Topo

[chappyk]

Hey Guys:

Sorry if this has already been covered, but I am wondering about Topo.  How hard is it to learn, and if you arent the greatest at math are you screwed.

Does anyone know of any sites, etc that someone could check out who doesnst have a clue about topo

Thanks

 

[Armymedic]

If it were hard do you think anyone would be able to teach it to everyone?

In the words of Sue:
You think this is hard? Try being waterboarded, that's hard.
You think this is hard? I am passing a gall stone as we speak, that's hard.
You think this was hard? Try auditioning for Baywatch and being told they're going in another direction. That was hard.

p.s.- its called 'land navigation' or simply 'map and compass'.

 

[Michael OLeary]

It's not hard to learn the basics of map and compass. Basic math skills and a fundamental understanding of basic geometry can help make that learning process easier.  It does take a bit of work to become good at the use of map and compass and be comfortable with your skills.  It also takes continued effort to maintain those skills, so that you are confident in them when the batteries dies on your GPS.

It's easy to become reliant on devices like the GPS and forget the importance of being able to execute basic skills like map and compass with no advanced technology - and that includes remembering to have a compass and a map protractor in your kit.

As for how hard or easy it is, the Boy Scouts teach it to young teenagers all the time.

 

[DexOlesa]

buy a map, buy a compass, go nuts.

 

[57Chevy]

  :alarm:        TOPO 101:

http://maps.nrcan.gc.ca/topo101/index_e.php

 

[Eye In The Sky]

p.s.- its called 'land navigation' or simply 'map and compass'.

Unless things have changed, they call it "topo" at CFLRS.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

Unless things have changed, they call it "topo" at CFLRS.

Hope someone got their 'Leading Change' bubble filled. :

It's always been, as far back as I can remember, land navigation or for slang 'map & compass' the odd guy would call it orienteering but that term wasn't heard often. Topo (topographical) doesn't even begin to describe the art or skill needed for a basic soldier. I don't know why people keep trying to fix things that aren't broken.

 

[aesop081]

Hope someone got their 'Leading Change' bubble filled. :

It's always been, as far back as I can remember, land navigation or for slang 'map & compass' the odd guy would call it orienteering but that term wasn't heard often. Topo (topographical) doesn't even begin to describe the art or skill needed for a basic soldier. I don't know why people keep trying to fix things that aren't broken.

I went to St-Jean in 1993 and it was called "topo" back then. Since that pre-dates CFPAS, i doubt any "leading change" was affected.

"Topo" is just short for "topographie".....as you may remember ( aluminium pot syndrome and all), St-Jean used to only run Franco basic training and terms like this are holdover from those days.

 

[Fishbone Jones]

I went to St-Jean in 1993 and it was called "topo" back then. Since that pre-dates CFPAS, i doubt any "leading change" was affected.

"Topo" is just short for "topographie".....as you may remember ( aluminium pot syndrome and all), St-Jean used to only run Franco basic training and terms like this are holdover from those days.

That's why I stay in the field and off bases 8)

 

[Armymedic]

Regardless of what it is called, it is an easy skill to learn and use, but a very difficult skill to master.

 

[MasterInstructor]

I did my topo in Basic few weeks ago, written exam is not hard, theory is not hard at all, hard part is walking through the bush in a strait line and finding your little signs in a dense forrest..  And yes, it is called topo at CFLRS

 

[Nfld Sapper]

Who cares what it is called..... could be called learn how to find donkey nuts..... they will teach it to you and you will learn from them end of story.....

 

[Eye In The Sky]

I did my topo in Basic few weeks ago, written exam is not hard, theory is not hard at all, hard part is walking through the bush in a strait line and finding your little signs in a dense forrest..  And yes, it is called topo at CFLRS

Sounds like the "application of theory to practical" was the challenge then.  8)

Listen in class, remember what you were taught, APPLY it the way you were taught.  If you did it all correctly, and are working with 6 figure grids, right?  Then once your pacers tell you that you've gone the correct distance, you should be in a 100m square area.  Do your box search or whatever you are doing and voila.

And...from my experience...its ALWAYS hard to walk in a straight line in the woods (without hitting stationary objects such as trees) so thats why you do things like "shoot the bearing, find something prominent, march to it, rinse, repeat as necessary...

Apply what you learn in the class and get the foundation of skills down.

 

[McD]

http://Forums.Army.ca/forums/threads/34770.0.html
I thought of this too and then found some sound perspective here. Try the link.

Practicing now could be fun, theres places that do training in search and rescue that do map and compass work. But to be honest mostly cash grabs by adventure groups and you develop some Wally scout troop leaders bad habits. My experiences in Rope Rescue with a particular company, and a particular Wally (who does their map deals too), compel me to offer a warning while investigating this route.

Im sure you can gain some idea of familiarity with alot thats going to be taught to us. You'll end up re-learning it come that point in training anyway, being taught the CF way .

I know how to iron,  but do I know how they will want me to iron? No. Is it likely available online? Yes.

But, at the risk of others not thinking I am taking things seriously, I'll enjoy my summer and worry about doing what Im taught when its taught, to the "T" of how it was taught. Don't stress. You will have platoon mates learning along with you.

Enjoy your summer, bring a whistle, water and power bars if go wandering, :camo:

 

[HItorMiss]

They Teach 6 figure in Basic???

Whats the bloody point in that?

 

[Nfld Sapper]

They Teach 6 figure in Basic???

Whats the bloody point in that?

I think its cause that's the lowest you can accurately do with the roamers....... and IIRC it gets you to within 100m of where you should be....

 

[aesop081]

They Teach 6 figure in Basic???

Whats the bloody point in that?

If you can do 6....you can do 8.

Not everyone needs to work with 8 in their professional careers either.

 

[HItorMiss]

Completely disagree...

Trust I know of people who have been lost within 100m of where they wanted to be. If we taught 8 fig from the very start it just makes more sense train to highest standard for everyone why train for mediocure?

 

[aesop081]

more sense train to highest standard for everyone why train for mediocure?

Well lets just start teaching how to work in Lat&Long while we're at it.......2 elements out of 3 work in that ........

 

[HItorMiss]

Now you're just being facetious.....  :

Nav is is a core skill why teach a core skill to mediocre makes no sense. That's like teaching half a weapons drill thinking well that's good enough isn't it.....