Event Recap: GORUCK Constellation 6
The GORUCK Constellation 6 is a six hour "sampler course" of urban survival, escape, and evasion skills, taught by former Special Operations personnel. Participants are grouped into small teams and are expected to work together to accomplish their "mission" goals.
Our event was hosted by The Crag climbing gym on Old Hickory Boulevard, which served as a classroom and "home base" within our area of operations (approximately one square mile, centered on the intersection of OHB and Nolensville.) Instructors, in GORUCK parlance, are referred to as "Cadre" and ours were Cadre Mickey and Cadre William, both Marine Recon.
There are four modules in Constellation 6, each consisting of instruction followed by some practical application. These modules are "Survival Mindset", "Urban Navigation", "Restraint Escape", and "Cover and Concealment".
After some initial exercises on situational awareness and observing the environment for threats and opportunities, we were given a simulated scenario (a flood with mass impact, similar to the one that actually occurred in Nashville,) and sent into the field to familiarize ourselves with the area and to gather resources necessary to build a fire to boil water. We also identified other sources of water, food, medicine, and other materials and noted them on our team map.
Upon returning to base, we constructed "hobo stoves" from tin coffee cans and practiced fire making using our gathered materials and igniting it with steel wool and 9 volt battery.
Next, we had a basic overview of land nav skills (map orientation and interpretation of satellite imagery,) The accompanying mission involved moving to way points in the remote corners of the map using routes where we could not be easily observed (the scenario involved a curfew situation.)
In the Restraint Escape module, we practiced techniques for escaping when bound by duct tape or cable ties.
After that, we assembled our improvised gas masks from common materials and received the briefing on the final mission. We were given 12 minutes to reach the north-most point of the map, while avoiding "sniper areas"...or actually hazardous traffic crossing areas which we'd observed over the course of the day.
After arriving at the rally point we lined up to receive a shot of pepper spray to establish the effectiveness of our masks ("kinda effective", was the consensus,) and then given a head start to return to base, using the evasion techniques we had learned. After the head start, Cadre set out in pursuit. If a team member was caught, the entire team would be pepper sprayed.
As teams arrived back at base, there was a final race to bring water to a boil, giving the teams who failed at the task earlier a chance to make up for it.
Afterwards, Cadre delivered a recap of the importance of the survival mindset and how not "freezing up" in a stressful or dangerous situation can mean the difference between life or death.
This was my second GORUCK event, seven years after one of the early Challenges, and I'm excited to be back into it. I've already signed up for a Light Challenge later this summer.
More information about the Constellation event can be found here.
