Understanding what constitutes a threat and how to accurately perform a threat assessment are no longer just tasks for the law enforcement and military communities.  With the present economic recession, bullies, street crime, home invasion and the ongoing threat of terrorism and criminal syndicates escalating in America and abroad, we as a people-all people from all nations, must learn or enhance skills to adapt to these ever-growing threats.  We must become increasingly aware in our daily lives so that we can better protect our families and our nation.

United we stand is the theme of the times, this can be interpreted in numerous ways, however for purposes of our discussion, we will consider that an educated people can stand stronger and more ready to develop effective countermeasures against those who would try to do us harm.

There are several key factors that will help you identify and evaluate potential threats. Reviewing these basic elements can help you analyze most situations quickly so that you can institute any action or reaction.

Begin your assessment by evaluating the individual’s behavior.  This is not always an easy task, as behavior can be masked, but take a careful look and you will see things beneath the surface of that individual or group of individuals that will help you identify the potential for dangerous behavior and violence.

Look at the general appearance, make mental notes as to whether this individual or group fits any known profile that you have seen or heard of.  How are they dressed?  Again make mental notes of their clothing, hair and footwear as well as any visible markings such as birthmarks, scars etc.

Look at things like physical stature and body language-how they stand, do they stand upright   with an air of confidence or are they slouched over? What is the position of their head relative to their body? Does their posture or stance lead you to believe that they may be aggressive? Can you determine if they are right or left handed?

Do they seem nervous? Look for signs of nervousness in either a physical manifestation such as twitching, repetitive hand, finger, foot or eye movements or verbally in their speech patterns. ?Overall, do they seem cool, calm and collected, volatile and rash, or cool and concealing?

Look at their eyes and what they are focused on or not focused on. Do they seem to be trying to hide or mask their stares?

When assessing these characteristics and qualities begin to identify physical and/or psychological weaknesses. Listen to identify language, tone of the voice (angry, calm, violent, commanding), content of the language if recognizable, or sudden eruptions in speech patterns.

Try to sum up their overall presentation to determine intent. Intent indicates the dangerousness of the situation you are confronted with.

Once you have determined the dangerousness of the situation, you must immediately scan for weapons. First look at the hands for immediate threats, look for traditional weapons such as guns, knives and other edged weapons but also be aware that weapons can take the form and shape of almost anything-even things we are familiar and comfortable with.

Look at backpacks, briefcases, fanny packs, purses, handbags, and shopping bags. Be aware of unattended and abandoned items such as these and others, which may be left behind on purpose. Scan for anything that overtly resembles a bomb or other explosive device, or anything that could be used to conceal one.

If they are holding a weapon, again take note as to which hand is holding it and how they are holding it. Weapon handling is critical to your assessment and decision making process as this can help you understand how they can use the weapon as well as how you can gain a tactical or secure advantage. Also be aware that many implements, even basic ones such as pens and pencils can be used as weapons.

Additionally, look for things that seem to be out of place such as someone holding a can or spraying something in the air-even if it seems as innocuous as perfume or someone dropping something seemingly on purpose-even an egg, someone putting on a hood, facial mask or gas mask in a public place, anyone holding a glass vial or test tube, or any other things which may seem out of place or unusual.

Lastly in the traditional sense, always remember the most dangerous weapon in the world is the one you do not see!

The potential threat may be a single individual or a group of individuals; in either case we call this the Force. Quickly note whether or not the individual appears to be acting alone. Keep your eyes scanning the surroundings in case there are other people assisting who may have concealed themselves or who have not yet identified themselves.

In a terrorist scenario, think of the case in which there is a hijacked airliner wherein the trigger man (individual with a remote triggering device for an explosive or other type weapon delivery system), also known as a “sleeper”, pretends to be a passenger while the hijackers take control of the airplane. In simpler scenarios involving street crimes the carjacker may have a backup crew nearby.

In considering street crimes always look to see how your adversaries are standing or gathered. Do they give off any impression that they have done this sort of thing before or spent time rehearsing and/or planning this?

