The applications for ALERT Basic Training Unit 50 are starting to come in, and our available spots are getting filled. If you are interested in applying for Unit 50, please go ahead and download the application and submit it to reserve your spot.
For more information on costs, dates, personal gear needs, and additional requirements for Unit 50, please visit the Basic Training page.
Basic Training Unit 49 – Week 3: Nav-Meds
This week was Nav-Meds week for Basic Training. Nav-Meds is the short name for the Navigational/Medical exercises the men have been participating in this week.
Each activity is designed to help promote teamwork, thinking outside the box, and leadership, as well as giving the men a chance to put to use all the skills they’ve learned so far in the classroom.
There are multiple different scenarios, and each squad gets a chance to try each one. At the end of each scenario, one of the men in the squad will be chosen as the “victim”, giving the men a chance to practice some basic medical skills.
The men are issued lunch, given basic instructions, and a team leader is picked for each squad. Then, it’s up to them to figure things out.
Each squad has a different location for their gear, and the site of the scenario. They must use careful map-work to navigate to the right place.
The necessary gear for each exercise is placed around campus, and the men must use navigational skills to locate each piece before they can begin.
Charlie Second carries their logs to the proper location.
Once the logs have been brought over, the men set up a roper system, and prepare to move the logs across a large ravine.
Once the system is set up, it’s time for Charlie Second to begin transporting the logs.
Bravo First is preparing to build a platform using logs, and rope lashing.
The work on getting a frame built for a tarp roof.
Once finished, the men must place all of their gear on the platform, and stand on it, to ensure it is strong enough to support them.
Charlie First carries Recruit Samuel Reinmiller in a stretcher for their medical scenario.
Once the entire activity is finished, the men must form back up at the Basic Training area, and report in.
Last week, the men of Unit 49 completed one of, if not the hardest event of Basic Training – The Endurance Hike. Starting Wednesday morning, the Unit drove out to Oklahoma, and camped overnight at Ouachita National Forest.
The hike began Thursday morning, at approx. 6:30 AM. The Endurance hike is typically somewhere between 20 – 24 hours long, depending on the weather, and other factors. This one took almost exactly 23.5 Hours to complete, and was easily the most physically demanding challenge the men have faced in Basic Training.
The Endurance Hike is a huge test of strength (both physically and mentally), trust, faith, and teamwork. The men really worked together on the hike, helping out those who struggled, and keeping a close eye on one another.
The men are getting ready to move out at approx 6:30AM on Thursday morning.
The men hike along trails for a good portion of the hike.
The men climb up the “Rock Staircase”. Sections of the hike like this are when teamwork really begins to show.
The men stop for a break about 6 hours into the hike to eat some lunch, and stretch out.
The next portion of the hike was one of the hardest portions – the night portion of the hike. The night part of the hike requires an immense amount of concentration/focus to stay awake, and engaged. It’s easy to zone out, and quickly fall behind, so it’s very important for the men to be encouraging one another during this time.
After hiking through the dark for almost 12 hours, the light of dawn is just beginning to break, and the Endurance Hike is finally coming to an end.
Just as the sun is rising, the men of Unit 49 are sprinting hard an fast to finish the Endurance Hike.
Finally, after 24 long hours, Unit 49 has completed their Endurance Hike. Captain Pendergast takes a moment to encourage and congratulate the men.
Last week, during survival training, the men had a River Crossing Competition. Each squad must race against another squad in order to see who can complete a full river crossing the fastest. The squads go through a series of elimination, until only one squad remains, and that squad wins the competition.
Unit 49 Stands at attention, and receives their instructions for the River Crossing Competition. Thankfully, while the day began very rainy, the weather quickly took a turn for the better.
Alpha Second prepares their rope system for a river crossing.
Recruit Consiglio helps recruit Nottveit get across, and unhooked from the rope system.
It takes a good amount of strength to pull yourself across the rope, especially when you do multiple river crossing in one day.
Delta First sets up their rope system and prepares to cross.
