Anyone have experience setting up Land navigation Course?

[usmcveteran]

Thinking about trying to set one up near me at some point if there aren't any already. It's been far too long since I have done it and want to get back into it again. I think the orienteering clubs by me set up and take down for each event.

Any tips?

[nortatoga]

Is this a drinking game?

[GOPerfect]

http://www.survivaliq.com/navigation...nment_par3.htm 14-3. SET UP A LAND NAVIGATION COURSE

The unit commander provides specific guidance on what he requires in the development of a land navigation course. It depends upon the unit's mission, training plan, and tasks to be trained. There are basic guidelines to use when setting up a course.
a. Determine the Standards. The unit commander determines the standards for the course. Recommended standards are as follows:
(1) Distance between points: no less than 300 meters; no more than 1,200 meters.
(2) Total distance of lanes: no less than 2,700 meters; no more than 11,000 meters.
(3) Total number of position stakes: no less than seven for each lane; no more than nine for each lane.
(4) Time allowed: no less than three hours; no more than four hours.
b. Decide on the Terrain. The unit should use terrain that is similar to terrain they will be using in tactical exercises. Terrain should be different each time training is conducted; the training area for a dismounted course needs to be at least 25 square kilometers. Mounted courses require twice as much terrain so that vehicles are not too close to each other.
c. Perform a Map and Ground Reconnaissance. Check the terrain to determine position stake locations, look for hazards, and to develop training briefings.
(1) Plot the locations of your position stakes on a 1:50,000-scale map.
(2) Fabricate or order position stakes.
(3) Request support from the local engineer or field artillery unit to survey the position stakes in.
(4) Survey the position stakes in and emplace them.
(5) Certify the course by having your SMEs negotiate each lane of the course.
(6) Prepare course requirement sheets and print them.
(7) Complete a risk assessment of the training area.
(8) Begin teaching.
This sequence can be used to develop any type of land navigation course. The difference in each course depends on the commander's guidance.

This is a bit of what we used in the Army when training our Soldiers.

[usmcveteran]

No but it could be!

Just thinking about setting up a couple points. Maybe do it during the day and again at night. I have been real lazy as of late and just use GPS and haven't even brought a map or compass in fact I plan on buying this compass

[24Pink14Stink]

I'd show up for this if it was a weekend I didn't have my kids...

[Cory]

When teaching Guard units that are headed overseas, we used a course that was already set up at Ft. Drum. Each dismounted lane had 4 points and then they started mounted navigation and ended with dead reckoning. Something that some may consider "cheating" on the Ft. Drum land nav course... all of the placards have their 8 digit grid written on the back. Those of us who have done the course three or four times have learned this and use it to ensure we're at the correct placard, writting the correct code.

I've never actually set up a land nav course though. If your doing it just for fun I would suggest following GOperfects guideline. One thing that should really be emphasized is having a master map. And overlay of your map that shows all of the points, their grid, and their code. It helps alot when a group calls you because their post isn't where it should be. You'll often find they wondered to far to one side will walking (they didn't use reference points) and they shot their second or third azimuth from the wrong point, and after hitting their pace count they found nothing.

Unless your dealing with pretty experienced folks, I'm not sure I would have anyone do land nav at night unless they use white light or NVG. I know there aresome badass schools where people do it all in the dark... but I think thats kind of fool hardy and asking for sprained/broken ankels.

[usmcveteran]

I remember when we did night land nav in Marines, it was a completely different course which was a lot smaller and surrounded by roads on all sides. The boxes were on opposite sides next to road maybe about 25 feet apart meaning you have to get it right or you can easily get off course.

For night stuff now I would say at least go in partners.... I have NV and I also have one of those IR beacons that go on the 9v battery so I would probably at least use that to mark starting point .

[Schmendrick]

Isnt land navigation the same as the orienteering clubs? Or geo-caching clubs?

[usmcveteran]

Kinda. I think a lot of the orienteering clubs take down their set ups when their not doing an event and geo caching uses GPS to set and find the caches.

[Brian]

I am LT.... I cannot help

[usmcveteran]

Lol I get it.

[Doc8404]

Blindfold her.
Drive to the middle of the state lands.
Kick her out of the truck.
Drive off.