LAND NAVIGATION

“You can’t kill the enemy if you can’t find him”

TABLE OF CONTENTS

Section I– General Land Nav Tips and Techniques

Section II– OCS Prep

Section III– TBS Prep

SECTION IGENERAL TIPS AND

TECHNIQUES

TIPS

Land Nav is like shooting the rifle. You must stay relaxed.

Land Nav is a 3-legged stool. The 3 legs are Direction, Distance, and Terrain Association. If you take one of the legs away, the stool tips over.

Apply what is taught. Pay attention to the instruction. It's worked for candidates much worse at Land Nav than you.

Use a fine point map pen. Anything larger will cover up important information on the map.

Always double check your plots.

PACE COUNT

Walk off 100 meters counting every time your left foot hits the deck. Then, walk back. Divide the total number by 2. This is your pace count.– Walking up a hill and then back down will give a better number

Common things that will affect your pace count:– Hills– Wind– Type of surface– Weather– Fighting Load– Stamina

Nomenclature of a Lensatic Compass

Terms

True North- North Pole. Lines of longitude on a globe indicate this baseline direction

Magnetic North- Direction the compass points Grid North- Lines on a map used to plot direction Indicated by

vertical and parallel lines. These lines interpret the earth’s round surface and transfer it to a flat surface.

Azimuth- Horizontal angle measured clockwise from a base line. Grid Azimuth- Horizontal angle measured clockwise from a grid

north line. A grid azimuth can be measured directly from a map showing north grid lines.

Magnetic Azimuth- Horizontal line measured clockwise from magnetic north. Can be read directly from a compass, but not from a map.

Terms Cont…

Pace Count- Measurement of how many paces it takes to reach 100 meters.

Declination Diagram- Indicates the angular relationship of True North, Grid North, and Magnetic North.

METHODS

• Compass to Cheek• Open up the compass and use the back sight and the sighting

wire just as a rifle sight. Point it in the direction you need to go and get the azimuth.

• Center Hold Method• Place the compass in the center of your chest, using your fingers

and thumbs in a “U” shape to stabilize it.

• Compass to Cheek Method vs. Center Hold– Compass to cheek is much more accurate but also more time

consuming. For land nav purposes, the most reliable is the center hold method due to its quicker pace. If you’re late on land nav; you fail.

SECTION IIOCS PREP

Reading Map Grids

1. Read right to the vertical grid line that forms the left boundary, and record.

2. Read up on the horizontal grid line that forms the bottom boundary, and record.

3. The combined numbers recorded is the grid location

4. 6 digits are typically used.

Measuring a Grid Azimuth

Plot two grid coordinates Connect with a straight line Place the index point of the protractor on the point from which you

want to measure the azimuth Ensure the grid alignment lines are parallel to the north and south

grid lines on the map. Ensure the square edges of the protractor are aligned with the east or

west horizontal grid lines Read the value of the protractor where the line crosses the rounded

edge. Make sure to read the proper scale.

Converting Azimuths

The GM angle is the key to converting azimuth back and forth between grid and magnetic.

On newer maps, the instructions are written out next to the declination diagram.

If the map does not contain instructions use one of two simple methods to determine when the GM angel should be added and subtracted.

– Look at the declination diagram and determine the direction between the line representing grid north and the line representing magnetic north

– Put your finger on the grid north line, now move it to the magnetic north line. If you moved left you would add the angle between grid and magnetic; if you went right, you would subtract. This concept is known as the LARS method. Left add, right subtract

Shooting a Back Azimuth

The opposite direction of an azimuth. To determine a back azimuth:– If the original azimuth is greater than 180

degrees, subtract 180 to obtain a back azimuth– If the original azimuth is less than 180, add

180 to obtain a back azimuth

SECTION IIITBS PREP

TIPS

Land Nav is an "area weapon." If you get to the correct terrain feature, you'll find your box

When you get to what you believe to be your objective, try to prove yourself wrong. Use SOSES. Size, Orientation, Shape, Elevation, Slope

Drop Dead Time is directive! You WILL be back by drop dead time. Drop dead time is implemented as a safety precaution in addition to ensuring that you are finding your objectives in the allotted time. It allows us to take immediate action to find a student who may be lost or injured. MANAGE YOUR TIME WISELY!

Protect your card. Waterproof it. Don't lose it. If it's unreadable or lost - you fail.

 Use attack points. Don't go box to box. You aren't that sexy. Plan your route before you step off. Plan attack points. If possible, work

your way out to in, i.e. back to the return point

SOSES

Size- When you get to your suspected terrain feature, compare the size of the feature with the one on the map, and see if they correspond.

Orientation- Does your plot on the map look like the area around you?

Shape- Make sure the shape of the terrain feature you’re on is the same as the one on the map.

Elevation- Judge your elevation on the feature and see if it is the same as the terrain on the map.

Slope- Become familiar with the different types of slopes and you should be able to recognize them both around you and on the map. This will greatly help you orient yourself on the map.