An assembly of fiber optic elements includes at least two subunits, each of which has at least one fiber optic unit and a flat binder wrapped over the subunits into an arrangement. The at least two subunits are stranded in a S-Z arrangement at a first lay length and the binder is stranded over the subunits in a uni-directional helical lay at a second lay length. The payoff tension and the first lay length of the subunits, combined with a payoff tension and the second lay length of the binder are simultaneously sufficient to hold the subunits within the arrangement, while being loose enough to allow a single subunit to be removed without destroying the arrangement.