FORT KNOX, Ky –  In order to remain prepared in any environment, Cadets from the 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, traversed the woods of Fort Knox on June 10, 2026 –  not only by relying on analog methods, but also trusting themselves as well.  

As a part of Cadet Summer Training, the Land Navigation exercise asks Cadets to find several sets of coordinates without using modern GPS. Instead, they must understand how to use a compass and protractor in conjunction with a traditional map in order to succeed in  navigating the fields and foliage of the training area.  

“It’s a lot of using your instinct and trusting what you know,” said Cadet J.D. Roberts from the University of Kentucky assigned to the 4th Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp. “You really gotta find your way and use some critical thinking.”   

In addition to trusting oneself, Cadet Erin Bynes from Howard University, who is assigned to the 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, stressed the importance of proper planning during the exercise. 

“It’s really important to stay in the planning phase initially so that when you go out, you have a clear mind, clear conscience and you can hit the ground running,” she said. 

Bynes feels confident in her abilities after rectifying her previous mistake of rushing her plan from her first Land Navigation exercise. During the Night Land Navigation exercise, which offers the same challenging terrain but in the dark of night, she said she was able to find all of her coordinates after learning from her mistake and was ready to apply her skills on her second attempt.  

Maj. Stephen Yaffe believes overcoming personal failures like hers create an opportunity through the reapplication of learned skills with greater diligence.

“The thing I want them to understand is that when I fail, I recover,” said Yaffe, the Officer in Charge of the exercise. “It’s a very important attribute of a leader because our subordinates are going to fail, and we need to be able to say ‘I’ve been there before.’”

Outside of developing applicable skills, the exercise also helps Cadets gain familiarity with the culture and responsibilities that are commonplace for many enlisted soldiers.  

“Of all the services, the Army is the one that concentrates on land navigation the most,” Yaffe said. “It’s a rite of passage for a soldier to be able to navigate on the land.”

For Cadet Lilakai McDowell from Georgia State University who is assigned to the 1st Platoon, Delta Company, 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, she believes that analog navigation is a survival technique that is useful to everyone – even outside of the military. 

“Everybody gets lost,” said McDowell. “Even with Google Maps and stuff like that, being able to associate terrain and all types of stuff I think is really beneficial.”

Cadet Niya Banks, a George Mason University student assigned to the 4th Platoon, Charlie Company, 1st Regiment, Advanced Camp, echoed a similar concern with the reliance on modern technology.  

“Even today in such a world of technology and GPS, at any moment it could fail,” said Banks. “You need to be able to do the bare basics of what people used to do back then.”