LOL… Yeah, that was taken on the steps to my room last year. Home sweet home 1/2 a mile from Saddam Hussein Baghdad International Airport.
And Yanny, Not as far as I know.
Prior to the SAW, two of the members of an Infantry squad kept their M16 on full auto, these guys would use their weapons for suppressive fire, keep the bad guys heads down, so the other guys can maneuver into fighting positions or get cover. The primary problem with this, as CC can attest, is that it takes about 3 seconds to empty a magazine in an M16 on full auto. So your changing mags like crazy, not maintaining fire, and running out of ammo because the standard carry is about 750 rnds Also it’s hard to maintain accuracy with an M16 on Full auto. Guys typicaly end up “Spraying and Praying”.
When the SAW came out this replaced the “Designated Gunner’s” weapon and the M16 was changed to a 3 round burst. The SAW weighs more and is easier to control. I’m not positive what the standard Infantry carry is but I would guess it’s about 1000 rnds - 5 belts. I never carried more than three.