Grunt Padre Expedition (GPX)

Named in honor of Servant of God and Medal of Honor Recipient Father Vincent Capodanno, Grunt Padre Expeditions (GPXs) teach organizational leadership through field training exercises amidst the beauty of nature. From planning and delegation through OODA loops and peer-to-peer leadership, our Special Forces Veterans leading the course will teach critical leadership lessons and catalyze leadership development for all students.

We completed our Pilot Course in August of 2026 with 2 priests and 8 men in discernment. The course developed critical leadership skills and built grit and resilience for the men who attended. We look forward to planning and executing more GPXs, and we will be updating this page with testimonials and more information on courses in 2027 and beyond.

If you are a priest involved in the formation of seminarians or other priests and would like to build a custom GPX to suit the specific needs of your men, please reach out to us - we would love to build that with you!

  • Trainers: Dan Pace, Louis Tobergte and Scott McCabe (former Special Forces Officers)

Course Leadership

Grunt Padre Expeditions are based on the tried-and-true methods that the US military employs to strengthen its officers and prepare them for leadership in peacetime and wartime.

Our courses use a “crawl-walk-run” methodology. Trainers demonstrate and teach leadership methods first. Students practice the skills in a classroom environment, apply them in a practical exercise, and then test them in a demanding immersive scenario that pushes them to the limits of their decision-making abilities.

The overview of the schedule from our first GPX is below. If you have questions, please reach out to us.

The GPX includes daily Mass and the Divine Office, as well as individual prayer time in nature.

Course Overview

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If you would like to participate in a future GPX, please contact us to be added to our mailing list, and we will let you know of future opportunities.

Sample Schedule from our Pilot Course

Days 1-4

  • Basic Orienteering

  • Base Camp Procedures

  • Wilderness Survival Classes

  • Troop-Leading Procedures

  • Contingency Planning

  • Emergency Medical Classes

  • Mission Planning

Days 5-7

  • Infiltration Missions

  • Rescue Missions

  • Resupply Missions

  • Evasion Missions

  • All Attendees Lead at least 2 Missions

Day 8

  • Peer Assessments and Feedback

  • 1-on-1 Leadership Coaching

  • Action Plans

  • Graduation Mass