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I’m a big fan of pocket notebooks. Especially ones that look nice. Cold Splinters has directed our attention to these fine army pocket notebooks that you can pick up at several online army surplus stores. They look just like the memoranda books my grandpa used to carry around.
Quick question for those who are serving in the military: are these still issued to soldiers?
Buy at The ArmyProperty Store.
Found via Cold Splinters
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{ 47 comments… read them below or add one }
Yeah, we still get these in the Seabees at least. They’re pretty sturdy notebooks.
There certainly are. Our supply closet was never without various sizes of these notebooks (this was about 1 year ago).
When I hit the link for the armyproperty store, Web of Trust says they have a poor reputation for trustworthyness, reliability, and privacy.
I have one in my pocket right now…serving on active duty in the Navy
I’ve found ‘em in local surplus stores next to the weather proof pens and the weather proof notebooks. Got one in my BoB and my day pack.
I’m a Captain currently in Kuwait, and I actually have one, NSN 7530-00-222-0078, Federal Suppy Service, sitting on my desk as I was reading this article. It accompanies me in my pocket every day. I have hundreds in my suppy room right now, so yes, the Army still uses them.
My buddy mailed me a case of these things some years back when he was in Baghdad. I absolutely love them and am glad to see that they’re still available.
Pick them up at our local base “serve mart” kinda like our “office depot” on base – would never be caught without one…
gotta have a pocket brain with ya.
I have started a cult of Field Notes among people I know. I will have to look into these, as well.
I have two or three on my desk at my Coast Guard office….
I used to carry them in service…. Post military Ive switched to Moleskins…
http://www.moleskine.com/catalogue/classic/
Love ‘em. Still have a couple left after I left active duty last year. Don’t know what I’ll do without them. Why has no civvie supplier popped up with these?
It’s not just the Army that uses them… they are all over not only the military but the federal government as well! There are even gear manufacturers out there who make slip-on nylon covers for them.
I’m an Army 2nd Lieutenant deployed to Kuwait right now. Got a box full of these suckers sitting on my supply shelf in my office. I probably burn through about 1 a week. They’re great. Writing stuff down can really separate the men from the boys in life.
I first encountered these while stationed in Antarctica. They are referred to as “green brains”. I also discovered them in the basement of the Admin building at the National Park in which I work. I have one on me at all times. I have developed quite a system for their use. I would like to find some of the aforementioned nylon covers.
Our supply room has these for us at will, also you can find them at any clothing and sales store on post.
U.S.ARMY INFANTRY LEADS THE WAY
There used to be the equivilent brown “THINK” pads that were the staple for IBM
These aren’t basic issued items, but as you can see many supply rooms have them on hand to pass out on request. I find them to be too flimsy though. That’s why I opt for the larger hardback light green notebooks like these: http://www.amazon.com/Book-Memorandum-Green-Log-pack/dp/B000VWTA94
I spent over 20 years in the infantry and have used up hundreds of these. Indispensable for five paragraph operations orders. We kept them in plastic bags when out in the field. I still run across some I used in the past when I go through my old military bag. Brings back some good memories.
I’m in the Air Force and we use them a lot in aircraft maintenance.
Also, buying these supports AbilityOne/Skilcraft which hires a large number of blind and disabled people.
I have one of these full of aircraft maintenance codes in my desk, from back in my Marine Corps days. As many times as I folded it over, jammed it in my pocket, or ripped back pages out, it hasn’t fallen apart. I’ll show it to my son when he’s old enough to understand that I did indeed once have a cool job, along with my training jacket and 3-ring laminated flight manual.
It’s not just the military, I work for U.S. Customs and Border Protection and I was given one as soon as I arrived at my port. If I see an officer looking particularly confused, it’s a good bet he left his “little green book” at home that day.
I was my division’s supply petty officer in the Navy, and we went through them by the dozen-packs. There are two sizes of top-flips, and I think two sizes of side-flips, so it was all about preference really, and what was in stock. We called them ‘Will books’… you wrote EVERYTHING in them. If it didn’t get written down, it didn’t matter. I usually had two; one small top-flip for my primary duties, and one larger side-flip for my supply duties.
RAH, try Brigade Quartermaster for a cover for these suckers!
An inspectable item, as they say: to be on your person at all times. 1452d Trans Co NCARNG
Yup, I used them in the Air Force, and still use them in my other government job. They are a staple of the federal supply system.
Been carrying one of one size or type since I enlisted in 2000. I always make sure my team leaders and most if my soldiers have one as well as something to write with. Start with the small things to instill good habits and the guys you trained then will be a huge asset years down the road.
RLTW!
Still issued in the USAF as of 2008. My flight chief was never without his, and he had a ton of other stuff written down and laminated (response alarm order lists, etc) but he always had one around.
I never used these particular ones myself because the supply people didn’t like me (I made them work) but I used the Rite-in-the-Rain notepads, which can be thought of as the ‘second generation’ model in that they are waterproof. Handy in my job and no plastic bag required for when it’s pouring down rain. Same idea.
I used them for twenty years in the Army… I called them “my brains in my pocket” because I had written down everything important that I needed. I ended up carrying several full books in my pockets just so I had the info when someone asked me. which ever book I forgot to bring is the book that had the answer that I needed that day. DOoooooooOOo !!!!
Used in a sentence it went like this; OK, let me check my brains in my pocket so I can give you that NSN for the new MWO swashplate bolt.
When I got to Iraq one of the first things we were issued was one of these. I still use one day to day in my duties.
We usually use the “Rite in the Rain” notebooks now in the Army. The paper is waterproof. I’ve used them in rain, snow, dust, and extreme cold and they never fail. These look like a great pocket notebook though!
I work for my local government but seeing as I work in Scotland, we don’t get awesome things like these..Curses!!
I need a pocket brain, it will make up for the empty shell that sits on top of my shoulders.
Last usedone of these in the first Gulf War. I’m glad to see they are still around.
Don’t know about the Army, but they’re common in squidland. When I worked with the Marines we used a waterproofed version.
I retired from the Air Force last year and had my paper brain in my pocked at my retirment ceremony. I ran across you link searching for an online supplier.
That should say, “I ran across your link…”
Yep, we still have them. They’ve got small ones that fit perfectly into the shoulder pockets of ACUs, and they’re great for jotting down notes as you run around during your day for important stuff to write down in a larger leader’s book when you get back to your office/cubicle/ table.
LOL I actually have mine sitting in front of me right now, every day it seems I’m using it to add something new to my bucket list or jotting down info I want to refer to later such as this website. You can thank the memoranda notebook for reminding me of this site.
Dad was in the Army when I was growing up and he used to give them to me to use in school… used one as a log for the hall pass we used in 8th grade…
We have these in aircraft maintenance (USAF) to write all our T.O. references in. They rock. We’re out right now, and the new guys are hurting!!
Was never without my wheelbook during 20 years’ U.S. Navy service. Still carry one as a Coast Guard civilian. Our supply rations them out, three per order.
Was never without my wheelbook during 20 years in the Navy. Still carry one as a Coast Guard civilian.
still in use today we are even using them in antartica supporting the National Science Foundation as civilians
I still have one from Vietnam. I think the covers were thicker back then.
Hey, I remember these!
I ran across them all the time when I was in the army (94-96). The old-timers swore by them, and would occasionally issue them out to us. I still have a few kicking around with my old gear.
While I typically carried around the cheap spiral bound notebooks, I always liked these better.