Lock and Load is a look at the weapons of today's American armed forces. Filled with action packed photography of the equipment in use in operations and recent conflicts including the Gulf, Kosovo, and Afghanistan, separate chapters look at the destructive kit of the forces on land, sea, and in the air. An introduction gives a brief history of U.S. forces, their postwar role and current position. It also talks about weapons research and procurement, the strategic role of the forces, and the weapons they require to fulfil this role and how they get them.