NEW: PATROL Classes

• The PATROL classes are open to alumni from the CRCD (open enrollment Combat Rifle / Contact Drills classes). These will be three day classes at a cost of $500 per person total.

• The gear and ammo requirement will be the same as for CRCD with the exception that you must bring a patrol pack/ruck packed for a three day mission and expect to spend one night tactically in the field.

• You will not be on the go constantly in the field for three days. The class will be a mix of practical instruction with tactical phases built in to execute the taught subjects. Rest will be incorporated. One of the nights (Sunday) will be a full tactical night in a patrol base. The Friday and Saturday nights can be spent ‘camping’ or in a local hotel/motel. However, pending the schedule, expect some night work on the Saturday evening before being let go for the night.

• The January course will be COLD. Don’t bring the kitchen sink, because you will be expected to patrol with your patrol pack. However, a woobie blanket will not suffice. A suitable seasonal sleeping bag/bivvy bag combination, plus a thermal mat and tarp, or similar tactical set-up, will be required. For courses in cold weather, the schedule will be adjusted as necessary to prevent cold injury. I want you to experience what it takes to do this patrol thing, but without killing you in the process. If it’s, for example, a storm, then we will think again about the full tactical overnight. Common sense rules. 

• Bring your own food, MRE’s or whatever, for the tactical phases. Food that requires cooking/heating on a camping stove is allowed and will be accounted for as part of the tactical training – after all, when the MRE’s run out, you may be using a solo stove or similar. (No: this does not mean that you will be spooning dry dehydrated food into your mouth because I shouted at you that a stove is not tactical! Think stopping to cook and eat in daylight before moving on to occupy a patrol base….METT-TC).

• Live firing will be involved. Contact drills will be revisited. Weapons will mainly be carried in condition one with some specific exceptions for safety. Pop-up targets will be the enemy: Ivan has been volun-told to show up again.

• The following is a summary of topics to be covered:
• Patrol Preparation & administration in the field
• Camouflage & Concealment
• Movement
• Formations
• Halts/RV’s
• Linear Danger Area/obstacle crossing
• Security
• Night observation: with and without technology (bring night vision if you have it)
• Patrol Base: selection, occupation, routine and compromise.
• Actions on Objective:
• Observation Post/Recce
• Ambush
• Raid
• Actions on:
• Contact/Break Contact
• Lost
• Separated
• Casualties (Full TC3 training will not be included, there is not enough time.

• This is not a leadership/patrol leader course. There would not be time in the weekend. I will start adding those type of courses to the schedule as we move forward. This course is an introductory course to give you practical skills for patrolling. Orders/briefings for patrols will be introduced but you will not be expected to plan and lead a patrol. 

• Background reading on this topic, and material to be taught, can be found in ‘Contact! A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival.’ 

6 responses to “NEW: PATROL Classes”

1. Finally. See you next year!

2. I would consider incorporating an element of ground sign awareness training to compliment to Patrol Classes, unless of course you’ve already included it.

3. Awesome! I’ve purchased one of your books to help me on this very subject. Hopefully I can drag some family members out there this coming year.

4. My god that sounds fun. I really do wish I could do this!

5. Well, they’ve got a very good bass section, mind, but no top tenors, that’s for sure.
   MBIII

   • “Mmmmmm…..Men of Harlech, stop your dreaming, can’t you see their spearpoints gleaming….”
     A very fine movie.
     “…and the bayonet, with a bit of guts behind it.”