Wilderness First Responder Course (WFR)- Gray Bearded Green Beret Survival School
Wilderness First Responder Course (WFR)- Gray Bearded Green Beret Survival School
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Course Topics
Course Topics
• Medical Gear Discussion and Proper Use
• Improvised Interventions using Common Backpacking Gear
• Patient Assessment
• Vital Signs
• Airway Management
• Identification of and Treatment for Bleeding
• Wound Packing and Pressure Dressings
• Infection Prevention
• Improvised Wound Closure Techniques
• Use of Tourniquets
• Identifying and Treating Shock
• Principles of Splinting
• Handling Breaks, Sprains, and Strains
• Ankle Splints
• Lower Leg Splints
• Knee Splints and Braces
• Femoral Splints
• Wrist and Forearm Splints
• Upper Arm Splints
• Stabilizing Shoulder Injuries
• Finger Splints
• Pelvic Injuries
• Back and Neck Injuries
• Types of Burns and Burn Treatment
• Blister Prevention and Care
• Handling Bites and Stings
• Cold Weather Injuries
• Hot Weather Injuries
• Environmental Injuries
• Improvised Litters and Stretchers
• Legal Aspects of Medical Care
Wilderness Medical Course – Wilderness First Responder (WFR)
Prepare yourself for emergencies in remote environments with the Wilderness Medical Course – Wilderness First Responder (WFR), taught under the SOLO (Stonehearth Open Learning Opportunities) curriculum. This SOLO-backed course is designed for adventurers, outdoor professionals, and serious backcountry travelers who need real-world wilderness medicine skills when access to EMS may be delayed by hours or even days.
Whether you guide others, lead trips, or simply spend a lot of time off the beaten path, this WFR course gives you the knowledge, skills, and confidence to manage medical emergencies in the wilderness.
Why Choose This Wilderness First Responder Course?
The Wilderness First Responder (WFR) is widely regarded as the gold standard for outdoor medical training, and SOLO is the oldest continuously operating school of wilderness medicine in the world. This course blends SOLO’s proven curriculum with GB2’s no-nonsense, field-tested approach to survival and preparedness.
You’ll get:
- SOLO Wilderness First Responder certification that meets the latest Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative (WMEC) 2024 standards
- 72 hours of training combining lecture, hands-on skills, and realistic scenarios
- CPR/BLS with AED certification based on AHA/ILCOR guidelines
- ACS Stop the Bleed certification, focused on critical bleeding control
- Instruction from combat-tested and wilderness-experienced instructors who actually live this material
This is not a classroom-only, check-the-box course. It’s scenario-driven, hands-on training designed to hold up when conditions are rough, resources are limited, and you are the help.
Event Status and Travel Policy
Courses listed as “Scheduled” are planned events pending minimum enrollment. Once minimum enrollment is reached, the status changes to “Confirmed” and the course is guaranteed to run. “Confirmed – Limited” indicates only a few seats remain.
Students are advised to make travel arrangements only after a course is marked Confirmed. Gray Bearded Green Beret LLC is not responsible for airfare, lodging, rental vehicles, or other travel expenses in the event a Scheduled course does not meet minimum enrollment or must be rescheduled due to circumstances beyond our control.
What You’ll Learn in This Wilderness Medical Course
I. Foundations of Wilderness Medicine
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Medical–Legal Considerations
- Duty to act and Good Samaritan principles
- Scope of practice and certification
- Consent and confidentiality
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Patient Assessment
- Scene size-up and safety
- Primary and secondary surveys
- Vital signs and SAMPLE history
- SOAP note documentation
II. Trauma Management
- Hypovolemic shock and hemorrhage control (tourniquets, wound packing, pressure dressings)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) and head injuries
- Chest trauma and breathing problems
- Spine injury & Focused Spine Assessment (FSA)
- Soft tissue injuries & wound care, including infection prevention
- Musculoskeletal injuries & splinting (joints, long bones, pelvic support)
- Burns and blister care, plus strategies to reduce complications
III. Environmental Medicine
- Cold-related injuries: hypothermia, frostbite, non-freezing cold injuries
- Heat-related illnesses: heat exhaustion, heat stroke
- Altitude problems: AMS, HACE, HAPE
- Lightning strikes and drowning
- Contact reactions from poison ivy, oak, sumac
- Sunburn and snow blindness
IV. Medical Emergencies
- Cardiac emergencies: heart attack, stroke
- Seizures and neurological conditions
- Diabetes & hypoglycemia in the field
- Allergic reactions & anaphylaxis (including epinephrine use)
- Asthma and respiratory emergencies
- GI complaints, flu-like illness, and abdominal pain in remote settings
V. Core Skills & Practical Training
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Basic Life Support (BLS)
- Adult and child CPR
- AED use
- Airway management and rescue breathing
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Bleeding control & Stop the Bleed skills
- Tourniquets
- Wound packing
- Pressure dressings
-
Spine management
- Focused spine assessment
- Patient lifting, moving, and packaging
-
Musculoskeletal treatment
- Joint and long-bone splinting
- Pelvic stabilization
- Shoulder and digit dislocation concepts
-
Evacuation & Rescue Considerations
- Risk–benefit analysis for evacuation
- Improvised carries and litters
VI. Elective Topics (Instructor Dependent)
Depending on course time and conditions, you may also be exposed to topics such as:
- Search and Rescue (SAR) fundamentals
- Psychological first aid and behavioral health emergencies
- Diving or marine-related injuries
- Emergency childbirth
- Advanced spine and musculoskeletal techniques
Professional Instruction from Industry Experts
This SOLO Wilderness First Responder course is delivered by the GB2 Cadre using the official SOLO curriculum.