Once the crossing is completed, the men must quickly gather all the equipment and organize it before the timer will be stopped. Breaking down the system is important to getting a fast time. Attention to detail is required, as any equipment that is not properly tied, coiled, etc. will add a few seconds to the total time.
This last week of Basic Training has been very different than the previous 4 weeks. Survival week is focused entirely on wilderness survival skills such as land navigation, food gathering, shelter building, and other useful outdoor skills. The men were moved out of the barracks to the Survival Week Training Area, where they have camped out since Monday morning.
Each Squad must build a shared shelter, which they will sleep in during the course of survival week.
Recruits must be resourceful and use whatever they can find to build their shelters.
Making a shelter waterproof is very important for comfort during survival week, especially during this time of the year.
The recruits have two fire starting competitions – One as a squad, and one as individuals.
Basic Training Unit 49: The 12 Hour Hike
Last week the men of Unit 49 completed the second biggest hike in Basic Training. The 12 Hour Hike began at 1:00AM, Friday morning, and ended around 1:00PM on Friday afternoon.
The 12 Hour Hike is a big step up from the previous six hour. There is no denying that it is a difficult hike, and by the last 1-2 hours of it, it would be unusual to not be in some sort of pain. Nevertheless, the men of Unit 49 persevered, and every single man completed the Hike. It’s always encouraging to see everyone make it to the finish line, and finish strong.
In the middle of the night, the Drill Instructors suddenly sound the alarms. Response Drills like this teach the men to be always prepared, even when they’re going to bed.
When a Multi-Day Alarm is sounded off, the barracks must be made up to daily inspection standards. The reason for this is that the recruits do not know how long they will be gone, so it is important to leave the Basic Training area looking neat and orderly.
Capt. Pendergast addresses the Unit before they move out.
Recruits take a short break during the early hours of the hike. They are encouraged by their squad leaders to take care of their feet during this time.
The men stop at the 6 hour mark to take a long break, eat a meal, and warm up by some fires the Logistics Team has made.
The men hiking through the woods on the ALERT Campus.
After 12 long hours, the men come around the last bend, and prepare for the final sprint of the hike.
The newly chosen Guidon Bearer (Recruit Josiah Flex) sprints hard to the finish line, followed closely by the rest of the Unit.
The Last of the men finish strong, running up the hill to the Flag Field.
Capt. Pendergast again addresses the Unit upon completion of the hike.
Basic Training Unit 49: Rope Work Exercises
For the last two weeks, the men of Unit 49 have been learning and practicing some of the important skills we teach here in Basic Training. They will be using these skills regularly thought Basic, as well as in ERT and Third-Phase if they choose to stay for those additional programs.
Rope Work is very important here at ALERT, due to our focus on emergency services. Unit 49 has been learning and practicing Rappelling, Rock Climbing, and River Crossing.
Each one of these activities help build confidence, efficiency, teamwork, and safety consciousness into the men.
Alpha First prepares for a practice River Crossing.
Sergeant Boulden Shows Recruit Murray and Recruit Grove how to properly set up the rope system. Once correctly done, the entire set-up can be taken down from the opposite side of the river.
Alpha First pulls hard on the rope to create tension, making the rope easier to climb across.
Cpl. Kilpatrick Shows Recruit Bennett and Recruit Kimmey how to rappel.
Recruit Agemy prepares to descend down the 40+ Ft. ALERT Tower.
One of the Recruits descending down the tower.
Recruit Hsu on his way down.
Recruit Durrant and Recruit Daniels take a shot at the ALERT rock wall.
Recruit Brown is just a few steps away from the top.
Basic Training Unit 49: Sabine River Hike (Six Hour)
Last Thursday the men of Unit 49 completed their second big hike – The Six Hour, also known as the Sabine River Hike. It is our wettest hike, requiring the crossing of two rivers, as well as a lengthy trek through a very swampy area.
The water was high fairly high on the first crossing, coming up to about chest level. The second part of the river required swimming to get across.
Everyone made it safely across, and was able to keep their packs relatively dry. When crossing rivers with our packs, we put them in a sealed garbage bag, which allows them to float across with us, instead of dragging us down.
