Knowing how to use a compass, along with a topographical map of the area, means you can navigate those remote locations with confidence. It also opens up the world of orienteering, the sport of ...

This is why basic compass and map skills are so important. "Using a map with a compass is a skill that a lot of most people probably don't possess anymore," Bieri said.

About seven months after the Army reintroduced land navigation to its Basic Leader Course, half of the soldiers in that pilot program have failed the training.