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 I
GENERAL 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 II
OCS 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 III
TBS 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.