FORT KNOX, Ky. — Cadets from 10th Regiment, Advanced Camp, completed their land navigation qualification at Fort Knox, Ky., July 28, 2023.
Armed with a compass, protractor, pencil, map, and a list of coordinates, the Cadets set out, fueled by determination, to find each of their points in under 4 hours.
“Today we’re conducting a day land nav., where we are supposed to find three to four points on the course,” said Cadet David Nevarez, Middle Tennessee State University. “When I first got my points, my goal was to make some type of plan to get from my first point to my fourth point, and get back as fast as possible.”
Many Cadets approach land navigation with different processes to find their coordinates, with the goal being to find their route and adapt as they go.
“I usually use rocks. For every 100 meters, I throw a rock into my left hand to indicate how many 100 meters I’ve been through,” said Nevarez. “Then, once I get to the certain destination I want, I’ll pull out my compass, shoot my Azimuth, and reset my rocks.”
While some decipher their route by counting just their paces, other Cadets also utilize terrain association to find the best path for them.
“You plot out or map your points, and then you pick out the best course of action based on what makes sense between terrain features and different things on the course,” said Cadet Dylan Page, The Ohio State University. “For me, I skipped over my closest point because I could go up to my top three points, come back down a different trail, and get that one. It’s all about just planning your routes, knowing what’s going to work for you, and going around obstacles.”
To find the correct route and adapt successfully, Cadets must plan accordingly before setting out on the land nav. course.
“Proper planning is the key to all of this,” Nevarez said. “If you don’t plan right, you’re not going to get anywhere. The only reason I was back second was because I planned it correctly, not because I ran fast or walked faster.”
Knowing how to properly navigate is an important skill all Cadets who come to Cadet Summer Training must know. Through planning and practice, Cadets can develop their abilities at CST and work towards strengthening their skills for the future.
“As future [Platoon Leaders] and officers, who will lead troops out in the field, the technology that is given to you might go down, and you will have to rely upon the basic fundamental skills of navigation,” Page said. “So, it is important, as officers, for individuals to be able to understand those skills, perform when the equipment isn’t working, and show the soldiers below you that you can do the same that they can do.”
Cadets from all walks of life come to CST and participate in the land nav. qualification. Through their school’s ROTC programs, some Cadets, like Nevarez, have had the opportunity to experience different terrains and courses.
“My school has gone to different places to practice, so we’ve had a lot of different experiences on different types of courses and terrain,” Nevarez said. “Having more than just one place that Cadets can go to, helps because every place is different.”
Other Cadets, who have served as prior-enlisted Soldiers, such as Page, a former 88M Motor Transport Operator and Ohio Army National Guard member, have had the opportunity to experience different terrains through their enlistments. Because they have previous experience, these Cadets feel better equipped to face the qualification.
“I’m a prior service Cadet, so I’ve been doing land nav. for quite some time,” Page said. “I knew that I’d probably finished high out of the two companies out here today. I’ve been to Fort Knox and done the course before, so I know the course overall is very doable.”
No matter the Cadets’ experience level or their ability to plan, having the determination and self-confidence to reach their goals, allows Cadets to be successful.
“I wanted to be first. That was my only driving factor: personal pride,” said Nevarez. “There’s no reason to strive to be the worst, so you always want to strive to be the best. Sometimes, it’s easier to do the least amount, but you just need to engrave it into your head that you want to be the person that you want others to see, and I want them to see a strong, prideful person.”
Both Nevarez, who plans to be the first person in his family to graduate college, and Page, an aspiring Public Office Holder, use their determination and future ambitions to drive them forward at land navigation, CST, and into their future careers.
“I’ve always been really driven, and I have big plans that I want to accomplish. I don’t want to be ‘the’ Lieutenant, I want to be ‘my’ Lieutenant,” said Page. “If you establish a relationship with your soldiers, you can become a good leader, understand your weaknesses, and have the drive to do it, no matter what component you’re going into. What drives me is the opportunity to give back to people and use my skills to better their lives.”
Reflecting on his time at the land nav. qualification and at CST, Page acknowledges the opportunities Cadets have to test their skills, learn from others, and challenge themselves to work hard for their goals.
“When you bring all these people from different units, different schools, and different battalions, together, it’s a good opportunity to check yourself in terms of how you lead and see how others lead,” Page said. “Be in the right uniform, at the right time, at the right place, and you can’t go wrong.”
