Minnesota U.S. National Guard Among First to Field Army’s Newest M250 Automatic Rifle.

Minnesota’s 34th Infantry Division is among the first National Guard units to train with the Army’s new M250 automatic rifle, part of the Next Generation Squad Weapon program. The rollout at Camp Ripley signals a major step in modernizing U.S. small arms and boosting squad-level firepower.

At Camp Ripley, soldiers from the Minnesota U.S. National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division are taking the lead in operational training with the M250 automatic rifle, the U.S. Army’s newest squad-level weapon. The training marks one of the first National Guard integrations under the Army’s Next Generation Squad Weapon (NGSW) program, a modernization effort aimed at increasing lethality and precision across all infantry formations. The M250, chambered in 6.8mm, replaces the long-serving M249 and is designed to give soldiers greater effective range and stopping power against near-peer threats.
Follow Army Recognition on Google News at this link

U.S. Soldiers from the U.S. Army’s 34th Infantry Division receive hands-on training with the new M250 automatic rifle during a New Equipment Training session at Camp Ripley, Minnesota, on September 15, 2025. (Picture source: U.S. Department of War)

The M250, developed by SIG Sauer, has been selected to replace the long-serving M249 Squad Automatic Weapon, which first entered service with the U.S. Army in 1984. The M249, chambered in 5.56x45mm NATO, was once considered revolutionary for its lightweight automatic fire and high rate of fire. However, decades of operational experience have revealed its limitations, particularly against well-equipped near-peer adversaries. The M250, officially approved for fielding in 2023, is the U.S. Army’s answer to that evolving threat environment.

At the heart of this transformation is the new 6.8x51mm cartridge, a hybrid metal-cased round offering higher muzzle velocity, superior penetration, and enhanced lethality at extended ranges. Compared to the M249’s 5.56mm round, the 6.8mm delivers more energy on target while maintaining better trajectory and consistency in adverse conditions. The M250 leverages this ballistic performance, pushing the effective range beyond 800 meters, a significant upgrade over the M249’s effective range of approximately 600 meters.

The U.S. Army’s Program Executive Office Soldier, through Project Manager Soldier Lethality (PM SL), is leading the NET event at Camp Ripley. These training sessions provide Minnesota Guardsmen with comprehensive instruction on the M250 platform, including classroom-based technical overviews, hands-on disassembly and reassembly drills, and live-fire familiarization courses. Soldiers are also trained on the integration of the XM157 Fire Control system, a next-generation optic that introduces digital aiming solutions and real-time ballistic calculation directly into the shooter’s sight picture.

The XM157, manufactured by Vortex Optics, is one of the most transformative elements of the M250 package. Featuring a built-in laser rangefinder, ballistic calculator, atmospheric sensors, and an illuminated digital reticle, the XM157 enables Soldiers to engage targets faster and with greater precision than traditional optics. This marks a profound shift in how infantrymen engage threats, dramatically increasing first-round hit probability under pressure. Soldiers participating in the training quickly reported increased confidence in target acquisition and engagement once the system was live-fired.

The M250 itself remains a belt-fed, fully automatic weapon like its predecessor, but is built with modern materials and improved ergonomics. The weapon includes features that improve recoil management, weapon balance, and modularity. While the heavier 6.8mm round introduces some logistical considerations, U.S. Army officials argue that the performance gains far outweigh the weight penalty, especially in scenarios involving combat at longer ranges or against enemies equipped with modern body armor.

The decision to field the M250 and its rifle counterpart, the M7 which is replacing the M4 carbine, stems from the U.S. Army’s urgent need to regain tactical overmatch in close combat. These systems were designed not just as replacements, but as paradigm shifts in lethality and survivability. The NGSW program is a cornerstone of the U.S. Army’s broader modernization strategy aimed at preparing forces for high-intensity conflict scenarios against technologically advanced opponents.

Selection of the Minnesota National Guard’s 34th Infantry Division for early fielding is not coincidental. As one of the U.S. Army’s most operationally engaged Guard units, with deployments across Europe and the Middle East in recent years, the 34th Infantry Division brings both combat experience and training discipline to this initial rollout phase. Their feedback is critical to refining fielding strategies, maintenance protocols, and sustainment systems that will accompany the M250 into full-scale service across the Total Force.

Soldiers at Camp Ripley are providing valuable input on everything from optic interface clarity and battery life to weapon handling under load-bearing conditions. This feedback loop is central to the U.S. Army’s adaptive acquisition strategy, ensuring that the M250 is not just technically superior, but also functionally integrated into the realities of squad-level combat operations.

While the M249 will continue in limited use during the transition, its eventual phase-out is now firmly underway. The M250 is no longer a prototype or a future promise. It is in the hands of American Soldiers today. With its introduction into National Guard units like the 34th Infantry Division, the U.S. Army is accelerating the path toward a fully modernized small arms inventory capable of meeting tomorrow’s combat demands.

For a force that has relied on the same family of small arms for over four decades, the new M250 automatic rifle of the U.S. Army represents more than a new weapon. It symbolizes a renewed commitment to technological superiority, lethality, and the survivability of the American infantryman in the next era of warfare.

Written by Alain Servaes – Chief Editor, Army Recognition Group
Alain Servaes is a former infantry non-commissioned officer and the founder of Army Recognition. With over 20 years in defense journalism, he provides expert analysis on military equipment, NATO operations, and the global defense industry.