Back to Basics: Navigation Training at Farnham

Westmount, Quebec – 15 October 2025: For candidates on BMQ 2514, the final week of their course brought a chance to put classroom theory into practice under the watchful eye of MCpl Lachance-Paquin, one of the RMR’s dedicated instructors.

After weeks of learning the fundamentals of land navigation — from map reading to compass use and the navigation protractor — the recruits headed into the field at Farnham to test their skills in real conditions. Each candidate was tasked with applying their knowledge to locate specific checkpoints using nothing but their map, compass, and training.

“It’s one thing to understand navigation on paper,” explained MCpl Lachance-Paquin. “But when you’re in the woods, tired and under pressure, that’s when you really see whether they’ve absorbed the lessons.”

During the exercise, MCpl Lachance-Paquin evaluated each candidate’s performance, providing on-the-spot corrections and end-of-test feedback to help them strengthen their technique. The goal was not only to confirm what they had learned, but to reinforce confidence in their ability to navigate independently — a key skill for every infantry soldier.

By the end of the week, the candidates had proven that they could apply their classroom knowledge in the field — an essential step in earning their place among the ranks of the RMR.