U.S. Navy SEAL Guide to Navigation Secrets by Don Mann

Author:Don Mann
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Skyhorse Publishing, Inc.
Published: 2012-09-06T04:00:00+00:00

TYVEC Survival Maps

—by Wade Chapple

If you can get your hands on a survival map produced by the Joint Personnel

Recovery Agency (JPRA), hold on to it. These maps are not only useful for navigation, but each sheet also contains a wealth of survival information and, as a bonus, they are printed on a special type of rip-resistant and waterproof paper called Tyvec. Unfortunately, the small scale of these maps requires you to carry several sheets if you expect country-wide coverage, and that simply isn’t feasible to do on patrol (carry numerous map sheets). So, here’s what I recommend you do before heading out:

Select a map sheet that coincides with the principal area in which you will operate, so you are carrying only one map and not the entire (and bulky) series.

Soak the map in a bucket of water and laundry detergent for twenty-four hours or cycle it through a washing machine several times to make the map more pliable and to dampen the noise of the paper in case you’re trying to use it in a tactical situation. If you’re using the washing machine technique, it takes about four or five cycles to be effective.

Take your survival map to the sewing shop and have grommets installed on all four corners and the centers of all four borders. You can also purchase grommet tools (and grommets) online or at local craft store and do this yourself. Ensure there is at least three-quarters of an inch space between the grommets and the borders of the map.

Optional: Sew in a small square or rectangular-shaped piece of “glint” (reflective) tape for the purpose of emergency signaling.

Lay the map out in the sun to dry or place it in a dryer on low heat.

Once the map is dry, you can fold it to your liking and place it in a pants leg cargo pocket or in one of the outer pouches of your backpack.

If you find yourself in a survival situation, take the map out and read it. You’ll find valuable information on edible plants, dangerous animals and insects commonly found in the operational area, instructions for signaling and applying first aid, building fires, preparing food, procuring water, and so on. If it’s raining or if you need shade, simply string up the map and sit or lie down underneath it, exactly as you would sit or lie down underneath a poncho. Of course, you can always use the map for its principal purpose, which is navigation!

Methods of Evading Trackers

Evading pursuit involves a combination of speed and misdirection. Your general aim is to put as much distance as possible between you and any pursuit while using misdirection to obscure any tracks you leave.

Tracking a human over rough ground is not easy. But always assume that your pursuers have a massive advantage in man power and resources, with trained dogs, vehicles, and possibly airborne assets to aid in your capture.

Brushing Out Tracks

This is one of the oldest tricks in the book but usually a waste of time.

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