HAWK MOUNTAIN RANGER SCHOOL
Celebrating 70 Years of Service to Civil Air Patrol
11-19 July 2026
National Cadet Special Activity Summer Registration
15 Dec 25 to 15 Jan 26 (National Cadet Programs)
Everyone will experience our Confidence Course, rappel on our 60'+ Tower, and practice their newly honed skills with realistic mission simulations during the 3-day intensive field search & rescue exercise on Hawk Mountain.
AVAILABLE COURSES
Basic Ranger Course (Bravo / Sierra)
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
Open to Cadets and Seniors, during this first year course, students will gain hands-on experience in navigation, team mobility, search operations, crash site procedures and survival skills. Students will train through the Ranger 3rd Class and into Ranger 2nd Class skills. Ground Team Member Level 3 & 2, Mission Radio Operator, and UDF skills will also be elevated. This training will allow them to be considered true assets of any CAP ground team.
Advanced Ranger Course (Alpha)
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
Cadets returning for the second year will learn advanced rescue techniques, land search theory, air to ground coordination, and advanced navigation skills. Cadets will also learn the leadership skills necessary to begin Ground Team Leader training. Students will train through the Ranger 1st Class and GTM1 level.
Field Medic Staff Training Course (Mike)
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
This second-year course is designed for any cadet. Students will be provided with instruction in Wilderness medical care, preventive care for team members, field sanitation and hygiene techniques, trauma management, mass casualty triage, and the transport of patients in the field. This course is academically challenging, combining both the Cadet Advanced Course SAR curriculum and Field Medic Training. Upon successful completion of this course, students will be certified as a Wilderness First Responder and as a HMRS Field Medic.
Field Communicators Course (Whiskey) Basic or Advanced
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
Students will gain familiarity of UHF, VHF & HF radios, learn mission base & field operations, remote communications relay stations, and communications equipment set up and operation. Students will be tasked as MRO's to support a squadron on the Field Training Exercise. Upon successful completion of the Basic course, students will become Mission Radio Operator certified and will have learned valuable mission skills along the way.
Team Commanders Course (Tango)
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
This course is built to challenge your comfort zone as a leader and will stretch your limits and training in the field. It is both a mentally and physically challenging course; teaching both cadets and seniors Team Leadership skills in a field environment. Advanced Navigation, Search Theory, SAR Techniques, and Mission Team Leadership is heavily emphasized throughout the course. The students will find confidence in themselves, their team members, and in the use of their equipment via multiple in-depth training scenarios.
Ranger Staff Training - Basic (Romeo 1)
Length: 9 Days
Cost: $TBD
This course is designed to prepare Ranger Staff Candidates to earn their Probationary Staff Rating within the Hawk Mountain Ranger School program. This course emphasizes the foundations of leadership, teaching methods, and hands-on training techniques that are essential for effective instruction and team development. Candidates will strengthen their skills in navigation, woodsmanship, physical fitness, search theory and management, risk management, and team safety through both classroom instruction and rigorous field exercises. Participants are challenged to uphold the highest standards of the Ranger program—developing confident, capable leaders ready to guide others in demanding field conditions.
Ranger Staff Training - Advanced (Romeo 2)
Length: 9 Days
Cost: $TBD
This course continues the Staff Training providing a unique opportunity to actively serve as Ranger School Staff while completing intermittent classes further to develop leadership, instructional proficiency, and operational expertise and reinforcing and expanding upon skills in leadership, field instruction, advanced navigation, emergency services operations, and team safety management, preparing candidates to take on greater responsibility within the Ranger Staff cadre.
Aircrew Survival Course (Hotel) Basic or Advanced
Length: TBD days
Cost: $TBD for Basic or Advanced $TBD for both all 9 days
Can you survive in the woods with just what is in your aircraft? This 4-day course is designed to teach you just that, and more. For all Aircrew Members (Seniors only), this course will provide invaluable information on how to survive until help arrives. The Ranger Instructor Staff is well versed in all aspects of survival training.
Independent Study (X-Ray)
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
This course exposes cadet and senior Rangers to the Expert Ranger level of search & rescue, woodsmanship, and survival. Designed to improve knowledge and skills acquired in the Team Commander Course, the Independent Study Course may advance students to Expert Ranger Level.
Incident Leadership Course (India)
Length: 9 days
Cost: $TBD
The overhead team training program is a Ground Branch Director training program. During this 9-day program students will complete all necessary requirements to complete this endeavor. Students will take part in an 18 hour ICS 300 course. The students will also take part in 3-day search exercise during which the students will operate in the field as Ground Branch Directors and place skills learned to the test as a final evaluation.
WELCOME TO THE MOUNTAIN!
Celebrating 70 Years of Service to Civil Air Patrol
Hawk Mountain Ranger School
Located in Kempton, Pennsylvania, Hawk Mountain Ranger School is the longest-running Search & Rescue School in the nation. HMRS has provided some of the best wilderness SAR training to cadets and seniors throughout the country. HMRS is the most intense and rewarding summer activity that CAP has to offer. If you have never been to the Mountain, now is your chance to become a part of the tradition. If you have already graduated from a HMRS course, attend again to further your training through more advanced courses.
For nine unforgettable days, HMRS invites you into the wilderness — not a dormitory, but the raw outdoors — along with the others who have accepted the challenge, lead, and endure under real conditions.
What Awaits You: Wilderness Training – Learn search and rescue skills and qualifications that save lives. Leadership Development – Discover confidence, teamwork, and integrity under pressure. Confidence Course, rappel on our 60+ feet tower, and practice your newly honed training skills on the 3-day intensive field search & rescue exercise on top of Hawk Mountain.
Join HMRS become part of a legacy that has shaped leaders for generations. Celebrating 70 Years of Service to Civil Air Patrol: Challenge Yourself. Discover Your Strength. Cadets & Senior Members, Are you ready to test your limits? Do you have what it takes to lead when the elements push back?
"The memories, lifelong friendships, and learned skills from this 9 Day School will stay with you forever. Instilling in you a sense of responsibility, the skills necessary to enhance your life & others, and to be of service to your community, state, and nation as a member of Civil Air Patrol."
C/Capt Cody Mangiaruga, Cadet School Commander, HMRS
ARRIVAL INFORMATION
Friday, 10 July: 1100 - 2130
or
Saturday, 11 July: 0600 - 1000
Formal check-in: Saturday 11 July, 0800 - 1100
Your valid CAP membership card and the completed CAPF160, 161, and 163 are required at check-in.
These forms can be found at http://www.gocivilairpatrol.com/members/publications/forms.
GRADUATION INFORMATION
Sunday, 19 July: 1130
All visitors are welcome, particularly parents and unit commanders.
Student Release: Families and others awaiting students release should expect a 3 to 4-hour period after Parade & Review to close the school down to its normal woodland environment. Limited refreshments and souvenirs will be available for sale. You might want to take this time to visit the Hawk Mountain Bird Sanctuary located on top of the mountain or the Cabela’s Super Store, which is only a few miles away.
