Basic Challenge - Bataan Death March - New York, NY - 4/6/2025
April 6th, 2025 @ 10:00am 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.
BATAAN DEATH MARCH
The GORUCK Bataan Death March is a team-based challenge that honors the heroic endurance of WWII soldiers who endured the brutal 1942 Bataan Death March. Pay tribute to their resilience in this epic test of grit and teamwork!
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
- Kids = water weight, books, etc.
- Water/Hydration. 1L minimum required. Hydration Bladder and a Nalgene bottle 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.
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