Night Land-Nav Tips?

[bkb0000]

we used to keep the mini chemlights in our cheeks during night movement. just enough red light to get an azimuth, check the time, or peer down into a pocket/pouch, etc.

that's my weak little "tip"

[mkmckinley]

Pacecount, backstops, and keeping track of where you are are the basics. A lot of people overuse flashlights. You actually only need a little red light to read your map. Unless it's pitch black you ou can get used to moving without one actually have better SA than if you were using a light everywhere.

My biggest tip, though, is eye protection. Clear lenses will save your eyes from brush. It's one of those things you think is gay until you have a stick poking into your eye. Ask me how I know. I use Oakley half jackets and just snap in the clear lenses if I'm packing around at night in the woods.

[Kchen986]

Pacecount, backstops, and keeping track of where you are are the basics. A lot of people overuse flashlights. You actually only need a little red light to read your map. Unless it's pitch black you ou can get used to moving without one actually have better SA than if you were using a light everywhere.

My biggest tip, though, is eye protection. Clear lenses will save your eyes from brush. It's one of those things you think is gay until you have a stick poking into your eye. Ask me how I know. I use Oakley half jackets and just snap in the clear lenses if I'm packing around at night in the woods.

It's funny, because I have a cut on my face from walking straight in to a branch during night land nav. Luckily (or unluckily), I have BCGs, which cover about 40% of my face.

[Big_Mark]

we used to keep the mini chemlights in our cheeks during night movement. just enough red light to get an azimuth, check the time, or peer down into a pocket/pouch, etc.

that's my weak little "tip"

Me too, I got my EIB in Germany, boars were part of the terrain.

[VMI-MO]

clear eye pro


PJ

[K.L. Davis]

Lots of good stuff here...

One thing I will add: TRUST YOUR COMPASS!

I have seen hundreds of people get in trouble with this one... "something must be wrong with the compass, we should be heading in that direction"

[spartan09]

Interesting how this thread doesn't garner quite as many responses as gear loadout pics

Are you suggesting that the usefulness of a thread is inverse to the number of responses?

This is a great thread.

[murphy j]

I don't think he was suggesting that at all. I took it as more of comment on how some threads have that so-called 'cool guy/gear queer' factor and tend to elicit more responses because of it. Land Nav, while an essential and perishable skill, has more of a boring check the block air about it. I personally love land Nav and haven't gotten to do it near as much as I'd like to. My personal opinion, and I was raised 'old school' Army, is learn how to do the basics first then move on to the GPSs. Unfortunately there's gotten to be such a reliance on technology that it doesn't seem like there's as much emphasis on the basic skills anymore.

To the OP.... As has been mentioned before know your pace count, trust you compass and have your plots right. The first two will do you absolutely no good if you haven't plotted your points correctly.

Are you suggesting that the usefulness of a thread is inverse to the number of responses?

This is a great thread.

[R.E.Schoening]

Spend more time in the woods at night...night land nav is intimidating simply because it is dark...just being out in the woods at night can help your skill level.

Judging from the my limited exposure to land nav courses, most "failures" or "VW's" come when the sun sets.

- Rob

[Ak44]

clear eye pro


PJ

Yep nothing like walking into a branch to ruin your night.