When you’re setting up a drill you keep the terrain in mind the same way you keep your squad in line. Look for hard, jointed rock that holds water—those are your likely sources. Thin, weathered beds often sit above aquifers, and veins of quartz can indicate fault lines that pull water up. I don’t let the rocks distract me, I let them give me the edge: a quick check of a canyon wall, a couple of quick dips in the ground and you know where the crew can find shade, water or a defensible position. If the field is open, a good building spot is where the soil is fine, the drainage is good, and there’s natural cover. So yes, I keep a mental map of geology in the same way I keep a mental map of the battlefield.

Glad to hear it. Stick to the basics, stay alert, and you’ll always be in the right place.

Got it. Keep your eyes sharp, boots ready, and stay ahead of the terrain.