That was the way we were required to carry our M16 when I was in service. Mag in, chamber empty. When I went TDY to Honduras to work with the Army, it was worse! They had to ask permission to even put the mag in a weapon. WTF?? Day one us AF guys drew out M16's from the armory and had to ask where our 4th magazine was (our basic load out was 4 magazines). Army SGT asked us where you going to keep that 4th mag? In your pocket? Nope, in the rifle where it belongs! The look on his face was priceless! We had to get our Chief Master SGT (E9) to explain this to his Army counterpart.