What are the standards of qualification for M4 and M17?

• A. M4: Expert (36 to 40), Sharpshooter (30 to 35), Marksman (23 to 29), Unqualified (0 to 22); M17: Expert (27 to 30), Sharpshooter (24 to 26), Marksman (21 to 23), Unqualified (0 to 22)
• B. M4: Expert (36 to 40), Sharpshooter (30 to 35), Marksman (24 to 28), Unqualified (0 to 22); M17: Expert (26 to 30), Sharpshooter (23 to 25), Marksman (20 to 23), Unqualified (0 to 22)
• C. M4: Expert (34 to 40), Sharpshooter (28 to 34), Marksman (22 to 29), Unqualified (0 to 22); M17: Expert (29 to 30), Sharpshooter (25 to 27), Marksman (20 to 22), Unqualified (0 to 22)
• D. M4: Expert (35 to 40), Sharpshooter (31 to 35), Marksman (24 to 29), Unqualified (0 to 23); M17: Expert (28 to 30), Sharpshooter (25 to 26), Marksman (21 to 22), Unqualified (0 to 22)

Answer: (B)

Standards of qualification are the score bands that assign a proficiency level for a given weapon based on the earned points. For the M4 carbine, the qualification uses a 40-point scale: Expert requires 36–40, Sharpshooter 30–35, Marksman 24–28, and Unqualified 0–22. For the M17 pistol, a 30-point scale is used: Expert 26–30, Sharpshooter 23–25, Marksman 20–23, and Unqualified 0–22. This option matches those bands exactly, giving clear, non-overlapping ranges that cover the full scoring spectrum. The other options mix ranges in a way that creates gaps or overlaps, which would make it unclear which level a score falls into and isn’t consistent with standard training standards.