Juggling Equipment

January 26th, 2025

Ron Dahlgren

The modern platoon fire supporter has several pieces of handheld equipment and only two hands. Sometimes three or more pieces of equipment might be used to calculate a target position, or talk on an aircraft asset while marking the target location. The rifle is often slung uselessly across the back during this time. In this article, I look at the problem of equipment juggling, analyze the situation, and offer some guidance for training and equipment placement.

Photo by Tech Sgt. Rose Gudex. 24th Special Operations Wing.

When training as a forward observer (or a JTAC), the training often takes place within a simulator or on a range designed as an observation point. Both situations provide opportunities for shortcuts with handling equipment. In the simulator, there may be minimal equipment required. The GUARDFIST of days gone by had the students sit at a table with a set of binoculars and a map. I don’t recall any mock compass being used. Newer simulators may have a mock rifle, a mock lasing device, and perhaps a touch screen with a few different pieces of equipment depicted. Although closer to reality than the GUARDFIST, it still falls short of training the ability to juggle equipment.

Photo by Tech Sgt. Rose Gudex. 24th Special Operations Wing.

The OP oftentimes has the opportunity to get closer to training how we fight, but in my experience is treated as an admin zone for all intents and purposes. Rather than moving tactically, staying out of sight, and keeping our equipment on hand, my experiences involved backing the team truck up to the OP and hanging out on the tailgate. We could have a toughbox filled with equipment and doubling as a table - certainly not what we would experience in combat!

Photo by Tech Sgt. Rose Gudex. 24th Special Operations Wing.

These may seen like nitpicks but training how you fight matters. It’s a life motto of mine. The closer your training can reflect the real circumstances, the better prepared you will be. Critics may cite their desired learning objectives (DLOs), saying the focus is on observing and adjusting munitions. Other critics may say that novices can be overwhelmed with too many complications when training a basic skill. Both are correct. My counter argument is this: when do we train equipment juggling?

Photo by Tech Sgt. Rose Gudex. 24th Special Operations Wing.

There is an expertise borne of practice that is overlooked in training. Using those four to six devices without your map blowing away is a skill that requires training. God gave us two hands and Uncle Sam gave us seven pieces of equipment required to do the job. The ability to do this job as a light-fighter, after falling out of an airplane or being dropped off by helo, that’s what makes us different. Anyone could do this job with a vehicle full of equipment. Only the select few can be experts at this job and carry all the necessary equipment on their person.

Photo by Tech Sgt. Rose Gudex. 24th Special Operations Wing.

Recommendations

1. Increase the realism when you’re on the OP. I won’t take away your trucks and pogey bait, but it can be done better. Consider sending your active observer and RTO ahead, away from the trucks, and require them to move tactically, stay hidden, and carry everything they need. Basic things like not sweating on your map will be learned quickly.
2. Do repetitions with the equipment. In your full kit, work up an immediate suppression mission. Then return to the way your kit stays when you’re moving tactically. Then do it again. The more repetitions you perform, the more rough edges you’ll find. Try moving pouches or gear to smooth things out. Try changing what you hold and how you hold it while working up the target locations.
3. Practice retrieving and replacing equipment that needs rapid deployment without looking at your hands. Things like the compass, your lasing device, your binos, your push-to-talk buttons, your DAGR. Be proficient at pulling them out for use and putting them back without needing to look at your hands or pockets while doing it. Keep eye contact with a training buddy.

These three recommendations will get you more experience doing the juggling (item 1), give you the opportunity to streamline your setup (item 2), and reduce reliance on your attention to retrieve and replace equipment (item 3). It really is like juggling. There are more pieces of equipment than hands and the more proficient you get, they less attention it demands of you.

Send me your experiences. How have you encountered this in combat? How about in the field? How have you trained to improve your ability?