Appomattox Militia, residents win at land navigation course

Last Saturday, members of the Appomattox Militia and local residents teamed up to take on a land navigation course sponsored by the Bedford County Militia at Liberty University’s Camp Hydaway.

About 50 militia members and civilians attended the workshop to learn the proper use of compasses and map reading. Teams of three to five members had two and a half hours to locate six markers placed throughout the camp on Candler’s Mountain.

The Appomattox team of four local militia and Alexander Alvarado, a local resident and VMI graduate, braved the cold, snow and steep terrain to locate six markers in the dense woods of the mountain side. In large part, Alvarado’s enthusiasm and physical prowess motivated the team to complete the course on time.

Marty White, the Militia Rifle Squad Commanding Officer, led the team applying each member’s unique skills to maximize the team’s effectiveness. Their trek was a bit over four miles, finding five of the six markers and finishing with seconds to spare.

Course sponsors later determined that the sixth and last marker had been removed or destroyed when the area was clear cut and replanted. So the team found all five of the available markers to earn a triumphant victory.

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