Advanced Military Land Navigation
Overview
The Advanced Military Land Navigation course will help you to enhance your land navigation skills over extremely challenging terrain, both day and night.
This training is for service members and those in the recruitment stage (like 18X) with an existing competence in land navigation or have recently completed our Baseline Military Land Navigation course. Some are transitioning to special operations, while others are already serving in a special mission role. Prior clients include Soldiers from Special Forces and the 75th Ranger Regiment and Sailors from the Naval Special Warfare Command, many of whom are preparing for the CAG operator assessment and selection course.
Highlights
Your training will stress the importance of fundamentals. We will fine-tune your ability to dead-reckon over short to moderate distances and terrain associate and route-plan over longer ones. We appreciate that your skills may be rusty since you’ve been primarily using electronic tools to move overland (or underwater), or your current mission role doesn’t require navigation tasks, so we will review and refine your skills as needed.
We just don’t expect that you’ll need to start from scratch or will hold up the group. If you do, you’ll be asked to leave with no refund available. If you want some direction about this course and your present ability, then we strongly recommend that you telephone True North at 412.913.6000 to discuss.
This training course will:
- Fine-tune your ability to dead-reckon over short to moderate distances
- Improve your ability to terrain associate and route-plan over long distances
- Enhance your land navigation skills over harsh terrain during both day and night
- Prepare you for advanced assessments or selection courses
Our training location provides the ideal environment for all skill levels. The vegetation, terrain, and climate spans the mix from open, easy, and pleasant to dense, strenuous, and harsh. This is just one reason why top tier SOF units use this same area to train and conduct their own assessments. So, if you want to learn how to navigate in the same place that they do, then this is the perfect location.
Course Overview
Description of the Level of Physical Difficulty – Moderate to Strenuous: This course walking over varying distances (with laden rucks at your discretion) at a steady pace over varying terrain that will include off-trail sections, rough spots, unexpected obstacles, and low to steep terrain inclines and declines. This course is conducted in varying weather conditions, including hot, cold, humid, rain, and snow, or a mixed combination. This is a physically challenging course so it is best suited for those in very good physical condition and ready for a fast paced day.
Course Duration: Two Day and Two Night sessions (approximately 22 hours of instruction)
Start/End Times: 0900 – 1600 and 1800 – 2200 (depending on the season) both days
Our training location provides the ideal environment for all skill levels.
What should you bring?
Items to Bring
- Sturdy closed-toe footwear (ideally with ankle support)
- Appropriate Clothing (for season and conditions, non-cotton recommended)
- Appropriate Outerwear (for season and conditions)
- Backpack
- Water - 4L Minimum
- Water bottle
- Meals and Snacks
- Compass (mil-spec lensatic)
- Protractor
- Pen and Mechanical Pencil
- Notepad ("Rite in Rain" type)
- Map Case
- Watch or other timepiece
- Flashlight and/or Headlamp (with spare batteries and “Red light” option for night navigation)
- (2) Red Chem-lite and (2) Green or Yellow Chem-Lite
- Any necessary medications
- Whistle (standard type that you can put in pocket)
- ANSI-rated protective eyewear
- Blaze Orange Headwear (e.g., hunting-type hat)
Optional Items
- Extra under/outer garments
- Gaiters
- Knife (fixed or folding)
- Gloves
- Highlighter
- Reflective PT Belt
- Insect Repellant
- Sunglasses
- IFAK
- Hand disinfectant/wipes
- Body wipes
- Duct Tape - 3 feet
- Camp Chair
I wish that we had access to training that's as focused, clear, and well taught as True North. The Army should hire you guys!
Course Gallery
This course will begin your preparation for the land navigation phase of selection and beyond.
We’re often asked these questions about this course...
Yes, our Mil-Nav Program prepares individuals for the land navigation phase of an assessment and selection course. We provide this training for both individual candidates and units. We’ve worked with most branches and ranks. Many are in an SOF or leadership pipeline, like Special Forces (18X), Ranger, OCS, BOLC, and WOCS, while others are preparing for CAG selection. We also provide instructor development to combat training groups and special mission units.
Our training site provides an ideal learning environment for all skill levels not found anywhere else. The vegetation, terrain, and climate spans the mix from open, easy, and pleasant to dense, strenuous, and harsh. This is why the SOF community uses this same area to conduct their own specialized training and assessment.
This training is open to all sworn law enforcement professionals. We highly recommend these courses for LEOs who are interested in improving their physical fitness and endurance, expanding their skills and mission readiness, or looking to advance their careers by expanding their expertise. Prior clients include federal agents preparing for their agency SOG, members of a state and municipal SRT, Game Wardens, and Rangers.
You will have the choice of using either a Suunto MC-2 orienteering compass or a mil-spec Cammenga lensatic compass supplemented with a protractor. During your training, we will explain the differences and list the pros and cons of each platform so that you can make the best choice for your needs. Most military personnel preparing for a selection and assessment course will need to use the lensatic. If you’d like to use your own, please feel free to bring it.
Ready for an Adventure
Because Mother Nature doesn't care about your skill level. And She doesn't just give up because you've had enough. Get the skills you need to survive and conquer any situation!
