What is map orientation?
Map orientation is physically (or mentally) rotating the map so that North on the map corresponds with geographic or magnetic north in the terrain. A properly oriented map allows you to look directly from map to terrain and understand what you see: "that road on the map to my right runs north — so I am standing here."
Method 1: orientation via terrain features
Identify a prominent terrain point that you can locate on the map: a village church, a road junction, a mountain peak. Rotate the map so that the direction to that point on the map corresponds with the actual direction to that point. This works without a compass and is the fastest method in familiar terrain.
Method 2: compass orientation
Place the compass on the map along the north map edge (or a meridian line). Rotate map and compass together until the magnetic needle runs parallel to the map meridian lines — taking into account the magnetic declination of the area. The map is now oriented to magnetic north. Always verify with a terrain reference point.
MilMap's automatic orientation
In MilMap there is a "North up" and a "Travel direction up" mode. North up keeps the map always geographically oriented. Travel direction up rotates the map with your walking direction, so what is in front of you is also at the top of the map. Travel direction mode is more intuitive in the field, but you lose the visual compass feeling.
Back resection: determining your position via map orientation
If you can identify two prominent points, you can determine your position via back resection. Orient the map. Aim the compass at point A and draw a line on the map. Aim the compass at point B and draw a second line. Where the lines cross: that is you. This works best with two points at least 60 degrees apart from each other.
Errors in map orientation
Most common mistake: rotating the map towards yourself instead of towards north. This feels natural (you read text normally) but causes incorrect direction interpretations. The second mistake: ignoring declination. In the Netherlands, declination is approximately 1–2 degrees east — negligible for short distances, but relevant on a long march. MilMap shows the current declination for your position.