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Navigation ► Accurate navigation is critical to SAR personnel:  Provide help quickly...  Know where you did not search

Navigation Skills for SAR ► Includes:  Map reading ► Establishing distance and direction between points  Compass usage ► Using a compass to travel ► Taking Declination into account

PRIMARY NAVIGATION TOOLS ► MAP - A graphic description of an area  Click here for more information on how to read a map here ► COMPASS - A magnetized needle that points North

Map Orientation ► Top is North – more on this later ► Steps to good map use. 1.Someone gives you a map Hint: Never search without a map! 2.Study it – find key information 3.Turn the map so the top is to the North by looking at things around you: – Sun / moon / stars – Roads and visible landmarks – Terrain features

Compass ► We recommend the use of an orienteering compass ► Many searchers use a sighting mirror type orienteering compass. ► Trust but verify (Ronald Reagan)  Sun / Moon / Terrain

Orienteering Compass

Compass Use ► On a map – it ’ s a protractor ► To navigate – ALWAYS  RED  RED FRED in the SHED  Follow the Direction of Travel (DOT) arrow

Red Arrow “RED FRED”

Orienting Arrow or “RED SHED”

DOT Arrow

Orienting Lines

Go this way

Quiz Question 1 When navigating with a compass you should put RED FRED in the SHED and then follow the: When navigating with a compass you should put RED FRED in the SHED and then follow the: A Red Arrow B White Arrow C Direction of Travel Arrow D Orientation Line A B C D Click on your choice

Answer A – Red Arrow ► Sorry  The red arrow (Red Fred) and the orientation arrow (Red Shed) should always point North. So this answer is only correct if you want to go North. This is a common way people get lost!! ► Please Try Again Retry

Answer B – White Arrow ► Sorry  The white arrow always points South. So this answer is only correct if you want to go South. By the way putting the white arrow on the orienting arrow or “ Red Shed ” is an easy way to run a reverse azimuth (or go backwards). ► Please Try Again Retry

Answer D – Orientation Line ► Sorry  The orientation lines run parallel to the orientation arrow or “ RED SHED ” and as such will be aligned with North and South. These lines are used to align the compass dial when reading an azimuth from a map. ► Please Try Again Retry

Answer C – DOT Arrow ► YES – GREAT ANSWER!  Align your body and forward motion with the Direction of Travel (DOT) arrow. Sighting on a distant object and putting the compass away until you reach the object will allow you to focus on other tasks. Review Question 1

Tips ► Nearby metal and electronics such as a GPS can cause compass error. ► A GPS is no substitute for a compass. ► You can ’ t search well if you are looking at a compass dial. ► The easiest route is often the quickest. Take a well marked trail if possible.

Compass Usage First - Knowing your Azimuth Azimuth = Bearing in degrees Ways to get an azimuth: 1. Somebody tells you 2. Map reading (click here for more info) click here for more infoclick here for more info 3. Compass sighting  Aim your compass DOT arrow at target  Dial-in Red Fred in the Shed  Your azimuth is now aligned with the DOT arrow

Traveling on a Heading 1. Dial-in azimuth to match the DOT arrow 2. Put Red Fred in the Shed 3. Walk to a distant landmark pointed out by the DOT arrow

North, North and North ► The top of a map is North  Grid NORTH ► Side borders align to North and South  True North ► Assumed here to be nearly same as grid North. ► True axis of the earth  Magnetic North - Sometimes not the same as true North.

Declination Diagram ► DECLINATION – The difference between True and Magnetic North at your location. ► Diagram may be provided  North arrows (Grid, True, and Magnetic)  Bottom left of map  Provides graphic of declination

Declination Graphic Image Reference: Pidwirny, Dr. Michael, University of British Columbia Okanagan, 1999,

True North Magnetic North

Why Do I care? ► Test questions ► Some parts of the world it is a big deal  Wisconsin – generally can be ignored  Arctic Circle – degrees ► Should not be ignored!!  Continental USA – 0-20 degrees ► Declination important for accurate navigation

Three Types of Declination ► Negligible - Almost Zero and can be ignored  Recommended when possible ;) ► Westerly Declination  Magnetic north is west of true.  Eastern USA (example - Maine) ► Easterly Declination  Magnetic north is east of true.  Western USA (example - California)

Magnetic Lines

Two Types of Correction ► Map to Compass  Reading an azimuth from a map and using a compass to navigate ► Compass to Map  Transferring an azimuth sighted with a compass to show it on a map. Not often recommended: Reset compass adjustments Map markups with magnetic North Map markups with magnetic North

Recommendation Memorize “ WAM ” “ West Declination, Add going Map to Compass ” EastDeclinationWestDeclination Map to CompassSubtractAdd Compass to MapAddSubtract

EXAMPLE: Declination ► I am near Bangor Maine, declination is 17 degrees westerly. ► My compass points North  Magnetic North, that is.  True north, which is what my map shows, is to the right of where my compass is pointing.

