Every SAR team I instruct, I see little bad habits that have crept into their navigation. It is so easy to do and we are all guilty of them. These videos clips are both a reminder for experienced navigators and for those new to navigation, designed to make sure we always use current best practice.

The Brace Position
The brace position creates a stable platform to both take precise bearings and when working with the map and compass together.

Creating Radial Arms with the Sun to Navigate
A radial arm is any object which is clearly visible and gives you a reference to the cardinals of the compass, in this instance using the sun as the reference point.

Orienting the Map
All maps are drafted with north at the top – by rotating the map to align with north you will match the position of the features you can see around you to those on the map.

Taking a compass bearing from a landscape feature
This is a fundamental technique for all navigation and enables you to hold your course even if the feature is not always visible.

Taking a compass bearing from a map
An essential technique, where you can choose any feature whatsoever on a map, at any distance, and determine exactly which direction it is from where you are.

Walking on a bearing
How to accurately walk on a bearing to a feature using your compass.

Handrailing
A handrail is an easily identifiable linear feature, marked on your map that you can follow towards your next attack point.

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