Scenes from the Wyoming Scout Course

Range Day. All students zero and work on fundamentals of marksmanship at 100m through several firing positions. They’ll engage human sized steel at various distances from 100m to 400m. All students achieved first round hits at 400m.

Course paper targets at 100m.

Students learning the fundamentals of camoflaging and utilizing vegetation in addition to their ghillie hoods.

There are two trigger pullers in the picture, 20m away.

Shape, shine and silhouette. Where are they?

Two students working on thermal mitigation.

Team leader done applying hasty camo to his team, now preparing himself.

View from 50m away.

Potential ambush detected, time for a cloverleaf to flank the linear ambush.

Squad Y formation to conduct Tracking Patrol.

Tracking Patrol on the spoor.

Briefing the Execution Paragraph of the Operations Order includes a sand table of the operation to visually describe the timeline of the operation and route of march.

Any and all enablers are encouraged on patrol. In this case, a student is using a drone to get an aerial view of the target.

Can you spot them?

Team inbound. Even with horrible terrain, sometimes you have to make it work. Major H. John Poole noted the American Infantry aversion to crawling. Infiltration lanes require it.

It was a damn good course out there. I thank everyone who trained- you guys are the ones making it happen in the real world- and I look forward to getting back out in Wyoming the next chance I get.

By NC ScoutPublished On: September 24, 2020Categories: NC Scout, Training20 Comments

About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at brushbeater@tutanota.com or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

20 Comments

Anonymous September 24, 2020 at 08:23

5
Hawkeye September 24, 2020 at 11:09

5
Johnny Paratrooper September 24, 2020 at 11:43

I am surprised no-one was wearing ACUs. ACU works excellent in Wyoming. Almost like it was designed for the place. I see some ATACs and Multicam. Equally impressive.

I recommend wearing onesies in places like Wyoming. The number of bugs, twigs, sticks, thorns, and rocks is alarming. It is also quite windy.

Looks fun guys. Hopefully I have the finances sometime soon to take a class or two.
- NC Scout September 24, 2020 at 11:49
  
  ACU is good when it’s dyed brown.
  - Johnny Paratrooper September 24, 2020 at 12:44
    
    That’s a good idea. I usually just roll around in some local dust and dirt, but that’s not very comfortable.
    Should I just use one of those packets of regular cotton dye and a 5 gallon bucket? Like this stuff listed below?
    I never considered dying my clothing. I have dyed some old jeans before, but the time and price was hardly worth the effort.
    Dying clothing for camouflage, or to revitalize faded colors, might be worth a stand alone post.
    
    https://www.walmart.com/ip/Rit-Dye-Liquid-Dark-Brown-8-Oz/11078330?wmlspartner=wmtlabs&adid=22222222222019300016&wmlspartner=wmtlabs&wl0=e&wl1=s&wl2=c&wl3=10355031428&wl4=pla-4578572616127213&wl5=&wl6=&wl7=&%20wl10=Walmart&wl12=11078330_10000004670&wl14=brown%20dye&veh=sem&msclkid=31ceb5b280591c1e88c3eade4be15bca
    - wwes September 24, 2020 at 13:54
      
      I’ve tried the RIT dye in several colors on ACU shirts and pouches, and most of what I ended up with was some form of really dark gray/green color. The material took the dye really well though, it made worn and faded triple mag pouches look new again, and a bottle of dye will do A LOT of pouches, or quite a few uniforms. I added some vinegar to help the nylon take the dye.
      I think I’ll try what NC Scout said and go for brown with some of them.
      - Johnny Paratrooper September 26, 2020 at 23:31
        
        I have some brand new XL ACU coveralls I bought for Wyoming. The altitude and area I spend my summers in is a perfect match. However, ACU’s fade out when you have fun in the sun. And you look like a dirty snow cone.
        
        There is no doubt I should darken them up now. Sad, because they look nice, and Ill never forget running around in the PJs. The ACUs were some damn comfortable uniforms when they didn’t have salt rings. Minus the rampant crotch blowouts. A real buzz kill.
    - NC Scout September 24, 2020 at 15:12
      
      It’s what we did once upon a time, then sew on carhartt duck on the elbows/forearms and front lower thigh down to the upper shins on the legs for crawling.
  - Badger September 24, 2020 at 19:08
    
    OK, that’s seriously funny (and I agree). I have it from one of the attendees that it was a well thought out and executed course – h/t NCScout – so if it’s in someone’s cards, do it!
    
    As to matching the environment, cool-guy painting or dye isn’t just for the weapons. I am FOG of a certain vintage and clothing has been getting modified with paint or dye for quite awhile.
    
    Salud & thanks for the fine eye-opening – or eye-squinting – pictures. Nice exercises in concealment.
    73
    - NC Scout September 24, 2020 at 19:32
      
      Thanks brother!!
      - Badger September 24, 2020 at 20:22
        
        Errata: I’d also concur with Johnny that some may benefit from an article on gear mods, using dye, etc. (Ex: I’m looking hard at a particular Brit setup, which has their beloved “SOE out Scud-hunting” pattern. It’s a great deal, but it goes with my triple-canopy deciduous AO like a star-cluster (or ACU on a ‘pink’ hillside). So that will have to get re-born to get useful. Your comments about reinforcing things to the task, e.g., crawling, are well taken.
      - NC Scout September 24, 2020 at 20:44
        
        Patriot man actually did one a while back. He picked up an ACU pack for a song and dyed it with OD rit dye after asking me what to do with it. It’s posted here probably about a year ago or so.
      - Patriotman September 25, 2020 at 07:22
        
        Indeed I did. Should probably do a followup as I have more stuff to dye.
        
        https://www.americanpartisan.org/2019/05/repurposing-gear-the-power-of-dye/
      - Patriotman September 25, 2020 at 07:21
        
        https://www.americanpartisan.org/2019/05/repurposing-gear-the-power-of-dye/
Rucksack Rob September 24, 2020 at 16:52

RIT used to make an OD (or olive) Green dye but not anymore. If you go to the RIT website they have a color chart with exact measurements for any color, from hot pink to olive greens and browns

https://www.ritdye.com/color-formulas/?type=197&hue=0&collection=0&collaboration=0

I see that they now make a dye for synthetics such as nylon. Might be good for web gear, rucks, etc…
Good Luck!
Weasel 74 September 24, 2020 at 23:59

Im my day, we used to sachet by the motor pool late night and cut big squares of canvas off the 5 ton bed covers for all of our uniform reinforcement needs. Got pretty good at sewing as a bonus!
- NC Scout September 25, 2020 at 08:23
  
  Hell yes! Nothing is stolen, just re-purposed. :)
  - Johnny Paratrooper September 26, 2020 at 23:24
    
    There is only one thief in the U.S. Military.
    Everyone else is just trying to get their stuff back.
bobby amy September 25, 2020 at 13:18

Love the articles …. I find your articles useful.
Anonymous December 14, 2020 at 10:27

4.5