MCT Marines navigate through course

Marine Corps Installations East
Story by Lance Cpl. Justin Rodriguez

Date: 10.09.2013
Posted: 10.16.2013 13:10
News ID: 115225
MCT Marines navigate through course

MARINE CORPS BASE CAMP LEJEUNE, N.C. - Marines struggle to find their objective, searching with their lensatic compass with nothing but rain, fog and trees in the way.

Company I, Marine Combat Training Battalion Marines spent hours honing their skills and completing the MCT Land Navigation Course at Verona Loop, aboard Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, Oct. 9.

There are many required fundamental skills when entering a combat situation, land navigation being one of them.

The Marines, equipped with a map, protractor and lensatic compass, were split into teams of two or three and given a starting point, and the objective of finding five plot points.

Before walking the actual course, Marines were briefed on the military map, colors on a map, contour lines, the parts of a lensatic compass, a position on a map, computing azimuths, methods to holding the compass and locating specific points on the course.

The Marines then plotted coordinates on a map and began searching for their objective.

“It gives you a sense of comfort,” said Pfc. Maximo Lieiano, a Marine with fourth platoon, Company I. “If you get lost, you can use the surroundings to get yourself out of a bad situation.”

The combat instructors checked their students’ plotting points for accuracy after they finished the course.

“We do have global positioning systems,” said Sgt. Phillip Coutts, a combat instructor with fourth platoon, Company I. “But when that technology fails, all you have is the Marine to the left and right of you. We’re out here giving them the needed skills, and they’re doing awesome.”

Company I’s training schedule began Sept. 24 and is scheduled to conclude Oct. 22.

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