Starting from the deputy company commander of the Soldier Assault Team

As soon as he finished speaking, the only cadet in the formation wearing red shoulder insignia, Ma Xiaoshuai, rang out in a loud voice, "Report!"

"Speak."

"Will you provide GPS tracking devices?"

"Distribute them," Yuan Lang said, suppressing a smile, "one old-fashioned compass for each person."

After Ma Xiaoshuai raised the question, no one asked any more questions. Everything else was already clear; their focus was on the positioning device.

While it's possible to find your way in the woods, having a GPS device would certainly make it more convenient and accurate.

Some people might be curious, especially Zhang Anbang, who encountered this when training new recruits: Why is it called a "north-pointing needle" in the military when everyone outside calls it a compass?

This is actually quite simple. In ancient times, the south-facing compass was considered the most important direction, and this practice has been used for thousands of years and has been passed down among the people.

Moreover, in daily life, ordinary people only need to identify the general direction, not the precise location, so calling it a compass is more natural and easy to understand.

The military is called a compass because all military maps only mark due north, which is the well-known north at the top, south at the bottom, west on the left, and east on the right.

All military maps, coordinates, and azimuths are based on true north. Reporting azimuth, setting targets, and calculating angles all follow the north-pointing system.

The reason is actually very simple: it's for convenience.

When using a compass and a map together, lay the map flat and rotate it so that the top of the map aligns with the compass needle; the map will then be aligned with the ground.

Therefore, military tools are called compasses; it makes sense and is more convenient.

Military terminology also uses north as the standard. When talking about degrees, north is the starting point. Due north is 0°, due east is 90°, due south is 180°, and due west is 270°.

When reporting a target's location, it's usually stated that the target is at a certain angle to our side. For example, if the target is at a 45° angle to our side, it means it's in the northeast direction.

Therefore, military compasses are designed with north as the priority. The end of the pointer that is coated with luminous material always points north, and the north (N) mark on the dial is at the top. When using it, you first find north, and then determine the direction.

Upon hearing that the positioning device was just this kind of thing, a hint of disappointment flashed across the faces of the soldiers in the queue.

I thought that with such a strong selection process, the positioning equipment would be more advanced, making it easier for them to find their way, but it turns out they still used old-fashioned compasses.

There is only one type of compass that is now referred to as the old-fashioned compass, and that is the Type 62.

Because some units were issued Type 80 and Type 97 compasses, the Type 62 compasses that were still in use were naturally called old-fashioned compasses.

Forget about their years of service, this thing has been around for almost as long as their parents have been alive since it was designed and manufactured.

If the positioning devices are like this, what else can we hope for? We might as well give up.

The soldiers from the Steel Seventh Company, in particular, curled their lip. Before the Seventh Company was reorganized, they were using the Type 80 rifle, but they had to go back to the old version to participate in the selection.

Of course, both of these compasses can indicate direction, and there is no difference in that respect.

However, the Type 62 compass design is too outdated. Its metal casing is not only heavy and cumbersome, but its luminescence is also weak, and it basically stops working after a while.

In addition, because the dial lacks damping oil, the hands wobble violently, and it takes a long time for them to stop moving after each use, which is very inconvenient.

The upgraded Type 80 is not only smaller, thinner, and lighter, but its luminescence is also brighter and lasts longer.

Most importantly, its dial is filled with damping oil, so the pointer is stable and doesn't wobble, and you can read the value quickly, unlike the Type 62 which takes a long time.

Moreover, the accuracy is even higher. In the military, no matter what it is, who wouldn't want to use something better and more advanced?

However, since they have already said it, as the ones being selected, they have no say and can only accept it.

Seeing that no one asked any more questions, Yuan Lang continued, "After receiving your equipment, we will send you into the war zone. Remember, entering the war zone is the same as entering the battlefield."

Yuan Lang's voice was heavy; this was the point he wanted to emphasize, though some people understood it while others didn't.

Soon, Uluru led everyone to select weapons, which were actually blank rounds and simulated combat equipment used in the exercise. Being hit would result in smoke and elimination, just like the exercise rules.

Yuan Lang's statement was grand, but the weapons available were actually limited to the Type 81 rifle, Type 85 sniper rifle, and Type 81 squad automatic weapon—common equipment, all borrowed from the 702nd Regiment.

After receiving their equipment, everyone lined up again, waiting for the remaining equipment to be distributed.

Qi Huan, along with Xu Yuanzhou, Zhu Yejin, and others, began distributing a piece of equipment that was quite important to the selected personnel: disposable smoke flares.

This thing is also called a smoke stick. It looks like a sausage and has a pull ring. When you use it, you pull out the safety pin and it will emit thick colored smoke.

The function of this thing is very simple. When you give up, you pull it to indicate that you are giving up and withdrawing from the selection, or you can use it to call for help in extremely dangerous situations. Of course, calling for help also means giving up.

After all, with such a large area, even though some cameras were installed in advance, complete coverage was simply impossible.

Although there are casualty quotas, they are all for soldiers in the military, and no one would want to use these quotas, especially the officers.

Qi Huan moved through the ranks, distributing the equipment while emphasizing, "I've already told you, you must check and keep the equipment I give you safe."

This is your life. If any of you can't take it anymore, you can pull the trigger and you can go back to camp, rest, and eat roasted rabbit.

However, you also chose to give up and check your equipment.

Uluru followed behind and began distributing field rations, which mainly consisted of compressed biscuits, one bag per person, no more.

While distributing the equipment, they loudly reminded everyone, "Check your gear carefully."

With all the items distributed, the selection process officially began immediately.

As Yuan Lang nodded in acknowledgment, Fan Anzhi immediately stepped forward and gave the order, "Right turn, march at a running pace."

The group immediately rushed to their respective vehicles, boarded, and prepared to depart.

Yuan Lang strode up to Wang Qingrui and said with a smile, "Commander Wang, I'm going to the war zone."

Wang Qingrui forced a smile, took two steps forward, and put his arm around Yuan Lang. "Hey, I have a suggestion. You could tie all these soldiers up and then shoot them with a machine gun."

"Take the rest with you, what do you think?"

Old Wang's words were truly unexpected by Yuan Lang, but he was thick-skinned thanks to the railway, so he smiled and said, "You mean I overestimated your soldiers?"

Wang Qingrui smiled and said, "No."

Yuan Lang quickly retorted, "Then why did you underestimate them?"