Posted on Feb 15, 2016
What do you recommend as an infantry ready map board in the field?
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One of the things I've wrestled with since transitioning to a light formation is downsizing and not bringing unnecessary gear now that I have to carry it all. The only piece of gear I haven't found a good replacement for so far is my map board. (See the attached image). My plexiglass map board worked great when I could simply stick it in the turret when I didn't need it. Its pretty much useless now that I have to dig it out of my ruck to navigate. At a minimum I need to be able to quickly access my map, graphics, target list worksheet, and reports. What are my fellow light leaders using to replace this bulky piece?
11A: Infantry Officer
Company Commander
11B: Infantryman
Gear
Posted 9 y ago
Responses: 44
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Go to supply and get a flight crew book. It's a small, blue notebook with rings. Inside of it, is basically smaller sheet protectors. I use this for all of my reporting formats, leaders book info (names, battle rosters, blood types, serial numbers, etc) and for any map overlays that I may need.
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MAJ (Join to see)
MAJ Thomas Person it would be nice if I had an FSO to control fires for me. In nearly 10 years in the RC I've yet to see an FO or FSO actually attached to a unit for training or deployment. 99% of the time I call all of the pre-planned fires myself, which is why I like to have a target list or an overlay to look at. The training mission we're running in April is 6 klick straight-line movement, so you're correct in that I should be able to work off of one sheet.
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MAJ Joe Pimentel
I agree. That is what we used in the old days, prior to 2003. You can customize it with whatever you need.
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1stSgt (Join to see)
Flight Crew Checklist book is great, but do NOT use alcohol pens on the pages. It stains.
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Seriously you're going to laugh. Glad brand press and seal. I used it for my land nav at wlc, my map went into puddles and swamp, it stayed dry. I brought it with me in country. It provides a perfect seal around maps, and you can use dry erase, pencils, pens, and sharpies on it. A roll of it is a lifesaver. Plus you can fold it if you need t.
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MAJ (Join to see)
Your post reminds me of the saying: "If it's stupid but it works, it isn't stupid." I'll have to look into it.
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SSgt (Join to see)
One more perk, unlike laminated, you can seperate it and it doesn't damage papers underneath. That honestly is my favorite sayin.
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Sir- You need to get a "Hobbit" map. Its a map special, made at the Hobbit Shop, just outside the gate of Fort Bragg. They take orders over the phone, and will hobbitize your map, regardless of your current duty station.
A hobbit map is a standard 1:50k, broken down into multiple sections, on the backside of my hobbit map, I would attach FSCM, reporting cheatsheets, and any whatever else i needed. Best part, when it's all folded up, it fits perfectly in the center compartment of your Army-issued TAPS. Throw any overlays, and whatever else you need in there. It worked great for me throughout 3.5 years as a light 1SG.
If you have more questions about what I mean, or want pictures of what I'm talking about, I will send them to you via another medium. Just reply back here and we'll get the ball rolling.
A hobbit map is a standard 1:50k, broken down into multiple sections, on the backside of my hobbit map, I would attach FSCM, reporting cheatsheets, and any whatever else i needed. Best part, when it's all folded up, it fits perfectly in the center compartment of your Army-issued TAPS. Throw any overlays, and whatever else you need in there. It worked great for me throughout 3.5 years as a light 1SG.
If you have more questions about what I mean, or want pictures of what I'm talking about, I will send them to you via another medium. Just reply back here and we'll get the ball rolling.
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1SG (Join to see)
Ohh and SFC (Join to see) has a decent idea with the flight crew book. My problem with that is, it's just another weight in my rucksack. And there's no way in hell I'm carrying it in my cargo pocket. It just wasn't as accessible as I'd hoped. I tried it at first before moving to my hobbit solution.
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SFC (Join to see)
Fortunately for myself, I didn't have to track 80-200 soldiers, like a 1sg would. Being a recon TL, I kept it in my butt pack attached to me at all times, that way it's easily accessible, but still out of the way if I'm stalking. It definitely would fit in a cargo pocket, though. I never really kept my map in there though. Always just laminated that and put it in my chest rig.
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1SG (Join to see)
SFC (Join to see) - Yeah brother, I was once a recce TL too...those were the good days - just you and your hide site and your radios. And I got to be a recce 1SG for two years before moving on, so it all worked out well. If you ever get the chance to be a Recon Troop 1SG, do it. I spent a year as a Rifle Company 1SG too, but man, best two years I've had in the Army, with the best recon Soldiers around.
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