06/23/2026
4-Mile Ruck Evaluation ๐
SERE Specialist Assessment & Selection Course (SSAS)
JBSA Lackland, TX
As a future candidate, your initial primary office will be the wide open spaces and your ruck will be your desk. A place to store your office supplies and safety gear. It would benefit you to add ruck preparation to your training. During the initial course at Lackland you will be need to be able to carry a 45-50lb ruck for 4 miles in under 55 minutes. You will be tested on a somewhat level surface. No running or shuffling allowed, but just a faster walk. The average ruck time for a graduate of SSAS is approximately 49-53 minutes to complete the 4 miles.
Start your training with a lower weight, such as 25-30 lbs. to let your body become accustomed to carrying the extra weight. Increase the weight in increments to avoid injury. Walking on hard surfaces like concrete or asphalt has a tendency to tear up feet and create undue stress to the knees and backs. Suggest looking for safe trails, paths, etc... along with having a training partner to motivate and keep you honest.
Note: Initially in training you will use an "Aliceโ type pack that has an external frame to help with the larger load and provides ventilation for your back. Outdoor stores would consider our pack a "Multi-day Ruck" that has a 50-80 liter capacity (3000-5000 cubic inches). To carry these larger loads safely the pack should have some type of frame, internal or external, good belly/waist band, and shoulder straps with a good chest/sternum strap. Best of Luck and !!! ๐บ๐ธ๐บ๐ธ