“Shot was high. Eight-tenths of a MIL. Check your DOPE and your DA too. Account for elevation,” the instructor said. I adjusted the scope and my trigger break was clean. “Impact down the draw! Next shooter. Don’t forget to check your azimuth for your next target.” The instructor had a point. I had forgotten my magnetic declination while laying prone on a cactus.
It’s likely there are only two groups of people who can fully appreciate the paragraph above: military scouts, and students of the Field Craft course held by Rifles Only.
LEARNING THE LAY OF THE LAND
Fieldcraft is a relative term, but for those unfamiliar with the concept, the textbook description is, “the techniques involved in living, traveling, or making military or scientific observations in the field, especially while remaining undetected.” That is the essence of the five-day course offered by Rifles Only.
Spread across nearly 425 acres of scenic Colorado, students are introduced to the fundamentals of fieldcraft. Land navigation, target detection, range estimation, situational awareness, and tiered memorization are introduced and thoroughly practiced across five days and at least twice as many kilometers.
A good rifle is required for the course, but shooting is the smallest part of the experience. Navigation across terrain is the heart and soul of the class. Could you determine the distance of a route from A to B with only a map and compass? Could you do it if the map displayed only topography and all you knew was A was listed as 8461 and B was 8338? What about if you were crawling down a 30-degree cliff to avoid detection by your instructor?
While the course from Rifles Only is open to anyone, it should not be taken on a whim. There are prerequisites in the form of equipment, mental conditioning, and physical fitness. All potential students need to have equipment capable of surviving the rigors of land navigation. Shoes and clothing built for hiking kilometers a day while protecting the wearer from rocks and thorns, packs capable of holding pounds of gear plus water, and a rifle designed for ½ MOA accuracy that can reach 1000 yards are all vital. Each student also needs to be physically and mentally prepared enough to be humbled by the terrain.
Fieldcraft and land navigation are unquestionably demanding skills. If a piece of your equipment doesn’t want to give out, one of your muscles will. It’s a test of capabilities and determination. However, it is gratifying on both a professional and spiritual level. Coupled with instructors from Rifles Only such as Jacob Bynum and Mike “Viking” Mayo, it’s the kind of class that should be written on a bucket list. Especially for those who live to challenge themselves and strive to do better.
From June 14 to June 19, I attended the Field Craft course from Rifles Only. Prior to the class, my outdoor navigation could be best described as “turning around and calling an Uber”. After the class, I can confidently say I can determine the route and location of a point on a map over half a kilometer away, that I’ve never seen before, and hike to within ten meters of the point while accounting for the magnetic declination of the earth. I know this because I did it, twice.
Each day brought a new challenge and a new reward. I wasn’t sure I’d finish after the first day. By day five, I was disappointed there wasn’t more. If a reader is interested in the skills this course can offer, or the experience of seeing if you can push yourself to perform at the level required, keep reading. However, don’t think a peek behind the curtain is any substitute for the real thing.
DAY ONE
The first day of class was a gentle nudge toward what the rest of the week would entail. It was an introduction to concepts before their practical application. Due to COVID-19, there were only four students: a real estate broker from northern Alabama who loved to hunt, a SWAT officer from Texas who was the department’s designated sniper, an attorney from California who competed in precision long range matches, and a recent college graduate with a journalism major who needed to work out some aggression because he lost his job. After everyone arrived at 8:30 in the morning and finished introducing themselves, we dove right in.
The very first activity was an introduction to the concept of KIM games. KIM stands for “Keep In Memory.” It involves rapid memorization of as many objects in a set area as possible, without sacrificing situational awareness, and recalling the memories at a later time. It could be a few minutes later, or it could be after several days. The lead instructor, Jacob Bynum, pulled a blanket away to reveal 11 items (bullets, screwdrivers, gun magazines, ear plugs, etc.) and gave us all one minute to commit what we saw to memory. After that, we had class for over an hour as if nothing had happened. Eventually, he told us, “Tell me everything you saw.” No one remembered everything. Every student forgot something obvious to another.
Anyone who has spent enough time around Mr. Bynum knows he can be mischievous. He can hide what he wants you to see in plain sight. After each student had read their list, he asked us, “Did anyone notice how you read back your lists?” We had no idea. What was that supposed to mean? All we did was list some items we saw. He smiled and told us the secret. Three of the students had listed the items from left to right. One had listed the items from right to left. That one student was left-handed. Each student subconsciously moved toward their dominant hand even when it came to visualization. Before we even started, Mr. Bynum knew we would. It was going to be a good week.
