Last week GORUCK sent out a pretty awesome email that featured some of their Special Event patches. Some of these are pretty well known already in the community (HCL) and some of them, at least to me, are pretty new (Halloween). I think it’s awesome that GORUCK is doing this and I think it will get a lot of the older GRT off the bench and back at the events. I mean who doesn’t want to try to earn one of these special patches?
These events aren’t happening everywhere so check your local listings. If you want GORUCK to put one of these events on in your area I’d highly suggest getting a group of friends together and shooting an email their way. GORUCK determines event locations based on demand so you need to show them at there is some.
The 4th of July events are coming up quick and some of them are highly (100%) discounted so if you’re in the market for a special event patch that is the first you can grab.
Depending on your location you’ll either have the chance to get a 9/11 patch or a GORUCK ABSOC patch. We (in the PNW) were lucky enough to talk our local Cadre into shifting a Portland event so that we’ll be able to earn both the 9/11 and GORUCK ABSOC patches.
The first GORUCK ABSOC took part a few months ago in San Diego, CA. The second one is taking place somewhere else and the third is happening in my backyard… Seattle. I received my ABSOC Challenge patch down in CA and am planning on picking up the ABSOC Light patch this September.
One month after the 9/11 event the Mogadishu Mile GORUCK events will be happening. There’s a ton of cities where these are happening so find one near you and take part. If you haven’t heard about the Mogadishu Mile I HIGHLY recommend reading the book titled Black Hawk Down. I hear In The Company Of Heroes is an amazing read as well but since I haven’t read it I can’t actually recommend it.
The GORUCK Halloween events happens just a short few weeks after the Mogadishu Mile events. There’s a couple cities that you can find both the Halloween and Mogadishu Mile events at so if you’re located there then I consider you pretty lucky. If you’re going to be attending a GORUCK Halloween event don’t forget to wear a costume.. oh yes it is mandatory.
Are you a lady? Are you free at the beginning of November? Maybe you should head down to the GORUCK Women Only Weekend where you can take part in three women only events. Make sure to stay for the whole weekend because Friday night is the Challenge, Saturday afternoon is the Light, and Saturday night is the Scavenger.
Have a lot of frequent flyer miles? Maybe you should plan a trip to Hawaii at the beginning of December for the Pearl Harbor anniversary. If you’re in Hawaii between December 5th and 7th you can take part in the good livin’ to be had. On the 5th you can enjoy the Challenge, the 6th brings the Light, and the 7th brings the Scavenger. If you’re already making the trip there why not sign up for all 3?
Three Questions:
1) Do we earn the regular patch AND the special patch at the completion of the event?
2) Are the patches different for a challenge and light (Like the 2 ABSOC’s in Seattle will have ABSOC LIGHT and ABSOC TOUGH)?
3) What do you know about the GORUCK Historical Society patch? I would love to earn that one after my 9/11, ABSOC, and Halloween one’s this year. :)
Three Answers:
1) You just earn the special patch… no the regular patch.
2) The patches are different for a Heavy/Challenge/Light. At the 4th of July event people earned July 4th Heavy, July 4th Tough, and July 4th Light.
3) I don’t know much about the GORUCK Historical patches but I’m very, very intrigued. I believe (but am not certain) that one of the events will be the Prohibition Ends event at D G Yuengling & Son Inc.
I hope that helps!
So I just found out my 1st GR Light has been flagged as a Halloween Special. A big ole sarcastic GREAT!!! Maybe they’ll let me come as Private Pyle from Full Metal Jacket.