EVC stands for Evasion Chart. It is a military navigation aid for personnel isolated in uncertain or hostile surroundings. It combines mapping with additional survival and evasion information in the margins.
Mapping and marginal information
The map provides geographical orientation. Additional marginal panels may cover local navigation, environmental hazards, personal protection, water and food procurement, and medical subjects relevant to isolation. Some charts also include illustrations of plants and animals. The specific content depends on the edition and geographical area covered.
EVCs are produced, for example, at a scale of 1:250,000. At that scale, one centimetre on the map represents two and a half kilometres on the ground. This scale provides an overview of a wider area.
Durable material for a carried chart
Tyvek versions used in US Personnel Recovery are strong, durable and waterproof. The information remains available on a portable, non-electronic aid, including when power for digital devices is unavailable.
Difference from an Evasion Plan of Action
The EVC is a geographical aid. An Evasion Plan of Action (EPA), by contrast, describes an individual's, crew's or unit's intended actions if isolation occurs. The EPA records mission-specific intentions and makes them available to those coordinating recovery.