So many professional trainers are quick to remind us that our conditioning is generally the weakest link in the chain. Proper fitness levels will ensure our survival and retain the capabilities required to defend yourself and provide for your family or Tribe. Your self worth and mental clarity can also be improved with proper nutrition and exercise.
For myself this rule is excruciatingly relevant. My youth was spent in high velocity sports and heavy contact exercise. Once I reached 40, my body started to break down rapidly. It took a few surgeries to get some things worked out to the point and can begin to work out and retain some body mass without damaging myself further.
I first tried Crossfit as an option and it really did improve my capabilities quickly. The down side was when I changed instructors I found that the new instructor didn't warm up as well as the fist gal that started my class. I hurt my neck and back, which required a very long healing process to get the damaged vertebrae joints to reduce in size and not get agitated with use. When I took the Vehicle Operations course, I couldn't feel my left leg very well and fell a few times trying to double time into cover. The only saving grace was the fact that all my youth training taught me to fall well (into grass burrs).
Fast forward to December 2014 and I have surgery to release some trapped and damaged nerves in an extremity. I get released 1 1/2 months later and immediately begin trying to get back in shape. Regular exercises are very tough due to the cuts I had in very sensitive areas. Luckily Rucking is not hampered once I get everything strapped up. I'm signed up for some VERY rugged long term training in mid March and I'm expected to be capable of rucking my kit several miles as a requirement for the scenario.
It's so much easier to keep a handle on your physical condition than it is to build it back up. I'm seriously struggling to get it back into gear. 40+ year old dudes don't quite get ramped up as fast as we used to. It sucks to hit the treadmill instead of the trail, but in the winter we must choose to do the right thing.
Embrace the suck. No matter what happens, I will be in fighting shape by the time prescribed. Failure isn't an option.
Tuesday, February 17, 2015
Trades To Learn for The Modern Survivalist.
Many folks out there have some food, a sustainable garden plot, a water source and no clue. They refuse to consider the position they will be in if they are forced to use their resources in an environment where there is no rule of law or modern convenience. Sometimes the best laid plans can be thwarted by a seemingly innocuous incident or situation. The skills discussed will help hedge your bets and make you a more rounded and valuable person.
Medical training is my #1 skill set to have training in. Without 911 or modern surgery procedures, even a modest education in the medical field can save you a lot of heartache later. Dentistry is included in this skill. There are many resources that you can purchase to help you along and get you up to speed if we face a severe breakdown in society. You may ask yourself why you would need this skill, because ambulances didn't run to the riots in Fergadishu.
Agriculture/forestry- Learn how to spot problems and how to care for our natural bounty.
Animal husbandry- Because healthy animals are tasty.
Blacksmithing- Without modern machining techniques, parts will have to be hand made and this is the least expensive and easiest way to make parts.
Electrical/electronics/comms/solar- Information is key. Weather can be predicted by outlying broadcasters. Threats and conditions can be broadcast. Solar power is useless without the knowledge on it's use and delivery systems.
Plumbing/sanitation- Disease and poor sanitation killed more people than bullets did during the last civil war.
Mechanical skills/ light machine work/gunsmithing- Fixing your own stuff becomes more important when you can't call someone to fix it for you.
Carpentry/roofing- Keeping your home dry and being able to modify it to fit your needs will be important during a crisis.
Textiles/sewing. Clothes won't come from India or Bangladesh anymore. You'll need to make/repair what you have.
This list isn't comprehensive, but it's a start. Learned skills and education are 2 things that can never be stolen from you.
Medical training is my #1 skill set to have training in. Without 911 or modern surgery procedures, even a modest education in the medical field can save you a lot of heartache later. Dentistry is included in this skill. There are many resources that you can purchase to help you along and get you up to speed if we face a severe breakdown in society. You may ask yourself why you would need this skill, because ambulances didn't run to the riots in Fergadishu.
Agriculture/forestry- Learn how to spot problems and how to care for our natural bounty.
Animal husbandry- Because healthy animals are tasty.
Blacksmithing- Without modern machining techniques, parts will have to be hand made and this is the least expensive and easiest way to make parts.
