how to complete a land navigation course

Setting up a land navigation course land navigation course

• Plot the locations of your position stakes on a 1:50,000-scale map.
• Fabricate or order position stakes.
• Request support from the local engineer or field artillery unit to survey the locations of your position stakes.
• Emplace the position stakes in the surveyed locations.
• Certify the course by having your subjec...
• Begin teaching.

Full Answer

How to do land navigation at basic training?

The skills and terms that you should be very familiar include but won’t be limited to:

• Contour Lines– what are contour lines? ...
• Terrain Features– How many are there? ...
• Declination diagram– Be able to identify it on the map and know how it works. ...
• Azimuth and Back azimuth– Identify what it is, how it used and how to calculate it using the declination diagram. ...
• Orienting a Map– What is the definition of it. ...
• Intersection- What is it? ...

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How to make a land Nav course?

To precisely read a compass in tandem with a map, follow this order of operations:

1. Imagine a line of travel between your position and the destination.
2. Place your compass on your map along this imagined line of travel.
3. Now, situate the magnetic needle on your compass in the same direction of the map's compass rose (red).
4. Rotate the bezel on your compass so that the magnetic needle and orienting arrow are on top of each other.

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How to master land navigation?

So, here are our tips for getting a go at Land Navigation in Selection:

• Soak up everything that the cadre put out in classes and briefings. ...
• Take advantage of all the Land Nav practice sessions out there. ...
• Find the motivated candidates from the class and talk AFTER the day’s events are over. ...
• Red lens flashlights only. ...

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What does land navigation mean?

Land navigation is the discipline of following a route through unfamiliar terrain on foot or by vehicle, using maps with reference to terrain, a compass, and other navigational tools. It is distinguished from travel by traditional groups, such as the Tuareg across the Sahara and the Inuit across the Arctic, who use subtle cues to travel across familiar, yet minimally differentiated terrain.

Why do people fail land navigation?

There are basically two reasons that people fail at land navigation. One is the course, especially the one in Hoffman, NC that is used in both the Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS) and the Special Forces Qualification Course (SFQC) is exceptionally difficult, the most difficult, toughest individual land navigation course you’ll find in ...

How to keep maps dry?

Invest a nice map case, one that will keep your maps dry and allow you to make some marks on the clear portion with a grease pencil to make any notes to help you along. And secure your map case to your body. Secure everything to your body. Your map case, your weapon, and your compass.

What is land navigation?

At a basic level, land navigation is simply utilizing a map (sometimes alongside a compass) to move from one location to another. Anyone who enjoys the outdoors should take the time to understand the basics of this skill because it is enjoyable, practical, and could save your life one day.

How to read a compass in tandem with a map?

To precisely read a compass in tandem with a map, follow this order of operations: 1. Imagine a line of travel between your position and the destination. 2. Place your compass on your map along this imagined line of travel. 3.

What is the difference between a map and an orienteering map?

While a regular map displays basic land features and elevation changes, the orienteering map provides much more detail.

Why is a compass important?

The compass is the second most important tool for navigation. By combining the map and the compass successfully, you will be able to navigate your surroundings. While the compass is a useful tool, remember that it is secondary to the map in its utility.

What are the tools needed to navigate?

Step 1: Tools of the Trade. Basic land navigation only requires three (3) "tools". A topographic map, a compass (for this Instructable I will be using a basic orienteering compass), and a dry erase marker (if your map is laminated or sealed in plactic) or pencil. Ask Question.

How to get exact coordinates?

To get a more exact fix on your location you first break the the two (2) sides (from right to left and bottom to top) into ten (10) equal parts each. To get the next set of numbers for your coordinates you first go from the right and figure out which of the ten (10) parts you are in, then do the same from the bottom up.

How to find out where you are on a map?

Then find that terrain feature on your map. Place your compass on the map, with the edge of the compass running through the center of the terrrain feature and draw a line backtowards your vantage point.#N#Next find another terrain feature you can see to the RIGHT of your location. Find that terrain feature on the map, place your compass on the map with the edge running through the center of that terrain feature and draw another line backwards towards your vantage point.#N#Where the two line cross is your location. You can now get the grid coordinates to your location.#N#I look forward to reading your comments!#N#Train to survive!

How to find the north declination line on a map?

To orient your map first lay your map on as level a surface as you can then find the North Declination line, usually located in or near the maps legend. Lay your compass on the map and line the edge of your compass up with the MAGNETIC NORTH LINE.

Where are the grid numbers on a topo map?

All topo maps have grid numbers listed on the top, bottom, and both sides. To find your grid coordinates you simply find the numbered line to the RIGHT of the grid you are square in.

What is the military grid reference system?

The Military Grid Reference System is a geographic coordinate system that comes from the Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM) grid system , which is based on a flat world, not a sphere. When you look at your map you’ll notice that the MGRS lines and the Latitude/Longitude lines won’t match up. This is to say that the distance between the two will be different from the top of your map to the bottom. This is because both Latitude and Longitude lines are drawn on the globe, which is a sphere. One of the key advantages of MGRS is that it provides a scale small enough to make perfect kilometer-length grid lines by depicting a round world as flat.

What does it mean when you see a blue circle on a lake?

Occasionally you’ll see small blue circles drawn over stretches of what appears to be land. This is to an intermittent water line. If you’re looking at a map of a Texas lake (like above) then you’ll see them in places which will be underwater after the rain season or without any water during a drought.

Is it good to refresh the basics when talking about map and compass?

It’s always good to refresh the basics when talking about map and compass, but if you already feel confident with reading a map and shooting bearings with a compass, feel free to skip ahead to the MGRS section.