The second exercise consisted of Mr. Bynum giving us the opportunity to know how much we didn’t know when it came to target identification. Using our scoped rifles (with the bolts removed) we were expected to find him on a cliffside as he stood upright in a bright red shirt and smoked cigarettes. 20 minutes later, no one had. We weren’t blind, he’s just very good at what he does. He broke his profile so well, there was no chance of seeing a person. We needed to see the what the presence of a person would cause.
The rest of the day was dedicated to learning the fundamentals we would need for each following exercise. The most mentally demanding skill was learning how to use a scope to estimate the range of a target using only its width and a MIL reticle. I won’t spoil the secret, but I will say not all reticles are created equal. I’ll also warn all prospective students that you will be expected to operate in metric units for the entire course, or die trying.
DAY TWO
The second day of class began with a backpack shakedown. Mr. Bynum tore through the gear we brought and told us what we needed and what we didn’t. Everyone had something unnecessary that inflated weight. After that came another KIM game. Once memorization was finished, it was time for classwork. From this point on, the class was placed under the care of Mike “Viking” Mayo. He would be our guide for the remaining exercises.
The bulk of the day was dedicated to learning how to read a map and identify a position within ten meters of error. It may sound simple, but it wouldn’t be in this class if it was. Concepts such as the three different types of north (true north, grid north, and magnetic north) were introduced as well as all the accompanying terminology and acronyms. This was the brain day of the course. Once our brains were fit to burst, we were given the opportunity to let everything sink in during a relaxing hike across two and half kilometers of jagged, sunbaked mountains. The importance of scanning your surroundings before you step or place a hand cannot be stressed enough. You’d be surprised where Mother Nature can fit a cactus. Bring gloves.
DAY THREE
Day three began with a KIM game. It was the second half of the KIM game from the day before. The goal was to see how well each student could remember the items after 24 hours had passed. Results varied with each student. One actually performed better than they did the first time.
After that we were given a surprise treat. Frank Galli of snipershide.com, a figurative giant in the precision shooting community, arrived to test us. After a lesson in concealment, we were told to create our own concealed shooting position and see if Mr. Bynum could spot us. For me, this was the most enjoyable part of the entire week.
I went all out to create the single greatest concealed shooting position the state of Colorado had ever seen. I selected a location distant from everyone else that was remarkable only for how unremarkable it looked. It appeared inaccessible from afar. There was no way to be backlit from the sun. I was surrounded by thick foliage with just enough clearance for my scope and rifle barrel to poke through. It checked off all the right boxes. I offset my pack inside the bush to ensure it didn’t break the lines and then doused the whole area in bug repellent to stay comfortable. It was perfect. Mr. Galli’s approval of my efforts as he walked by only strengthened my confidence. I had accounted for everything in my surroundings and I knew it. I dared Mr. Bynum to find me.
Within five minutes, Mr. Bynum had dialed in my location. Using only pace counts, he directed Mr. Galli by radio to my exact position and had him place a hand on my head. It took me a moment before the reason behind his omniscience sunk in.
Everything was green or brown and looked exactly as it should. No twig or leaf was out of place. Every single object in the area looked like it was meant to be there. Everything looked right, except for me. I had arrived to class that day in an orange plaid shirt. It didn’t click until I stood up and looked around. Unless you’re planning to work as the stunt-double for The Great Pumpkin in a Charlie Brown episode, I don’t think that shirt would blend in anywhere. I recommend all potential students wear earth tones to class every day. Your personal pride will thank you. After the exercise, Frank Galli gave us some parting wisdom and left to buy a Porsche.
A short hike followed. We hiked in full gear, plus rifles, to a nearby location to check our zeros for the following day. We’d reached the halfway mark for the course. It was time for a test.
Each student was expected to accurately plot four points on their map using only grid coordinates and our limited knowledge of the topography. Afterwards, we would average the results and hike to each point. An incorrect point meant we would be walking off course. Our results were off, but that was the objective of the exercise. Our guide, Viking, knew where we should be, despite the error. We were close enough to use terrain association to guide ourselves the rest of the way and hit the point perfectly. Successful land navigation is about using a series of imprecise tools to achieve a precise result. Your map, compass, step count, and ability to recognize physical landmarks are all a part of the whole. Even if one fails completely, the rest can be used to compensate. Proficiency becomes confidence.
