This 5-day intensive program is open only to military personnel preparing for CAG selection.
Our TONDEV will help you to develop the experience, ability, and confidence that you’ll need to succeed during the land navigation phase of Delta selection. Our training area spans more than 45 square miles along the Pennsylvania border, just 25 miles north of Kingwood, West Virginia. While we cannot remotely replicate what their cadre will ultimately present you at selection, we can offer you a physically and mentally challenging program that will help to cap your many months of training.
This program is split into two tracks. The first two days will be spent verifying and refining your skills during day and night sessions that will help to acclimatize you to the terrain, vegetation, and climate. The other three days will be spent in “long walk” movements under load that will begin in the pre-dawn hours and conclude after sunset; the distance between checkpoints will average 10,000 meters with the opportunity to cover around 35 miles per day.
You must already be a competent navigator with cross-country experience. We will certainly help you to fine-tune your technique and answer your questions, but if at any point during this program we are not confident in your overall skill and physical fitness level, then you will be asked to leave with no refund available. If you have any general questions, especially those concerning your present ability, we strongly recommend that you contact us for answers before your register.
True North training area – Click to enlarge.
True North has much experience working with the SOF community. We have trained personnel from the Naval Special Warfare Command and Army Special Forces, including unit instructors from the Air Force and USASOC.
Our training area is situated on Forbes State Forest lands located on the western edge of the Appalachian Mountains in southwestern Pennsylvania, along the West Virginia border. The vegetation, terrain, and climate spans the mix from open, easy, and pleasant to dense, strenuous, and harsh. This is one reason why this area is also used by the U.S special operations community based at Camp Dawson.
Overview of the program details:
- Course Duration: 5-days (approximately 70 hours of training time).
- Fee: $1,500 per person.
- Location: Forbes State Forest (approximately 25 miles north of Kingwood, West Virginia).
- Maximum Group Size: 4
- Minimum Group Size: The course requires a minimum of two persons to run this training. If we are unable to meet this size, True North will fully refund your payment with as much advance notice as possible.
- Description of Physical Difficulty – Extremely Strenuous: This course involves hiking with laden rucks over extended distances at a steady pace over varying terrain that will include off-trail sections, rough spots, unexpected obstacles, and low to steep terrain inclines and declines. This course is conducted in low to no light conditions in varying weather, including hot, cold, humid, rain, and snow, or a mixed combination. This is a very physically challenging course so it is only suited for those in excellent physical condition and ready for a very long day.
- Overnight Accommodation: You can chose to either spend the night in the woods at the training area or stay in a local hotel or home-share. Once you register for the course, we will provide more detailed information with recommendations.
If you would like to consider private training for yourself or your unit, contact us so that we can offer you options and issues to consider, like pricing and scheduling.
Commonly Asked Questions:
What happens when I register? We will personally follow up with you to explain the steps needed to finalize your booking. Once we receive your completed forms, we will send you a detailed course information sheet which will contain all of the applicable details, like required and recommended gear, exact gathering point, timeframes and general driving directions.
I am in the pipeline for a support role, can I attend? Most likely, but we recommend that you telephone Erik (412.913.6000) to discuss since your assessment is different.
I’ve already completed another True North land navigation course, may I register for this one? If you’ve taken our Advanced Military Land Navigation or Basic Military Land Navigation course, you potentially may be able to register for this course, but telephone Erik (412.913.6000) to discuss before you register.
What kind of gear do I need to bring? After you register for the course, True North will send you a course information sheet which will contain all of the program details, including a detailed list of required and optional gear. Our goal is to help balance what you need to get the most safely out of your training against minimizing your costs.
Do you loan any equipment? We can loan you a mil-spec lensatic compass and protractor during your training. We also make some additional equipment and supplies available for your convenience which we sell at-cost.
To learn more, contact us at your convenience.