US Army Bright Colors Platoon Terrain Model Kit w/ SMART Cards

What you will receive:

• 48 Brightly colored, Weatherproof Operational Symbols and Graphics
• 14 Soldiers; 30+ Ft. of 4 Color Yarn; 4 Double Sided Smart Cards
• 83 Total Pieces to Plan any Platoon or Squad Mission
• Our Laminated 4 in 1 Army SMART Card (Medevac, LACE, SALUTE, and Range Card)
• 1 Black Zipper 8.5 x 5.5 Canvas Bag for Storage
• 1 Ultra Fine Black Permanent Sharpie

Check us out on Amazon! Or Ebay!

This is a 83 piece Terrain Model Kit for the platoon level. This TMK was specifically designed based on feedback from ROTC Cadets at Advanced Camp CST 2019 and received its first update in 2021. Customers have stated they have successfully used it for any Army FTX, Ranger School, BLC, and IBOLC. Each piece of the TMK graphics will come laminated and cut as shown in the photo. These pieces can each be written on with permanent map marker (included) and will remain completely weatherproof! I highly recommend taping pennies to the back of the pieces to prevent them from blowing away. A complementary roll of 50 pennies will be provided with your purchase as well as (1) 10yd roll of 1 in. 3M durapore medical tape.

30+ feet of yarn (4 different colors) are included to assist with formation of grid squares and terrain features. 14 Soldiers help with simulating troop movement. The troops are designed to have a PL, PSG, 3 rifle squads breakable into fire teams, 2 M240B machine guns; there will be four randomly selected enemies that come in red. 4 double sided SMART cards are included that are Ranger Handbook scans of 9 Line MEDEVAC, PCC/PCIs, Patrol Bases, Raids, Ambushes, Tasks/Operations/Purposes, Weapons Ranges, and LDA crossings. Lastly, we have included a foldable 4 in 1 SMART card with MEDEVAC, LACE, SALUTE report, and Range Card to fit in the shoulder pocket.

If there are any additional questions, any custom pieces/colors etc. needed, or any extras of a specific piece, please contact me! This TMK would be perfect for ROTC Advanced Camp, FTXes, IBOLC, Ranger school, or regular Army field problems. Thank you!

Completely Weatherproof Army Terrain Model Kit

1. Write on any piece with permanent map markers.
2. TMK pieces can withstand pooling water from rain!
3. Dab the water off of the piece.
4. Absolutely no smearing or impact!

Both the Basic and Deluxe version of our Army Terrain Model Kit are weatherproof. As you can see in the above photos, these waterproof Army Terrain Model Kits will withstand any rain. Simply use rubbing alcohol or hand sanitizer to rub off information while in the patrol base for the next mission!

In the Deluxe Army Platoon TMK we have added a set of plastic Army figures to simulate a light infantry platoon. The figures will allow you to designate 3 x Infantry Rifle Squads (breakable into fire teams), 2 x 240B Machine Gun Teams, 1 x PL, 1 x PSG, 1 x Misc Friendly Infantry Team or Squad or attachment, and 4 x Enemy Squads or Teams. The friendly and enemy will come in opposite colors to eliminate confusion!

In addition, we have included four laminated, double-sided SMART cards. These SMART cards cover PCC/PCIs, Patrol Bases, Raids, Ambushes, Tasks/Operations/Purposes, Weapons Ranges, LDA crossings, and a 9 Line MEDEVAC request. These SMART cards were taken directly from the Ranger Handbook or Center for Army Lessons Learned, which were used by the Cadre Instructors at Advanced Camp, Ranger School, and IBOLC. These SMART cards ensure that you do not forget anything mission essential for the above tasks and they fit in your OCP pocket!

We have included 14 strands of yarn (8 x yellow, 4 x red, 2 x blue) to use to identify grid squares, major roads, or other terrain/cultural features of military significance. If need be, we would be happy to include extra yarn in your order.

Lastly, we have recently added a 4 in 1 foldable, fillable SMART card with MEDEVAC, LACE, SALUTE, and a Range Card.

Your Army Platoon Terrain Model Kit will arrive with an inner ziploc bag for the operational symbols and graphics, a larger ziploc bag for the entire kit, and then a black 8.5 x 5.5 canvas zipper bag for storage. Your kit will arrive to you like this:

Check us out on Amazon! Or Ebay!

Is an Army Terrain Model Kit the Right Choice for You?

An Army terrain model kit is the right choice for you if you are a ROTC Cadet, Soldier, IBOLC student, Ranger candidate, or Army leader of any kind. An Army terrain model kit is basically a way to visualize an operation by using simple to understand graphics and symbols. An Army terrain model kit is for you to provide an additional way to ensure your subordinates understand your desired plan. The most common type of Army terrain model kit is the Army platoon terrain model kit. The Army platoon terrain model kit includes pieces that generally symbolize everyone organic to a light infantry platoon.

How to Use an Army Terrain Model Kit

Use this handy guide from the United States Marine Corps on how to use a military terrain model.

Army Terrain Model Kit Styles

There are many style of Army terrain model kits. Almost all Army TMKs feature some type of laminated graphics or symbols. Some TMKs include strands of string/550 chord or Army figures in lieu of laminated symbols. Generally, symbols are the preferred method as they are easily understood and much more useful for quick, time-sensitive briefs.

Army Terrain Model Kit Materials

Click here to read what the Ranger Handbook has to say about Terrain Model Kits, including checklists and construction TTPs. Most Army terrain model kits use laminated paper. The laminated paper is essential for protections from the elements. If an Army Terrain Model Kit uses just paper, it will fall apart almost immediately after or during use. Most Army terrain model kits should feature different colors to signify things of military significance. For example, friendly units should be in blue and enemy units in red. Army terrain model kits on larger scales often use very well designed graphics, symbols, and figures to signify units. However, Army platoon terrain model kits are meant to be used for small scale operations in time-constrained environments. As such, army platoon terrain model kits cannot afford to be so fancy.

Army Terrain Model Kit History

Unfortunately, there is not much research on the history of terrain model kits usage in the military. However, it is almost certain that from the beginning of warfare, leaders have used some type of crude drawing or visualization to brief fighting plans and to ensure subordinates understood what was supposed to happen. It would be interesting to go back to the great armies of history and see what great military leaders used in terms of terrain model kits.

Who Builds an Army Terrain model?

Who is responsible for an Army terrain model? Well this question depends on the scale of the operation. For a squad sized element, usually the squad leader or team leader will be responsible for helping construct and brief an army terrain model. For a platoon sized operation, elements of the HQ section such as the RTO, PL, and/or tasked Soldiers will be responsible for constructing the terrain model. There is no single person responsible for always building a terrain model per doctrine, but generally the commander or leader delegates this task to someone so he can focus on planning the operation.