It makes it easy to laugh at ourselves, which is part of the process. It is ridiculous how inept I've become at something so simple and ancient. Thanks for the comment, Lou.
"There is a primal satisfaction in training the memory to recall physical features all around us and the significance they might play on our lives: ..." which reminds me of directions given (in human interaction) with: turn left at the red barn and then right at the second dirt road.
Hand in hand with awareness which activates what you write about.
Yes, it is a choice and also reminds me of a huffy conversation I had a few months back about paper maps. My opponent thinks the gadget is all that is necessary. Sigh ...
This is great, Stacy. I wonder if there is a generational component here? If not, there is certainly an experiential component. Anyone who has felt the pleasure of navigating and figuring it out knows how good it can feel, as well as how dangerous it can be if the GPS fails.
I wish I could say it is just the younger generation but there are some older folks (treading that generalization lightly) who are all into technology and easier (arguably more efficient) practices.
Sam, The Marine Corps sends all newly minted second lieutenant’s to The Basic School, (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, ( I know you know this…) and there all shave tails are treated to the next level of harassment and physical training, which frankly isn’t very hard. In the day we received 300 hours (You read that right, 300 hours) of land navigation training. Culminating in a Land Nav test, several points on a map that required accurate reading and navigation to within 10 meters of a point. The area was quite large and in summer covered in all manner of foliage.The correct point was a numbered ammo box on a post. Yours truly failed his first attempt. Success on a following Saturday. I would never use that detail level of map and compass again. Everything was at best within 100 meters and when calling for the smallest hip pocket artillery fire, the 60mm mortar, 100 meters would be tight. We used fingers and draws, streams, road crossings and prominent terrain features. I never got lost with a map and compass, and also had a couple of Marines in the Platoons that were great land nav guys. At the Infantry School at Camp Geiger my boss a Captain and I received a visit from Colonel Patrick “Paddy” Collins. He was a legend. He wanted to meet the two yoyo’s responsible for 0311/0331/0341/0351/52 basic infantry skills training. He had been sent by HQMC to look at what we were teaching and get a sense of how on or off course the school was at the time. He had the Boys Scouts of America Handbook with him. He was a breath of fresh air, a hoot, so clear and interesting. He brought up the fact that The Basic School used 300 hours to teach land navigation and then turned to the BSA handbook, which with one chapter provided the best land navigation instruction available for basic infantrymen and officers. Hmmm. Simple was/is good. We ended up at HQMC weeks later being shown around the joint and ended up in General Sardo’s office, where he wanted know how we could make the school better. No doubt you had great GPS in the teams. No doubt you also knew how to get on without it. Simple is good, cold and hot are good reminders that we are at best frail. Hill sprints are nice. For a switch up find your local high school or college football stadium and run a couple of tours. Your legs and lungs burning, you will have evil words for me, but it is a simple effort that reaps huge rewards. Oh, well running up and 5-6 flights of stairs does the same thing. Improvise, adapt, overcome!!
Let's go, Charles. 300 hours is enough to etch map reading and awareness in the brain, especially if physical punishment is the consequence of failing to learn fast enough. I don't advocate for universal military service, but it is probably a good idea to universalize many of the basic life skills that are (at least for now) only found in the military. As for the distance running, I'll do a couple one mile runs for time just for the sheer misery of it, but sticking with hills!
Maybe not topographical maps, but I remember having Thomas maps and looking at the routes before driving. At least some memory was exercised. My parents used to tell me a funny story of immigrants in NYC when taking buses they would remember city landmarks as their stops. Sometimes these were trash bins that unfortunately would be moved.
That's hilarious, and yet what more is needed? They were "on", paying attention, aware of what was going on. I cannot help think they need a way of life those who have only known smart phones cannot even imagine.
I left LA about 15 years ago so we'll acquainted with the Thomas Guide. It eventually became etched in my brain. Haven't returned since leaving but would guess I could still navigate much of the area without the map on my phone
Perhaps not surprisingly, this post made me think of Lewis and Clark.
And I think of 'modern' times, where people claim a right to be taken care of and to be seen to, 24/7/365. No, people should not have to build and ark, to be prepared. Big Brother should control the weather, control all of nature, so that we need not stress.
These are good points you're making. A few years back I found myself dissociating so thoroughly that my brain didn't want to take in any of what I call landscape information. I could get lost going somewhere right down the street. I'm quite sure that sometimes the mind needs that to do some of its healing so the adventure for me has been learning strategies to have the best of both worlds.
You're making me think of another point—it is also a fight for introspection. Looking within and seeing how we've changed over time with technology is an incredible opportunity to learn about ourselves. Maybe even make our own path going forward. Thank you, Melissa.
I’ve been trying to make it a point recently to drive without gps — which, when I type it out, seems to be a very sad thing to be making a point of.
