I'm looking for a reality check from someone recently back from harm's way. What communication (in the broadest sense) does an infantry, scout, or other dismounted squad or platoon leader carry? The list I came up with:

- push to talk radio (SINGARS, Motorola, etc)
- digital assistant device (the PDA/GPS gadget - civilian versions can send text - does this one?)
- cellphone (local or satellite)
- pyro (smoke, pencil flares, parachute flares, star cluster rounds etc)
- flashlight with momentary switch
- VS-17 marker panel
- whistle
- signal mirror
- paper & pencil (hand written messages)

Haven't heard of it recently; does anyone bother with the little, tin "cricket" clicker (read tactical accounts from WWII)?

What did I miss? Is there anything here that, no kidding, wouldn't be observed in use?

Where I'm headed with this:
How long does it take military technology to pass from use? Why does a given tool or technology pass from use? I picked comm gear as a subset for study as it illustrates interesting continuities, innovations, obsolescences, transitions, and discontinuities.