Vanguard Soldiers hone map, land navigation skills

By Sgt. Robert Schaffner Jr, Fort Stewart Public AffairsNovember 3, 2010

Land Nav Skills
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Land Nav Skills
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FORT STEWART, Ga. Soldiers with the 4th Infantry Brigade Combat Team rear detachment conducted a series of classes in map reading and land navigation training to update their basic Soldiering skills and re-familiarize themselves on their perishable skills, Oct. 27-28.

"With all the modern equipment such as the global positioning system's or pluggers, they can make Soldiers lazy," said Randolph Scales, a site manager and training instructor at Fort Stewart. "Soldiers need to get back to their roots. Every Soldier should know map reading and land navigation. For these Crazy Horse Soldiers, it is welcomed training."

"It has been a while since I have done (map reading and land navigation)," said Pfc. Elias Besong, an infantryman assigned to Headquarters and Headquarters Company, 4th IBCT. "If in battle and something happens to my sergeant, I may need to take charge. As Soldiers, we all need to know (map reading and land navigation).

Following the day spent in the classroom reading and plotting grid coordinates with a scale on a map and practicing using lensatic compasses and reacquainting themselves with their pace count, the Soldiers made their way to the land navigation course.

For some Soldiers, this training is a stepping stone to future training.

"I am hoping (the map reading and land navigation course) will help me for when I go to the Warrior Leaders Course," said Spc. Chance Gattrell, a fire support specialist assigned to HHC, 4th IBCT.

Regardless of rank, Soldiers need to practice their map reading skills at minimum yearly but preferably every six months or less, added Scales. Lack of map reading skills has proven to be costly in Iraq and other places.