Combat Missions is a one hour long reality TV show produced by Mark Burnett and hosted by former Survivor castaway, Rudy Boesch, that aired from January to April in 2002 on the USA Network. It pits four teams of highly-experienced military and police operatives against each other in physical challenges and "mission" scenarios. Each team has a call sign and corresponding color. The four teams are Alpha, Bravo, Charlie and Delta. The team members were past and present members of SWAT, the United States Army Special Forces, the Navy SEALs, Marine Recon, the CIA Special Operations Group, the Delta Force, and the U.S. Army Rangers. The mission scenarios has each team face off against the opposing "Shadow force" using MILES gear in real-life combat situations. The show was not picked up for a second season.
Scott Helvenston, one of the contestants from the Delta team went on to work for Blackwater USA in Iraq after the show and was killed in action on March 31, 2004.
Episodes Season Season 1 · 0/15 0/15 watched · 2002
S01E01 Evolution 1 2002-01-16 60m
On the first day of competition, the four six-man squads assemble for the first time on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Rudy Boesch, welcomes the twenty-four elite men, who were selected from a field of over 750 applicants, and briefs them on the competition ahead. Commander Boesch completes the briefing by announcing that the first competition will be between Bravo and Charlie.
All the squads proceed to their tents and make a final equipment preparation for the day's competition. Squads are ask to report back after thirty minutes for physical training.
At 11:30 am, the Charlie and Bravo Squads are subjected to their first round of physical training, starting off with a three mile run through the desert, followed by two rounds of 50-pound rucksack run around the camp perimeter, then some pull-ups.
The first Combat Mission is called Tank Take-Out. Each team will be brought by a helicopter into a remote area of the desert, and the squads must advance on an entrenched enemy tank, more
S01E02 Evolution 2 2002-01-23 60m
Teams Alpha, Bravo, Charlie, and Delta assemble once again on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men, and announces that the next competition will be between Alpha Squad and Delta Squad. Alpha and Delta Squads proceed to the dock to take on the Helocasting Training Exercise. Each squad members must jump from a helicopter into 52° water. oard, Teams must get into their boats and race to the dock. The first team to complete the exercise wins 50 points. Alpha Squad wins this Training Exercise and gets 25 extra points.
Like Bravo and Charlie Squads in Evolution One, Alpha and Delta Squads will take on the Tank Take-Out Combat Mission.
In preparation to their mission, Alpha and Delta Squads go through a round of weapons training, and then begin to strategize for the mission ahead. That evening, the four military men of Alpha Squad brief their SWAT team members on military tactics, while Delta Squad does a mission rehearsal on the grounds of the camp.
Delta Squad more
S01E03 Evolution 3 2002-01-30 60m
The four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm for briefing. Commander Rudy Boesch addresses the men, and announces that the next competition will be between Bravo and Delta.
Commander Boesch learned about Helvenston's behavior during their previous Tank Take-Out mission. He calls Helvenston into his office after the briefing and asks him about it. Helvenston admits the incident and told the Commander that it won't happen again.
Bravo and Delta Squads are subjected to take on the Weapons Assembly Training Exercise. Each team must assemble and fire six weapons. The winning team gets 25 extra points towards mission. Delta Squad wins this Training Exercise.
The two squads are subjected to another set of Training Exercise called The Gauntlet. Each team gets a turn on offense and defense. One man at a time tries to knock defenders in water. Team clearing the gauntlet using fewest men wins. Bravo Squad used four men to clear the gauntlet during their offense. While Delta Squad use more
S01E04 Evolution 4 2002-02-06 60m
The four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm for briefing. Commander Rudy Boesch addresses the men, and announces the next competition will be between Alpha and Charlie.
Alpha and Charlie face off in The Grid Training Exercise. Each team member is issued a helmet and a pugil stick. The two squads proceed on to an open grid in a dock with 52° water. Each team tries to knock all of the members of the other team off the grid and into the water. The team with the last man standing wins 75 extra points towards mission. Alpha Squad wins this Training Exercise.
After getting a blow on his nose during the training exercise, Charlie Squad's Young proceeds to the medical tent. Camp's Medic Heather Cunningham treated Young's injured nose. Later, Cunningham discovers her duties as Camp Medic also include being the camp's barber, as Commander Boesch stops by for a haircut.
Like Bravo and Delta Squads in Evolution Three, Alpha and Chalie Squads will take on the Prisoner Rescue mission. more
S01E05 Evolution 5 2002-02-13 60m
At 46° temperature, the four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men and welcomes Cade Courtley and George Ciganik to the competition. He then announces that the next match-up will be between Charlie and Delta.
