RECONDO Survival Ops

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 "BLENDING OLD WAYS WITH NEW TECHNOLOGY” 

With all of today’s modern conveniences and technologies it’s easy to forget about the basics of preparedness and survival. Far too many people believe nothing will ever happen to them, but if something does, the government will come to their rescue. This is not entirely true, just take a look at the government's response to the recent disasters across our country.

The RECONDO BASIC training course is the first course of the RECONDO Survival Ops Program. The RECONDO BASIC course is a practical combination of bushcraft survival skills, emergency preparedness techniques and military teachings. These three disciplines are blended to form a wide-ranging realistic modern-day survival program.

Don't rely on someone coming to your rescue, you are always your own rescuer. Your number one priority should always be your family and yourself, but are you ready? 

In today's world you should not be relying on only bushcraft skills or try to rely only on modern equipment. This course combines traditional basic wilderness skills with today's modern techniques and equipment to give you the best of both worlds. Every person who prepares for the unknown is left with the unresolved questions of: “am I ready for a real disaster”, "a life-threatening emergency", "a bug-out or bug-in" or "grid down" situation. The truth is you can buy the latest cool survival gadgets, but you can't buy skills. Without skills and testing yourself, you’re missing half the picture and giving yourself a false sense of security. So where do you find survival training? Today, almost everyone turns to online videos that might offer some advice and even give you a list of items to go out and buy. You can't build or test your skills by watching online videos. Sometimes, you'll even get conflicting opinions, so you get confused and frustrated and end up doing nothing. Stop watching online videos and learn your skills from an experienced and qualified person, someone who can answer your questions and give you "no B.S." solid advice. 

This two-day RECONDO BASIC course specializes in the essentials of personal preparedness and survival, with the material presented in a positive, down to earth, laid back, non-military style of teaching. The course topics ranges from the pillars of everyday personal awareness to preparing for a long-term grid down situation.

Knowledge vs. Skills:      "There is a difference"

Knowledge is the information, facts, and understanding that a person acquires through education or research. 

Skills are the abilities to perform tasks or activities effectively. Skills are developed through practice and experience, allowing individuals to apply their knowledge in real-world situations.

The program instructor founded RECONDO Survival Ops 13+ years ago and has 40+ years of survival and preparedness experience. Sign-up and learn from his lifetime of training and experiences that he learned from his accomplished and well-rounded background of service in the military, law enforcement and emergency management. 

Before attending any type of training course it’s important to look and see if the instructor has any real-life experience in the subject.

Click here to view Instructor's Full Bio

It's getting harder and harder to find quality, affordable, training courses to attend. If this training sounds like something that interests you, don't miss this opportunity to learn new skills while at the same time testing or improving your own skills and equipment needs. No matter your skill level or equipment stockpile, this course is designed to challenge each person, take them out of their comfort zone and take their skills to the next level of preparedness. This is not a camping trip it is an outdoor training course that includes class lecture, a tabletop discussion, questions and answers, demonstrations and hands-on (dirt-time) training. 

The RECONDO Survival Ops Program:

The RECONDO BASIC training course is the first phase of the multi-phase RECONDO Survival Ops program. Each training course is designed to build on the previous training course and build new skills. The programs multi-phase training courses use the word "SURVIVAL" to encompass all aspects of survival and preparedness ranging from basic fire starting to long term grid down to weapons and tactics training.

Realistic skill building takes time and practice. It can't be learned overnight or by taking a free one-hour classroom workshop at your local city hall.

What's Covered:

In RECONDO BASIC, both days are a combination of wide-ranging preparedness and survival skills and techniques from both civilian and military disciplines. These skills are designed to work together to give you a solid base on which to build your personal preparedness. I'll share my lifetime of education and give you the positives and negatives of preparedness styles.

Even though this is the BASIC course, many topics will be covered. After completing this course you will have an understanding on how to go forward with your own personal preparedness before wasting your valuable time and money buying unnecessary equipment. This course is designed to give you a good solid base to build on. Some of our other Program courses will offer a more focused in-depth teaching on a specific topic. 

Some of the areas covered:

· Personal and Family Preparedness

· Everyday Situational Awareness 

· The Levels of Readiness from Bug-Out to Bug-In/Grid-Down

· Get-Home-Bag and Traveling Strategies

· Psychology of Stressful Situations and Survival Mindset

· Recommended In-Person Training Classes to take and what skills to learn

· Recommended items for your; EDC, Get-Home Bag, Disaster-Bag, Bug-Out-Bag, Survival Kits and First-Aid Kits

· Basics of Wilderness Survival (Rule of 3's and the Pillars of Life)

· Bug-In vs. Bug-Out and Retreat Location Selection

· Overt and Covert Strategies and Techniques

· How not to get lost, navigation and map reading basics

· Weapons and other Equipment Selection

· Preparing for a long-term Grid-Down

· Forming a Preparedness Group

· Operating in the dark

The second day will be a continuation of the first day adding a challenging realistic preparedness scenario. On the second day you will use lessons from the first day and then be walked you through a disaster-based scenario step-by-step in order of life-saving importance from start to finish in a controlled class learning environment before it's the real thing. 

