Be patient, cautious, and avoid overconfidence.
An enemy’s approach isn’t a cause for panic.
Normally, you have a good chance of remaining
unobserved.
Conserve your strength by avoiding exhaustion.
When you have to remain in one place for an extended
period, exercise moderately to keep fit.
Generally, avoid eating uncooked food or
drinking unboiled water. Select a hiding place to cook
the food and boil the water you will use en route to the
next evasion objective.
Hold on to items of personal clothing and
equipment; they serve a useful purpose during evasion.
Keep some items that will identify you as a military
person, such as your dog tags. If you can’t positively
15-25
Student Notes:
Along a ridgeline
Using a route along a ridgeline is usually easier to follow than one through a valley.
You can frequently use animal trails on top of ridges to guide your travel. When
following a ridge-top trail, stay below the trail and move parallel to it. Never travel
along the top of a ridge. Doing so makes you an easily identifiable silhouette against
the skyline.
Use of a stream
Using a stream as a route is of particular advantage in a strange country. It provides a
fairly definite course and might lead to populated areas. It’s a potential food and water
source and may provide you a means of travel by boat or raft.
Following a
coastline
Following a coastline leads you on a long, roundabout route. However, a coastline
serves as a good starting point. It is an excellent base line from which to get your bearings
and a probable source of food.
In a dense forest
When traveling in a dense forest, you probably won’t be able to spot distant landmarks.
You can stay on course by lining up two trees forward of your position in your direction of
travel. As soon as you pass the first one, line up another beyond the second. You might find it
helpful to look back occasionally to check the relative positions of landmarks.
Marking your
route
You can mark your route with bent bushes, rocks, or notches placed on the backsides of
trees at approximately eye level. Make bush marks by cutting vegetation or bending it so that
the under, lighter sides of the leaves are facing upward. These signs are especially
conspicuous in dense vegetation, but you should be cautious in using them. By plainly
marking your route, you risk discovery.
Trails in your
general direction
Follow trails that lead in your general direction; when you come to a fork, follow the
path that appears most traveled. If you follow the wrong trail and become lost, stop and try to
remember the last time you were sure of where you were. Mark your location and start
backtracking. Sooner or later you will discover a recognizable feature with which you can
pinpoint your position.
Detouring in
rough country
You might have to detour frequently in rough country. To do that, try to follow the
method shown in figure 15-19 for estimating distance and average angle of departure for
short detours. On your return from the detour, estimate the angle and distance to regain your
original line of travel. For greater accuracy, count paces and use a compass. Another method
(fig. 15-20) lets you select a prominent landmark ahead and behind your line of travel. On
returning from your detour, walk until you are again lined up on the two landmarks; then
follow your original course.
