Intermediate Marine Cadet Course

Introduction

The Intermediate Marine Cadet Course is designed to provide you with information on 3 subjects related to the Marines as well as one subject related to the ROTTWEILER Corps to give you the information you need to be successful as a ROTTWEILER Marine cadet. The information provided on this page will prepare you for your course test.

Each lesson below will cover one of the 4 subjects and there will be questions on the course test which reflect on each lesson, so make sure to pay close attention. 

Once you are ready click on the TAKE THE TEST link, and you will be directed to the Intermediate Marine Course Test.

Once you have completed the course test, you will be notified by email of your results on the test and whether or not you have passed. In order to pass the test you must get a minimum of 7 out of the 10 questions correct.

In order to be promoted to Private, you must pass this course and one Level 1 Trade. 

Lesson One: Orienteering

Orienteering is in a family of sports that require the navigational skills of using a map and a compass to travel from point to point in a diverse and unusually unfamiliar terrain and typically is used when you're moving at speed.  

Participants are given a topographical map, usually a specially prepared orienteering map, which they use to find control points.

Originally a training exercise in land navigation for military officers, orienteering has developed many variations. Among these, the oldest and the most popular is foot orienteering. Foot orienteering serves as a point of departure for discussion of all other variations, but basically any sport that involves racing against a clock and requires navigation using a map is a type of orienteering. 

Orienteering sports combine significant navigation with a specific method of travel. Because the method of travel determines the needed equipment and tactics, each sport requires specific rules for competition and guidelines for orienteering event logistics and course design.

The different types of orienteering are as follows:

• Foot orienteering: The oldest formal orienteering sport, and the one with the most "starts" per year. It is a timed race in which participants start at staggered intervals, are individually timed, and are expected to perform all navigation on their own. The control points are shown on the orienteering map and must be visited in the specified order. Standings are determined first by successful completion of the course, then by shortest time on course.

• Mountain bike orienteering:  An orienteering endurance racing sport on a mountain bike where navigation is done along trails and tracks. Navigation tactics is similar to ski-orienteering, where the major focus is route choice while navigating.

• Ski orienteering:   A cross-country skiing endurance winter racing sport and one of the four orienteering disciplines recognized by the International Orienteering Federation. A successful ski orienteer combines high physical endurance, strength and excellent technical skiing skills with the ability to navigate and make the best route choices while skiing at a high speed.

• Trail orienteering: An orienteering sport that involves precise reading of an orienteering map and the corresponding terrain.

• Radio orienteering: An amateur racing sport that combines radio direction finding with the map and compass skills of orienteering.

• Canoe orienteering: An orienteering sport using a canoe, kayak, or other small boat. Usually, a canoe-O is a timed race in which one- or two-person boats start at staggered intervals, are timed, and are expected to perform all navigation on their own.

• Mounted orienteering: The practice of orienteering while riding a horse or other riding animal.

• Rogaining: The sport of long distance cross-country navigation.

• Mountain marathon:An extended form of fell running, usually over two days and often with a strong orienteering element.

• Car orienteering: The motor racing sport where a map is used to navigate along unfamiliar roads.

The history of orienteering begins in the late 19th century in Sweden, the actual term "orienteering" was first used in 1886 and meant the crossing of unknown land with the aid of a map and a compass. In Sweden, orienteering grew from military training in land navigation into a competitive sport for military officers, then for civilians. The first orienteering competition open to the public was held in Norway in 1897.

The competition, or race, is intended to test 'the navigational skill, concentration, and running ability of the competitors'. High levels of fitness and running speed are required to compete successfully at an international or elite level. To ensure fairness between competitors the map is not usually provided until the start, and starts are normally staggered with competitors starting at not less than one-minute intervals.

The objective on each leg is to follow the fastest route between controls. The fastest is not always the shortest route, and can depend heavily on route choice.

Orienteering competitions use specially prepared orienteering maps. They are topographic maps although much more detailed than general-purpose maps. The ISOM map scales are 1:15,000 or 1:10,000, with grids aligned to magnetic north. Map symbols are standardized by the IOF and designed to be readable by any competitor no matter his background or native tongue.

Orienteering events offer a range of courses, of varying physical and technical difficulty, to meet the needs of competitors. The orienteering course is marked in purple or red on a map.  A triangle is used to indicate the start and a double circle indicates the finish. Circles are used to show the control points. 

Control Points are placed on features on the map that can be clearly identified on the ground. Control Points are marked in the terrain by white and orange "flags".

Competitors receive a "control description sheet" or "clue sheet" which gives a precise description of the feature and the location of the kite, e.g., boulder, 5m, north side. For experienced orienteers the descriptions use symbols (pictorial), in accordance with the IOF Control descriptions

Each competitor is required to carry a control card, and to present it at the Start and hand it in at the Finish. The control card is marked by some means at each control point to show that the competitor has completed the course correctly. Most events now use electronic punching, although cards and needle punches are still widely used.

