In 371 BC, an outmanned army faced certain defeat at the hands of the Spartans. Refusing to surrender they employed a new formation in a final effort to save their city. By staggering their troops diagonally, each unit behind and to the right, they toppled the mighty Spartan army and invented the echelon, a military formation that is still used today. In the same spirit of innovation, Springfield Armory introduces the Echelon™, a superior approach to modern pistol design. Built around the Central Operating Group (COG) the Echelon is a modular and adaptable striker-fired duty pistol. Engineered with superior ergonomics and built to withstand the harshest conditions, the Echelon takes its rightful place at the front of the pack.