FORT STEWART, Ga. - "Go more left. Now you went too far. Stop right there!"
Instructions could be heard throughout the woods near Richmond Hill High School March 12-13 as JROTC cadets learned the basics of land navigation.
"It's a great life skill that anyone should know," said Lt. Col (R) Rob Rooker, the senior Army instructor at Richmond Hill's JROTC program, also known as the Wildcat Battalion. "It gets the cadets to extend their boundaries being in the woods, and forces them to work as a team."
Six Soldiers assigned to the Special Troops Battalion, 3rd Sustainment Brigade, Third Infantry Division travelled to the school each day to assist with the program.
"It's nice to get other Soldiers helping with the JROTC program," said Staff Sgt. Beverly Neal, the battalion's liaison for the school. "These Soldiers who I have helping me are the best of the best."
The Soldiers created a whole new land navigation course from scratch, setting up points to test the students. The teams who completed all of the points correctly received a streamer.
"We helped the JROTC cadets with map reading, azimuth shooting, and understanding the different North's," said Staff Sgt. Alexy Vazquez, from 92nd Chemical Company, STB, 3rd Sustainment Bde., 3rd Inf. Div. "This has been one of the best experiences for me as a career Soldier, giving me the opportunity to influence the cadets in something positive."
Land navigation is one of the cadets' favorite topics throughout the year.
"Knowing how to accurately do my pace count and shoot a direct azimuth will help me in my future," said Joshua Dodson, the Company C first sergeant in the Wildcat Battalion. "It is a good skill to know early if I decide to join the military, or even if I get lost for that matter."
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