The winner is normally the competitor with the fastest time, but other scoring systems can be used, e.g., score events and Trail-O. Most events produce provisional results 'on the day', with draft results on the Internet that night; the final results being confirmed a few days later. With electronic punching the results can include split times for competitors. This shows the time between controls and aggregate times to each control. With suitable computer software these times can be displayed in a graphical form.

Each competitor is responsible for his own safety. There are no rules, but there are guidelines, which should be followed. The basic safety check is the stub check. The competitor hands in his stub at the start and his control card at the finish. Event officials match the two and any unmatched stubs represent a missing competitor. With electronic punching event officials can request a "did not finish" report. All competitors must report to the finish whether they have completed the course or not.

The basic equipment required for orienteering is usually listed as a compass and appropriate outdoor clothing. Some national bodies such as the UK recommend that a whistle be carried for safety.

Competitive orienteers usually use specialized equipment:

1. A thumb compass, or protractor compass on a short wrist cord.

2. A clear map case to protect the map. May be provided by organizers in competitions.

3. A clear plastic sleeve, worn on the forearm, to hold control descriptions.

4. Eye Protectors to protect eyes from insects, dust and wind blast.

5. A map board, fixed to the handlebars or worn on the arm or strapped to the torso 

6. IOF rules forbid the use of artificial aids so GPS and other electronic navigation devices are not used. 

Lesson Two: General Orders for Sentries

The General Orders for Sentries are quite similar between the Navy and Marine Corps, the main differences being the titles of positions referenced in the orders. The Navy Junior Reserve Officers' Training Corps (NJROTC), Naval Reserve Officer Training Corps (NROTC) also use the preceding General Orders to the Sentry. 

The General Orders for Navy and Marines are as follows:

1. To take charge of this post and all government property in view.

When you are a sentry, you are "in charge." This means that no one, no matter what their rank or position, may overrule your authority in carrying out your orders. The only way that you may be exempted from carrying out your orders is if your orders are changed by your superior. For example, if your orders are to allow no one to enter a fenced-in compound, you must prevent everyone from entering, even if an admiral tells you it is all right for him or her to enter. The petty officer of the watch (or whoever is your immediate superior) may modify your orders to allow the admiral to enter, but without that authorization you must keep the admiral out. Situations such as this will not often, if ever, occur, but it is important that you understand the principals involved. It is also your responsibility to know the limits of your post. This information will be conveyed to you among your special orders. You must also treat all government property that you can see as though it were your own, even if it is not technically part of your assigned post.

2. To walk my post in a military manner, keeping always on the alert and observing everything that takes place within sight or hearing.

"Keep your eyes peeled", as the expression goes. Be vigilant by looking around at all times. Do not be tempted to hide from the rain or cold in poor weather. If you see or hear anything unusual, investigate it.

3. To report all violations of orders I am instructed to enforce.

If, for example, someone is climbing a fence near your post, you must report it, even if the offender stops climbing and runs away after your challenge. In this case, even though it appears that the threat to security is over, there is no way for you to know whether this violator is the only one involved. And even though the climber may have just been seeking a shortcut back to her or his ship, you cannot be certain that there is not something more sinister involved. Let your superiors make the judgment calls; your job is to report what happens on or near your post.

4. To repeat all calls from posts more distant from the guardhouse (or the Quarterdeck) than my own.

"In these days of modern communications, sentries will probably have telephones or radios at their disposal with which to make their reports. But if they do not, or if there is a power failure or some other reason that the modern equipment fails, the age-old practice of relaying the word is very important. The term "guardhouse" in this general order refers to the command post or point of control for the watches. It might be the quarterdeck on board ship or a tent in the field. 

5. To quit my post only when properly relieved.

It should be fairly obvious that you should not leave your post until someone has come to take your place or until the petty officer of the guard has told you that the watch is no longer necessary. If the person relieving you is late, report it to the petty officer of the watch but do not quit your post. If you become ill and can no longer stand your watch, notify the petty officer of the watch and he or she will provide you a proper relief.

6. To receive, obey, and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the watch only..

It is essential that you receive and obey all of the special orders that apply to your watch. It is also essential that you pass these orders on to your relief.

For the Marine Corps it reads 'Commanding Officer, Officer of the Day, Officers, and Non-Commissioned Officers of the guard only.'

7. To talk to no one except in the line of duty.

"Having conversations about matters not pertaining to your duty is distracting and must be avoided. If someone tries to engage you in casual conversation while you are standing your watch, it is your responsibility to inform them courteously that you are on duty and cannot talk with them.