Next, assess the distance between yourself and the threat. Distance here being a function of your ability to take action and/ or react. The amount of time you need to act or react to the situation is termed the “Critical Response Interval”. Keep in mind that factors such as stress and the physiological changes that occur under duress as well as your physical condition can greatly affect your critical response interval and thus the outcome of the situation.

Be aware of the environment. Sometimes you may find that your surroundings can assist you in the execution of your tactical plan. Quickly assess the surroundings for anything that could help you gain some tactical ground or a covered position. Environmental weapons and weapons of chance such as garbage can covers, sticks, rocks, pens and pencils, kitchen utensils and the like can make for good substitute weapons in a close quarter situation. And finally, you must as part of your assessment, scan for an escape route or back door.

Lastly, you must evaluate all of these elements, variables and conditions against yourself.  That is your training, experience, weapons, mental, emotional and physical state, and any limitations that can affect the potential outcome of the situation.

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only.

INTRODUCTION

For many Americans, home invasions are what happen to “other” people. Most people do not plan for this as they do not believe they will ever be the victim of this type of crime, or any type of crime for that matter. Initially the best defense is awareness. Being alert can save your life and that of your family. As in any emergency situation, Do Not rely on the police or other people to come to your rescue in your time of need.

You will need to rely upon yourself and/ or your family members as law enforcement can only respond to what crimes they are aware of. If by chance they are made aware of a crime in progress, there is still the issue of how much time will pass before they actually arrive on scene. At that point we must also consider this home invasion could turn into a hostage situation. If that happens then your chances of escape as well as your choices shrink considerably.

1.    NEVER open the door for a simple knock or for anyone selling or asking questions unless you know them. If you open it, you have just allowed the criminals entry to your home and have jeopardized the safety of your entire family. 

2.    Develop a crisis/emergency plan with your family. Rehearse it so that everyone is sure of his or her roles. Try to work in as many variables as you can think of. When unsure of how to go about developing such a plan, do not hesitate to contact a professional for help.

3.    Keep a cellular phone accessible inside your home. Make sure it is always charged and in good working order. Your cell phone is no good if it is off; leave it on through the night. 

4.    While in your home, keep all the doors locked. Do not leave your garage door open at any time, unless you are doing something directly in front of it. If you are outside mowing the lawn, keep the garage door closed and locked.

5.    Vary the routes you travel daily to work and/or recreational activities.  These criminals can also monitor a traditional or regular pattern of your schedule in order to follow you directly back to your home.

6.    Know your neighborhood. Be familiar with the people, their vehicles and their typical daily routines. Be alert if anything is out of sorts. Unfamiliar people or vehicles.

7.    When approaching your home after being out, scan the area for anything out of place or unusual prior to entering your property. 

8.    Always maintain proper lighting to the approach of your residence. Be alert if one or more lights 

are not working.           

9.    Set up key words with your family members so that you can all communicate an emergency covertly, in the event you or a family member is in trouble. An example of this is as follows; you are out shopping, your youngest daughter who is 17 years old is home but an intruder is with her. You call her from your cellular phone on the way back from your work or outing and she answers by hitting the key pad three times then saying to you “I am sorry you must have the wrong number” and presses the key pad as many times as possibly before she hangs up. This is your signal that she is in grave danger and you immediately call the police.

10. When possible, designate or construct one room or place in your home to be the “safe room”. This room must maintain a very solid door (fire proof when possible), heavily constructed walls and ceiling. Always keep a form of communication, preferably a cellular phone in that space that is active and fully charged. Just to mention a few other items that are important to maintain inside that room, potable drinking water, non-perishable food items, weapons and a separate electrical supply (when feasible).

