Update: $870 raised so far as of 01/07/24

The American Pioneer Corps (APC), for those unfamiliar, is a strictly apolitical, IRS approved 501C3 tax deductible charity non-profit, which was started right here on ARFCOM. We are similar to a mix of very old school BSA and ROTC, and provide leadership development and outdoors skills training, typically free, but occasionally at minimal cost. Some of our training includes accredited medical first responder training, engineer skills, small arms and light weapons (up to and including .50bmg, grenade launchers, and mortars), mountaineering, small boat and amphibious safety, land navigation, and more.  Both the Army and Marine Corps have previously given awards (personal medals and competition shooting badges, respectively) for high level achievements at APC events, and we are currently in the process of pursuing sanctioning that would permit persons who achieve a rating as a Pioneer to enter the armed services at an advanced grade, similar to those who have become an Eagle Scout or completed ROTC.

APC donations do not pay or provide other financial benefits to any of our staff, instructors, volunteers, etc.  We are one of the only 501C3 charities that can honestly say 100% of your donations goes to our mission of providing training to you.


APC is going to be much more active in 2024 than in years past. I have recently retired, and we have several other recently retired instructors capable of traveling to conduct training around the country. To put in simple terms how far we want to ensure we reach this year- at least one centrally planned and funded event in every region composing an NCAA conference is the goal. That of course depends on your support, not just financially, but with assistance doing the groundwork to enable events to happen.


Financially, our goals include the following;


-APC needs to cover insurance for this year (~$6000, waiting on official number) by the end of January.


-Purchase of additional small boats, climbing equipment, radios, personal protective equipment, and small arms to stock locations around the country where people can borrow equipment to conduct training. A major limiting factor for training right now is the necessity of relocating significant amounts of gear around the country for each training event. Such stockpiles would allow us to save significant money long term by reducing the necessity of instructors moving equipment around the country for classes, thereby offering you more training opportunities. We would like to raise $250,000 for this purpose.


-Raise money for rental and permit fees for training locations around the country- $50,000.


-Raise money to provide consumables for all training events. This means ropes, food, ammunition, maps, etc.


-Construction of a dedicated training center east of the Mississippi, and another in the Rocky Mountains, which will have extensive facilities including ranges, housing, climbing areas, boat facilities, and more. These facilities would be available for APC training, youth organizations, and the general public. Each of these facilities should be 640 acres. We have the opportunity to receive the property for free if we can demonstrate the financial capability of building the facilities. Goal here is $2,000,000 in funds raised.

-Fully funding EMT training and certification for multiple eligible candidates, based upon availability of funds.

-We are in the process of pursuing authorization to utilize a number of national guard bases for housing, ranges, and other training opportunities at no cost to participants.


I would like you to help us, help you. Small donations, including automatic recurring donations, can be made via our website.  For large donations exceeding $5,000 dollars, please contact us so we can arrange a bank transfer or donation via check. I will also issue an offer- a challenge as it is.  

For those who want to assist more:

In addition to our regular national event over Memorial Day weekend, as mentioned previously we would like to start running regional versions of the Warfighter Challenge competition alongside more training nationwide. If a person, association, or organization donates $10,000 and indicates it is a donation for "operational expansion" we will work with you to identify a date and location within 2024 (or 2025 if your desired dates are already committed at the time you desire) and host a regional competition in honor of an individual of your choosing. Alternatively, we will work out bringing your desired training, covering any combination of events from the Pioneer Task Book, to the closest practical location to you.


The first sixteen donors (persons, associations, or organizations) who donate sufficient funds to construct a bunk house, dining facility, or shower facility at the training centers ($25,000) may choose to have said building named as they desire in perpetuity, along with a sign explaining the significance of the name.


Donors of $50,000 or more will be placed on a list and be permitted to name other major facilities (academic buildings, ranges, obstacle courses, boat houses) as they are constructed.


Donors of $100,000 or more- let's talk.


We have 347,319 active accounts on ARFCOM as of this writing. $10 each would setup APC for the next two years. I recognize that isn't realistic for some of you, but I believe we can make this happen. $2.5 million dollars. There are hundreds of thousands of ARFCOMMERS, and APC donations are fully tax deductible. This should be doable folks. Please help us provide you with training and opportunities that most would never have otherwise.

Very final note: if you have property that might be suitable for hosting APC events, please let us know. In many parts of the country locating venues is one of our biggest struggles due to the costs associated with renting facilities.


Semper Fi,

Ben

Unfortunately pinned threads are often largely ignored.  The best way to ensure visibility is to keep them bumped and full of lively conversation.

Amazon sent us an email a while back saying Amazon Smile was no more as of the end of 2023.

So...the short answer is "maybe". The more complicated one is that we don't currently require groups of folks pursuing APC ratings to be formally affiliated with APC or report to us.

Usually, unless a group of folks asks for it, we don't schedule an event in a given area. If they do ask for it, and there are at least six people willing to commit to attending, we will typically fund the event and try to provide qualified instructors.

Find a location for an event, and I'll make it happen if I have to drive to Tennessee myself. Completely serious. So if you want an event your way, hit me up by PMs and we can talk details and get it on the public calendar.

That gives you two. One more and you have enough to complete events together and sign each other's tasks off.

Bump

You don't actually "join" APC. We are reworking a page to clarify that. So, short answer is no.

If you go hiking with two people not related to you, they can witness that you met the hike standard. You'll see that some events almost by necessity need to be accomplished alongside other APC participants due to gear or training restraints, but many do not.

Oh, of this we are aware. There have been, and continue to be, steps taken to avoid this.