The monthly missions are the heart and soul of Operation GRIT. Each month, participants challenge themselves with missions that become increasingly difficult over the 3- or 6-month program. The final mission is likely to be the hardest task any participant has attempted. Missions serve four main purposes:
Daily fitness, mindset coaching, reflection, and discomfort are integrated into every day of the GRIT program, but the missions are orienting guideposts that inspire participants to commit to transformation. For most people, success on the misogi mission would be grim if they dove in with zero preparation. In the GRIT program, each mission builds upon the previous one, helping participants develop the physical and mental stamina needed to succeed on the final mission.
People need connection, and they need it in person. The pandemic is over and it’s time to get out and play. The GRIT missions place each participant in a cooperative setting where they challenge and encourage one another. As participants move deeper into the program, the missions get harder, more uncomfortable, and more rewarding. Missions create a unique sense of brother and sisterhood among participants.
Nobody wants to fail their team or mission because they didn’t complete their preparation. The GRIT missions create a strong sense of accountability that motivates participants to follow through on their training. Performance on missions is evidence of each participant’s work behind the scenes, every day, when nobody is looking.
Finally, missions are just plain fun. Okay, they’re type 2 fun. They’re the kind of fun that may leave you laughing deliriously, questioning life choices, and wondering what the hell you were thinking. But ultimately, this is the type of fun that creates incredible memories while facilitating rapid mental and physical transformation.
The first mission is an overnight backpack trip with Jess and other members of your team. During Mission 1, you’ll meet your team, share the personal goals you’ve set for the program (which will be part of your pre-mission mindset meeting with Jess), and get in a surprise workout. The team will meet at a local trailhead, backpack in, set up camp, and have a group dinner. We’ll sit around a campfire at night and get to know one another. The next morning, we’ll have a group object carry at dawn, eat breakfast, break camp, and hike back in.
Operation GRIT is about momentum. It’s way easier to sustain momentum than to start and stop, over and over again. Mission 2 is all about the grind. The challenge of the bodies in motion mission is to move through the full challenge without stopping. That means no snack breaks, water on the go, push through til the end. To add some spice, the team will also be required to carry an object (of Jessica’s choosing – she tends to like boulders) through the challenge. Members will take turns carrying and trade off as often as needed, but the object can never be set down. Bodies in motion stay in motion.
It’s time to up the ante and add some technical challenges that might create some anxiety (hopefully it does — that’s the goal). This mission could include a variety of challenges, such as class 3 climbing, a via ferrata, canyoneering, etc. Heights will be involved.
Now we’re getting into the fun stuff. The witching hour is a nighttime ruck designed to create new experiences of discomfort in the form of sleep deprivation and walking through the forest or desert at night. This event will begin in the dark and end at sunrise (lasting approximately 8 hours). You and your teammates will be required to navigate a point-to-point trail, together, stopping at three checkpoints along the way. Checkpoints will require the team to complete tasks or solve problems before continuing on the trail. This mission is designed to help you become familiar with the sleep deprivation you’ll face on the misogi mission.
Welcome to the marathon. This isn’t your usual, breezy 26.2 mile paved course. This is a marathon ruck through incredible, awe-inspiring terrain. You’ll hike a marathon and experience anywhere from around 5,000 to 8,000 feet of elevation gain. You’ve spent the last five months preparing to carry weight on your back for long periods. You’ll complete the marathon with required weight plus water, food, and an emergency kit. You’ll have 12 hours to make it happen. This a warm-up for the misogi mission.
You’ve made it to the final mission. This is designed to be one of the toughest things you’ve ever done. This is a 24-hour mission and you will work as a team to get through it (see “misogi rules”). This is a destination event that will take you to one of the most stunning parts of the country. Think of the misogi mission as part vacation, part suffer fest — all incredible. This epic, 24-hour test will force you to realize how powerful you are while having the experience of a lifetime. Relax with your teammates at a beautiful ranch the following day to celebrate, eat, and reflect on how far you’ve come. Read more about what’s included in the program fees here.