• Always park your vehicle as close to the entrance as possible
• Park your vehicle under or close to well lighted areas
• Put all items of value in the car out of site such as, car stereo’s, cellular phones and   radar detectors
• Close all windows completely and lock all doors after exiting the vehicle
• Activate your vehicle’s alarm system as soon as you exit the vehicle (if there is one)
• Walk to the closest entrance and enter immediately
• Whenever possible, try to use the “buddy system” when going shopping
• Whenever entering or exiting from the shopping center, walk with others
• Always observe and scan the area from your immediate surroundings out, be aware of all movement, noises and people, as well as those people or things that are out of place.  If your instincts tell you there is danger, get out of there quickly and go directly to security or the police.
• Never wear “flashy” jewelry to go shopping. Tuck all gold chains and necklaces under your shirt or blouse, and if possible pull down your sleeves over any bracelets. If you must wear rings, turn the ring so that any stones are facing into the palm of your hand.
• If you are carrying a wallet, put it in your front pocket, or in the Inside pocket of a jacket. If you are carrying a pocketbook or purse, keep it close to your body and maintain one hand on it at all times.
• If you are carrying cash, do not take it out in public view. If you have to take cash to go shopping, separate the money into smaller packets while at home, then while shopping use these individual packets for your purchases to avoid exposure of large cash sums.
• Try to avoid carrying large numbers of bundles or packages, in other words keep your arms and hands as free as possible. Always use shopping carts where available, and whenever feasible ask the store for assistance to your vehicle.
• Whenever storing bundles or packages in your vehicle make sure they are well hidden inside the vehicle or placed in the trunk.
• Remember when exiting the center and approaching your vehicle to have your keys wrapped tightly in your hand. Maintain alertness of the surroundings, people and vehicles in close proximity including your own. Move swiftly and cautiously to your vehicle while continuously scanning the area. Enter your vehicle and quickly lock the doors. Do not hesitate in your final exit out of the parking area.

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only.

Times are getting rougher by the day, the recession is ongoing and this is when the bully’s come out and play on the week or exposed.  Take the time to follow a few basic tips & tricks when going to the bank or ATM.  Below are a few suggestions:

• Keep all cash out of plain sight when driving to or from the bank
• Vary the travel route you take so that no recognizable patterns are established, but keep to heavily traveled roads.
• Try to avoid using ATM machines in the evening hours, when possible. If you must use an ATM after dark, try to find a drive-up ATM to minimize risks.
• Always scan the area of the bank or ATM upon approach, observing shadows, movement, unusual or out of place things or people.
• In approaching an ATM machine outside of your vehicle, have your ATM card in your hand, stand directly in front of the machine to safeguard your PIN number, take the withdrawn money immediately and put it in your pocket. Scan the immediate surroundings again while walking towards your vehicle.
• In using a walk up type ATM machine, park your vehicle as close to the ATM as possible.
• While using the ATM machine, keep alert by constantly scanning and observing the area around the machine and the surrounding area for anything or anyone suspicious.
• If you suspect you are being followed at any time, drive directly to the nearest police station or the closest area with lots of people.
• Leave word with a family member or close friend that you are going to the bank. Make sure they know the location of the bank you will be going to.
• If possible, keep a cellular phone with you at all times. Make sure it is programmed with the proper police emergency numbers.
• Always use an ATM that maintains good lighting both at the machine area and the surrounding parking lot.
• Use indoor ATM machines whenever available. Follow the same observation and scanning concepts as above.
• Keep all cash / money out of plain sight when driving to or from the bank
• Vary the travel route you take so that no recognizable patterns are established, but keep to heavily traveled roads.
• When making large deposits or withdrawals try to take along another family member, close friend, or business associate.
• Try to avoid using ATM machines in the evening hours, when possible. If you must use an ATM after dark, try to find a drive-up ATM to minimize risks.
• Always scan the area of the bank or ATM upon approach, observing shadows, movement, unusual or out of place things or people.
• In approaching an ATM machine outside of your vehicle, have your ATM card in your hand, stand directly in front of the machine to safeguard your PIN number, take the withdrawn money immediately and put it in your pocket. Scan the immediate surroundings again while walking towards your vehicle.
• In using a walk up type ATM machine, park your vehicle as close to the ATM as possible.
• While using the ATM machine, keep alert by constantly scanning and observing the area around the machine and the surrounding area for anything or anyone suspicious.
• If you suspect you are being followed at any time, drive directly to the nearest police station or the closest area with lots of people.
• Leave word with a family member or close friend that you are going to the bank. Make sure they know the location of the bank you will be going to.
• If possible, keep a cellular phone with you at all times. Make sure it is programmed with the proper police emergency numbers.
• Always use an ATM that maintains good lighting both at the machine area and the surrounding parking lot.
• Use indoor ATM machines whenever available. Follow the same observation and scanning concepts as above.

