Land navigation

S

seanystrangle

Joined
Oct 1, 2009
Messages
374
i have been talking to an army recruiter to enlist to basicly get more funds for college and i am cleared to join the army (i was discharged from the marines due to preexisting medical reasons) and i have been looking at special forces from what he tells me bassed on my mos from the marines i can get the clerance and what not and my asvab scorres are way above the minumum to join. so i know alot of it is physical and i start my physical training after the hollidays. the mental stress part is being taken care of with a new born being a full time student and having a full time job, so all thats left is the land nav i was never good at it can anyone recomend anything to help me along with it? (and anything else you think can prepare me for it at all)
oh yes i have not started the papers yet we are waiting till the end of the spring semester when all the new positions are reuped and what not. so i have about 6-12 months sorry if this is off topic just close it if it is sorry again
 
There are several books out that contain info on land nav. RATs site has some articles linked to it as well. If at all possible I would recommend going through an actual coarse. All that being said I am somewhat concerned that you are attempting to go SF after being discharged from the Marines "due to preexisting medical reasons". In my opinion this sounds a little hookie to me.
 
killstew said:
There are several books out that contain info on land nav. RATs site has some articles linked to it as well. If at all possible I would recommend going through an actual coarse. All that being said I am somewhat concerned that you are attempting to go SF after being discharged from the Marines "due to preexisting medical reasons". In my opinion this sounds a little hookie to me.
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my preexisting medical condition is just a abnormal cornea its nothing major
 
seanystrangle said:
my preexisting medical condition is just a abnormal cornea its nothing major
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I'll be honest with you I have no idea that that is, however I assumed that since you were discharged completely out because of it that it might be a problem in SF.
 
Order a copy of FM3-25-26 Map Reading and Land Navigation. It is available all over the place.

Go to maptools.com and order a utm/mgrs protactor.

Pick up a couple topogrphic maps thaat cover the artea you live in.

Order a Cammenga 3H compass again many people carry these in stock over the net.

Download and work through everything that is available from landnavigation.org which is taken from above sources.

Much of it can be worked at at home (map reading, how to use the protractor etc.

Some of it is best done out in the hills.

If you work at it over a couple weeks you will gain a high level of proficiency. They will teach you the rest, but you'll have the basics down pat. That will give you a great base to build on.

Another book "The Green Beret's Compass Course" by Don Paul is another good resource often available used through abebooks.com if you run a search.

Do get the Cammenga compass it is the unit the military uses and the steps in its use differ from the use of the civilian baseplate models. They are actualy easier to use and very accurate.

Hope this helps.
 
killstew said:
I'll be honest with you I have no idea that that is, however I assumed that since you were discharged completely out because of it that it might be a problem in SF.
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my cornea(its like your eye lense) is thicker than avarage and they thought it could lead to glaucoma whick i dont have and have no family history of
 
seanystrangle said:
my cornea(its like your eye lense) is thicker than avarage and they thought it could lead to glaucoma whick i dont have and have no family history of
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I see (no pun intended) well good luck. Looks like wildmike has some great info. for you.
 
wildmike said:
Order a copy of FM3-25-26 Map Reading and Land Navigation. It is available all over the place.

Go to maptools.com and order a utm/mgrs protactor.

Pick up a couple topogrphic maps thaat cover the artea you live in.

Order a Cammenga 3H compass again many people carry these in stock over the net.

Download and work through everything that is available from landnavigation.org which is taken from above sources.

Much of it can be worked at at home (map reading, how to use the protractor etc.

Some of it is best done out in the hills.

If you work at it over a couple weeks you will gain a high level of proficiency. They will teach you the rest, but you'll have the basics down pat. That will give you a great base to build on.

Another book "The Green Beret's Compass Course" by Don Paul is another good resource often available used through abebooks.com if you run a search.

Do get the Cammenga compass it is the unit the military uses and the steps in its use differ from the use of the civilian baseplate models. They are actualy easier to use and very accurate.

