As an aside, although the gear has changed drastically, the average weight carried by the average grunt has not changed since the days of the Roman legion.

Food is lighter, you carry more meals. The weapon is made lighter; add sights, flashlights, forward handles. You ditch one piece of gear as outdated, to be handed two more pieces of gear now designated as important must be carried.

As a grunt I carried what I had to, substituted where I could, and made do without to save weight.