Here is how I would train for land nav, assuming I could not wait for someone to teach me...
1) Get a 1:50,000 topo map (where does not matter), Silva Compass in mils:
Silva Compass 16DCL-6400 MILS/360 Degrees | MEC (or Suunto:
Suunto MC-2/G/6400 - Military mirror compass) and a C2 Protractor (
Rectangular Protractor - Services Exploration).
2) Ensure you understand all the part of the map, symbols, etc. Quiz yourself on symbology.
3) Spend time measuring distance between two objects. Use a piece of paper, string, protractor, compass to do this. Become very quick at figuring out how far apart two locations are by line of site and by road or trail by the various methods.
4) Study the ground where there is elevation changes. Be able to take two locations and determine if it is uphill or downhill between them and what the elevation change is. Be able to look at a map and then visualize what the terrain would look like in real life. Be able to take two location and be able to determine, "If I was at point A, could I see point B?" This is know as inter-visibility and an important concept to understand.
5) Find and Plot 4, 6, and 8 figure grid references using a piece of paper, compass and protractor. Start with writing the grid reference down for all schools and churches. Then mix up the list and take a grid reference quickly and accurately plot them on the map sheet.
6) Learn how to calculate declination and set it on your compass.
7) Take two locations on a map and figure out what the bearing is between them using the compass and protractor. Become really good at this.
8) Pretend you are moving between the two locations on a map. Make a mental story of what you will see (left / right / front) and cross as you move down your bearing.
9) Take your compass outside where you have some visibility. Practice quickly and accurately shooting a bearing from your location to an object.
10) Get a map of a local park, take a known place on the map and go there. Pick something you can see and calculate a bearing between you and that location on the map. Then take that bearing a shoot it on the compass. Repeat over and over. Then pick things you can see and shoot the bearing. Then plot that bearing on the map from your location to the object. Repeat over and over.
11) Go on a hike. Do not look at your map. Stop, take out your map and orient the map to the ground. Do this by inspection of the ground around you and with a compass. Repeat over and over.
12) Be able to find your position on a map while outdoors using resection and triangulation. Find spots to go, shoot the bearings and the plot your location on a map. Check with a GPS.
13) Take two location 500 m apart on a map that you cannot see point B from point A. Plot various obvious positions on a map, each 50-100 m apart. Move from location to location using dead reckoning with the map and shooting bearings when required to stay on course. Get good at using a combination of both techniques. Make the terrain harder and harder. Finally, do it at night.
This will set the conditions for your success with some additional practice and advice from the Directing Staff on BMOQ-A.
Good luck.
MC
