Frosty_Stage_1464 t1_jaaqzpe wrote on February 28, 2023 at 2:02 AM

A lot of comments here based off what folks think versus reality. It is highly unlikely you will find yourself on the same property. The closest you may get is a gate. The school is in Redington, close to Rangeley but not Rangeley. Anyone training at SERE school isn’t going to run into a camper… and if they did, they won’t kill them but you’ll probably get a strong lecture and redirected where you should be. To even think you’ll be harmed is based off of weird backwoods legends deep in the mobile home neck of the woods. You’ll be fine. Just be mindful where you camp - make sure it’s public land and not private and follow the laws and regulations pertaining to the land.

Source: I went to Navy dive school and did RTC 800 division with those who chose the SEAL pipeline. I still talk to a few who’ve done the school.

l3ubba t1_jab4c80 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 3:44 AM

It's funny reading some of these comments though. People think some military guy going through SERE is going to go ape shit on some random person or that you're going to get snatched up by some dudes in black vans. It isn't Area 51, you can google SERE and find plenty of information on it.

I got offered a SERE school slot once (not the one in Maine though) because our unit had extra seats to send people. I passed on it, but had some coworkers who volunteered for it. After talking to them when they got back I was glad I decided to stay in Germany and enjoy my weekends off.

Frosty_Stage_1464 t1_jacf1gn wrote on February 28, 2023 at 12:57 PM

Yes there is a lot of silly comments here. Probably attributed to too much television and a lack of real world exposure. It’s not top secret, there’s schools all over the country. I think before Cutler downsized it’s staff they used to offer training out there for the low frequency radio wave program. I also think in the episode of Bear Grylls doing survival in the Maine woods he made a reference to SERE school. But I suppose we can give folks in Rangeley something to be chatting about

Existing_Bat1939 t1_jabipwf wrote on February 28, 2023 at 6:02 AM

I think part of it too is that when that lady hiker (I'm afraid I don't recall her name but her trail handle was Inchworm) wandered off the Appalachian Trail and vanished, The Bollard wrote some sketchy stories that tried to insinuate that the school had something to do with her disappearance, and by the way did you know the military is bad?

Tragically, they found her remains some months later; she had gotten lost in the woods and died.

Frosty_Stage_1464 t1_jacf4i3 wrote on February 28, 2023 at 12:57 PM

I remember that. I also think there were people from the school actually helping in the search party. That was a tragic story.