Maine - Declination ► People are reading maps in the command center.  They have my position identified  They want me to navigate to a target  They read a heading of 100 degrees based on their map. ► Remember: Your compass is 17 degrees off their map.

Maine - Declination ► Use the WAM rule.  Declination is westerly.  I am going from map to compass ► So – WAM – ADD 17 degrees ► Set your compass at 117 degrees!

EastDeclinationWestDeclination Map to CompassSubtract Compass to MapAddSubtract WEST DECLINATION Map To Compass ADD

Quiz Question 2 You have your current location established on a map in an area with 15 degrees westerly declination. Using your compass you sight a landmark at 260 degrees. What azimuth will you use to draw a line on a map from your current location to the landmark? You have your current location established on a map in an area with 15 degrees westerly declination. Using your compass you sight a landmark at 260 degrees. What azimuth will you use to draw a line on a map from your current location to the landmark? Continue on next slide Continue on next slide

Recommendation Memorize “ WAM ” “ West Declination, add going Map to Compass ” EastDeclinationWestDeclination Map to CompassSubtractAdd Compass to MapAddSubtract

Quiz Question 2 You have your current location established on a map in an area with 15 degrees westerly declination. Using your compass you sight a landmark at 260 degrees. What azimuth will you use to draw a line on a map from your current location to the landmark? You have your current location established on a map in an area with 15 degrees westerly declination. Using your compass you sight a landmark at 260 degrees. What azimuth will you use to draw a line on a map from your current location to the landmark? A 245 B 260 C 275 D 290 A B C D

Answer B ► Sorry – Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area. ► Review the question Retry

Answer C – 275 ► Sorry – Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area. ► Please Try Again Retry

Answer D – 290 ► Sorry – Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area. ► Note: This mistake is common when people adjust their compass settings for declination. Please Try Again Retry

Answer A – 245 degrees ► YES – GREAT ANSWER ► In this case we subtract the declination  Remember WAM ► Yes, this is Westerly Declination ► But, we are going from Compass to Map so, Subtract 15 from 260 = 245 Subtract 15 from 260 = 245 Review Question 2 EastWest Map to SubtractAdd Compass to Add Subtract

Quiz Question 3 You are in the woods with a map (5 degree Easterly Declination) and compass. You plot your position and determine your destination to be at 87 degrees on the map. What heading will you dial-in on your compass? You are in the woods with a map (5 degree Easterly Declination) and compass. You plot your position and determine your destination to be at 87 degrees on the map. What heading will you dial-in on your compass? Continue on next slide

Quiz Question 3 You are in the woods with a map (5 degree Easterly Declination) and compass. You plot your position and see your destination at 87 degrees on the map. What heading will you dial-in on your compass? You are in the woods with a map (5 degree Easterly Declination) and compass. You plot your position and see your destination at 87 degrees on the map. What heading will you dial-in on your compass? A 92 B 89 C 87 D 82 A B D C

Answer A – 92 ► Sorry not 92. ► Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area. ► Please Try Again Retry

Answer B – 89 ► Sorry – 89 is not the answer ► Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area. ► Please Try Again RETRY #3

Answer C – 87 ► Sorry – not 87 ► Please review the declination chart and address the declination properly for this area. ► Please Try Again Retry

Answer D - 82 ► YES – 82 DEGREES – GREAT ANSWER! ► This area has an Easterly Declination ► WAM ► No it is not Westerly – calls for subtraction ► But, yes it is map to compass – stays subtraction  So Subtract  87 – 5 = 82 REVISIT QUESTION #3 EastWest Map to Add Compass to AddSubtract Subtract

References ► Compass images provided by NASAR.

Thank you for your time! ► This concludes this learning module. ► If you would like to ask questions or send input please send me a note. Chuck End of Presentation – Thanks!!