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.

  • Trainers: Louis Tobergte and Scott McCabe (West Point graduates and former Green Berets)

  • Chaplains: Father Rick Gancayco (former missionary to the Amazon) and Father David Chacko (West Point graduate and Army Veteran)

  • Medics/Guides: 2 from COR Expeditions

Course Leadership

The Grunt Padre Expedition is 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.

The course will follow a “crawl-walk-run” methodology. Trainers will demonstrate and teach tasks first. Then, students will practice them in a classroom environment, apply them in a practical exercise, then test them in a demanding environment.

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

The course will include daily individual and communal prayer and frequent access to the sacraments.

Course Overview

Register for the Pilot Course

Are you a Catholic man (lay, seminarian or priest) in good health and desiring to grow in faith and further your leadership development through a challenging immersive experience in the Wind River Range of Wyoming from August 12-20, 2026?

The ideal candidate is a man in discernment, a seminarian or a priest within their first 7 years of priesthood, though all Catholic men will be considered and should fill out the short application below if interested.

We look forward to seeing your application and will respond to your application quickly.

This Pilot Course is a collaboration between SSI, the Archdiocese for the Military Services and COR Expeditions.

At this time, we are only accepting men 18 years of age or older, and who have completed High School, so we are aligned to the timeline of discernment for the Seminary.

Registration closes on July 16
Participants will be notified by July 17 if they will be approved. Most will be notified within two days of application.

Schedule

Days 1-4

  • Basic Orienteering

  • Establish Base Camp

  • Gear Classes

  • Troop-Leading Procedures

  • 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