2026 Training:

 RECONDO BASIC

· When: Saturday June 13th 8AM-6PM & Sunday June 14th 8AM-4PM 2026 

· Where: Approximately 30 minutes north of Liberty, (Kansas City) Missouri. The training location is on rural private acreage. The training address will be emailed after registration.

· Cost: $95.00 per person with a limit of 10 students per class. Children under 18 need to be accompanied by an enrolled adult.

· Cancellation Policy: If a scheduled class is cancelled by us, you can get a full refund or apply it towards another class. If a scheduled class is cancelled by the student after registration, the payment can only be applied towards another class.

 RECONDO Private One-on-One/Private Group:

· When: Contact for arrangements.

· Where: Approximately 30 minutes North of Liberty, (Kansas City) Missouri. The training location is on rural private acreage; the training address will be emailed after registration.

· Cost: Contact for prices depending on situation.

· Cancellation Policy: If a scheduled class is cancelled by us, you can get a full refund or apply it towards another class. If a scheduled class is cancelled by the student after registration, the payment can only be applied towards another class.

Packing List:

Each student is encouraged but not required to bring your preferred preparedness or survival bag or kit. However, you are required to bring your own food and water (no food will be provided). Access to private pond water is available for filtering. 

Your kit should not weigh more than you are able to carry a short distance (20-30 pounds for 1 mile). During the training you will be encouraged to work from your kit. At the same time, you will be encouraged to learn alternative skills in case you were without your kit. If you don’t have a kit, we will discuss recommended items for your kit.

Recommended items: a small backpack with basic first-aid, fire starting, shelter (tent/tarp), water purifying (canteen/bottle), food (for the weekend), sleeping gear, tent or shelter, dress for the weather and a folding chair. You will be allowed to leave the training site at the lunch break. Due to the remote training location, services are limited.

Q: I’m new to preparedness and don’t have equipment yet. Can I attend the daytime class and go home Saturday night and return Sunday morning for the daytime class?

A: Yes, dress for the weather, bring a folding chair and something to drink. We will break for a 1-hour lunch each day. If needed you can go to the local gas station for drink or food. You will miss out on the evening campfire talks and the nighttime class.

Training Site:

If you’re paying and taking time out of your busy life to attend this training course, you should try to get the most out of it. This training course will be held outdoors regardless of the weather. The training site is primitive with no amenities, restrooms or electricity, which is the best type of survival-based training environment. 

On-site parking is available. There is a Casey’s gas station/truck-stop at Exit #40 located at I-35 and 116 HWY, approximately 8-miles from the training location. Casey's food, restroom and pay-per-use ($8) shower facilities are available. 

Near-by lodging: Motels are located in Kearney, MO (18 miles South), Cameron, MO (13 miles Northwest) and Chillicothe, MO (35 miles Northeast). 

Overnight on-site basic camping Saturday night is free, while not required it is encouraged to get the full survival experience. (no RV’s or campers) Even though you will miss out on the overnight survival experience, those who can't stay the night or have medical needs are permitted to travel home for Saturday night and return on Sunday morning. Friday night primitive camping is allowed with prior approval.

More about the Instructor:

Many courses talk about an instructor's background, but we wanted to show you, here are a few of the instructor's course completion certificates. Click the link below to see more.

Click here to view Course Certificates

Military RECONDO History:

RECONDO is an American military term for RECONnaissance and commanDO, which represents a highly specialized infantry trained soldier who leads small, heavily armed LRRP Long Range Reconnaissance Patrol teams which patrol deep in enemy-held territory. 

Click here for the complete military RECONDO history

The RECONDO Survival Ops training program logo design comes from a variation of the military RECONDO patch. Our program logo serves as a symbol of motivation and inspiration mind-set; "a never quit attitude”.

Registration for RECONDO Survival Ops: 

The instructor in the owner and operator of Funky Monkies Freeze Dried Food business.

Registration is done through the Funky Monkies website. The registration link below will direct you to www.funkymonkies.com website, click under the RECONDO Survival Ops or ONLINE STORE tab then look for the RECONDO Survival Ops - RECONDO BASIC to register.

Mark Merrill

Founder and Instructor

RECONDO Survival Ops Program

recondosurvivalops @ gmail.com 

funkymonkies @ yahoo.com