Our two day Tactical Bushcraft course provides our students with a bedrock of knowledge in the art of living in and travelling through the woods for as long as you so choose, all applicable to the hiker, hunter, or Soldier.
We'll go through a very comprehensive course of instruction, including: the history of wayfinding, the evolution and global layout of MGRS, point plotting, distance, direction, declination, pace count, azimuths, terrain features, route plotting, celestial navigation, common mistakes in tactical wayfinding, wilderness first aid, tool selection and safety, fuel selection and processing, fire building, covert fire lays, field hygiene, shelter construction, water sanitation, basic snaring, campsite selection, survival psychology, tracking, counter tracking, evasion techniques, rescue operations, and recovery planning - all with real time 1 on 1 coaching from experienced Instructors during practical exercises.
Meet up instructions and further details will be emailed to you a week before class starts.
Course registration will also CLOSE one week before class starts to avoid the logistical problems that come with last minute enrollments. Refunds are offered up until the day of registration closing. Course dates are built around the lunar cycle for night time celestial navigation classes.
This course has six objectives:
- To get students comfortable with going into the woods to hunt, explore, or scout.
- To teach students how to move from A to B in the woods without getting lost.
- To teach students how to move through the woods without getting caught.
- To teach students how to live comfortably in the woods with only what they carry on their backs.
- To teach students the basics of tracking.
- To teach students how to signal for and link up with SAR or CSAR units.
All meals as well as fresh water is provided. We also supply all maps, pencils, protractors, and compasses.
Mandatory packing list:
Sleeping bag rated down to at least 40 degrees
Ground pad, foam or inflatable
Hammock if you so desire, with straps/carabiners capable of holding your weight AND an under quilt capable of keeping you warm in winter time
6' x 8' or larger standard issue military poncho or civilian tarp with grommets or loops on the corners
100' 550 paracord or other cordage
Tent stakes x 6 that fit in your poncho/tarp grommets
Some method of carrying (Camelback, Nalgene, etc) at least 2 liters of water over terrain
Single walled (NOT INSULATED) metal water bottle for boiling water
Metal canteen cup for coffee
Metal bowl or mess kit for dinner - if you don't bring one you have to eat out of your hands
Spoon or spork
Thick leather gloves
Bic lighter x 2
Headlamp with batteries in it
Fixed blade (non-folding) belt knife, ideally with full tang blade
Small (17'' to 23'') camp axe
Small folding camp saw
Personal and prescribed medications, if applicable
Jacket or coat for the season, as well as hat and gloves if going to winter classes
Rain jacket, and rain pants as well if you wish
Wool hiking socks x 2
Hiking shoes, military boots, or running shoes; insulated waterproof boots for winter classes
T shirt x 2
Sunglasses
Full length hiking pants, military surplus pants, or jeans; NO SWEAT PANTS, NO SHORTS
Notepad and pen, in water proof bag
Camp chair to sit in for classes, and around the fire
Civilian customers please sign up through this website. Military, law enforcement, and contractor organizations please email us at contact@futureconflicts.com to set up a course for your personnel.
If you're taking this course November through March, a large stove heated group tent will be provided.
While this is a Survival course, we feel that being miserable during the course is an obstacle to learning. Therefore, we leave it up to the students how they would like to spend their night. If you would like to set up and sleep in the survival shelters we're going to teach you, then by all means get the full experience. If you would like to bring a tent or a rooftop tent, then feel free to do so as well. All students will practice our shelters, but you can sleep in whatever shelter you'd like.
For families that would like to enroll, your children must be at least 8 years old to take this course.
Course held in Western Maryland.
