Photo By Sgt. Eric Quintanilla | Recruit Wesley Harrison, Platoon 2135, Company F, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion,...... read more read more
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CAMP PENDLETON, Calif. - Recruits of Company F, 2nd Recruit Training Battalion, learned basic land navigation skills at the Crucible aboard Edson Range, Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif., April 10.
During land navigation, recruits are equipped with a compass, map, pen and protractor, they are expected to be able to find a point on the map and navigate that specific location.
“You need to be able to direct your team if technology fails,” said Recruit Jess Christian, Company F, 2nd RTBn. “It’s a skill you can fall back to.”
This will be the fourth and final time Company F recruits have put their knowledge of land navigation to the test during recruit training.
“They need to be able to read a map and understand how to use a compass,” said Gunnery Sgt. Enrique Lopez, drill instructor, Company F, 2nd RTBn.
In second phase, recruits spent an entire day ensuring they could properly navigate between points on a map in the daytime and at night.
“The entire day is dedicated to land navigation, with classes in the morning and practical application after that,” said Lopez.
On the Crucible, recruits are given a short period of instruction before they are directed to their starting point.
“If you don’t know land navigation you’re going to get lost,” said Johnson . “You need to have a basic understanding of your tools. It should be second nature.”
“When you’re out on patrol and your GPS fails, guess what you have to fall back on?” said Cpl. Adam Johnson, field instructor, Weapons and Field Training Battalion. “You still have to get the mission done.”
In addition to the three times recruits are expected to actually walk to a location on a map, they were tested on it during their final practical examination. The final exam is a graduation requirement which tests them on everything they have learned throughout recruit training.
“Our drill instructors helped us by teaching it in the squad bays as well,” said Christian.
This, however, is just day one of the Crucible. The Crucible is a 54-hour training exercise that tests recruits on everything they have learned throughout recruit training. Recruits must overcome both food and sleep deprivation while using teamwork to complete challenging obstacles.
This is the final test recruits are put through before becoming Marines.
“It’s definitely mentally and physically challenging but if you keep a positive outlook you’ll make it through,” said Christian.
Once the recruits of Company F become Marines, they will receive further instruction on land navigation during Marine Combat Training at the School of Infantry aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Pendleton, Calif.
| Date Taken: | 04.10.2012 |
| Date Posted: | 04.19.2012 17:21 |
| Story ID: | 87005 |
| Location: | CAMP PENDLETON, CA, US |
| Web Views: | 98 |
| Downloads: | 1 |
This work, Company F recruits find their way through the Crucible, by Sgt Eric Quintanilla, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
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