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only.

Below are some simple tips and a starting point to educate your children: 

• Never talk to strangers
• Never accept anything from strangers
• Never open the door for anyone, under any circumstances if they are alone in the house.
• Instruct them how to answer the telephone without giving out any personal information or divulging any information that would put them or your family in potential danger.
• Teach them a simple word or phrase that can be used in the event someone other then you must pick them up. Explain to them that this word is a secret between you and them and they should never tell it to anybody. Then inform their teacher of this special word or phrase so they can use it for identification purposes when this other individual comes to pick them up. It is also a good idea for the teacher or authority in charge to have a full description of the individual who will pick up your child.
• If approached by a stranger, whether on foot or in a vehicle instruct them to run as fast as they can to the nearest safe place, then define “safe place” to them.
• Explain the “buddy” system to them and when to use it.
• As a parent, it is your responsibility to keep track of your kids, whether playing in or outside of your home. Make sure the children understand the importance of keeping you informed of their whereabouts with definitive time frames.
• Give them landmark boundaries within your neighborhood or property in which they must stay.
• Teach your children what to do in case of a fire.
• Teach your children how to dial “911” in case of an emergency.
• Explain to your children that they should not wander away from you when out shopping together, and if they should happen to get separated, go to the security guard, policeman or other authority.
• Teach your children what to do in case they are chased or attacked by an unfriendly dog. Be sure you know effective procedures for handling dog attacks. If you do not, be sure to learn them as your child’s or even your own life may depend on it.
• Teach them safety rules when riding a bicycle, and make sure they know they must wear a helmet at all times.
• Instruct your children how to cross a street, when walking or with their bicycles.
• Teach them the significance of traffic signs and lights.
• Be sure they understand they are not allowed to play in the streets. Teach them why they are not permitted to play in the streets.
• Write an emergency plan that details what they should do in different types of situations. Gather the family together every so often and rehearse these situations with the kids. Clearly make them aware of the importance of these “games”, while interjecting some family fun at the same time.

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only. 

• Keep all doors locked and windows closed
• Make sure you do not leave your keys inside your vehicle when exiting
• Activate the vehicle’s alarm system whenever you park, even if it is in your own garage!
• Do not give your spare car key to anyone other than your own family or a trusted friend.
• Never leave your spare key under the tire well or anywhere within the reach of others. Car thieves are very familiar with all the hiding places.
• Use secondary forms of security to protect your vehicle such as steering wheel locks, and lock bars.
• If you park your vehicle on the street or even in your driveway, turn the steering wheel to the left or right, so that the front wheels are locked all the way to one side making it difficult to tow away from that position.
• When parking your vehicle in your driveway, keep the area well lighted at night. Motion lights are an inexpensive method of lighting and are usually very reliable.
• Never leave valuables in your vehicle
• Do not put stickers or other identifying items on your vehicle
• Avoid using vanity license plates that reveal any personal information, no matter how trivial it may seem to you.
• If you have more than one vehicle, and one is more valuable then the other, try to keep it in the garage. If you cannot do this, and you have a driveway, park the expensive vehicle in front of the other so it is blocked in.

Source: Tom Clarke News & Information© Used with permission only.

A few tips and tricks to identify a threat before it's too late!

Understanding what constitutes a threat and how to accurately perform a threat assessment are no longer just tasks for the law enforcement and military communities. With the present threat of terrorism and criminal syndicates escalating in America and abroad, we as a people-all people from all nations, must learn or enhance skills to adapt to these ever-growing threats. We must become increasingly vigilant in our daily lives so that we can better protect our families and our nation.

