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.’