The Fort Phase and the Calendar
The Fort Phase for all the courses starts in January, the Patrol Base Phase starts in April and the SAR Phase starts in July because of the natural cycles of the Mojave Desert.
- In Jan-March we train at Fort Edwards because the winter in the Mojave is cold and wet, relative to the extreme dry heat of the summer. Trainees at the fort learn basic team procedures, weapons, first aid, radio and patrolling skills and the basics of being a Mojave Ranger during the coolest time of the year.
- April-June we take the trainees out to the patrol base, during the nicest time of the year, and trainees learn to bivouac in the desert and maintain remote operations outside the fort.
- Search & Rescue (SAR) Phase is July-October because this is the hottest and most dangerous time of the year. Trainees have enough training and experience to start operating with MIKE Force, Ranger Troop 4 or Opfor. Trainees not operating with a milsim team will be formed into SAR teams at Fort Edwards and run SAR missions coordinated with the milsim teams.
- Ranger Basic Course Graduation is a celebratory dinner/ceremony after the October drill
- ERC & YOUHAD: The Expert Rifleman Challenge (November) and the Yearly Operational Unit Holiday Avoidance Drill (December) are the year-end drills for the program.
Training schedules are divided into blocks and lessons by the month, ie Fort Phase 1a, 2a, etc. refer to January lessons, 1b, 2b, etc. refer to February and 1c, 2c, etc. refer to March.
Task Books and Self-Pacing
Ex-military, SAR or EMS personnel can schedule with an instructor to go through the Ranger Basic, Leadership or Team Roles Task Books and demonstrate skills already learned. 80% of the Ranger Basic Course is covered in Army and Marine basic training and most vets will be able to check off most of the skills fairly quickly, allowing them to step into rank-based positions sooner than normal trainees.
Leadership, Management and C&GS courses will take some work on everybody’s part. PIO and Merchant’s Guild training is more specialized and runs on the same 4-phase system.