Basic Challenge - 9/11 Memorial - New York City, New York
September 8th, 2024 @ 1:00pm EST
GORUCK BASIC CHALLENGE
NOT TOO LIGHT, NOT TOO TOUGH
- 4-5 Hours - Our kind of fun with rucks on
- Always a Team Event, Never a Race
- Led by current and former Special Forces
The GORUCK Challenge is our flagship and original team building event - we’ve led over 10,000 since 2010. At your Basic, you’ll have some team building fun organized by your Cadre. You will stay with your class from start to finish, you’ll ruck some miles and really get to know the other participants as you become a team. This Basic Challenge is more rigorous than the Light, but still an introduction to our way of life and accessible to all who want to join a tight-knit community of ruckers all over the world and have fun doing it. We recommend some rucksack training prior — all who do are encouraged to show up. If the weight gets too heavy, your team is there to help.
When you successfully complete the Challenge, your Cadre will hand you a cold beer and a patch that will never be for sale.
WHAT TO BRING - REQUIRED
- A rucksack (Rucker recommended) - must have reflectivity
- Ruck Plate (or equivalent) in your rucksack = to your weight requirement
- If you weigh >150 lbs = 30 lb. Ruck Plate
- If you weigh < 150 lbs = 20 lb. Ruck Plate
- Water/Hydration. 1L minimum required. Hydration Bladder and a Nalgene recommended.
- Any medication you might need
- Photo ID
- Smiles
RECOMMENDED (BUT NOT REQUIRED) ITEMS
- Gloves (1 pair) Not medical gloves, working gloves
- Extra layers of clothing. Think: merino wool socks and a shell. Pay close attention to the weather — if it’s gonna be cold, make sure you have a windbreaker
- Dry Bag (or equivalent, such as a contractor bag) for keeping everything in your ruck dry.
- A full change of clothes and shoes/flip-flops for after the event. Apres-Ruck is much nicer in flip-flops
- Supportive footwear. GORUCK recommended because it’s the best for people who carry weight and live on their feet.
- Food, snacks, electrolytes as desired
- As a class, you need one (1) 25 lb. class weight and one American Flag. If you’re new to GORUCK, don’t sweat it. If you’ve done an event or ten, organize with your class — it must be in compliance with Special Forces Rule #1: Always Look Cool
CADRE CLEVE
Serving just shy of ten years in the United States Marine Corps, Cleve served at all three Reconnaissance Battalions before making his way to 1st Force Reconnaissance Company. Cleve served on four combat deployments and has led Marines in Iraq, Afghanistan, in and around the Horn of Africa and Southeast Asia. Out of service, Cleve spends his free time traveling the world with his wife and kids and supporting combat veterans that battle from the war within. Cleve is the brains behind the Recon Raider HTB, a series of events that pays homage to Marine Special Operations done every Fall near San Diego.
CADRE HAND
Cadre Hand loves America, “Old Gloryâ€, and a cold beer after issuing a good GORUCK beatdown. Aaron is dedicated to building better Americans through Special Forces based teamwork (and tough love). Aaron is a U.S. Army Veteran and civilian DOD Emergency R.N. who has 33 years of combined Federal service, with 21 years of military service, including 13 years of Special Operations experience as an Airborne Ranger Sniper in the 3rd Ranger Battalion of the 75th Ranger Regiment (3/75) at Fort Benning Georgia and as a Green Beret communications expert with 2nd Battalion, 5th Special Forces Group (2/5) at Fort Campbell Kentucky. He has deployed to Somalia, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan, Iraq, Kuwait, Jordan, Egypt and Panama. His qualifications include United States Army Sniper School, JFK Special Warfare Center and School Special Operations Target Interdiction Course (SOTIC), Tactical Combat Casualty Care Course (TCCC), Advanced Cardiovascular Lifesaver Course (ACLS), Pediatric Advanced Lifesaver Course, Trauma Nursing Core Course (TNCC). Cadre Hand can hit ‘em from a mile away, and patch up the wounded, while calling in an airstrike. These days he likes to focus on GORUCK team challenges, teaching teamwork and leadership under stress.
CADRE MOCHA
Mocha Mike is sometimes called Million Dollar Mike because of all the titanium hardware that is holding him together. Mocha grew up in the Hells Kitchen area of Manhattan, where he found himself going in the wrong path and joined the Army where he truly found a home and family. Serving with the great units such as 2/75 Ranger Battalion, 75th Ranger Regiment, 1st and 2nd Battalion 1st Special Forces Group. Mocha has a military family; his wife of 24-years is serving in the United States Army Reserves, and their two children both born and raised on various military bases. When not leading great GORUCK events in order to instill pride and faith in Americans, Mocha enjoys traveling with his family and long walks with their pack of six dogs.
Use the chat feature on the Sandlot platform to coordinate any details or training tips with your Cadre and the rest of the awesome folks that signed up. To join the chat complete the steps below:
- Click the link below
- Join the fistbump
- Create your Sandlot profile
- Click the chat button