POTD: The M249 Light Machine Gun
The number of internet users worldwide will soon reach the 5-billion mark. Our world has never been so connected. Great photos can spread like wildfire, but the story and the necessary context sometimes gets left behind. TFB’s Photo Of The Day, we will always accompany the images with a background and credits to the photographer. Above you can see U.S. Army Spc. Ladarion Banks as he fires blank ammunition from an M249 light machine gun during squad-level training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Germany. This happened in February 2013.
Below: U.S. Army Spc. Ladarion Banks, with the 3rd Squadron, 2nd Cavalry Regiment, fires his M249 light machine gun.
These (summer) boots are made for walking…Soldiers assigned to Kilo Troop, 3rd Squadron, 2nd Stryker Cavalry Regiment, conducting a dismounted patrol during squad-level training at the Grafenwoehr Training Area in Bavaria, Germany.
Photos by U.S. Army, Markus Rauchenberger, Training Support Activity Europe
Ex-Arctic Ranger. Competitive practical shooter and hunter with a European focus. Always ready to increase my collection of modern semi-automatics, optics, thermals and suppressors. TCCC Certified. Occasionaly seen in a 6x6 Bug Out Vehicle, always with a big smile.
More by Eric B
![[SHOT 2026] Zastava M84 Machine Gun Cometh!](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/21/03291/post.jpg?size=350x220)
![[SHOT 2026] Show Low's Gen 3 PCC Now In 10mm, .45 ACP](https://cdn-fastly.thefirearmblog.com/media/2026/01/23/00522/post.jpg?size=350x220)
Comments
Join the conversation
Now we know where the Winter Soldier got the inspiration to use the SAW...
UCP camo isn't too bad in snow covered woodland, not great, just not bad like it is usually is