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

Land Nav is an essential tool. Yes we have many electronic tools but if there were a catastrophic event it may include the termination of strategic satellites; then where are you? Land Nav - requires dead reckoning, math, map reading, and planning skills. Something any Jr Officer or non-comm should posses.

I think everyone else has pretty well covered it. But Hell No land nav should not be removed from NCO courses. If anything it should be taught even more.

As a Chief Instructor, for the First United States Army NCO Academy during the 1980's, I would strongly suggest keeping Land Navigation as part of the curriculum. We taught the course at Fort Indiantown Gap, PA and saw many of the advantages of having the course. If you don't know where you are going or how to get there, you are in sad shape. You cannot rely on satellites, in the event of electronic pulses wiping out communication. My vote is to keep the Land Navigation Courses!

what happens when the gps fails or the enemy takes out a few satilites hmmmm wandering around with out a clue and besides what would the tactal map makers do?

Merchant Marines still have to learn Mercador, and Greater Circle navigation. Sextant shooting. This, in the day and age of GPS. Why? Because nothing says that GPS will always be functional. THe stars will be there, though. As will the earth's magnetic field (for compasses). So no. Learn the old ways. Because they might save your ass some day.

While attending BNCOC and ANCOC, infantry, I observed a number of NCOS that failed out because of their land nav skills. I feel by the time an individual gets through the basic level of NCO schools, PNCOC or whatever you have for your career path, you should be able to navigate, however that may be, GPS or grid map.

This is ridiculous to even ask!!! How are you going on patrol, recon or know where you are at for close air support, evac, etc.? WTF?

Absolutely not! Land Navigation is one of the most important skills a combat leader can have. How the hell can you accomplish anything if you don't know where you are or where you're going?

I think it should stay. As others mentioned, if your electronic device fails you must be ready to go to paper to get your troops out. Another reason is, land nav is also a practice in attention to detail and remaining claim under pressure. It is hard to "teach" these things without being in them so I feel land nav serves that purpose very well.

It's only in WLC, so I say keep it. If they make plans to put it in ALC/SLC, that would be a terrible idea. Too many NCOs don't know how to write NCOERS and awards, so I think that needs to be a focus during professional schools like those. I'll wait for responses.