Posted on Oct 18, 2017
What units use GPS and what is their backup plan should GPS fail?
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Cyber
Posted 7 y ago
Responses: 9
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CW2 (Join to see)
I agree, and will add to this. If we talk about stuff like this, remain in the widely known public domain, especially if you are not comfortable in the subject. Like Soldiers can't operate without food or ammo. All militaries have to move, communicate, and know where they are. The historical importance of this issue is well known: remembering to do stuff by hand. Can you take a position without ammo, can you communicate without a radio, can you see without power, can you navigate without a map, can you add without a calculator, can you write/draw without paper or pencil? The answer for all militaries has always been training. Train them for when stuff doesn't work.
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What unit doesn't (whether they know it or not)? Unless you mean hand held devices for training, cellphones, er.. PLGRs/DAGRs..Electronic maps using Blueforce Trackers? Backup: Maps, Compass, protractor, ruler, and math. In the Army, all Forscom units at BDE and above have map makers under either their 2 or 3. Otherwise, all maps can be ordered through the Engineers or NGA through your preferred request chain. Compasses and protractors through the 4.
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CPT Lawrence Cable
I never has the batteries go dead on a compass and map.
A story for you.
I was walking with one of the rifle squads on one of their first patrols after hitting Alaska. The Squad Leader was being very diligent about watching his compass and keeping a pace count. After about a mile I finally stopped him, asked him to bring his map back and pointed to the contour lines to the left of our route and asked if he knew what they were, and he answer correctly. I then asked if he had looked at the contour interval, which he hadn't, but I knew was 20m. I then had me count the lines, there were 10 and do the math, them point it out for me. "Yes, it's the ridge", which was also correct. Then I asked him since there was a 600' very steep ridge to the left of our route, did he really need to dead reckon or didn't he think there might be a better answer? It finally struck him that once he oriented his map, the terrain had enough gradient that he should know where he was at all time with just terrain association. Apparently they don't stress that enough during the Map Reading courses.
A story for you.
I was walking with one of the rifle squads on one of their first patrols after hitting Alaska. The Squad Leader was being very diligent about watching his compass and keeping a pace count. After about a mile I finally stopped him, asked him to bring his map back and pointed to the contour lines to the left of our route and asked if he knew what they were, and he answer correctly. I then asked if he had looked at the contour interval, which he hadn't, but I knew was 20m. I then had me count the lines, there were 10 and do the math, them point it out for me. "Yes, it's the ridge", which was also correct. Then I asked him since there was a 600' very steep ridge to the left of our route, did he really need to dead reckon or didn't he think there might be a better answer? It finally struck him that once he oriented his map, the terrain had enough gradient that he should know where he was at all time with just terrain association. Apparently they don't stress that enough during the Map Reading courses.
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CW2 (Join to see)
I definitely agree with that. I still think we should stress map reading and the fundamentals as much as possible. Now more than ever before.
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