United we stand is the theme of the times, this can be interpreted in numerous ways, however for purposes of our discussion, we will consider that an educated people can stand stronger and more ready to develop effective countermeasures against those who would try to do us harm.

There are several key factors that will help you identify and evaluate potential threats. Reviewing these basic elements can help you analyze most situations quickly so that you can institute any action or reaction.

Begin your assessment by evaluating the individual’s behavior. This is not always an easy task, as behavior can be masked, but take a careful look and you will see things beneath the surface of that individual or group of individuals that will help you identify the potential for dangerous behavior and violence. 

Look at the general appearance, make mental notes as to whether this individual or group fits any known profile that you have seen or heard of. How are they dressed? Again make mental notes of their clothing, hair and footwear as well as any visible markings such as birthmarks, scars and tattoos.

Look at things like physical stature and body language-how they stand, do they stand upright   with an air of confidence or are they slouched over? What is the position of their head relative to their body? Does their posture or stance lead you to believe that they may be aggressive? Can you determine if they are right or left handed?

Do they seem nervous? Look for signs of nervousness in either a physical manifestation such as twitching, repetitive hand, finger, foot or eye movements or verbally in their speech patterns.

Overall, do they seem cool, calm and collected, volatile and rash, or cool and concealing? 

Look at their eyes and what they are focused on or not focused on. Do they seem to be trying to hide or mask their stares?

When assessing these characteristics and qualities begin to identify physical and/or psychological weaknesses. Listen to identify language, tone of the voice (angry, calm, violent, commanding), content of the language if recognizable, or sudden eruptions in speech patterns.

Try to sum up their overall presentation to determine intent. Intent indicates the dangerousness of the situation you are confronted with.

Once you have determined the dangerousness of the situation, you must immediately scan for weapons. First look at the hands for immediate threats, look for traditional weapons such as guns, knives and other edged weapons but also be aware that weapons can take the form and shape of almost anything-even things we are familiar and comfortable with.

Look at backpacks, briefcases, fanny packs, purses, handbags, and shopping bags. Be aware of unattended and abandoned items such as these and others, which may be left behind on purpose. Scan for anything that overtly resembles a bomb or other explosive device, or anything that could be used to conceal one.

If they are holding a weapon, again take note as to which hand is holding it and how they are holding it. Weapon handling is critical to your assessment and decision making process as this can help you understand how they can use the weapon as well as how you can gain a tactical or secure advantage. Also be aware that many implements, even basic ones such as pens and pencils can be used as weapons.  

Additionally, look for things that seem to be out of place such as someone holding a can or spraying something in the air-even if it seems as innocuous as perfume or someone dropping something seemingly on purpose-even an egg, someone putting on a hood, facial mask or gas mask in a public place, anyone holding a glass vial or test tube, or any other things which may seem out of place or unusual.

Lastly in the traditional sense, always remember the most dangerous weapon in the world is the one you do not see!

The potential threat may be a single individual or a group of individuals; in either case we call this the Force. Quickly note whether or not the individual appears to be acting alone. Keep your eyes scanning the surroundings in case there are other people assisting who may have concealed themselves or who have not yet identified themselves. In a terrorist scenario, think of the case in which there is a hijacked airliner wherein the trigger man (individual with a remote triggering device for an explosive or other type weapon delivery system), also known as a “sleeper”, pretends to be a passenger while the hijackers take control of the airplane. In simpler scenarios involving street crimes the carjacker may have a backup crew nearby.

In considering street crimes always look to see how your adversaries are standing or gathered. Do they give off any impression that they have done this sort of thing before or spent time rehearsing and/or planning this?

Next, assess the distance between yourself and the threat. Distance here being a function of your ability to take action and/ or react. The amount of time you need to act or react to the situation is termed the “Critical Response Interval”. Keep in mind that factors such as stress and the physiological changes that occur under duress as well as your physical condition can greatly affect your critical response interval and thus the outcome of the situation.

