What products did you use or did you wish you had as an Infantry PL?

2LT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 08:58:48 -0400

When I say "product" I do not necessarily mean something you can buy (though, if you found something you which helped you, please share). In Ranger School, we used many products - "Sleepy Ranger" cards, "Dorito" cards, home made platoon tracers, a Bravo Team Leader book which tracked all logistical information and so on and so forth. I'll attach a store bought sleepy ranger card for reference.

I didn't know if designing something like a "PL Book" - which would have something like 6 pages, each for tracking a different task such as mission basics, platoon status, commo and fires... so on and so forth. It would need to be 6X6 at most for each page, something you could put in a pocket, and most likely be printed on lum tape for easy night time use. Just wanted to reach out here and see if anyone was using anything similar, or not similar, to help themselves out.

Response by CPT Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2020 9:15 AM

CPT Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:15:48 -0400

You need a few things...
First, you should create an I-Love-Me book. Your personal iPerms and all your civilian accomplishments in a neat and organized binder

Next, you should create a leaders book. Your leaders book is for everyday garrison. It should be neat and organized with a table of contents... in it you should have everything from your platoon administrative information... the short and long range training calander... CONOPs... important information from field manuals.... OPORD outline and any important trackers you use. Should be personalized what best fits you and the position you’re in. Remember you will not always be next to a computer so it’s good to have.

Now in reference to a field book... in the 173rd we were required to have one of these... you’re already on the right track with what you listed above. However, you probably need something larger that has more writing space on it being the PL. Mine was about the size of a little green issued notebook that could be placed in my side pocket of my IOTV.
Some things you should look at having in there... 1. anything and everything related to CFF, CAS and CCA... IE 9 lines and weapon system data. You need to know as much as you can about controlling these and their effects. We all I know how difficult it can be to remember all of this data. I can’t stress that enough.
2. Your platoon MAL
3. Commo Card
4. WPN system data (you should know this)
5. 9 line/ salute
6. OPORD outline
7. Basic ranger school stuff and space to write on illum tape

Response by LTC Jason Mackay made Jul 10 at 2020 9:19 AM

LTC Jason Mackay — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 09:19:04 -0400

EPW Kits and EPW Cards

Response by CPT Andrew Wright made Jul 10 at 2020 1:33 PM

CPT Andrew Wright — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 13:33:13 -0400

I wish we had those GPSs back in my day. I didn't get lost in the woods all that often but I bet I never would have with a Rhino in my pocket!

Response by LTC Private RallyPoint Member made Jul 10 at 2020 2:15 PM

LTC Private RallyPoint Member — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 14:15:06 -0400

I created a very small, waterproofed Field Book that I could carry in my pocket with templates of basic report formats, also need to know info like CFF and Logisyics, as well as basic Info and I tel (unclass) I thought I might need like language-enemy unit and material and local info.

I carried a larger map case with more info and a few larger format items in case we went into a PLT planning session in the field. It had a map, a few colored pens & eraser pen (staedtler)
And a pocket Terrain Kit (creates one and bought a better one later).

In Garrison had a field leader book in the PLT CP with ARs& FMs xcerpts, examples of documents and memos, battle leaders book info on the Personell and PLT equipment, and added to it as things emerged as important to my CO Cdr and BN staff as I was given more extra duties and was assigned special projects.

These were on top of my personal library (personal, CSA, JCS, HBR and more books and Mikitary related items) and archives (hard copy and digitally) in my personal possession to round out my professional Development and lifelong learning

Response by MAJ Ken Landgren made Jul 10 at 2020 4:36 PM

MAJ Ken Landgren — Fri, 10 Jul 2020 16:36:08 -0400

I found laminated range cards to be useful.

Response by CPT John Kane made Jul 11 at 2020 6:57 PM

CPT John Kane — Sat, 11 Jul 2020 18:57:43 -0400

Listen to your platoon sergeant and always seek his advise. Never throw him/her under the bus and never argue in front of the troops. But ensure he/she respects the position you hold as the platoon leader and if you are good enough for the troops, you will earn your "personal" respect.

Response by MAJ Private RallyPoint Member made Sep 8 at 2020 11:30 PM

MAJ Private RallyPoint Member — Tue, 08 Sep 2020 23:30:24 -0400

A con ops worksheet, you will find yourself throwing out quick warn ord and frag ord