GI Hunt and Camp Gear Info

The Opposite Direction!

Back Azimuth: A Back Azimuth, simply put, is the opposite direction. There will be times, in map reading, when you’ll need to determine the back-azimuth of a direction. This is used in Resection, which is a map reading technique used to determine your location when you’re not sure of what it is.

To obtain the back-azimuth for a direction/azimuth, you would add 180 degrees if azimuth is 180 degrees or less, or subtract 180 if azimuth is 180 degrees or more. The back-azimuth of 180 degrees (due South) would either be 0 degrees or 360 degrees (due North). For mils, if azimuth is 3200 mils or less – add 3200 mils; if azimuth is 3200 mils or more – subtract 3200 mils. The back-azimuth of 3200 mils (South) is either 0 mills or 6400 mils (North).

Care must be taken when converting azimuths as determine by a magnetic compass or grid map. A simple mathematical error/mistake could create terrible consequences.