Be aware of the environment. Sometimes you may find that your surroundings can assist you in the execution of your tactical plan. Quickly assess the surroundings for anything that could help you gain some tactical ground or a covered position. Environmental weapons and weapons of chance such as garbage can covers, sticks, rocks, pens and pencils, kitchen utensils and the like can make for good substitute weapons in a close quarter situation. And finally, you must as part of your assessment, scan for an escape route or back door.

Lastly, you must evaluate all of these elements, variables and conditions against yourself. That is your training, experience, weapons, mental, emotional and physical state, and any limitations that can affect the potential outcome of the situation.

My first experience,

Just like jumping out of a perfectly good airplane, also known as Skydiving, some people might wonder why a person would walk off the most dangerous side of a perfectly good mountain using a rope you hope is long enough and some metal you hope is strong enough.  I’m referring to the art of rappelling.   Rappelling, like skydiving, is the process of utilizing gravity to find the quickest way back to the ground while hoping to lessen the final impact through the proper use of ropes, harnesses, and a few metal pieces. 

Ok, so maybe that’s not the exact definition of rappelling, or skydiving.  I hear Webster and Wikipedia disagree… slightly.  But today was my first lesson in rappelling, and as I started to inch toward the edge of the 50,000-ft cliff drop off, I couldn’t help screaming to myself “Why the (expletive) did I ever think this was a good idea?!”

It was a typical sunny August morning in the Nevada desert.  I was at Red Rock National Park in Las Vegas, NV where the sun was slowly creeping higher into the sky, promising another scorcher.   I was fortunate to be with Mark Flinn and Glenn Justice from ATAC TV, a couple of guys possessing a lot of knowledge and experience about climbing and rappelling.  A few days prior to my first lesson, Mark suggested I watch some of the rappelling programs on the survival channel at www.atactv.com where there is a lot of good information on ropes, knots, rappelling gear, and safety. 

Glenn spent some time reviewing equipment and safety with me.  He also showed me how to properly read and use the equipment (carabiners, descenders, ropes, etc.) to ensure my greatest safety, as well as hopefully instill my confidence.  (Again, you can check out http://survival.atactv.com for instructional videos.)  Initially I was to use the Rescue-8 descender, but throughout the day I would get experience with several other descenders, which might also be called a rappel device, friction device, or friction hitch.  Anxiously waiting to give it a go, I attached my carabiner and the Rescue-8 descender to my harness and let it hang heavy and low between my legs.  Certainly a man designed this set up!

I was feeling confident!  So, without getting into too much detail about the anchors, the rope knots, and back-up anchors, I can say Glenn made it clear all safety precautions were taken and clear before we were finally ready to descend. I threaded my rope, adjusted my attractive helmet, and I was ready to go!  “On belay!  On rappel!”

Nothing can prepare you for that moment when it’s time to take that first step over the edge and trust not only all the equipment (ropes, anchors, harnesses…), but more importantly to trust your own ability to rappel backward – or “spine first” as I like to dramatically refer to it – off a cliff and not freak out or panic.  Thanks to Glenn’s initial instructions, I didn’t even think about the equipment’s ability; I just had to focus my mind on my breaking hand, my footing, my positioning, and my breathing.  DO NOT FORGET TO BREATH. 

I crept closer and closer to the edge.  I could see Glenn hanging a few feet down from me, gently urging me on: “Come on.  Come on.  Keep going.  Lean back.  Come on.”  So patient, so confident…  My brain on the other hand was screaming at me to step forward and back to safety: “YOU CAN GO BACK TO THE CAR AND GO HAVE A NICE BREAKFAST SOMEWHERE!  YOU DON’T NEED TO BE HERE RISKING LIFE AND LIMB!!”  And then there’s Glenn’s voice again: “Come on.  I got you.  Almost there...”  Mark stood ready with the camera to record all my graceful moves (or maybe it was for documentation to rule out foul-play in the event I plummet to my death).  Anyway, he had encouraging words to say too: “Get on with it already!  Sissy-Girl!” 

