LDAC, LandNav & GPS

Just thinking, I understand that having a GPS during LDAC LandNav is forbidden, but as important as LandNav is, isn't there a huge incentive to cheat? GPS units are now tiny, even part of some wristwatch's

As cheap as simple as a GPS jammer is - it seems like LDAC would have GPS jammed for the LandNav course, and if they are not, they should be... just thinking.

http://www.autonavigationgps.com/worlds-smallest-gps-tracking-chip/

From what I'v been able to find... most of the points are not too far off of the roads lining the fields/forests. The longest distance mentioned online being 800m, but what do I know, I haven't been to LDAC yet. I figure if you get your pace count right, it shouldn't be incredibly hard as you trace the roads and wonder the forests and fields proficiently. I could be wrong though, things change every year. Perhaps anyone that has been to LDACistan could help here.

That's an interesting point gojack. Except whenever our MS4s set up Land Nav using a GPS, they always seemed to be off... So don't know if I'd trust it... Plus pretty sure if they found it, there would be some major consequences in areas that could literally get you kicked out of LDAC(Honor, Integrity, etc)

Son just completed LDAC and is on his way to CTLT. The thought of cheating during any portion of LDAC goes against the grain of these cadets. Not that it wouldn't or couldn't happen, but the consequences....kicked out of the program, future is screwed up, go enlisted if you are on scholarship....are much too great.

The key to success includes a strong ROTC unit that prepares you for LDAC. It is important to ask about the success of the battalion's cadets at LDAC when interviewing ROTC programs.

singaporemom said:

Son just completed LDAC and is on his way to CTLT. The thought of cheating during any portion of LDAC goes against the grain of these cadets. Not that it wouldn't or couldn't happen, but the consequences....kicked out of the program, future is screwed up, go enlisted if you are on scholarship....are much too great.

The key to success includes a strong ROTC unit that prepares you for LDAC. It is important to ask about the success of the battalion's cadets at LDAC when interviewing ROTC programs.

Click to expand...

I second what singaporemom has said.

My son finished LDAC and is currently at CTLT as well. We were lucky enough to have a day with him in between. We were surprised at how many cadets failed Land Nav the first go around. The cadets are watched closely, if anyone were to have any Nav Aids other then their compass it would be found out and they would be dismissed from LDAC.

We talked with a family friend that is working at LDAC, he told us the as a whole the 1st Reg failed Land Nav the first time through, not all but most. It is not easy.

Singaporemom is correct, when checking out schools ask about the sucess ate for cadets at LDAC.

Just as a note: Only 15 to 18 percent of the cadets receive an Overall E at LDAC, 70 to 80 percent receive a S, and 5 to 10 percent receive a N. As my son put it, you get out of LDAC what you put into it.

Not gonna dispute yours stats -- but the stats out of my kiddo's platoon were slightly different.
There are 10 Plt's in each Regiment. Her Plt got rated Best Plt in the regiment. Out of about 50 there were only 4 E's and about a dozen N's. The balance were S's.
Not sure but I think all the N's received camp credit. Most were due to failing night land nav the second time.
It's likely there was a significant variation in grades between regiments and platoons as much of the grading is subjective and the variables involved.

Sometimes just bad luck intervenes. One unlucky cadet nailed all 5 points on the first go, then tripped an fell on the way back to home base. He lost all his papers in the dark. He pleaded for a white light to go looking for them but to no avail.

Something like 63% of cadets in first regiment failed night land nav on the first go.

In the end 96% receive camp credit - barring sudden illness or injury - if you want to pass; you will.

So far 367 of 6639 Cadets at LDAC have been dismissed without credit. The leading cause has been APFT failures. The second leading cause has been Land Navigation failures. Medical dismissals has been the third leading cause.

gojack said:

Just thinking, I understand that having a GPS during LDAC LandNav is forbidden, but as important as LandNav is, isn't there a huge incentive to cheat? GPS units are now tiny, even part of some wristwatch's

As cheap as simple as a GPS jammer is - it seems like LDAC would have GPS jammed for the LandNav course, and if they are not, they should be... just thinking.

http://www.autonavigationgps.com/worlds-smallest-gps-tracking-chip/

Click to expand...

Your follow up is correct – and I would agree with you.

LTs rove the course posing on cadets or just do the course for practice. If you are caught talking with another cadet or using an illegal device who are given an integrity violation and kicked out. It's seriously not worth it. Personally I have never even seen or heard of a cadet bringing a GPS to LDAC but I am sure it has happened. Just prepare and you will be fine.

The first couple regs were about 60% fails ( I was 2nd REG with a first time GO and I will say even though I have been to Lewis many times night was not easy)

My thinking is why cheat?

Are scores more important than honor. Is the branch assignment more important than being able to live with yourself for cheating. Will you be prepared for some time in the future when you will need to find your way without GPS. I think this should be a given that you follow the rules. I think this is pretty simple and does not need consideration.

Life will always present greater challenges than LDAC scores. It is how you negotiate those that is the true reward.