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MAP READING

PERSONAL BACKGROUND

SSg Joel A Acalain (Inf) PA


Present Assignment – Admin & Logistics NCO, 9RCDG,
RESCOM, PA
Significant Assignment:
 15th ISU, ISG, PA – 2007 to 2009
 17th ISU, ISG, PA – 2009 to 2017
 TIS, ISG, PA – 16 Jan 17 to 30 May 17
 9RCDG, RESCOM, PA – 16 Aug 17 to 16 Mar 18
 4RCDG, RESCOM, PA – 16 Mar 18 to 16 Sep 18
 9RCDG, RESCOM, PA – 16 Sep 18 to date

Schoolings:
 POTC – 2003
 CSC – 2006
 SUTT – 2007
 MINCOBC – 2010
 PDT - 2017
WHAT IS A MAP
Map is a graphic
representation of the
earth’s surface or part of it,
drawn or formed to scale
on a plane as seen from
above.
CATEGORIES AND USES
OF MILITARY MAPS
ACCORDING TO SCALE
Small Scale Map – maps at scales
of 1:600,000 and smaller are used
for general planning and
strategical studies at higher
echelon. The standard small scale
map is 1:1,000,000.
Medium Scale Map – maps at
scales larger that 1:600,000 but
smaller that 1:75,000 are used for
planning large scale operations
and large movement and
concentration of troops and
supplies. The standard medium
scale map is 1:250,000.
Large Scale Map – maps at scales
of 1:75,000 and larger are used to
meet the tactical requirement of
field units. The standard large
scale map is 1:50,000.
MARGINAL INFORMATION
1. Sheet Name – located at the center of the
upper margin. Generally, a map is named
after its outstanding cultural or geographic
feature. Whenever possible, name of the
largest city on the map is use. Also can
be found on lower left area of the map
margin.

2. Sheet Number – found in the upper right


and lower left areas of the margin and is
used as a reference number assigned to
each map.
3. Series Name and Scale – the map
series name is found in the upper left
margin. A map series is usually
comprises a group of similar maps at
the same scale and on the same sheet
lines or format, designed to cover a
particular geographic area.

4. Bar Scales – the bar scales are


located in the center of the lower
margin. They are rulers used for the
determination of ground distance.
5. Index to Adjoining Sheets – the
index to adjoining sheets appear in the
lower margin. It identifies the map
sheets surrounding the map.

6. Index to Boundaries – appears in the


lower right margin. This diagram,
which is a miniature of the map, shows
the boundaries that occur within the
map area such as provincial and city
boundaries.
7. Legend – located in the lower left
margin. It illustrates and identifies the
topographic symbols used to depict
the more prominent features on the
map.

8. Declination Diagram – located in the


lower margin and indicates the angular
relationship of true north, grid north,
and the magnetic north.
9. Contour Interval – appears in the
center of the lower margin. It states
the vertical distance between adjacent
contour lines on the map.

10. Protractor Scale – a protractor scale


may appear in the upper margin on
some maps. It is used for laying out a
magnetic north line on the map.
11. Elevation Guide – found in the lower
right margin. It is represented by
bands of elevation, spot elevations,
and major drainage features that
provides the map reader with a means
of rapid recognition of major
landforms.
12. Grid Reference Box – normally
located in the center of the lower
margin. It contains instructions for
composing a grid reference.
13.Unit Imprint and Symbol – located
on the left side of the lower margin.
It identifies the agency that prepared
and printed the map with its
respective symbol.

14.Conversion Graph – normally


found in the right margin and
indicates the conversion of different
units of measure.
15. Edition Number – found in the
upper right area of the top margin and
the lower left area of the bottom
margin. Edition are numbered
consecutively; therefore if you have
more than one edition, the highest
numbered sheet is the most recent.
TOPOGRAPHIC SYMBOLS
Building Bridge
Church
Heliport
School

Hospital
Elevated Tank
TOPOGRAPHIC COLORS
•BLACK - indicates cultural (man-
made) features such as buildings &
roads, surveyed spot elevations and
all labels.
•RED-BROWN - the colors red &
brown are combined to identify cultural
features, all relief features, non-
surveyed spot elevations, and
elevation, such as contour lines on
redlight readable map.
•BLUE - identifies hydrography or water
features such as lakes, swamps, rivers,
and drainage. Features that constitute
obstacles are included in this group.

•GREEN- identifies vegetation with


military significance, such as woods,
orchards, and vineyards.
•BROWN – identifies all relief features
and elevation, such as contours on
older edition maps, and cultivated land
on red-light readable map.

