Army ok's use of camo spray paint on soldier's weapons

Black guns make them a target


Soldiers may now paint their M4s to blend in with the terrain, a privilege they have long sought because the black guns are easy to spot.

Some soldiers have been using spray-on camouflage paint since the wars started, ignoring an unenforced Army policy banning the practice.

Guidelines on how to do it will soon be released, Army Times reported.

“The soldiers are doing it anyway; if you go to theater, you will see that units have their weapons sprayed,” said Col. Doug Tamilio, head of Project Manager Soldier Weapons.

The black guns stick out, said Tamillo. We should issue out in the next couple of months an advisory message ... to say, ‘It’s OK to spray paint your weapons, but here is how to do it.”

The guidelines will explain which parts of the weapons, such as optics, should not be painted, to avoid interfering with their operation.

“If you get any spray on these optics, you reduce the capability of that optic,” Tamilio said. The guidelines will also recommend the safest paints to use.

Unit commanders must approve the actions.