What is SERE Challenge?
The Most Real-World Survival & Evasion Competition!
Beginning as the "Survival Games," in Season 1, it was a competition between two experienced outdoorsmen to see who could evade an enemy and reach an extraction point. Wanting to expand the challenge and add a unique twist into each season, Season 2 became the SERE Challenge. The Evasion portion is mostly the same; however, the contestants must first go through a Captivity element. They are each captured, held in an uncomfortable situation, in the freezing cold, and are interrogated for a long period. Following Resistance, the contestants are allowed to escape, transitioning the event into the Evasion Phase.
Season 3 has introduced the highest difficulty (thus far) because two new elements are introduced: a complete mission, built on a real-world training scenario, which lasts 24 hours; following the mission, the contestants are captured and will endure a Captivity Phase of just around 24 hours. For anyone counting, before Evasion even begins, the contestants are already running on an extreme sleep and caloric deficit. These simple yet effective changes push the limits of military training, and what could even be allowed on the internet. On that note, all the scenarios and acting is 100% authentic. This truly is as close to the real thing as possible.
SERE Challenge is different from every "reality" show you have ever seen. For one, there is no massive hollywood budget or backing, no expensive film crews, and no high-end, big budget production. It truly is a few highly trained and experienced experts, hitting the wilderness with minimal tech, and creating an event and show that could not and will not be replicated. Because this is a "grass roots" event and show, there is no control from above. No hollywood fat cats to tell us what to do and how to do it. If that were the case, the event's authenticity would drop by at least 50%. This also means that the event is mostly self-funded, with a bit of help from the viewers and a few sponsors.
Continue to follow this unique experience, as we continue to expand it as much as possible. Every year we strive to introduce more challenging elements in order to push the contestants and staff as much as humanly possible.
Do YOU have what it takes?
Send your application to gruntproofoutdoors@gmail.com.
Here's what we need:
- Short bio on your experience in official or military training*, land navigation, stealth/camouflage, evasion, tracking, survival, weapons, camera experience (content creator?), the more the better. Also include your age and about where you're located.**
- Your current fitness level, i.e.- couch commando or combat-ready warrior (this is an extremely physically-demanding event)
- Any past or present medical conditions (surgeries, hot/cold weather injuries, claustrophobia, etc
- 3 current pictures of you from different angles
- Any social media links for reference
If selected, you will then receive further information, to include a mandatory liability waiver that must be completed before you travel.
*Proof is required for current military or veterans: redacted 214, ID card, etc
**Contestants are responsible for their own travel to and from the event. We will only help with coordination