Charlie and Delta face off in the Double Pit Cross Training Exercise. Both squads must race and use bridges to cross the water pit, swim to the dock on the other side with the 50° water temperature. Winning team gets 50 extra points towards mission. Delta wins in this Training Exercise.
Nutter gets reprimanded for flashing over his teammates and running around the camp naked.
Charlie and Delta Squad are assigned to take on the Hostage Rescue mission, an urban mission that will rely on each team's skills in CQB (Close Quarters Battle).
Charlie Squad takes on the mission first. Young picks off a sniper who is firing from a second story window. The squad enters the building. Using flash-bangs, they enter a room where suspects are holding more
S01E06 Evolution 6 2002-02-20 60m
The four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men, and announces that the competition will be between Alpha and Bravo.
Alpha and Bravo face off a series of Obstacle Course. Alpha crosses the finish line first and wins 50 extra from this Training Exercise.
Alpha and Bravo Squads are assigned to take on Hostage Rescue mission, an urban mission that will rely on each team's skills in CQB (Close Quarters Battle).
Each team is given surveillance photos of the complex and floor plans for the buildings for their mission planning.
Bravo Squad takes on the mission first. Corwin relieves a police officer, while the rest of the team is dropped by helicopter onto a roof and descends down the side of the building on a rope ladder. Corwin picks off a sniper who is firing from a second story window, and the rest of squad enters the building. Using flash-bangs, they begin to enter each room, and two suspects grab the hostage and run further inside the buildi more
S01E07 Evolution 7 2002-02-27 60m
The four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men and announces that the next competition will be between Alpha and Delta.
Alpha and Delta compete in the Rifle Marksmanship. In each team, two men at a time must fire rifles at assigned targets The team that shoots the most bullseyes gets 25 extra points towards Mission. Delta Squad wins this Training Exercise.
Delta and Alpha once again face off on The Grid. The object is for each team to try to knock all of the members of the other team off of the grid and into the water. The team with the last man standing gets 50 extra points towards mission. Delta wins this second Training Exercise.
Before the mission briefing, there's a confrontation at the Snake Pit. Commander Boesch arranges to address the troops in an informal gathering to ask if anyone is having a problem with somebody in the camp.
Alpha and Delta are then subjected to take on the Pilot Down mission. A jet has been shot down in enemy more
S01E08 Evolution 8 2002-03-06 60m
The four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men, and announces the next competition will be between Bravo and Charlie.
Bravo and Charlie are assigned to take on the Helocasting Training Exercise. Two members of each team must swim across the water with a 50- pound rucksack on their backs, while the other four members of each squad must jump from a hovering helicopter into the center of the lake and swim the remaining distance. All of the squad members must then overturn a raft, climb into it, and paddle back to the other side of the lake. Charlie is the first team to finish and wins 75 extra points towards mission.
Bravo and Charlie are assigned to take on the Pilot Down mission. A jet has been shot down in an enemy territory, but the pilot has ejected and survived the crash. Shadow Squad is already on the hunt for him. Squads must find the pilot and move him to rendezvous point for helicopter extraction. Should the first extraction point b more
S01E09 Evolution 9 2002-03-13 60m
The four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men, and announces that the next competition will be between Bravo and Alpha.
Bravo and Alpha face off in the Rope Climb Training Exercise. Five members of each team must climb up a rope, one at time, with a 40-pound pack on their back. After reaching the top, they must descend the rope, run to a nearby bunker, fire their weapon, and then return to where their teammates are gathered. Claggett is told sit out for Bravo to make the teams even. Alpha wins 25 extra points towards mission.
Bravo and Alpha face off in another Training Exercise called the Double Pit Cross. Squads will tackle the course at the same time. They must first run across the rough terrain of the desert floor, then use a variety of rope and ladder bridges to cross a pit. The men must then jump into a second pit filled with water and swim across it to a dock on the other side, where A 50-pound pack awaits them. After putting on th more
S01E10 Evolution 10 2002-03-20 60m
All four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men, and announces that the next competition will be between Charlie and Delta.
Charlie and Delta face off on the Obstacle Course. Each team must race to complete a grueling course which features various imposing obstacles. The team that gets all of their members across the finish line first wins 50 points towards mission. Delta wins this Training Exercise.
Charlie and Delta are then subjected to another Training Exercise called the Transition Drill. A line of five targets is set up for each team, one in front of the other. The first team to hit all five targets in order from front to rear wins 25 points towards mission. Estadt sits out to make the teams even. Charlie wins the exercise.
