1LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Land Navigation for Ground Team Members Developed as part of the National Emergency Services Curriculum Project

2LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Compass There are two major types of compass used for navigation: –Lensatic –Orienteering The compass most used in SAR is the orienteering Regardless of type, make sure your compass azimuth ring will read a maximum or 2 degree graduations Make sure the compass has a dampening system to help the needle settle faster Have a means to secure it so it won’t get lost

3LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Orienteering Compass

4LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Follow a direction with an orienteering compass Set your compass to the azimuth you want (for instance 20 degrees) at the index line. Turn your body holding the compass steady until the red end of the needle is over “N” (North) on the dial. This is called “boxing” or “centering” the needle.

5LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Determine a bearing with an orienteering compass Select a landmark and hold the compass level and point the direction of travel arrow at the landmark. Turn the compass dial until the “N” aligns with the red end of the needle. Read the heading at the index line. This is the “azimuth” or “bearing”

6LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Lensatic Compass

7LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Centerhold Technique Preferred Method

8LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Compass-to-Cheek Technique The centerhold technique is considered faster and easier. It can be used in all conditions of visibility, over any type of terrain, and helmets and eye glasses do not have to be removed.

9LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Lensatic Compass Use Different models may vary in details 1.Hold the compass level in the palm of your hand 2.Rotate it until the desired azimuth falls under the fixed black index line 3.Turn the bezel ring until the luminous line is aligned with the north-seeking arrow. Once the alignment is obtained, the compass is preset. 4.To follow the azimuth, use the centerhold technique and turn your body until the north-seeking arrow is aligned with the luminous line.

10LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Lensatic Continued To measure an azimuth, turn your entire body toward the object, pointing the compass cover directly at the object. Once you are pointing at the object, simply look down and read the azimuth from beneath the fixed black index line. You can even use this method at night.

11LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities When using any compass The arrow of a compass is also affected by metal- a van, knife, or even power lines can affect the use of your compass Safe Distances: High tension power lines: 55 meters Vehicle: 10 meters Steel helmet: ½ meter Telephone wires or fence: 10 meters

12LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Compass Circle Azimuths (bearings) are given in degrees in a clockwise direction. Since there are 360 degrees in a circle- an azimuth can be any number up to 360

13LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities 2 Norths? 3 Norths?

14LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Sometimes the G-M is so small you may not have to worry about it.

15LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Pace Count The number of paces it takes you to cover 100 meters Pace can be affected by a number of factors –Visibility. Poor visibility, such as in fog, rain, or darkness, will shorten your pace. –Clothing. Excess clothing and boots with poor traction affect the pace length. –Surfaces. Sand, gravel, mud, snow, and similar surface materials tend to shorten the pace.

16LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Pace Count Continued –Slopes. Your pace lengthens on a downslope and shortens on an upgrade. Keeping this in mind, if it normally takes you 120 paces to walk 100 meters, your pace count may increase to 130 or more when walking up a slope. –Winds. A head wind shortens the pace and a tail wind increases it. –Elements. Falling snow, rain, or ice cause the pace to be reduced in length.

17LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Pace Count Continued Determining Pace Count –Walk a MEASURED 100 meter course and record your pace count –Count only your left or right step- not both –Walk the Return of that 100 meter course and record your pace count –Add the two together, and divide the sum by two to get your average pace count on that terrain Work the Math 1st Leg 121 Return Leg 119 Sum 240 / 2 Average Pace 100 Meters 120

18LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Pace Count Continued Calculating a distance to travel is simply a matter of basic math –For example, to walk 250 meters using the previous pace count of 120 paces takes 300 paces 120 paces (100 meters) + 60 paces (50 meters is 1/2 of 100 meters) 300 paces (250 meters)

19LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Pace Count Continued The big problem in pacing is to maintain a straight line. At night, the average person tends to walk in a circle. In daylight, you should use a compass and steering points (well defined objects in your line of travel) towards which you can steer.

20LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Pace Count Continued Keep track of the paces you have walked in the field. It is too easy to forget and be off course. Try using some of the following. For every 100 meters try –Move a bead on your pace counter –Place a mark in a notebook –Tie a knot in a string –Put a pebble in your pocket

21LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Suppose you want to pace off one kilometer (one kilometer is 1000 meters). Pace Count Continued –Put ten pebbles in your right pocket –When you go 100 meters, move one pebble to your left pocket –When all ten pebbles are in your left pocket- you have gone one kilometer. Of course you could tie knots in a string- one for every 100 meters until you got ten also.

22LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Steering Points It is difficult to follow a straight line using only a compass because of a tendency to drift while walking. It is best to pick out objects in the line of your azimuth and use them as steering points.

23LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Steering Points Continued Pick out a distinctive tree, bush, rock, land feature, etc. that is in line with your travel azimuth. Walk to that point (remember your pace count) and shoot your azimuth and find another steering point.

24LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Steering Points Continued Continue following your steering points until you reach your location. Pay close attention and mark your position and record your pace count at each stop in the event you have to go back. Be careful- distinctive features from a distance may be difficult to find as you move toward them.

25LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Steering Points Continued If there are no steering points or it is night –In a team situation, put one person ahead where he/she may still communicate by voice or hand signal with the navigator. –The navigator will shoot an azimuth and line up the person on point by directing them left or right until they mark the azimuth path –Travel to the point person and repeat the process

26LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Navigating Past An Obstacle Basically make a box around the obstacle Accuracy counts, especially around larger obstacles

27LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Only figure your straight line distance when walking around an obstacle.

28LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities Land Navigation Tasks for Ground Team Members O-0201: Use a Compass O-0202: Measure Distance with Pace Count O-0203: Navigate Past an Obstacle

29LNGTM..PPT LAST REVISED: 9 JULY 2008 Citizens Serving Communities QUESTIONS? THINK SAFETY!