THE FORGE

The Forge

The Forge is the 3rd tier of our competence series. Held in various wilderness areas in the Western United States, the Forge is a 5 day land navigation and backcountry experience. Attendees can expect multiple blocks of instruction each day along with practical exercises.

The majority of training blocks will be specific to moving and surviving in the outdoors with minimal equipment for extended durations. Additional training blocks such as medical / combatives / communications are added based on the cadre members attending and the needs of the client / organization.

This event is physically demanding and held at altitudes of 8,000 to 13,000 feet of elevation. Attendees are expected to be physically prepared and be capable of carrying 35-50lbs through mountainous terrain.

The Forge will most likely have attendees doing things they have never have done before. It test not only your physicality, but your mental toughness. Although the course can be demanding for many, it’s not designed to be a selection course. Camaraderie, teamwork, and scenarios are integrated into the course.

Vitals

Duration: 5 days minimum. Longer durations are required for additional training blocks.

Dates: June – August. Exact dates will be sent to those invited or set by the organization attending.

Location: Various Wilderness Areas in Northern New Mexico and Western Colorado

Cost: $1500

Required Equipment: Full Packing List HERE.

Training Schedule / Instructional Blocks

Day 1

Travel to training site
Initial briefing
Equipment Check
Infil to training site
Group camp – Site 1

Day 2

Land management and use
Map types
Topographic map reading
Contour lines
Terrain features
Terrain association
Distance
Route description
Coordinate systems
Impact of vegetation and elevation on travel time
Group camp – Site 2

Day 3

Introduction to compass
Bearings and direction overview
Map orientation
Declination / True vs. Magnetic North
Determining a bearing: From map and terrain
Back bearings
Triangulation
Deliberate offset
Following a Bearing
Cross country movement
Solo camp – Site 3

Day 4

GPS devices
Waypoints
Routes
Tracks
Satellite messaging systems
Communication options in backcountry
Group camp – Site 2

Day 5

Exfil back to vehicles
Debriefing
Return Travel

FAQ

Is this a regularly hosted event?
Yes, we will host 1-2 of these per year on an invite only basis. Military and Law Enforcement organizations will be scheduled independently.

What is the minimum number of attendees to schedule a Mil / LEO event for my unit?

We require a minimum of 6 attendees.

What additional blocks can we add to the event?
Medical, combatives, edged weapons, and communications are available options depending on instructor availability.

How do I get an invite to one of the regularly scheduled events?
Due to the nature of this event, we do not take individuals into the backcountry that we have not worked with before. If you’d like to attend this event we suggest coming to The Awakening or The Vanguard and demonstrate that you are a good fit by having a good attitude and working hard.

How do we get to training area?
We will carpool from Austin to the designated training area if it’s in New Mexico. For Colorado events we will fly and rent a vehicle. Transportation costs are not associated with the registration fee.

What will the weather be like?
Weather will vary based on location and time of year. In general expect evenings to be in the 40’s and daytime temps in the 60’s. Mountain weather is unpredicable and inclement weather can bring drastic changes in temperature. Last year we experienced snow at higher elevations. Come prepared for a wide range of temps.

If I sign up but cannot attend what happens? Is there a return policy?

60+ days = 100% refund
30 – 60 days = 50% refund
< 30 days = 25% refund
< 14 days = 0% refund