(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. Students will begin navigating a designated course during the day and continue through twilight into night, forcing pace adjustments, heavy compass reliance, and 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):
Students 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. Students are assigned designated navigation course lanes.
Practical Application: Students 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. Students 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. Students are assigned designated navigation course lanes.
Practical Application: Students 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. Students 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 — Students 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:
Certificate of Completion
(9) Provided Gear & Materials:
Topographic map
Compass
Protractor
Pen & pencil
(10) Recommended Gear & Materials (Student):
Notebook
Pace counting beads
Day pack (backpack)
(11) Required Gear & Materials (Student):
Red lens headlamp
Eye protection
Water source