8. To give the alarm in case of fire or disorder.

"While this is rather straightforward and obvious, keep in mind that a fire or disorder of some kind might be a deliberate distraction to keep you from observing some other disorderly or subversive activity. If you are certain that a fire is not meant to be a distraction, you should fight the fire if you have the means to do so. Remember, however, that your first responsibility is to report whatever is amiss.

9. To call the Corporal of the Guard/Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.

The rule here is "When in doubt, ask." If you are not sure what you are supposed to do in a particular situation, it is better to ask for clarification than to make an assumption or to guess.

10. To salute all officers and all colors and standards not cased.

Even though you are in charge of your post and everyone, including officers, must obey your instructions insofar as they pertain to your duties, you must still extend the appropriate military courtesies. Both terms, "colors" and "standards", refer to the national ensign. The national ensign may be referred to as "the colors" when it is fixed to a staff, mast, or pike (e.g., when flown from a flagstaff or carried in a parade). When it is fixed to a vehicle it is often called "the national standard." A flag is considered "cased" when it is furled and placed in a protective covering. If your duties allow, you should take part in morning or evening colors ceremonies, but do not sacrifice your vigilance by doing so. For example, if your assignment requires that you watch a certain area and the national ensign is being hoisted in a different direction, you should stand at attention and salute but do not face the colors; keep looking in the direction you are supposed to be watching.

11. To be especially watchful at night and during the time for challenging, to challenge all persons on or near my post, and to allow no one to pass without proper authority.

Challenging persons while you are on sentry duty is accomplished by a mix of custom and common sense. When a person or party approaches your post, you should challenge them at a distance that is sufficient for you to react if they turn out to have hostile intentions. You should say in a firm voice, loud enough to be easily heard, "Halt! Who goes there?" (or "Who is there?"). Once the person answers, you should then say "Advance to be recognized." If you are challenging a group of people, you should say, "Advance one to be recognized." If you have identified the person or persons approaching, permit them to pass. If you are not satisfied with that person's identification, you must detain the person and call the petty officer of the watch. When two or more individuals approach from different directions at the same time, challenge each in turn and require each to halt until told to proceed.

General Orders for the Navy and Coast Guard are essentially the same, except for the wording of two orders:

6. To receive, obey and pass on to the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Command Duty Officer, Officer of the Deck, and Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch only.

9. To call the Officer of the Deck in any case not covered by instructions.

General Orders of the Coast Guard:

• 6 is similar, however there is a difference in the officers.: To receive, obey and pass on the sentry who relieves me, all orders from the Commanding Officer, Field Officer of the day, Officer of the day, and all Officers and Petty Officers of the Watch.

• 9. To call the Petty Officer of the watch in any case not covered by instructions.

Lesson Three: Radio Communications

As a marine, amphibious operations will form part of your duties, and as such it is important to familiarise yourself with methods of communication whilst afloat. Whether on a warship in a force protection capacity, or on a larger Amphibious Assault Ship, you will need to use radio communications that are compatible with fellow maritime operators.

If deployed as part of a force protection team, the radio you are likely to use is a Personal Role Radio. This is a hands free, open loop system which is often hardwired into the ships infrastructure and uses bluetooth technology to relay messages. Open loop means that all users can transmit simultaneously without interruption. This system is likely to be reserved for FP teams when entering or leaving harbour and will be used by the team leader to guide gun crews and relay contacts of interest to cover. As they are hardwired, yet remote via Bluetooth, they are intrinsically safe to operate near gun mounts and do not radiate at all. They may also be linked into the  ships data recorder, so be careful what you say and follow correct protocol.

If deployed as part of an amphibious operations group, it is likely you will be operating from a Landing Ship Dock or Landing Platform Dock class of ship; I.e. A ship with the capability to "dock down" (flood rear ballast tanks) in order to launch and recover various landing craft or small boats.

These landing craft or boats will most definitely be fitted with at least one VHF radio, These are generic off-the-shelf sets that are simplex (transmission is limited to one person at s time) and are "plain" (not encrypted) and complete with preprogrammed, internationally recognized channels. Whilst afloat, VHF Channel 16 (156.8MHz) should always be monitored as this is the international distress and safety circuit. Most VHF sets intended for use at sea have a "dual watch" facility which means you can communicate with your fellow craft on a prearranged channel, and if an emergency message was transmitted on Ch16, the radio would chop over to that channel for the duration of the message.

Transmissions on these emergency frequencies should be restricted to just that; in an emergency. Remember, if you're transmitting a non urgent message on an emergency frequency, you could be stopping somebody else with a real emergency from transmitting! Adhere to correct protocol and only communicate with your comrades or the ship in your prearranged channels.