Primary Instructor – Rick Swain
Rick Swain is a retired Army combat veteran with more than 20 years’ experience as a Special Operations Combat Medic and Paramedic/HAZMAT Technician, serving in both technical and tactical units in Iraq, Afghanistan, Panama, Ecuador, and other challenging environments. After retiring from the military, he spent a decade mentoring and evaluating National Guard CBRN response units and later trained at multiple outdoor and wilderness schools—including GB2 and SOLO—before becoming a registered Maine Guide and certified SOLO Wilderness Medicine Instructor. His background with the 75th Ranger Regiment and participation in the 2003 Tactical Ranger Medic Handbook review committee bring a deep reservoir of real-world medical and leadership experience to every course.
Instructor – Joshua Enyart
Joshua Enyart, the Gray Bearded Green Beret, is a former Army Ranger and Green Beret with decades of experience as a professional instructor for military and civilian organizations. As founder and head instructor of Gray Bearded Green Beret, he brings a no-nonsense, field-tested approach that blends wilderness survival, bushcraft, and preparedness with modern wilderness medicine concepts.
All instructors hold current WFR and CPR/BLS with AED credentials at a minimum.
Who Should Take This Wilderness First Responder Course?
This WFR course is ideal for:
- Outdoor professionals – guides, rangers, expedition leaders, and camp staff
- Search and rescue members and volunteers
- Backcountry adventurers and expedition hikers
- Survival and bushcraft students who want medical skills to match their fieldcraft
- Anyone involved in remote, multi-day trips or high-risk outdoor activities
If you are working toward GB2’s higher-level training programs or instructor pathways, this course also supports the medical readiness expected at those levels.
Course Details
Course Provider: SOLO Wilderness First Responder (WFR) – delivered by GB2 Cadre
Duration: 8 days (minimum 72 training hours)
Certifications Earned:
- SOLO Wilderness First Responder (WFR) – valid 3 years
- CPR/BLS with AED – valid 2 years
- ACS Stop the Bleed certification
- Standards: Meets Wilderness Medicine Education Collaborative (WMEC) 2024 WFR standards
- Recertification: Minimum 16 in-person hours required at expiration
Why This Wilderness Medical Course Stands Out
This SOLO-backed Wilderness First Responder course:
- Combines the legacy and rigor of SOLO wilderness medicine with GB2’s real-world survival and fieldcraft expertise
- Focuses on high-value, practical skills using the gear you actually carry
- Uses scenario-based training that forces you to think, decide, and act under realistic stress
- Provides industry-recognized certifications that meet current standards, not outdated minimums
You won’t just leave with a card—you’ll leave with a repeatable assessment process, clear treatment priorities, and the confidence to lead in a medical emergency.
Take the First Step Toward Real Medical Preparedness
Don’t wait until an emergency to discover what you should have known. Enroll in the Wilderness Medical Course – Wilderness First Responder (WFR) and gain the skills required to confidently manage injuries and medical emergencies in the backcountry.
Reserve your spot now and become a certified Wilderness First Responder through SOLO and GB2.
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Important Notes
This course is a field course that requires students to spend the training day in a remote and primitive setting. There will be limited access to electricity or running water, and restrooms will likely be limited to portable toilets on-site.
However, camping is provided on-site, and students will be allowed to either construct their own shelters or use a tent or hammock system. Students will have access to their vehicles during the course before and after the training day and often for lunch as time permits. You may coordinate for off-site lodging for yourself, but are responsible for being back at training on time the next day. Staff is not responsible for you while off the venue.
It is important to be prepared for harsh weather conditions and embrace the challenging field conditions, including cold, rain, wind, and snow. Safety will be a top priority maintained by the course cadre and staff.
It is essential for students to remain dedicated and engaged throughout the course. We will not give up on you if you do not give up on yourself. However, if a student decides not to continue training or does not participate, they will be immediately escorted back to their vehicles and must leave the training venue. Please note that there will be no refunds or credits for the course, and students may not leave and come back at a later time (with some exceptions determined by the cadre).
Upon arrival, ensure that you are physically prepared for the course and have all the equipment you need.
Participants are responsible for bringing their own food and snacks for the duration of the course. Going off-site to get food will likely be limited to the evenings after training or mornings before training starts. Lunch breaks, when available, will likely be shorter in duration and not long enough to go off-site to eat. Additionally, it is highly recommended to bring electrolyte replacements, either commercial or homemade.