I’ve recently noted several comments on different blogs asking why all the emphasis on land navigation. Why not just learn your Area of Operations/Area of Interest (AO/AI) like the back of your hand, because you will most likely never venture out of it during WROL anyway. Well, Pilgrim, my best short answer is; land navigation is a valuable skill, that is easily learned and mastered with practice, over time. And like any skill, it makes you a more well-rounded and valuable asset to any team. Why do I need to become familiar with the AK/SKS/Mini-14/FN-FAL/HK systems and every sidearm/shotgun I can get my hands on since I only have an AR-15 ? You never know what you might pick up off of the battlefield.
My best long answer; it is very difficult, even for folks experienced in land nav. to navigate at night, in bad weather, with little or no illumination over broken terrain. Add to that; while humping ruck, tired and hungry. Let’s look at some scenarios.
Scenario 1: Your retreat four man R&S patrol is patrolling the ridges surrounding the outside of your AO when they are forced to deviate from their planned route by the unexpected presence of a large group of armed men. They radio in a SALUTE report to back to your group. The OPFOR group’s size, movement formation and route forces your patrol to evade into an area they are unfamiliar with during the night. Come first light, they find themselves in a heavily wooded area surrounded by low mountains. They must now determine their present location and plan a route of return to your retreat. If they can patrol to one of the mountain peaks, they can orient their map to grid north and either terrain associate or re-section their present location and then plan their route back.
h/t WRSA