After reaching the final objective point, the real challenge began. With Viking taking the lead, the class was tasked with returning to our starting coordinates without being detected by Mr. Bynum down below. We hiked, crawled, wiggled, and cussed through all manner of dense, spiky foliage for hours. Viking planned the route for us, but it was up to each student to conceal their movements. Eventually, we were spotted as we attempted to crawl around a large boulder. The group decided to risk exposing ourselves because the far side presented a ravine topped with foliage. If we had reached it, we would have been home free.
DAY FOUR
The fourth day was less strenuous. Every student needed time to heal. We began in the classroom to plan another route, but were told to do it backwards. Use our compass to determine locations we saw and then triangulate them on the map. As always, we hiked to them afterwards. This time in full gear, plus rifles.
After a period of hiking, Viking told us to stop. He wanted us to just sit, listen, and feel. We needed to use situational awareness to understand what nature was supposed to feel like. We needed to understand how long it took for birds and other animals to return to an area after a human disturbed the natural order. After the impromptu meditation, more marching up the mountain.
We hiked to a new point, set up our rifles, and combined target identification with marksmanship. I fired more rounds at this point than any other in the class. A whopping six rounds of .308 were utilized. Shooting is not the main focus in land navigation. A single box of ammo is more than enough for the entire five days of the course.
We hiked back down to our starting coordinates and were given a second chance to locate Mr. Bynum. The results were the same. No one can master the tenets of fieldcraft in a week.
DAY FIVE
The fifth day of class was the shortest. It was our final exam. Somewhere on the mountain, Viking had planted four green ribbons. Each ribbon had a name on it. We were given the coordinates for our individual ribbon and went to work. Each student had to determine the distance, bearing, and location. Then they had to improvise their own route. No battery powered devices or hand holding.
Within 45 minutes, every student had found their ribbon on the mountain and made their way to the secondary point designated for regrouping. I’m proud to say I returned with about 50 pounds more gear than I had left with. After retrieving my ribbon, one of the dogs that patrol the property, Gunny, decided I was lost and escorted me back to the group. Viking took a photo of the group to commemorate everyone’s success, dog and all. It’s on the Rifles Only Facebook page if a reader is curious. I can’t speak for the other members of the class, but aside from the pounding in my legs, I was ready to do it all over again. There’s something to be said for looking over your shoulder to see a mountain and saying to yourself, “I can beat you.”
THE 2021 ELEPHANT IN THE ROOM
Everyone who attended the course did so with the goal of improving their skill. That was the ultimate prize. However, even in our exhausted state atop the mountain, we all shared side glances to measure one another. Everyone knew where the finish line truly lay. It was no secret. We all wanted it.
September 2021, Rifles Only will be hosting an event. It is equal parts competition for the participants and instructional course for the rest of the world. It is called Assassin’s Way, and it is terrifying.
Spanning 23 days and seven locations around the United States, no more than 45 individuals will test their merits against one another. Assassin’s Way will test the exact same skills from this course, but with the dial turned up to 11. There are two prizes: $500,000 and the right to say, “I beat you” to some of the most well-trained and well-rounded practitioners of fieldcraft and marksmanship in existence.
The buy-in is $25,000 and none of the equipment, except for an elementary school calculator provided by Mr. Bynum, is allowed to utilize a battery. The contest is designed to test the contestant’s mind and body. Not their credit card. The entry fee exists solely to weed out potential applicants. In simpler terms, you can pay to play but you can’t pay to win. No matter what, you had better be aware of what you’re getting into.
If a reader is intimidated by the competition or the not unsubstantial entry fee, they can still take part. Assassin’s Way is not a black-bar event. RECOIL Magazine and RECOILTV will provide exclusive coverage for the whole competition. As stated earlier, the entire event is equal parts competition and instruction. Stay tuned for future updates.
FINAL THOUGHTS
Fieldcraft is one of those things you don’t know you want. However, when you need it and don’t have it, you sing a very different tune. It lets you shrug off one of the most feared scenarios in modern living: getting lost in the wilderness. The self-sufficiency it provides is astonishing. I won’t say modern living has made people soft, but if I took away your phone and told you to find your way home without using a road, could you? For five days, I did just that, hiking up and down a mountain I still don’t know the name of. The skillset is just so rewarding on a personal level.
When it comes to fieldcraft and land navigation, there are two types of people. There are those who suddenly show up at their campsite with a grin on their face, and there are those who get a bill from the local sheriff’s office for a helicopter ride. Both come with a price tag. It’s up to the individual to decide which truly costs more.
For more information on Assassin’s Way, or any of the upcoming classes offered by Rifles Only, visit https://www.riflesonly.com or call (361) 595-5472.
Credits:
Photos by Roland Hesmondhalgh