It makes it easy to laugh at ourselves, which is part of the process. It is ridiculous how inept I've become at something so simple and ancient. Thanks for the comment, Lou.
"There is a primal satisfaction in training the memory to recall physical features all around us and the significance they might play on our lives: ..." which reminds me of directions given (in human interaction) with: turn left at the red barn and then right at the second dirt road.
Hand in hand with awareness which activates what you write about.
Yes, it is a choice and also reminds me of a huffy conversation I had a few months back about paper maps. My opponent thinks the gadget is all that is necessary. Sigh ...
This is great, Stacy. I wonder if there is a generational component here? If not, there is certainly an experiential component. Anyone who has felt the pleasure of navigating and figuring it out knows how good it can feel, as well as how dangerous it can be if the GPS fails.
I wish I could say it is just the younger generation but there are some older folks (treading that generalization lightly) who are all into technology and easier (arguably more efficient) practices.
Sam, The Marine Corps sends all newly minted second lieutenant’s to The Basic School, (TBS) in Quantico, Virginia, ( I know you know this…) and there all shave tails are treated to the next level of harassment and physical training, which frankly isn’t very hard. In the day we received 300 hours (You read that right, 300 hours) of land navigation training. Culminating in a Land Nav test, several points on a map that required accurate reading and navigation to within 10 meters of a point. The area was quite large and in summer covered in all manner of foliage.The correct point was a numbered ammo box on a post. Yours truly failed his first attempt. Success on a following Saturday. I would never use that detail level of map and compass again. Everything was at best within 100 meters and when calling for the smallest hip pocket artillery fire, the 60mm mortar, 100 meters would be tight. We used fingers and draws, streams, road crossings and prominent terrain features. I never got lost with a map and compass, and also had a couple of Marines in the Platoons that were great land nav guys. At the Infantry School at Camp Geiger my boss a Captain and I received a visit from Colonel Patrick “Paddy” Collins. He was a legend. He wanted to meet the two yoyo’s responsible for 0311/0331/0341/0351/52 basic infantry skills training. He had been sent by HQMC to look at what we were teaching and get a sense of how on or off course the school was at the time. He had the Boys Scouts of America Handbook with him. He was a breath of fresh air, a hoot, so clear and interesting. He brought up the fact that The Basic School used 300 hours to teach land navigation and then turned to the BSA handbook, which with one chapter provided the best land navigation instruction available for basic infantrymen and officers. Hmmm. Simple was/is good. We ended up at HQMC weeks later being shown around the joint and ended up in General Sardo’s office, where he wanted know how we could make the school better. No doubt you had great GPS in the teams. No doubt you also knew how to get on without it. Simple is good, cold and hot are good reminders that we are at best frail. Hill sprints are nice. For a switch up find your local high school or college football stadium and run a couple of tours. Your legs and lungs burning, you will have evil words for me, but it is a simple effort that reaps huge rewards. Oh, well running up and 5-6 flights of stairs does the same thing. Improvise, adapt, overcome!!
Let's go, Charles. 300 hours is enough to etch map reading and awareness in the brain, especially if physical punishment is the consequence of failing to learn fast enough. I don't advocate for universal military service, but it is probably a good idea to universalize many of the basic life skills that are (at least for now) only found in the military. As for the distance running, I'll do a couple one mile runs for time just for the sheer misery of it, but sticking with hills!
Maybe not topographical maps, but I remember having Thomas maps and looking at the routes before driving. At least some memory was exercised. My parents used to tell me a funny story of immigrants in NYC when taking buses they would remember city landmarks as their stops. Sometimes these were trash bins that unfortunately would be moved.
That's hilarious, and yet what more is needed? They were "on", paying attention, aware of what was going on. I cannot help think they need a way of life those who have only known smart phones cannot even imagine.
I left LA about 15 years ago so we'll acquainted with the Thomas Guide. It eventually became etched in my brain. Haven't returned since leaving but would guess I could still navigate much of the area without the map on my phone
Perhaps not surprisingly, this post made me think of Lewis and Clark.
And I think of 'modern' times, where people claim a right to be taken care of and to be seen to, 24/7/365. No, people should not have to build and ark, to be prepared. Big Brother should control the weather, control all of nature, so that we need not stress.
It is the Grand Delusion. I hope the return to reality happens on our own terms with a choice, and not when the "must" of nature returns.
These are good points you're making. A few years back I found myself dissociating so thoroughly that my brain didn't want to take in any of what I call landscape information. I could get lost going somewhere right down the street. I'm quite sure that sometimes the mind needs that to do some of its healing so the adventure for me has been learning strategies to have the best of both worlds.
You're making me think of another point—it is also a fight for introspection. Looking within and seeing how we've changed over time with technology is an incredible opportunity to learn about ourselves. Maybe even make our own path going forward. Thank you, Melissa.