By Pfc. Howard Ketter
20th Public Affairs Detachment
FORT WAINWRIGHT, Alaska -- Soldiers from several U.S. Army Alaska units and the Northern Warfare Training Center staff took part in a filming session for a History Channel program Feb. 26 to March 4.
Former "Survivor" television star and ex-Navy fighter pilot, Hunter Ellis completed the Cold Weather Leader Course. The filming was for a show called "The Recruit" that may be launched as a series on the History channel.
Ellis went through the course as a student, learning and being tested on the course requirements as a Soldier. They completed training on several different arctic survival activities such as certifying on all types of arctic stoves. They also spent a night in a ten –man arctic tent, completed a five kilometer snowshoe movement and a 10 km ski movement.
Ellis got a chance to participate in an air assault exercise and a medical evacuation with his squad during the course. He said he felt very welcomed by the Soldiers and he enjoyed the camaraderie they showed during their training.
Ellis said that everything he was taught in the course was essential to survival in cold environments.
"Most Soldiers that come through the school, don't even know the proper way to wear all of their equipment," said Staff Sgt. Samuela Pulu, a NWTC instructor. "We teach that
and more in just two weeks, because if they don't know how to properly use their equipment according to its design, it doesn't serve its purpose."
"The cadre at the school are very serious about preventing cold weather injuries," said Maj. Anthony Ely, the NWTC commandant.
"The training is tough but I like to challenge myself," said Ellis. "The hardest part was definitely the 10 km ski movement."
At the end of the two week course, Ellis was awarded a certificate of completion and an Arctic uniform tab. The show was recorded as a pilot episode and is expected to air this fall.