As a leader do you feel that Land Navigation should be taken out from the Noncommissioned Officer Professional Development System (NCOPDS)?

No that is a skill that needs to be maintained. All else fails pull out the compass and map.

Is that a serious question? Who would decide that land nav was no longer important, maybe some marginally useful leader akin to Secretary Mabus?

No it is a vital learning tool.

No - Map and compass work when the batteries are dead.

No. Also, ALL soldiers at ALL levels should be required to demonstrate pencil, paper, and compass land navigation ability. The notion that any given soldier or unit will always have 100% access to 100% functioning GPS is irrational and will lead to potentially dangerous doctrine. Basic "unplugged" skills should be REINFORCED, not eliminated.

You ALWAYS have to know how to do something "the old fashioned way"...you never know when you won't have the resources to do things the modern way and you have to be prepared to succeed in your mission any way that you can. The more tools that you have, the easier and more often you'll succeed.

As a formal NCO I had to do land Navigation in PLDC and in BNCOC phase one and two. I feel that it is necessary for every soldier to do land navigation especially the leaders. Omce we start depending on electronics for everything we lose the basic principles of how to use a compass or even a protractor. We need to keep the basics in so when technology breaks down we know how to do it with out it.

Should be a course every service member has to take in all classes. Commissioned and Non commissioned. Takes one EMP and all your nice little electronic toys are gone.
Do you guys still have to call in for fire?

It should not! These new "millenial " soldiers need to know how to read a map, and navigate through different types of terrain, without the use of electronics. They are entirely too dependent upon technology to get through even the most basic of tasks already.

No. when the GPS Satellites are taken out or your handheld is lost or broken you will have to rely on your compas and training to get your and your men to the destination. If you don't make the designated site on time many lives could be lost!