Very impressive story, did you ever go back and try find the river? I spent hundreds of nights, lost and wondering aimlessly through woods, jungles, deserts, high plains and frozen tundra, but that happens when you give a 21 year old Army 2nd Lieutenant a map and compass.
I did find the river. I knew right where it was and the fish were biting. But being a stupid kid, I went looking for a shortcut and before I knew it, I didn’t know where I was. I ended up way out in the middle of nowhere. There were cops looking for me and I heard helicopters, but couldn’t see them through the canopy, plus there was Ft. Polk nearby and choppers constantly buzz through the sky in that region. I didn’t have a way to make fire
Back in the day the Boy Scouts did a decent job of map and compass training. Didn’t take with every Scout, but they at least had the opportunity to gain a skill.
Orienteering is a good way to hone one’s skillz. Maybe the Army should encourage their young officers to compete in same.