Our Baseline Military Land Navigation course will provide you the confidence to succeed at selection and beyond.
This training is geared to those preparing for a SOF selection or leadership development course. Most are heading to U.S. Army Special Forces Assessment and Selection (SFAS), while others are preparing for Ranger Assessment and Selection (RASP), MARSOC, and Warrant Officer Candidate School (WOCS).
Elias H., U.S. Army
You will acquire the knowledge, skills, and tips needed to be a skilled navigator. The first day will begin with the fundamentals then move to a series of field sessions as you progress through various crawl, walk, and run phases. The second day will be more challenging as you transition from dead-reckoning to terrain association and route-planning. Some of your training will be in pairs, then provide you the opportunity to function solo so that you can maximize your personal learning objectives. This training is designed to dovetail with our Advanced Military Land Navigation so many clients take both back-to-back.
Cody W., U.S. Army
Clients routinely tell us that our training style is superior to that which they received in the military. We only teach to small groups. We teach the various components in timeframes, and at a pace, that maximizes individual learning. Throughout, our instructors will actively guide and coach you so that not only will you understand the How, but the Why. This will allow you to take your skills and knowledge to the next level and beyond.
Our training area provides an ideal learning environment for the novice to the highly skilled. The vegetation, terrain, and climate spans the mix from open, easy, and pleasant to dense, strenuous, and harsh. These are just some reasons why the special operations community uses this same area to train and conduct its own assessments. If you want the ability to navigate anywhere, anytime, then this is the perfect location.
Topics covered:
- Gear such as topographic map, protractor, and compass (lensatic and/or orienteering as you need).
- Declination.
- Navigating techniques using dead-reckoning and the foundations of terrain association and route-planning.
- Tools such as pace counting, backstops, hand-rails, boxing-out, search techniques.
- Night navigation.
- Coordinate systems (UTM & MGRS)
- Navigation psychology.
Overview of the open-registration, group program:
- Course Duration: 2-Days (14 hours of instruction).
- Start / End Times: 0900 – 1600 (both days)
- Fee: $300 per person.
- Location: Quebec Run Wild Area (see below for more detail).
- Maximum Group Size: 10
- Minimum Group Size: The course requires a minimum of four persons to run this training. If we are unable to meet this size, True North will fully refund your payment with as much advance notice as possible.
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Jon K., U.S. Army
Description of Physical Difficulty – Moderate to Strenuous: This course involves hiking with laden backpacks over varying distances 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.
- Overnight Accommodation: You can chose to either spend the night in the woods at the training area or stay in a local hotel or home-share. Once you register for the course, we will provide more detailed information, which will include some recommendations.
Commonly Asked Questions:
Is this course open to LEOs? This training is open to all sworn law enforcement professionals. Prior clients include federal agents preparing for their agency’s special operation group as well as members of state and municipal special response teams who are looking to broaden their skill base.
What happens when I register? We will personally follow up with you to explain the steps needed to finalize your booking. Once we receive your completed forms, we will send you a detailed course information sheet which will contain all of the applicable details, like required and recommended gear, exact gathering point, and general driving directions.
What if I already have prior land navigation training and experience? You may want to consider our Advanced Military Land Navigation course. If you are aren’t sure, or if you want to discuss which course may be best for you, please telephone Erik at 412.913.600.
True North Training Area – Click to Enlarge.
Where is Quebec Run Wild Area located? Quebec Run Wild Area is a 7,441 acre preserve within Forbes State Forest, located roughly 60 miles southeast of Pittsburgh, along the West Virginia border, on the western edge of the Appalachian Mountains. The vegetation, terrain, and climate spans the mix from open, easy, and pleasant to dense, strenuous, and harsh. This training area, then, provides an appropriate learning environment from the novice to the highly skilled — Which is why Quebec Run and the surrounding region is also used by the U.S. special operations community to train and conduct its own assessments.
Are bathroom facilities available during the course? Since Quebec Run is a designated “wilderness area” there is no infrastructure whatsoever, including toilets.
What kind of gear do I need to bring? After you register for the course, True North will send you a course information sheet which will contain all of the program details, including a detailed list of required and optional gear. Our goal is to help balance what you need to get the most safely out of your training against minimizing your costs.
Do you loan any equipment? We can loan a mil-spec lensatic compass and protractor during your training. We also make some additional equipment and supplies available for your convenience which we sell at-cost.
To learn more, contact us.