2nd GI with side arm carrying the gun, behind him GI carries ammo can (250 Rnds!) far middle field GI carrying tri pod.
I can see the logic in carrying the rod in the rifle but it would be a nightmare in low hanging branches with possible damage to the crown plus if you needed it in a hurry you cannot just shoot it off like say a Flanders flap could this be a training exercise.
Looks like Autumn with all the leaf litter on the ground pretty hard to walk quietly on those dried leaves.