In all fairness, that last comment might have been coming from inside my head too…

I took a deep breath, then slowly let the air out.  I closed my lips tightly to prevent words from coming out of my mouth my mother wouldn’t appreciate.  I took my final step over the side, clutching the rope in a death grip and ignoring the signs of a hand cramp coming on.  I moved slowly.  Before I knew it, I was halfway down the side of the cliff.  I relaxed into my harness, loosened my death grip, and became comfortable with my gear and my ability.  (“What do you know?  This is pretty cool!!”)  Once I reached the ground, still trembling a little bit, I couldn’t wait to get back up to the top to do it again!

Having skydived before, and now having rappelled off a cliff, I can safely say I do it simply because it’s fun.  I don’t want to get philosophically poetic here, but it is empowering to face a fear and push through it.  For some people that fear could be riding a bike, or it can be scuba diving with sharks.  Maybe it’s bungee jumping, or shooting a firearm for the first time.  Or maybe it’s shopping for sales the day after Thanksgiving (people have been trampled you know!).   I’m grateful to Glenn and Mark for giving me this opportunity.  I had a blast!  Next time: Aussie Style Descent!! (wikipedia.org/wiki/Australian_rappel )  I’ll let you know how that goes.  If I survive…

Melanie Fedraw

What is a Lensatic Compass

The basic lensatic compass is one of the many kinds of compasses. Quick and easy to learn. Great for preparedness and survival, camping, hunting etc. The circumference of the compass face is divided into 6400 units. One unit is actually 1 meter of separation at a distance of 1,000 meters. One mil is also 1 yard at 1000 yards. This is the military (or mil) system.

• It has a magnetized dial instead of a plain needle.
• Protective cover with rotating memory dial.
• Many are liquid filled, which lessens vial surrounding reading disk compasses.
• Many have luminous letters and dual scales in Mils and Degrees
• The dial is the one marked with the directions while the face is marked with numbers used for determining more precise directions.
• It has a lensatic card attached to it. This allows users to read to lensatic compass without needing to glance down and look at the compass’ face directly. A protractor is necessary for it to be used with a map.

Orienteering with the Lensatic

• Most up-to-date lensatic compasses have a square case that can be used to triangulate your reference point to your position. One side of the case always has measurements that can be used as a ruler for military grid maps.

Following a Bearing

• After familiarizing yourself with the directions, choose a landmark in the distance and use it as a point of reference while traveling. When the reference point becomes invisible due to hindrances like clouds, trees, etc., just follow the bearing shown on the compass. Occasionally verify your location and direction by taking a new bearing to the landmark.

Setting a Bearing

• Face your target object and take the bearing in degrees. Turn the moving marking and align this with the magnetic north shown by the compass card.

• Determining the directions through the magnetic north and the marking will allow you to familiarize yourself with the spatial orientation of the place you are traveling.

Taking a Bearing

• Unfold the top cover such that it stands in a 90° angle with the compass card. Have the lens erected to approximately a 45° angle. See to it that the thumb hook is directed downwards.

• Put your thumb into the hook of the compass to keep it steady. While facing the target object, set the sighting wire to its center.

• Read the fine degree markings of the compass card without taking your attention away from the object. Do this by moving the lens up and down. Read the bearing in military system or in degrees.

How does the GPS work?

Three major parts make up the GPS.

1. Pseudorandom code: Identifies which satellite is transmitting information to the receiving GPS unit.

2. Ephemeris data: Each satellite transmits ephemeris data. Identifying where the individual GPS is at anytime. Also showing the orbital information for that satellite and other satellites.

3. Almanac data: Essential part in determining a position. Constantly transmitting data from each satellite (functioning or not) with the current date and time.

The GPS satellites circle the earth twice a day while transmitting a signal to earth.  The receiver then takes that data and uses triangulation in calculating the receiver’s exact location.  The signal travels by a line of sight, meaning they do not "see" through most solid objects such as buildings, walls etc.  Clouds can also disrupt the signal.