AMCI Basic Mountaineering Course (BMC) 2004

INTRODUCTION

Training Policies

• To be eligible for membership, all trainees must be able to satisfy all BMC training requirements.
• All trainees shall be treated with due respect and given equal treatment. All are subject to training rules and regulations.
• The training committee manages the program and the trainees. Any matter requiring judgment on the conduct of the training and of the trainees may be brought to the attention of the Trainee–Member Relation Officer, or the Training Director.
• The club reserves the right to disqualify a trainee anytime during the training should s/he: fail to fulfill requirements, violate training rules, or commit misconduct.

Training Program

1. Absences shall not have exceeded 20% of the total number of training sessions / 2 late arrivals shall be counted as 1 absence.
2. Passed the periodic and final written exams (80% competence in all subjects).
3. Passed the Skills Test.
4. Passed the Basic First Aid and Basic Life Support modules.
5. Completed at least 3 of the 4 training climbs.
6. Finished the 15 km. Qualifying Run 2 hours or less.

Article 5, Section 2 of the AMCI ByLaws requires that a trainee must have complied with, or fulfilled the following before being accepted as a member of the club:
1. He or she must have satisfactorily completed a BMC Training, or the equivalent training program designed by AMCI and
2. He or she must have participated in the official AMCI induction rite.

1. A training fee shall be charged for all trainees. This will cover expenses incurred for the training such as the trainees' application kit, training kit (which includes a training shirt, training ID and BMC Manual), rental for training venues, etc.
2. Trainees will have to pay for the fees for the Basic First Aid Training, indoor wall climbing, and expenses incurred during climbs for transportation, meals, etc.
3. Trainees, upon submitting their applications, will be asked to pay a reservation fee. This reservation fee is non-refundable, but will be deducted from the total training fee.
4. The training fee should be paid in full before the 1st training climb. Otherwise, the trainee will not be allowed to join the climb nor continue with the training. 5. If the trainee decides to discontinue his or her training on or before th 2nd training session, he or she will be entitled to a full refund of any amount he or she has paid in excess of the reservation fee.
6. If the trainee decides to discontinue his or her training after the 2nd training session but before the 1st training climb, and if he or she has paid in full, then he or she can avail of a refund of 40% of the training fee less the reservation fee. Otherwise, no refund will be made.
7. Trainees who are dismissed from the BMC training cannot avail of any refund.

Management of the trainees is the responsibility of the Training Committee. Any matter requiring judgment on the conduct of the training and of the trainees may be brought to the attention of the Trainees and Members Relation Officer, or to the Training Director.

1. A trainee will be marked late for attendance if he or she reports for training 31 minutes after the training has officially started.
2. Two late attendance marks is equivalent to 1 absence.
3. A trainee's total number of absences should not exceed 20% of the total number of training sessions. Otherwise, he or she will not be eligible for induction.
4. A trainee must wear his or her BMC Training ID at all times during training sessions, and training/induction climbs.

Trainees will be graded on discipline during training. Each will be given 100 points at the start of the training, and each violation of the discipline requirements below will result to a corresponding demerit:

1. Tardiness - 2
2. Shirtless during training - 3
3. Taking the elevator (at the Valero carpark) - 3
4. Incomplete uniform (no ID, no training shirt) - 5
5. Littering during training sessions and climbs - 5
6. Putting up feet on the carpark walls - 5
7. Shortcuts during runs - 10
8. Cheating (during tests, or carrying lesser load than specified during ramps) - 10
9. Smoking along the trail - 10
10. Non-observance of lights-out rule during climbs - 10

1. Trainees will be required to attend all the training lectures.
2. Trainees will be required to exhibit understanding of these topics by passing the exams and skills tests.

Exams and Skills Tests
1. Periodic written tests as well as a comprehensive final written exam and skills test will be given.
2. A trainee must pass the required grade average for the written and skills tests. Otherwise, he or she will not be eligible for induction.
3. A trainee must also pass the certificate program for the Basic Life First Aid and Basic Life Support modules. Otherwise, he or she will not be eligible for induction.
4. Doctors, nurses, and other medical professionals are still required to take the Basic First Aid and Basic Life Support modules.