•RED – classifies cultural features,


such as populated areas, main roads,
and boundaries, on older map.
MILITARY SYMBOLS
• ACCORDING TO SIZE
SQUAD X BRIGADE
SECTION XX DIVISION
PLATOON XXX CORPS
COMPANY XXXX ARMY
BATTALION
GROUP/REG
ACCORDING TO UNIT

UNIT ARTILLERY

CP ARMOR

INF ENGINEER

MECH INF QUARTER


MASTER
SIGNAL OP
(Observation Post)

AIRBORNE RECON

ORDNANCE SUPPLY
TRAIN

MEDICAL AIR ASSAULT


INFANTRY
AVIATION
GRID LINES
•These are vertical lines and
horizontal lines that make the
Universal Transverse Mercator
(UTM) grid on any large scale map.
•Division of the 100,000 meter square
into 10,000 or 1,000 regularly spaced
lines.
VERTICAL
GRID LINE

HORIZONTAL
GRID LINE
GRID SQUARE
•The North-South and East-West
gridlines intersect at 90 degress,
forming grid square.
•Normally, the size of one of these
grid squares on large scale maps is
1,000 meters by 1,000 meters.
1182

1081 1281

1180
CARDINAL RULE
IN READING THE MAP

Read right, then up


6-DIGIT GRID COORDINATES
• To determine location in nearest 100
meters.
• Need to add 2 more numbers, one to
the first half (easterly reading) and the
other one to the second half (northernly
reading.
•Breaks down the grid square into 100
smaller squares.
BASE LINE
- It is the starting point or zero measurement.

THREE (3) BASE LINES:


1. True North – a line from any point on
the earth’s surface to the north pole.
2. Magnetic North – Obtained thru the use
of compasses.
3. Grid North – The north that is
established by using the vertical grid lines on
the map.
AZIMUTH
• It is the most common military method
to express direction.

• It is a horizontal angle measured


clockwise from a north base line.
AZIMUTH CIRCLE
COORDINATE SCALE AND
PROTRACTOR
ELEVATION
CONTOUR LINES
GENTLE SLOPE
STEEP SLOPE
CONCAVE SLOPE
CONVEX SLOPE
SLOPE

•Slope is the rate of rise and fall of a


ground, maybe described as being
gentle of steep.
•Expressed in gradient or percent.
Vertical Distance (VD) – is the
difference between the highest and
lowest elevations of the slopes and is
determined from contour lines.
Horizontal Distance (HD) – is the
horizontal ground between two points.
SLOPE
VD

HD
COMPASS HOLDING
METHODS
There are two methods to holding
and reading a compass.

A. Compass-to-Cheek Method:

1. Open the cover to a 90-degree


angle to the base. Position the
eyepiece at a 45-degree angle to the
base.
2. Place your thumb through the
thumb loop, form a steady base with
your third and fourth fingers, and
extend your index finger along the
side of the Compass base.

3. Place the hand holding the


compass into the palm of the other
hand.
4. Bring both hands up to your face
and position the thumb that is through the
loop against your cheekbone.

5. Look through the lens of the


eyepiece. If the dial is not in focus, move
the eyepiece up or down until the dial is in
focus. Don't forget that the lens/rear sight
must be at a 45o angle to ensure the dial
floats freely.
6. Align the sighting slot of the
eyepiece with the sighting wire in the
cover on the point for which your are
trying to determine the azimuth.
B. Centerhold Method

Note: Use this method only when you


don't need a precise direction.
1. Open the compass so that the cover
forms a straight edge with the base.
Move the lens/rear sight to the rear as
far as it will move.

2. Next, place your thumb through the


thumb loop, form a Methods, steady
base with your third and fourth fingers,
and extend your index finger along the
side of the compass.
3. Place the thumb of the other hand
between the eyepiece and the lens,
extend the index finger along the
remaining side of the compass,
wrap the remaining fingers around
the fingers of the other hand, and
pull your elbows firmly into your
sides. This will place the compass
between your chin and your belt.
4. To measure an azimuth, you must
turn your entire body toward the object
and point the compass cover directly
at the object. Look down and read the
azimuth from beneath the fixed black
index line. You may use this method at
night.
5. To keep from going in circles when
you are land navigating, stop
occasionally to check the azimuth
along which you are moving. Also, you
can move from object to object along
your path by shooting an azimuth to
each object and then moving to that
object. Repeating this process while
you navigate should keep you straight.
ORIENTING THE MAP WITH A
COMPASS

1. Place the map on a flat surface.


2. Put the compass on top of the
map.
3. Take the straightedge on the left side
of the compass & place it alongside the
north-south grid line with the cover of
the compass pointing toward the top of
the map.
Note: This will place the fixed black
index line parallel to north-south grid
lines.
4. Keeping the compass aligned as
directed, rotate the map and
compass together until the magnetic
arrow is below the fixed black index
line. at this time, the map is close to
being oriented.
End of Presentation

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