it was determined that the tested Glock handguns had proven themselves, both in Secret Service testing and in critical operations around the globe, to meet the ‘no-fail’ mission carried out every day by our workforce.
With this and other ongoing equipment modernization efforts, Secret Service personnel can have the trust and confidence that their issued gear and training is ready to meet 21st century challenges.
These Glock handguns have met or exceeded all Secret Service requirements and represent the highest-quality law enforcement equipment available today. They will provide a significant step forward in capabilities for when our personnel are engaged in lethal force situations” said ATSAIC John Pessia, RTC Firearms and Policy Development Section.
In July 2019, Director James Murray authorized the Secret Service to pursue the acquisition of the new Glock 9mm handgun.
By leveraging the latest DHS contract, the Secret Service was able to meet significant milestones and maximize its allotted funding, thereby ensuring the new handguns will be immediately deployable with issued weapon-mounted lights, holsters, and training to meet the modern demands of the workforce.
Have you looked at the price of WWII era holsters and magazine pouches on Ebay lately?
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