This standing Ranger is carrying the M249 SAW (Squad Automatic Weapon) the U.S. Armed Forces adaptation of the Belgian FN Minimi light machine gun.
This weapon was introduced in 1984 to address the lack of a sustained fire weapon at the squad level for U.S. Army and Marine units.
The M249 SAW combines the rapid rate of fire of a machine gun with the accuracy and portability of an assault rifle plus fires the same 5.56 calibre ammunition.