1. Trainees will be required to complete the BMC Physical Fitness Program, consisting of the following activities:

a. Warm-up and cool down exercises
b. Running with incremental distance leading to 15kms.
c. Stair climbing (or its equivalent) with increasing load
d. 15km. qualifying run
e. Periodic Physical Fitness Assessment

2. The Physical Fitness Assessment will be done periodically to measure and monitor the trainees' fitness level.
3. There will be two 15-km. qualifying runs scheduled.
4. A trainee must complete either of these two 15-km qualifying run within 2 hours. Otherwise, he or she will not be eligible for induction.
5. Trainees must wear their BMC training shirt during the physical program activities.

Training Climbs
1. Trainees will be required to join at least 3 of the 4 training climbs scheduled. Otherwise, the trainee will not be eligible for induction.
2. A training climb will only be credited to a trainee if and only if:

a. He or she has attended the following activities: pre-climb meeting, climb proper, and post climb meeting.
b. His or her name has been duly reflected in his or her group's training climb report.

3. For training climb, trainees will be divided into groups of 6-8 trainees.
4. Each group will be assigned an AMCI member to stand as the group leader. Other AMCI members may join the groupto assist during the training climb.
5. The Climb Coordinator will create and announce the groupings for the training climbs. Below are the rules in creating the groupings:

a. Trainee X and Y will be groupmates only once.This is done so that trainees will get the chance to know most of their co trainees.
b. Strive for balance in the relative strength of the groups.

6. Training climbs will increase in difficulty and length of days as the training progresses: The 1st and 2nd training climbs are 2-day climbs (overnight) while the 3rd and 4th training climbs are 3-day climbs (multi-day).

Induction Climb
1. Trainees will be required to join any of the 2 induction climbs scheduled.
2. Induction climbs are 3 to 4 day (multi-day) climbs.
3. Only trainees eligible for induction will be allowed to join the induction climb.
4. For induction climbs, trainees may choose their group mates. There shall be 6 to 8 trainees per group. Ideally, the number of female and male inductees in a group should be the same.
5. The group listing for the induction climb must be submitted to the Climb Coordinator for approval. Changes in a group's roster may be made by the Climb Coordinator as he deems necessary.Each group must choose its own group adviser from the pool of AMCI members.
6. If a trainee is not inducted in an y of the 2 scheduled induction climbs, he or she must wait for the next BMC training so he or she can be inducted and recognized as a member of AMCI.

General Climb Guidelines
1. No guests are allowed in all training and induction climbs.
2. The use of military uniform and paraphernalia, or those resembling such items is strictly prohibited.
3. Lights out shall be strictly enforced and observed.
4. Smoking is allowed only at designated areas in the campsite.
5. Littering is strictly prohibited.

All trainees are expected at all times to respect their fellow trainees, the members, AMCI guests, fellow mountaineers, and the communities touched by AMCI in its training activities. Respect for the environment is also a must, as well as consciousness for safetyexpecially during climbs.

Trainees are likewise expected to willfully abide by the discipline requirements and other requirements of the BMC Training Committee.

AMCI reserves the right to give out disciplinary sanctions to trainees as found valid after due investigation. Instances where disciplinary sanctions may be called for include violations of the above required general conduct, which may be exemplified in the following instances:
1. Causing undue disturbance during training sessions and climbs such as boisterous laughter, shouting, loud conversation, etc.
2. Willful acts of violence against a member, trainee or guest causing injury to the person and/or damage to his, her, or AMCI's properties.
3. Committing acts of sexual harassment or abuse against a member, trainee or guest.
4. Carrying of firearms and explosives.
5. Possession or use of illegal or prohibited drugs and substances.
6. Conviction by final judgment by a court of law of an offense carrying an imprisonment exceeding 6 years and/or involving moral turpitude.
7. Unauthorized use of the name of AMCI for commercial purposes resulting in personal gain, or for whatever reason deemed unacceptable by AMCI.
8. Willfully committing acts detrimental to the image or interest of AMCI and to its members, trainees, or guests.
9. Repeated violation of any provision in the rules and policies of AMCI.

Depending on the gravity and/or frequency of the committed act, AMCI may choose to give out the following disciplinary sanctions:

1. verbal warning
2. written warning
3. suspension

The gravity of the act may also be grounds for a trainee's dismissal from the training.

A trainee must satisfy all the above requirements to qualify for the induction climb