Preblast
  F3 St. Charles: The Last Stop will host the 36th GTE April 28-30 2023. You should join us.
 

What is a GTE?

Think of GTE like a cross between a leadership seminar, an overnight hike and a team-based obstacle course race. You will learn about and practice leadership. You will bond with men. You will laugh and maybe cry and definitely think unkind thoughts about the cadre. You will ruck long hours. You will pick up heavy stuff and carry it across vast distances for no reason other than the cadre thinks it’s a good idea (see: think unkind thoughts). You will run and do burpees and curls and pushups and squats and who knows what other kind of exercises. You will get soaked, again and again, even if it’s not raining … especially if it’s not raining. You will hope for the sunrise more than any time in your life.

Why should I put myself through this?

We asked Cadre Danny “Linus” Stokes, who will lead the event, that very question. His answer: “There is a profound bonding effect that occurs as a result of the adversity, the pain and the anguish, the shared suffering, the struggle of getting through the event successfully and having to lean on your team members to do so. Every man in the event will have an opportunity to exercise leadership. We assign tasks that require a team to accomplish, and somebody has to lead each team. The truth about leadership is you cannot become better by reading about it, or by watching a video. This is a hands-on skill, a practical skill. And of course, we all fail, and we all suck at first. But we also get better because of the failing and sucking.”
 

That sounds awesome and terrible and I just threw up in my mouth a little bit. How will I know if I’m ready?

You should be nervous, worried, questioning whether you can handle 12-plus hours of strain across on your body, heart and mind.
This is a promise: You have what it takes. So is this: You better get ready, physically and mentally. And this: No matter how ready you are, you will turn gray. More important, you will jump back into color. You will be broken and put back together in one night.
And that’s where the real power of GTE reveals itself.
As Linus says, “Humans require pain to learn.”
One last promise: That pain won’t last, and it will be worth it.
 

All right I’m in. What’s this all going to cost me?

$169 2/1-3/29
$189 3/30 until GTE weekend
$49 GrowSchool only
But don’t let cost stop you. We are funding scholarships for those needing financial aid. 
 
In addition to the cost of the GTE itself, if you want an event tshirt, they are available at Mudgear via this link:
 

What’s the schedule?

    Friday 4/28
    -1800 (6:00 PM): The Rally (2nd F Event) at Laurel Park – AO: The Darkness
 
    Saturday 4/29
    -0500 (5:00 AM): Pre-ruck at Westhoff Park – AO: Pain Station
 
    -0600 (6:00 AM): The Kingbuilder (beatdown) at Westhoff Park – AO: Pain Station
 
    -0830 (8:30 AM): Breakfast at Grace Presbyterian Church
 
    -0900 (9:00 AM): GrowSchool at Grace Presbyterian Church
 
    -1800 (6:00 PM): Crucible Ruck 
        32 Research Park Cir, St Charles, MO 63304
 
    Sunday 4/30
    -Ruck conclusion, exact time determined by the Cadre
 

Can you pick me up at the airport and drop me off at a five-star resort and/or a moderately priced hotel?

 
    If you need assistance with rides or other logistics support, please reach out to our Qs of Hospitality, and fill out the form in the link below. Accommodations are available from the Research Park Inn in St Charles. The deals for the hotel block are on a first-come-first-served basis. 
 
 
    Research Park Inn – 636-329-8503, discount code: F3 GTE
 
Brian Boyer, AOL - booradlies@gmail.com – 314-575-8623
Chris Walker, Skivvies - chris.walker1017@icloud.com – 314-750-5284
 

I’d love to support this event through some other capacity. How can I help?

    
Good news! If your heart for service makes you want to serve your fellow PAX, or your health prevents you from participating in the whole of this event, you are able to volunteer to be part of the Support Team. If this calls to you can reach out to our Support Team Q.
 
Jim Ottomeyer, Cyclone – drotto2011@gmail.com – 636-734-6003
 

What should I bring, besides a stubborn streak, a stout heart, and a high tolerance for pain?

PACKING LIST Mandatory Items (will be inspected):
     -Rucksack weighing at least 35 pounds dry (Dry weight means without food and water)
     -Water x (6) liters; Optional 3 of the 6 liters may be sports drink or electrolyte solution
     -Reflective bands or reflective belt on your ruck (Glint tape built in to the GORUCK Rucker is No-Go)
     -Headlamp with red lens and spare batteries
     -Photo ID
     -Work Gloves (such as Mechanix)
     -Spare Socks
     -Snivel Gear x 1 piece (minimum) such as windbreaker or fleece
     -Carabiner (rated for climbing…will have a "CE" with kilonewton rating on the spine)
     -Field notebook, such as 3" x 5" or 4" x 6" in ziplock bag with the following written:
          Page 1: Hospital name, age, F3 name, Region, Home address
          Page 2: Emergency Point of Contact name, phone number, relationship to you
          Page 3: (If you drove to event) Vehicle make, model, color, and location of keys
          Page 4: Medical concerns and Known Allergies (if any)
          Page 5: Mental health concerns (if any)
          Page 6: Leave Blank until needed, then use as many pages as needed: After Action
          Report (AAR) Notes; by phase, Rally, Kingbuilder, GrowSchool, Crucible  
     -Writing implements x 2 (pen or pencil or both)

Optional Items:
     -Nalgene Bottle (1 liter size) or equivalent
     -Oral Rehydration Salts (ORS) or electrolyte mix (or similar)
     -Chow / Snacks 
     -First Aid Kit / Foot Care Kit
     -Dry Bag
     -Runners, slings, or webbing  (such as 1" tubular nylon)
     -Knife or multitool

Prohibited Items:
     -Watch or any time-keeping device
     -Electronics*

*If necessary to maintain cell phone, let the lead Cadre (C1) know before the start

 

I don’t know what half that stuff is. Who can help?

Josh Ritter, Jalopy - ritterj84@gmail.com - 636-262-8950
Steve Zielinski, Mule - stevezrx@gmail.com - 314-283-4454
 
    There is loaner program in effect for this GTE. If you require any assistance with getting gear, these men can help on that front as well:
 

Got any final tips?

1.     Wear what you train in. Don’t buy new shoes or new socks or new anything else for this. Or if you do, use it A LOT to break it in before you get here.
2.     Avoid wearing cotton and definitely don’t have any touching your skin.
3.     Carbs before, sugar during, lean protein after. Bring sugar to eat overnight. Peanut butter M&Ms: chef’s kiss.
4.     It’s not a race (except for the parts that are a race.)
 

What if I want more detail, or have questions not listed above?

 
    All other inquiries would be best served to go to the following HIMs:
 
    Sam Feld, Kramer (GTE Q) – safeld53@gmail.com – 314-640-6347
    Ryan Drafall, Peter Parker (Asst GTE Q) – rdrafall@gmail.com – 636-288-8042
    Kyle Luetters, Brick (St Charles Nan’tan) – k.luetters@gmail.com – 636-543-0095
 
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