Sunday, April 20, 2008

Land navigation


Discovering how to effectively use paper maps and compasses for land navigation is both an art and a science, with complete books written on the subject. Here are two excellent, free online resources if you want to find out more.
  • Map and Compass for Firefighters (NFES 2554) is a self-study course developed by the U.S. government for wildland firefighters. The course is available at www.nwcg.gov/pms/training/map_comp.pdf.
  • Map Reading and Land Navigation (FM 3-25.26) is the U.S. Army field manual on the subject, available at www.army.mil/usapa/doctrine/DR_pubs/dr_a/pdf/fm3_25x26.pdf.
Another great way to become a pro land navigator is through the sport of orienteering. Orienteering involves using a map and compass to find control points (small flags) in the shortest amount of time as possible. Do a Web search for orienteering to find more about the sport and how you can participate in clubs and events in your local area.

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