Trapped in Afghanistan?
Explanations below, first the detailed free tools;
FindMeSAR.com (switch to blue screen)
USNGAPP.org
bit.ly/Kabul-Airfield (web map)
- **warning*** it is strongly recommended to not post your coordinates on social media. This should be reserved for last resort only
- Use of a GPS receiver in the field: the device must be able to see the eastern & western sky.
- While it could be assumed that a American citizen in a foreign land has thought of this and/or has been briefed prior to today, USNG Florida cannot assume that. This information could save a life easily.
The American, British and NATO military interoperable coordinate system is Military Grid Reference System (MGRS). MGRS is functionally equal to US National Grid (USNG). USNG is “the language of location” and its only visual difference is spaces between components making it easier to read & understand. It can be plotted on a map; this is important.
IF YOU ARE TRAPPED IN AFGHANISTAN; YOU MUST KNOW YOUR POSITION BY MGRS/USNG AT ALL TIMES. IF YOU END UP SPEAKING TO AMERICAN OR BRITISH MILITARY, PROVIDE YOUR LOCATION BY USNG. SPEAK THEIR LANGUAGE. SOME AFGHAN STREET ADDRESS MEANS NOTHING ALONE, ADD THE GRID.
***warning*** it is strongly recommended to not post your coordinates on social media. This should be reserved for last resort only
FindMeSAR.com and USNGAPP.org function without the internet (www) after 1st use. So, load them now. These are just websites, not apps in app store. Are there good apps in the app stores? Yes. A simple one is USNG Me
Rules for plotting USNG: “Read Right, Then UP”
Explaining USNG:
In the map below obtained from bit.ly/USNG-GISsurfer you see Grid Zone Designators(GZD)for Afghanistan are 41S, 42S, 41R, 42R
MGRS and USNG is a grid within a grid. The next component is the 100KM ID. Kabul is within 100 KM ID WD (whiskey delta)
Next is the eastings and the northings. The cross hair in following graphic is 19 east and 24 north. It would be referred to as grid 19 24 and represents the 1 Km grid square. The coordinate to 1 Km precision is 42S WD 19 24
Adding more precision, a 10 meter(m) grid coordinate has four numbers in the easting and four numbers in the nothing. A sample coordinate that you can see is the center of the traffic circle (graphic below) as 42S WD 1903 2375
REPORT YOUR LOCATION WITH LOCAL REFERENCE AND THE GRID COORDINATE. Example: “I am at center of traffic circle on Airport Road, grid forty two Sierra, Whiskey Delta, nineteen zero three, twenty three seventy five”
10 METER PRECISION IS ALL YOU NEED & WHAT YOU NEED. CELL GPS DEVICES ARE ONLY ACCURATE TO THREE(3) TO FIVE(5) METERS (9–15 FEET). SO, EXTRA DIGITS ARE NOT MORE ACCURATE.
Precision Examples, base 10 system, add digits to add precision
42S WD General world reference only, not used to report an individual’s position
42S WD 1 2 10Km grid, not used to report an individual’s position
42S WD 19 23 1Km grid, could be used to report general area
42S WD 190 237 100 m grid, could be used to report general area, a landing zone or helispot, but NOT GOOD ENOUGH FOR RESCUERS TO QUICKLY FIND SOMEONE
>> 42S WD 1903 2375 10m grid — this is what you want to use << this is what is displayed by USNGAPP.org or FindMeSAR.com
42S WD 19035 23755 1m grid, the extra digits(5,5) represents the center of 1903 2375. Though many GPS may show 5x5, it really adds no extra value and is less than the accuracy of the device
More & More information:
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