Land Navigation

Cadets take the skills the learned in the classroom and apply them in the field. Before their assessment, the cadets are paired up and search the terrain for at least four out of their five listed markers before time runs out. The practice test takes place during both the day and the night. For their official test, cadets are alone and on a different course.

For the practice test, I decided to hike through the woods with a pair of cadets and then switch to a different pair when we reached either a marker or a water point. While it was a good experience, most of my photos were taken when the cadets stopped to check their azimuth or their pace count. I also made the mistake of wearing my short-sleeve PAO shirt and was scratched and bitten numerous times as punishment. I changed tactics for the actual day test. I decided to hang out at one of the markers and let the cadets come to me. This was a better decision on that particular day because it rained pretty hard, which caused the markers to be moved out of the woods and off to the side of the path, making it easier for the cadets to find. I did not go out on either of the night tests. Reason: I didn’t think I would get any good shots, and I tripped over a ton of trees during the day, so I didn’t really trust myself at night!

Photos are property of the U.S. Army PAO and Kristin Sherrard.