NAV 2121 - The Twilight Transition

Aug 10

Written By The Verdant Compass Institute

(1) Enrollment Requirements: NAV 2111

(2) Duration: 6 hours

(3) Format: Field

(4) Course Description: Navigation changes entirely when the sun goes down. This course bridges the gap between daytime and night navigation. You will begin navigating a designated course during the day and continue through twilight into night, forcing you to adjust your pace, rely heavily on your compass, and master low-light map reading. By deliberately operating during the rapid degradation of environmental visibility, this course challenges depth perception, spatial awareness, and physical point location. This course is designed specifically for individuals with little to moderate experience in orienteering or land navigation.

(5) Terminal Learning Objectives (TLO):

Participants will be able to:

TLO 1: Adjust pace counts as visibility degrades from full daylight into complete darkness across uneven terrain.
TLO 2: Execute map reading while maintaining light discipline using low output red light sources to preserve night vision.
TLO 3: Rely on your compass and various land navigation techniques while navigating during a period of darkness.
TLO 4: Navigate terrain during a period of darkness to accurately locate coordinates, adjusting land navigation techniques as environmental conditions change.

(6) Course Outline:

Phase I — Daytime Course Brief & Preparation (1 Hour)
- Instruction: Instructors provide safety and course orientation brief. Participants are assigned designated navigation course lanes.
- Practical Application: Participants confirm pace counts on designated lanes.
- Key Topics: Safety, preparation.
Phase II — Daytime Navigation Course (2 Hours)
- Practical Application: Individual release onto a navigation course. Participants will traverse the terrain completely isolated, locating distinct coordinates within the allotted time limit.
- Key Topics: Land navigation, plotting.
Phase III — Night Course Brief & Preparation (1 Hour)
- Instruction: Instructors provide safety and course orientation brief. Participants are assigned designated navigation course lanes.
- Practical Application: Participants confirm pace counts on designated lanes.
- Key Topics: Safety, preparation, limited visibility pace count.
Phase IV — Night Navigation Course (2 Hours)
- Practical Application: Individual release onto a navigation course. Participants will traverse the terrain completely isolated, locating distinct coordinates within the allotted time limit.
- Key Topics: Limited visibility land navigation, limited visibility plotting.

(7) Completion & Assessment Requirements:

This course is an enrollment requirement for additional courses and carries a formal assessment. A detailed summary of standards and expectations is provided in the Welcome Letter and/or by cadre upon arrival.
Evaluation Standards:
- Technical Proficiency — Participants must successfully obtain two (2) of three (3) points on the daytime navigation course within two (2) hours and two (2) of three (3) points on the night navigation course within two (2) hours.
- Leadership & Character — Adherence to evaluation guidelines and the Code of Conduct.

(8) Awarded Certificates & Identifiers: