What do you write in your "Battle Book?"

CPT Chris Loomis — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:01:52 -0400

If you carry a "Battle Book," sometimes called a "Leaders Book," what do you write in it!

Is your "Battle Book" more like a "Continuity Book?"

Response by SGT Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 1:09 PM

SGT Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:09:04 -0400

Inappropriate things that should not be repeated.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Aug 14 at 2016 1:10 PM

CPT Chris Loomis — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:10:02 -0400

COL Jean (John) F. B.,SGM Matthew Quick,CSM Kenneth Mattingly,SGM Private RallyPoint Member,1SG Private RallyPoint Member,SFC Private RallyPoint Member,SFC Private RallyPoint Member,SFC Private RallyPoint Member,CPL Private RallyPoint Member,CPT Private RallyPoint Member,SSG James J. Palmer IV aka "JP4",LTC Yinon Weiss,BG Edward Burley,CW5 Private RallyPoint Member

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 1:11 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:11:26 -0400

I always right down what information to put out to my Recruiters after we have a conference call with the 1SG and CDR. I also use it to right down who my Recruiters are working with and where they are in that process. If the individual is going to be a waiver, when are they testing, doing the physical and enlisting in the Army. I also keep a live document in excel but, i use this book so, when I have to brief my 1SG, I have the information in front me. Then my other book is to write my Workouts for the gym in. I have two books.

Response by CPT Chris Loomis made Aug 14 at 2016 1:19 PM

CPT Chris Loomis — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 13:19:52 -0400

I write all things Army on the right side page as the book opens from the front. For example, info from BUBs, training issues and or tasks, important dates, "ToDo's," notes of conversations, counseling issues, strip maps, et cetera. Then I flip the book over and write any PERSONAL notes on the right side page starting from the REAR of the book.

One side of the book is military and one side is personal....

Also, any important dates, contact info, "ToDo's," or important lists get entered into apps on my phone that sync across all devices.

I believe in redundancy and that "the devil is in the details."

Response by Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 3:13 PM

Lt Col Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 15:13:04 -0400

It's my second brain....

Response by CPT Joseph K Murdock made Aug 14 at 2016 6:03 PM

CPT Joseph K Murdock — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 18:03:33 -0400

Mine was acetated items like OPORD format, roster, priorities of work, formations, frequencies, and priorities of work.

Response by SFC Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 7:40 PM

SFC Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 19:40:12 -0400

Whats is in my little green book.... doddles, BUB bingo sheets, choice words regarding a few people, OPSEC violations, and generally things that should have been burnt after writing them.

Response by SSG Private RallyPoint Member made Aug 14 at 2016 8:07 PM

SSG Private RallyPoint Member — Sun, 14 Aug 2016 20:07:00 -0400

Anything I would usually put in my cell phone. I only use a battle book in environments that don't allow me to have my iPhone.

Response by COL Jean (John) F. B. made Aug 15 at 2016 7:40 AM

COL Jean (John) F. B. — Mon, 15 Aug 2016 07:40:13 -0400

CPT Chris Loomis I used to keep it as a running journal of anything important that was gong on, as well as reference data like OPORD format, personal info on all my soldiers, training data, and just anything I wanted to have at my finger tips. Of course, when I was a platoon leader, it was before hand-held computers/iPhones/blackberries, etc., so the Battle Book (Leader's Notebook) contained much more data than it might today. After all these years, I still have every one I have ever had... This post stirred my interest and I'll have to take the time to dig them out and look at them sometime in the near future.

As I progressed in rank and position, the data I kept in the book changed and much of it was provided to me by subordinates on a routine basis, but I always had one with me. Even to this day, as an executive in a large corporation, I don't go anywhere without my "Battle Book".

Response by Cpl Justin Goolsby made Aug 16 at 2016 1:44 PM

Cpl Justin Goolsby — Tue, 16 Aug 2016 13:44:53 -0400

I call it my Green Monster, but I write everything in it. If I need a refresher on something, useful tips, maybe someone's phone number. If it's important enough to need to remember, it's going in the book.