Why is it that we don't add / mix in a few dedicated M14 (or equal)and 12 ga. shotgun carriers amongst the M4's and SAW's within a platoon?
Seems to me that it would help expand long range and close-in capabilities.
Those of us who read about 10th Mountain troops in Afghanistan being shelled by mortars from 1000 yards, but unable to answer back with their M-16s and M-4s probably thought it would be nice to have one Barrett M82A1 .50 BMG rifle among each platoon (depending on the mission/terrain), to handle such situations.
For immeditate reaction at short range, a shotgun might not be the right solution, because the attackers are often in cars. A short-barrel weapon firing at least .308 would be nice.