The reason I question why they don't seem to have any ammo or
ammo pouches is that they seem to have just dismounted from a
vehicle in the background. They are wearing face paint. So for all
intents and pirposes they are on some kind of training. But why
train without full SBO? And these seem to be all airborne
troopers.
So it looked like a hurriedly posed photograph. But for what
purpose?
PS
The first 2 guys are carrying with 5.56mm M249 SAW. It is a
belt-fed weapon that can also accept a M-16 magazine, though
problematic.
The M249 is the American modified version of the FN Minimi.
SAF does not use the M249. But the Filipinos, Indonesians and
Malaysians all use the M249. Indoneisa and Philippines have both
bought unknown quantites of Ultimax from us. But the PAF selected
the Minimi over the Ultimax as the main SAW.
This was not a wise move as the M249 is expensive, complicated and
apparently, the Philippines does not have a plant available for the
manufacturing of 5.56mm in belts. So the ammo is IMPORTED!!!
Philippines soldiers according to some forums preferred the Ultimax
over the M249 as they liked the Ultimax's light weight and
accuracy. The M-249 is too heavy for a weapon firing a small 5.56mm
bullet.
The M240 - not shown here - is the American modified version of the
7.62mm FN MAG. SAF uses the FN MAG and we call it the GPMG.
