Good choice on the Cammenga Scott. For good learning on uses, FM 3-25.26 is pretty decent. Talfuchre's recommendation on the MC-2G is what I often carry, even overseas. For most of my backpacking, a simple base compass is the best decision when weight is a factor. However, for practicing compass use and land navigation the military lensatic compass is a great tool.
For practicing, find a decent area with some prominent terrain features (hilltops, spurs, valleys, etc.) and make sure you have a quality topo map. A quality GPS is helpful to set up points for practicing, but a very simple method is the good'ol coffee can lids.
After you establish a decent 100 meter marked section, you can figure out your average "pace count". This is a simple procedure to figure out your pace count, and we count every time our left-foot hits the ground. Of course, this is usually done on flat terrain, but you'll have to compensate on irregular terrain...regardless, it helps when working with a topo map. We use the meter counts as our topo maps are much easier to manipulate with the metric system. As to the 100 meters, it allows you to move at smaller sections, using your azimuth measurements to remain more accurate as you move towards your destination; such as to a large tree, hill, etc.
The coffee can lids can be placed on the ground at various distances; if the area has tall grass, it helps to keep from cheating
Knowing the azimuth and distance from one lid to others, you can practice on accuracy of both compass reading and your pace count. This allows you to practice staying on azimuth, shoot and execute a back-azimuth (this is great when bushwhacking from logging roads or rivers), executing a dog-leg to a reference point (often needed to move off your azimuth because of a terrain feature that you can't walk through such as a lake/swamp, cliff, river or other terrain feature that impedes your straight azimuth navigation).
If you have a topo map, you can easily calculate the change in declination for your area. Once you learn the rules, it's pretty simple to know your area...it won't change much if you're on foot. Here's a good site to see it, but every topo map will have it listed as well:
Magnetic Declination
If you don't maintain consistent calculation and take your declination into count, you can be off target 2700 meters after 10 miles with just a 10 degree declination difference. I think your area is around 14 degrees West.
Back to the basics...
Work on establishing your pace count.
Work on using your compass in conjunction with a good topo map. The first thing is to know how to orient your map with the compass. There are several practice problems that get you use to measuring distances, calculating azimuths and even finding your position with good terrain feature association.
From desk to field. Once you know your pace count, can practice shooting a azimuth (maintain the consistency with declination calculations), can orient your compass to a topo map and perform good terrain association.
One exercise I've done with my kids is to have them sit at the campfire, and with a map and compass, orient themselves, make the necessary declination calculation and point out the prominent terrain features. Next, I would give them an azimuth and distance. They would hike in the specified distance and shoot a back azimuth to return. If I was really motivated, I'd hang a large VS-17 signal panel from a tree and give them a couple of azimuths and distance to adjust their direction and leave a note on how to return. It's harder to do than you think when you start using pin-point locations (hence the coffee can lid exercise). I really like the back azimuth when bushwhacking as it's a good general return direction if you're in thickly wooded areas without any prominent terrain features.
anyone have a wrist compass? I know Cammenga is one that makes them. I was considering one since I don't wear a watch.....
Cammengas wrist compass is probably one of the best for the price. Ive used mine in both Iraq and Afghanistan and they have held up well. Of course, theyre not very accurate, but handy to keep you moving in a general direction or orienting yourself quickly, but not necessarily accurately. Mine was actually used when flying or driving to know which general direction we were headed.
Good luck Scott and let us know what you guys plan on doing.
ROCK6
