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

What you will receive:

• 50 Doctrinally colored, Weatherproof Operational Symbols and Graphics
• The only TMK with 100% accurate US Army symbols and graphics!
• 14 Soldiers; 33 Ft. of 4 Color Yarn; 4 Double Sided Smart Cards
• Custom length White Yarn to easily make one large grid square or 4×4
• Our Laminated 4 in 1 Army SMART Card (Medevac, LACE, SALUTE, and Range Card)
• 1 Gray Zipper 8.5 x 5.5 Canvas Bag for Storage
• 1 Ultra Fine Black Permanent Sharpie

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This terrain model kit has been updated for 2022. Notable updates include modifying all pieces to be the only TMK that is 100% doctrinally accurate with respect to colors, graphics, and symbols. In addition, we have added six double-length white strands of yarn to easily make one large grid square or a 4×4 pattern in less than 10 seconds. This TMK was specifically designed based on feedback from ROTC Cadets at Advanced Camp CST in 2021 and Army doctrine current as of 2022. 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.

33 feet of yarn (4 different colors) are included to assist with formation of grid squares and terrain features. Six double-length white strands of yarn to easily make one large grid square or a 4×4 pattern in less than 10 seconds.

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 and four randomly selected enemies that come in red. These soldiers are useful for rehearsing AOO and allowing SLs and TLs to control their units and move on the terrain model.

4 double sided SMART cards are included that are scans of Leader’s Recon, PCC/PCIs, Patrol Bases, Raids, Ambushes, Squad Attack, Weapons Ranges, and LDA crossings. 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!

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!

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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.