to answer your question, yes, i learned map reading during my military service (25 years in the Army), but i must confess that once i got my first gps around 1990 and discovered UTM that was the way i went in a hurry, it is simple to use, and you can look at your grid coordinates on the gps and just about eyeball where you are on the topo map. i have taught many people to use a gps and map over the years and hope i have helped some by posting this information to the forum. thanks for your reply.