The men align in formation after the alarm sounds off, ready to receive instructions for the hike. Anyone who has trouble with swimming is issued a life vest.
Recruit Ethan Mawhinney has been chosen as the Unit’s current Guidon Bearer. The Guidon Bearer may change from time to time during the course of Basic. Recruit Mawhinney will carry the Guidon everywhere he goes, including hiking. The Guidon has a streamer attached to it for every Unit that has gone through Basic Training. Once Unit 49′s Basic is over, their streamer will be added to the Guidon as well.
Men cross the first river, keeping their packs out of the water as best they can. The water was very cold that morning, making the crossing a little more difficult.
These recruits are almost to the other side.
Recruits must now carry their gear up the steep bank, and quickly get ready to move out again.
The men must move very quickly once on the other side. The Senior Drill Instructor will not wait forever, and it’s a long way to catch up if you’re left behind.
After a long journey, the men arrive (still soaking wet) at the end of the hike, where Captain Pendergast addresses the Unit to congratulate them.
Basic Training Unit 49 – Week 2: Saturday Inspection
Saturday Inspection is one of the most important parts of Basic Training. It focuses on teaching important character attributes such as hard work, attention to detail, and perseverance.
Saturday Inspection consists of an extremely thorough uniform inspection, followed by a squad-room inspection, and then a jurisdiction inspection. The Senior Drill Sergeant and Drill Instructors inspect with extreme attention to detail, making sure everything is perfect. To pass a Saturday Inspection, the men have a small tolerance they must stay within. That tolerance is per squad, being: 1 gig for the entire squad’s uniforms, 1 gig for the squad-room, and 1 gig for jurisdictions, giving each squad just 3 gigs to work with. A “gig” is any error/infraction that is found. It could be a small wrinkle in the bed sheet, or a single grain of sand on the floor.
The men of Unit 49 have only 7 chances to pass a Saturday Inspection. Very few Units have ever passed before the 7th Saturday Inspection, and none have ever passed before the 6th. It takes a lot of practice, teamwork, and determination to pass, and each unit slowly learns these things with each failed attempt.
Yesterday the men did not pass, as this was their first inspection. It will take a while for them to start figuring out what needs to be cleaned, how it needs to be cleaned, and how to move quickly and efficiently while cleaning.
Unit 49 Must stand at attention for the entire duration of the Uniform Inspection. Any movement or breaking of the POA (Position of Attention) is an automatic fail.
Drill Instructor Vanderford and Squad Leader Cpl. Hawley inspect the men of Charlie First.
Drill Instructor Tuuk and Cpl. Dahl inspect Delta Second.
Cadre inspect the recruit’s journals, making sure every single line has been filled out for the week.
There are consequences for not passing inspection. These consequences help motivate the men to do much better next time.
Basic Training Unit 49: The 3 Hour Hike
Today Unit 49 just completed the 3 Hour Hike, which is the first of the big hikes we do here in Basic Training. We began at approx. 7:00 AM at the Basic Training barracks, and finished around 10:00 AM, arriving at another campsite.
From here, the men will spend the next day practicing some of the navigational skills they have learned in last week’s classes.
The 3 Hour hike can be very difficult for some, especially those who haven’t yet figured out how to pack their multi-day packs efficiently. Still, everyone pushed hard, and everyone completed the hike.
Unit 49 was also released from voice lock down today. Voice lock down is a tool used to teach the men self-control. Now that the men have the privilege to talk, they are expected to choose their words carefully, and use their speech to encourage one another during the difficult times of Basic Training.
Unit 49 comes to a halt for their first break during the hike. The men were then released from voice lockdown at this point.
Recruits sprint as they move out for the second “leg” of the hike.
Recruits must hike in a double-column formation, with squad leaders on the side to assist them where needed, and keep them encouraged.
Each leg of the hike takes approx. one hour to complete.
Unit 49 sprints to the end of the hike.
Unit 49 falls into formation, and is addressed by Captain Pendergast upon completion of the hike.