Hope this helps.
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awesome thank you so much that does help so so much
 
killstew said:
I see (no pun intended) well good luck. Looks like wildmike has some great info. for you.
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lol thanks and we shall see the recruiter never promised me a spot or yet at least and for all i know i can get the paper work done then get to selection training and they see whats wrong and boot me there who knows but it never hurts to try especially when they are giving alittle more then 80k for school if you make it :)
 
seanystrangle said:
lol thanks and we shall see the recruiter never promised me a spot or yet at least and for all i know i can get the paper work done then get to selection training and they see whats wrong and boot me there who knows but it never hurts to try especially when they are giving alittle more then 80k for school if you make it :)
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I was discharged from the Marines for prior medical as well. A couple of years later I tried to get in the Army. I had to write a letter & it went to a medical review board with all my medical records. I was denied enlistment. I have scoliosis so a little different problem.
 
killstew said:
I was discharged from the Marines for prior medical as well. A couple of years later I tried to get in the Army. I had to write a letter & it went to a medical review board with all my medical records. I was denied enlistment. I have scoliosis so a little different problem.
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yeah thats pretty much what i had to do too pull my entire medical records dental and eye and send it off to them and it came back approved so im trying special forces but if not that i have not though much else lol and have you tried the airforce my friends brother got in with a broken back
 
seanystrangle said:
yeah thats pretty much what i had to do too pull my entire medical records dental and eye and send it off to them and it came back approved so im trying special forces but if not that i have not though much else lol and have you tried the airforce my friends brother got in with a broken back
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No kidding with a broke back. WOW. Not sure what I want to do in the Airforce. Probably getting to old now for it anyway. Curious what MOS were you in the Marines. Also sorry for sort of hijacking your thread.
 
killstew said:
No kidding with a broke back. WOW. Not sure what I want to do in the Airforce. Probably getting to old now for it anyway. Curious what MOS were you in the Marines. Also sorry for sort of hijacking your thread.
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hahaha its cool and security forces
 
It's about a 3% success rate, and the training is going to have you in the pipeline for a couple full years full-time pending you get straight in through the 18X contract. With a bachelor's you'll go straight to Specialist, knocks some time off your NCO requirement, but if they try and say you'll be an 18A they're high or trying to sell you in. There's no such thing as a direct line to SF Officer, those guys are all handpicked through combat groups. Now, if you're realistic and going the enlist route as most are, do note the pay is...enlisted pay. Sure they throw a few little benefits for your qualifications, but nothing equal to the average college-educated job. Active duty guys can walk away with a 40 grand bonus for in-demand jobs, I've never heard of a bonus as high as what you said. Maybe they add the usual bonus to long-term benefits like linguist pay and airborne certification, but this career path is for guys who really don't care about money. They pay accordingly.

Not to knock it, nothing can touch them honor-wise. But it's a rough deal and a rough life, highest divorce rate in the military, you're going to be training or in an undisclosed area for most of your enlistment period not being able to say where you are to friends and family. They're sugar coating it for you quite a bit, but if you're all in, none of this will phase you.
 
Had I not had my head up my ass when the first wife and I went our separate ways, that's what I wanted to do. If you don't have a wife, do it. If you have a GF and you want to do it, choose.
 
AlexSchira said:
It's about a 3% success rate, and the training is going to have you in the pipeline for a couple full years full-time pending you get straight in through the 18X contract. With a bachelor's you'll go straight to Specialist, knocks some time off your NCO requirement, but if they try and say you'll be an 18A they're high or trying to sell you in. There's no such thing as a direct line to SF Officer, those guys are all handpicked through combat groups. Now, if you're realistic and going the enlist route as most are, do note the pay is...enlisted pay. Sure they throw a few little benefits for your qualifications, but nothing equal to the average college-educated job. Active duty guys can walk away with a 40 grand bonus for in-demand jobs, I've never heard of a bonus as high as what you said. Maybe they add the usual bonus to long-term benefits like linguist pay and airborne certification, but this career path is for guys who really don't care about money. They pay accordingly.

Not to knock it, nothing can touch them honor-wise. But it's a rough deal and a rough life, highest divorce rate in the military, you're going to be training or in an undisclosed area for most of your enlistment period not being able to say where you are to friends and family. They're sugar coating it for you quite a bit, but if you're all in, none of this will phase you.
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yeah i know i have horrible chances but i figured id try and atleast get it in my contract and if its not what they said i wont sign but wow you know alot lol anything else you can tell me?
 
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