Shit, for $100, anyone can feel free to come to my house and I’ll brew some dandelion tea with 'em.
It has kinda been said already… but the military SERE course has components that not only do not translate to civilian life, but really don’t have much purpose in that setting – you already know that the ERE are what sets it apart from a garden variety survival course; I can see where the first E would have some real time function enhancements in the proverbial EOTWSHTFBBQ, but the R and the later E… not so much.
As has already been mentioned, a lot of the course is sensitive and/or classified info, but suffice to say that it is not so much about the individual, as it is the individual’s role in the greater collective.
SERE is part of the military life, and like most things is divided into levels… every swinging Richard gets some SERE training, along with lacing your boots and brushing your teeth; the duty to evade and resist capture and make every effort to escape is part of the Code of Conduct, which of course is part of all of that pesky required training.
Recently, SERE schools have come to the attention of the media… although they have been around a long time, there are still those that run around and pan the existence of the schools - with much of the same dogma as was used 30 years ago; which is that the school has a long lasting and deleterious effect on those who where part of it. Not true, trust me; I got the whole Happy Meal and I have a piece of paper from doctors of two different branches, that say I am sound as the pound.
Im looking for more of the “SE” part of it. Ixnay the “RE”. A survival course with"evasion" added in there, like how to effectively camouflage yourself, cover your tracks, eluding pursuit, etc…I guess an option would be to take a survival course to get the basics and then read a book about the evading part.
I am sure that finding a survival course in your area is not a problem?
From there… apply Guaranteed Failure Analysis: if you don’t want to be found, learn everything that would make finding your easier, then don’t do any of that.
Find and take a good tracking class, maybe help out with your local SAR volunteers?
And nothing beats really doing it… get out and break some trail.
So you want to get the crap beat out of you? Why?
Read post #23.
Without the perks after 
Theres a good one in Malaysia Ive been trying to get for about a decade through .mil, if I cant land it before I collect a pension Id be willing to pay for a course as well.
If you are in Florida, Bushdo Tactical holds what they call a a Specialized Urban Survival Readiness (SUSR) course.
It lasts two days – from 5pm on a Friday until 5pm on the following Sunday. I’ve spoken with the instructor and he knows his stuff.
I’ll probably take it the next opportunity I have.
Dead link.
Dandelion tea … hmmmmm! Pine needle tea is better and also has more vitamin C than orange juice.
Dandelion: The whole plant is edible, leaves, flower and roots. Leaves are good in salads, as are the flowers and the roots if dried and ground then added to hot water make a good drink that works well at settling a stomach.
There you go you’ve just had your first Bushcraft lesson. And no, Bushcraft is not for tree hugging, sandle wearing, dope smoking hippies. I have met more ex-SF types doing bushcraft than during any other activity … except for skydiving.
SERE is for people who need it, most don’t. The average civilian would mentally die doing a small portion of the practical phase of SERE.
I had a look at the Bushido Tactical course for urban survivors. It looks a bit full to me for two days I would assume it is introducing the student to subject matter rather than teaching solid foundations. I look back on my bow drill and fire lighting course which took one whole 8 hour day. My land nav and map reading course took 5 days. A good basic civilian first aid course takes two days. Shelter building takes minimum half a day and then the student gets to sleeps in it.
Bushcraft helps the practitioner build a solid set of skills that will help him or her live fairly well in the wild. Because, to be honest, if you are just survivng you are just getting by and are not in a position to thrive.
The guy to read is Ray Mears he is paid pretty well to train some special military folks when he is not doing his TV work. On your side of the pond there is Mors Kochanski up in Canada who is regarded as an outdoor god. Mors runs a few courses throughout the year and they are always attended by folks who want to learn the serious business of outdoor living.
That said, the test that a fair few put themselves through to prove to themselves that they can do it is the WEISS COURSE. I know a few ex’s that have done this because they want to see if they still have it. It is probably as close to the survival element of SERE that a civilian can get to.
WEISS: http://www.bearclawbushcraft.co.uk/courses/weiss.htm
Rays School: http://www.raymears.com/
Mors: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mors_Kochanski
A favourite saying in bushcraft is, “The more you know the less you carry”. The aim being to be able to step outside of the civilised world in the clothes you are wearing carrying only a knife.
I would agree 100 %. Although I went through the training and learned a lot of good information that won’t be forgotten. I’m glad to have only had to do it once while in the military.
I took the training to teach and pass it on to our pilots…
Forget about the R and E part if your not in the military.
Scott
Another resource you might consider:
Alderleaf Wilderness College: Wilderness Survival School
We’ve been offering survival courses in the northwest for a number of years.
-Jason
I think I have what youre looking for. OnPoint Tactical offers an “Urban Escape and Evasion” and “Urban Survival” course. Seems interesting enough, cost is about $500.
Reviews of the course
http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/jacketcopy/2009/03/escape-from-la.html
http://urbanjournal.com/articles/urban-escape-and-evasio/
http://www.survivalblog.com/2009/01/handcuffed_and_stuffed_in_a_ca.html
Better review
http://www.itstactical.com/2009/09/22/escape-and-evade-in-an-urban-environment/
Max Joseph with TFTT puts on a course that is similar to what you are looking for. Here is the link http://www.tftt.com/TFTT_CFC.htm
Robert
You can’t think of any scenarios where R and E might be useful skills outside the military?
Don’t answer, just think about it.
OH SO TRUE!!!
Join The Army,Volunteer for Special Forces, Pass selection, then you get to go to Real SERE-C(high risk).160th SOAR also goes to SERE C.
Survival of the fittest…
SERE was the best and worst time of my life. Amazing training…
other than that i would say re-enact MAN vs. Wild … lol…Drink you own piss …hahaha
What? You mean people don’t want to pay to be waterboarded and beaten-up? Damn, there goes my retirement plans!
Flyinsooner and tacti-cool are now in the top 20 for 2012 necroposting.