Cadets from the 1st Regiment Basic Camp stand at attention after arriving for their Map Reading class at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 29. Map reading prepares Cadets when they have their Land Navigation test. | Photo by Matthew Billiot, CST Public Affairs Office
Basic Camp 1st Regiment Cadets participated in Map Reading to begin learning the basics of how to understand a map on June 29th 2019.
Sgt. 1st Class Matthew Evans, who oversees Bravo Company, explained what Map Reading is and why it is important to teach to the brand new Cadets. “Today’s objective is to start basic map reading, get them to understand the legends (tells you what the distance is for the scale of that map) and the parts of a map.”
After that Evans said they go into terrain features, how to plot a point as well as how to use a compass and shoot an azimuth in order to be successful with land navigation.
Cadets from the 1st Regiment Basic Camp learn how to read a map, determine direction and distance, and locate corrdinates at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 29. Map reading prepares Cadets for their Land Navigation test. | Photo by Matthew Billiot, CST Public Affairs Office
Cadet Keegan Wiekanp’huete, who attends California Baptist University, described the day in his own words. He said, “Map reading is for land navigation and land navigation could just simply be finding checkpoints in a land nav course or when we are doing STX (Situational Training Exercise) lanes knowing exactly where we need to go and then do route planning.”
Wiekanp’huete continued by explaining the importance of the training. He said, “This is important because if you have a certain amount of time when you go to complete your mission if you take an incorrect route or a route that takes too long it could potentially hurt your subordinates and then you could fail your mission.”
Cadets from the 1st Regiment Basic Camp learn how to read a map, determine direction and distance, and locate corrdinates at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 29. Map reading prepares Cadets for their Land Navigation test. | Photo by Matthew Billiot, CST Public Affairs Office
Cadet Emilyn Santos, who attends the University of Guam in Mangilao, like most of her fellow Basic Camp Cadets is new to map reading and land navigation. Although she is new, she said, “I’m excited and I look forward to learning a lot of stuff about land navigation… It will give us a good understanding in case we get lost and you know it’s a good way to lead and help soldiers, it will help build bonds between the Cadets.”
Cadets from the 1st Regiment Basic Camp learn how to read a map, determine direction and distance, and locate corrdinates at Fort Knox, Ky., on June 29. Map reading prepares Cadets for their Land Navigation test. | Photo by Matthew Billiot, CST Public Affairs Office
She, along with her fellow Basic Camp Cadets, have a lot to learn in their 31 days here, but they all seem enthusiastic to continue learning about their training in the Army and their role in it.
