Here is something I wrote up nearly two years ago for a friend in CAWG, I figured it might be good to post it here for those getting into planning training missions. :)
preparing for the nav course -
1. check your compass, if it's sticking get a new one, and a spare.
2. check your pace count. to check your pace count, get a 25ft tape measure
and stretch all the way, 13 times, then add another 3 ft. that will get you
100 meters. do this on flat ground, up a hill and down a hill.
3. convert your paces for every 5-10 meters from 5 meters - 500 meters.
4. get a sledge hammer and posts for the Nav Course.
Setting up the nav -
1. get at least 2 other people preferably 3-4 and go to the selected area
for the Nav course.
2. put in your first post, right down a number on it, then make a note of
the point number.
3. send your point man out with the posts, you and the other person then
check your heading and with the middle i.e.; you have a heading of 254 and
he has 256, go with 255.
4. the 2 compass men rotate carrying the sledge hammer, then start off with
the pace count.
5. put in your 2nd post and right down, the post number, the heading from
the previous post and your pace count *(convert the paces to meters when
you're done).
6. continue this 'till you think you have a long enough course.
* = point 1 - bearing 25 degree's - for 62 paces, converted to 100 meters.
This past summer, I planned from scratch a weekend "Introduction to Land Navigation" bivouac for my squadron. The assumption was that nobody knew anything (and if they did, it would be a good refresher). The weekend consisted of instruction time slots and then field exercise slots where, after each session or two, the cadets could put those particular skills to use.
Overall, the weekend was a good success (minus the CAP van, signed out in my name, that had to be winched out of a mud pit) and the squadron followed it up two months later with a bivouac for more advanced land nav skills, including night nav and shelter building.
Our squadron is also fortunate to have a Senior Member who is an Army ranger and former Special Forces guy (among many other qualifications); he was great for teaching the cadets various skills and giving them little tips that you just don't get from books or unexperienced instructors.
Below is the schedule for the weekend:
August Bivouac Schedule
Friday:
1700 - 1715 Arrival at Reserve Center
1715 - 1800 Convoy to Highland Camp Site
1800 - 1930 Set-up Camp Site & Gather Firewood
1930 - 2000 Light Snack/Dinner
2000 - 2245 Welcome Session
• Introduction to purpose of Bivouac
• Rules and Contraband
• Safety Briefing by Safety Officer
• Introduction of Staff
2045 - 2200 Free Time, Bonfire, Games (Manhunt?)
2200 Lights Out
Saturday:
0550 - 0600 Reveille
0600 - 0715 PT, Formation, Change to BDUs
0715 - 0815 Breakfast
0815 - 0830 Gather Firewood
0830 - 0945 Class: Intro to Maps
• Types of Maps
• Map Symbology
• Terrain Features
• Grids
• Scale & Distance
• Direction, Declination, Etc.
0945 - 1000 Break
1000 - 1100 Class: Survival Skills
• Fire Building and Fire Maintenance
• Shelter
1100 - 1200 Field Exercise: Practicing Shelter Building
1200 - 1300 Lunch
1300 - 1430 Class: Intro to Navigation
• Navigation Equipment & Methods
• Elevation and Relief
• Terrain Association
• Navigation in different terrains Survival
1430 - 1445 Break
1445 - 1600 Class: Remaining Land Nav Skills & Information
1615 - 1800 Field Exercise: Cumulative Exercise
1800 - 1900 Dinner
1900 - 2130 Free Time, Bonfire, Games (Manhunt), Etc.
2130 Lights Out
Sunday:
0550 - 0600 Reveille
0600 - 0715 PT, Formation, Change to BDUs
0715 - 0815 Breakfast
0815 - 0930 Field Exercise: Final Exercise
0930 - 1000 Debreief and Evaluation
1000 - 1130 Teardown, Packup
1130 - 1215 Convoy to Reserve Center
1215 - 1300 All Cadets Picked Up, SM's Depart.
1300 - 1345 Hah, just kidding. Now everyone's picked up. SM's Depart.