how to design a land navigation course

by Adan Stiedemann 4 min read

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 do I develop a land navigation course?

Check the terrain to determine position stake locations, to look for hazards, and to develop training briefings. The following sequence can be used to develop any type of land navigation course. The difference in each course depends on the commander’s guidance. Plot the locations of your position stakes on a 1:50,000-scale map.

What is land navigation and how does it work?

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.

Can you learn land navigation in the Marines?

If the answer isn’t a resounding yes, then let’s dig in and begin. Marines with Echo Company, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, complete the land navigation course aboard Marine Corps Recruit Depot Parris Island, June 11. Land navigation is part of Basic Warrior Training and is designed to teach recruits how to use a compass and map for navigation.

Do you need to know map reading and land navigation for selection?

My advice is to know map reading and land navigation to the point that you could teach a class on it long before you arrive at Selection. For those that aren’t yet in the military, it may present more of a challenge but it isn’t impossible. The skills and terms that you should be very familiar with include, but won’t be limited to:

What is the role of a unit commander in a land navigation course?

How much terrain is required for a dismounted course?

How do I set up a land navigation course?

Setting up a land navigation course land navigation courseDetermine the Standards. The unit commander determines the standards for the course. ... Decide on the Terrain. ... Perform a Map and Ground Reconnaissance.

How do you develop an orienteering course?

Set up a 100-foot course near your meeting place. As Scouts arrive, have them walk the course and calculate their pace (how far they travel every two steps). Draw a large chalk circle on the parking lot. Place an index card marked “North” at the northernmost point.

What is a land nav course?

Land navigation is part of Basic Warrior Training and is designed to teach recruits how to use a compass and map for navigation. (

How do I learn Army land navigation?

0:228:37Land Navigation Demonstration Video - YouTubeYouTubeStart of suggested clipEnd of suggested clipI know where I'm at my next step is to orient my map and plot my location. The next step is toMoreI know where I'm at my next step is to orient my map and plot my location. The next step is to orient my map to our my map I'm going to set my compass.

What are the four basic orienteering skills?

SkillsNOTE: The content here is for those who are ready to build their skills and are seeking guidance. You do not need to know any of this in order to show up at and enjoy an orienteering event! ... Basic Skills. Orienting the Map. ... Basic Skills. ... Thumbing the Map. ... Line Features. ... Catching Features. ... Reading the Map. ... Contours.More items...

How is orienteering organized?

Orienteering is a group of sports that require navigational skills using a map and compass to navigate from point to point in diverse and usually unfamiliar terrain whilst moving at speed. Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points.

Do Navy Seals do land navigation?

Third Phase, the land warfare phase, is seven weeks long and teaches the class basic weapons, demolitions, land navigation, patrolling, rappelling, marksmanship, and small-unit tactics.

What is the purpose of land navigation?

“It's important to know land navigation because when you're in the field you need to be able to pinpoint exactly where certain things are needed and troops need to go.” While overseas, it's possible that they could end up in a situation where they don't have a GPS, said Sgt.

Is Orienteering the same as land navigation?

Land navigation is making your way across the land, using various tools (map, compass, sun). Orienteering is a cross-country race in which participants navigate between checkpoints along a specified course (unfamiliar course, generally) using map and compass.

What are the 4 Fundamentals of Land NAV?

Basic Land NavigationStep 1: Tools of the Trade. Basic land navigation only requires three (3) "tools". ... Step 2: Finding Your Grid Coordinates. All topo maps have grid numbers listed on the top, bottom, and both sides. ... Step 3: Orienting Your Map. ... Step 4: So You Don't Know Where You Are Huh? ... 9 Comments.

Is land navigation hard?

Land Navigation is one of those skills that while it isn't hard to learn the basics, mastering them takes practice. And the more you know about it going in, the odds of your being selected go up markedly. In previous segments, we touched on Map reading and the importance of your pace count.

What are the basics of land navigation?

Basic Land Navigation is an introduction to land navigation. It begins with a general overview of maps. Then it specifically addresses how to read topographic maps. Next it covers various types of geographic location systems, such as latitude/longitude and Universal Transverse Mercator (UTM).

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.

Is orienteering a competitive sport?

Not only is this skill a useful thing to have, but it is also a competitive sport. Usually referred to as orienteering, the sport takes place over a large area in which competitors compete to locate the flags, or "controls", in the quickest way possible.

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.

Land Navigation Training: Advanced

The Advanced Land Navigation Course is designed for the serious outdoorsman. This is a 5 day course, consisting of: 2 days of in depth classroom work and 3 days of overland movement.

Land Navigation Course

In this advanced land navigation course, the users will be taught how to make sound decisions in terrain where consequences matter. This course is perfect for a group event or team building exercise.

Why is land navigation important?

Land navigation is critical to emergency wilderness survival. The U. S. Army has a vested interest in the vital skill of moving on the battlefield. Navigation over familiar and unfamiliar terrain in all types of weather conditions during daylight or evening hours makes our military a formidable force. An essential element of this task is training ...

What is a land navigation kit?

A land navigation kit is a great item to consider adding to your loadout. The kit discussed in this article is a little bulky for most outdoorsman. However, I would recommend that you use this article to come up with your own user-friendly land navigation kit. The items in this kit have been used in a multitude of environments and scenarios. They work for their intended purposes and help make the task of map reading and land navigation more efficient. Therefore, enjoy experimenting with your own personalized land navigation kit.

What are fine point markers?

These fine point markers from Staedtler are superb for making larger notes or markings on your map. These markers are great for marking roads or trails or other larger items on your map. The eight-count pack has all of the colors usually associated with maps. The fine-point and super fine-point markers are valuable writing instruments for your land navigation kit.

Can you use permanent markers on a map?

The recommendation for using permanent markers is that the ink will not run or bleed when it gets wet. Thus, this makes these markers and valuable tool for marking maps in rainy or wet conditions outdoors.

What is the role of a unit commander in a land navigation course?

The unit commander provides specific guidance on what he requires in the development of a land navigation course. It depends upon the unit’s mission, training plan, and tasks to be trained. There are basic guidelines to use when setting up a course.

How much terrain is required for a dismounted course?

The training area for a dismounted course needs to be at least 25 square kilometers; mounted courses require twice as much terrain so that vehicles are not too close to each other. Perform a Map and Ground Reconnaissance.

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