Staff Writer
Learning to find coordinates, plot points and shoot azimuths are the top priorities of map reading.
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| Bravo Co. Cadets Dan Segal and Danielle Willsie determine an azimuth reading during land navigation. Photo by Chen Wang |
Cadets learn to traverse through the woods with nothing else after the intensive class.
The class and tools are designed to help them find and orientate themselves to the terrain on land navigation, Co. B 1/46th Inf. 2nd Lt. Andrew Rubin said.
“It helped me a lot, because I've never done this before,” said Co. B 1/46th Inf. Cadet Jennifer Fulco, who attends George Mason University.
The maps are broken into grids. Based off those grids, Cadets receive a coordinate composed of eight numbers. The number helps them find a specific point, they then shoot their azimuth – a military term for finding an angle for a location using a protractor — and it should put them within 10 meters of the point.
The maps not only help Cadets find their desired location, but they also provide information about terrain obstacles. The maps contain contour lines, which let the Cadet know if he or she is on a hill, in a valley or on any other type of terrain.
Balazinski said map reading helps Cadets build confidence, because they have to learn to trust themselves and their equipment.
“You need to have confidence as a leader, confidence in your equipment, confidence in your skills,” he said.