Map Reading and Land Navigation: FM 3-25.26

by U.S. Department of the Army

The purpose of this field manual is to provide a standardized source document for Army-wide reference on map reading and land navigation. This manual applies to every soldier in the Army regardless of service branch, MOS, or rank. This manual also contains both doctrine and training guidance on these subjects. Part One addresses map reading and Part Two, land navigation. The appendixes include a list of exportable training materials, a matrix of land navigation tasks, an introduction to orienteering, and a discussion of several devices that can assist the soldier in land navigation.

252 pages, Paperback

Published March 3, 2011

About the author

The Department of the Army (DA) is one of the three military departments within the Department of Defense of the United States of America. The Department of the Army is the Federal Government agency within which the United States Army is organized, and it is led by the Secretary of the Army who has statutory authority 10 U.S.C. § 3013 to conduct its affairs and to prescribe regulations for its government, subject to the limits of the law, and the directions of the Secretary of Defense and the President.

The Secretary of the Army is a civilian official appointed by the President and confirmed by the Senate. The highest-ranking military officer in the department is the Chief of Staff of the Army, who is also a member of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. Other senior officials of the Department are the Under Secretary of the Army (principal deputy to the Secretary) and the Vice Chief of Staff of the Army (principal deputy to the Chief of Staff.)

The Department of War was originally formed in 1789 as an Executive Department of the United States, and was renamed by the National Security Act of 1947 to the Department of the Army on September 18, 1947. By amendments to the National Security Act of 1947 in 1949, the Department of the Army was transformed to its present-day status.

Reviews

[Elwin Kline · Rating 4 out of 5]

I decided to read this while on a 1-week Archery Elk hunt out in the woods, literally reading a map the good ol' fashion way and not utilizing a GPS device. This drastically enhanced the reading experience and made this a super fun read out in the field.

Of course, being prior service in the Army, this was a great trip down memory lane and fun refresher material. Being able to identity terrain features on a map, and then go for a 3-4 hour hike in the woods and find the objective draw and then return to camp without any issues was a proud moment.

I would absolutely recommend FM 3-25.26 for a young person who aspires to serve in any branch of service, anyone currently serving of course as well, or a hunter who wants to be able to read a map and navigate terrain without being dependent on batteries.

[Robert Lewter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hard to beat the Army Manuals. Informative.