Like Alpha and Bravo in the previous evolution, Charlie and Delta are assigned to take on the Missile Hangar mission.
Delta Squad goes first. A helicopter drops the squad onto the roof of the hangar, where they mov more
S01E11 Evolution 11 2002-03-27 60m
All four squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch announces that Round Three has began. Losing squads will now be eliminated, with all of the losing squad members getting sent home. He then announces that the first elimination match-up will be between Bravo and Charlie.
Bravo and Charlie face off in the Weapons Assembly Training Exercise. Each team is presented with a box containing disassembled parts from various weapons. Team members must approach the box one man at a time, assemble a weapon, and fire a round with it. The first team to successfully assemble and fire four weapons wins 25 points towards mission. Bravo's Kain and Claggett sit out to make teams even. Bravo Squad wins the exercise.
Bravo and Charlie face off in another Training Exercise called The Grid. Each squad member is issued a helmet with a and a pugil stick. The men must first swim to an open grid floating on the water. Each team must knock all members of the other team off the grid and i more
S01E12 Evolution 12 2002-04-03 60m
The remaining three squads assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses the men, and announces that the latest squad elimination match-up will be between Alpha and Delta. He also announces that an injury to Delta's Estadt has been diagnosed as a broken ankle, forcing him to be discharged for medical reasons. Replacing him is 51-year old Vietnam veteran William Nissen.
Alpha and Delta squads proceed face off in The Gauntlet Training Exercise. One team goes on defense, putting four men on the open grid floating on the water. The team on offense then walks onto the grid one member at a time to take on one defender at a time. The team that uses the least number of men on offense to knock the four members of the team on defense into the water wins 50 extra points towards mission. Alpha wins this training exercise.
Delta and Alpha are also assigned to take on the Meth Lab mission.
Delta Squad takes on the mission first. Ciganik and Nutter get into positions and begin more
S01E13 Evolution 13 2002-04-10 60m
Bravo and Delta prepare to face off for the upcoming Team Championship.
Bravo and Delta face off in the Helocasting Training Exercise for the second time. Bravo is first team to finish the exercise and wins 50 extra points.
Bravo and Delta are assigned to take on the Fuel Dump Demolition mission. Shadow Squad has established a fuel dump in the desert, and three aircraft have already been lost trying to take it out. The team's mission is to blow it up.
Delta takes on the mission first. The team begins to move towards the Fuel Dump. Baz radios HQ and reports the presence of the fuel dump, one vehicle, and at least six enemy soldiers, and also confirms the presence of POWs in the camp. Headquarters then changes Delta's primary objective: to recover the POWs. The demolition of the fuel dump becomes their secondary objective. Delta assumes sniper positions, tosses a smoke can, and opens fire on the camp. An enemy tank approaches, and Helvenston takes aim and fires, destroying the tank. Nutt more
S01E14 Evolution 14 2002-04-17 60m
The six remaining men of Bravo Squad assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Commander Boesch addresses them and briefs them on the competition ahead.
The six-man squad is split into two teams of three to compete against one another. The losing team will be discharged, leaving the other three men to go one-on-one in the final evolution for the individual championship. A leader for each team is randomly selected by drawing swords. Kain and Sirker each draw a marked sword, and thereby become the leaders of Bravo Blue and Bravo Red, respectively. Kain and Sirker are then allowed to choose for their members. The squad ends up with the following split:
Bravo Blue: Bob Kain, Jeff Byers, and Dexter Fletcher Bravo Red: Sean Sirker, Mark Corwin, and Steve Claggett
Each team is instructed to pack their gear and move into separate tents.
The two teams face off in the Combat Combo Training Exercise, a series of training exercises that they have done before: Helocasting, Log Carry, Rucksack R more
S01E15 Evolution 15 2002-04-17 60m
Kain, Byers, and Fletcher assemble on the grounds of Camp Windstorm. Each is given their own color for the final competition: Kain (blue), Byers (yellow), and Fletcher (red). Commander Boesch addresses the men and explains the final competition ahead.
The three men will first compete on the Obstacle Course. The order in which the men finish will determine how much weight each man will carry during their next mission. The winner will carry a 30-pound pack, the 2nd will carry a 40-pound pack, and the 3rd will carry a 50-pound pack. Byers finishes first, followed by Fletcher, then Kain in last place.
The three men competes in the Desert Assault mission, a 600-meter footrace which includes target shooting. As shells detonate around them, each man must run the course, stopping at various points along the way to load their weapon, shoot out a target that matches their color, and then unload and make safe their weapon again before continuing. The first two men to reach the finish line advance more 