Electrical/electronics/comms/solar- Information is key. Weather can be predicted by outlying broadcasters. Threats and conditions can be broadcast. Solar power is useless without the knowledge on it's use and delivery systems.
Plumbing/sanitation- Disease and poor sanitation killed more people than bullets did during the last civil war.
Mechanical skills/ light machine work/gunsmithing- Fixing your own stuff becomes more important when you can't call someone to fix it for you.
Carpentry/roofing- Keeping your home dry and being able to modify it to fit your needs will be important during a crisis.
Textiles/sewing. Clothes won't come from India or Bangladesh anymore. You'll need to make/repair what you have.
This list isn't comprehensive, but it's a start. Learned skills and education are 2 things that can never be stolen from you.
Tuesday, February 10, 2015
Cache Contents and Strategy # 3-Grey Man
One of the kits that was explicitly asked over at Total Survivalist Blog was to check out the Grey Man Cache I keep. I haven't had the time to swing by the location when I've been in the area, but I can explain the things I chose and go over the contents of the Cache.
Location: This Cache is stored at a VERY secure location due to the items that are kept in the kit. It's just outside the city I live in in an alarmed commercial property with no retail outlets near it. Business/warehouse space only. It's only accessible by someone with a key and the pass code for the alarm. An extra key is always available. The contents are insured by the business and I do some work for them from time to time as "rent". The kit is kept in a box labeled "Rags" and is at the top of a closet that you need a ladder to get to. The box above mine is labeled "Bubble Wrap" and is the owners son's kit.
Need: I would use this kit if something happened to jeopardize my freedom, or if I needed to travel in a hurry without being able to access my bank accounts or credit cards. This is also a "Safety Deposit Box" that has no government records. The contents are low key, readily available and are meant to blend in and not draw attention to the user.
Contents-
Clothing: I have a standard set of clothes, jeans, tshirt, plain UA fleece sweatshirt, a skull cap and a ball cap to an auto parts store. None of the items have a local connection, such as a college or pro sports team or aggressive pass time such as racing or shooting. Those clothes are vacuum sealed in a plastic bag to keep the smell of the site out of them. 2 other sets of clothes are done the same way. One set is for hiking, with columbia zip off leg pants/shorts and hiking quality shirt and rain jacket/wind breaker. The last set of clothes is a bit more tactical, but subdued. Blackhawk TNT khaki pants and a navy polo shirt with no logo. I have an old pair of Brooks Cascadias that are about half used up in there as well. All of the items of clothing are synthetic except for the first set of clothes. I want to be able to blend wherever I need to go, be it the rural towns, metro areas or wilderness. Totals: pants-3, Shirts-3, Underwear-4, socks-4, sweatshirt-1, Wind breaker-1, shoes-1, skull cap-1, ball cap-1, gloves-1. Ancillary gear- Paracord bracelet, ESS crossbow sunglasses, cheapo fleece gloves and a non metallic black SOE trouser belt. More on the belt later.
Adding- Backup laces, Ear buds, small radio
Gear: A small Ti Alcohol stove, CKRT small folder, toaks ti cup, 2- 24oz nalgene bottles, Katadyn hiker filter, green tarp, Jungle bag and liner, green lightweight hammock, trac phone, Chinese ham radio, solar charger, AA/AAA Eneloop batteries, AAA headlamp, AAA LED flashlight, small bic lighter, Maps to my secondary locations, button compass, lock picks(hidden), walking sticks, Ammonia in a sealed container, pepper spray, Micro SD card (well hidden), flash drive, Cheapo non GPS tablet in a ziplock freezer bag with charger, older Garmin GPS with both route areas to my location programmed in (topo maps), Otis cleaning kit, Flip Flops, 6 oz container of bleach, Doc Bonners soap, Deodorant, toothbrush, flossers, synthetic microfiber wash rag, synthetic chamois towel, Maxpedition case for toiletries, instant cofee, tea bags, energy drinks, small med kit with motrin and Cipro, nail clippers, round knife sharpener, flattened Toilet paper rolls-3, playing cards, 3 backpackers pantry meals, holloween size assorted chocolate bars, pen, paper, rite in the rain pad.
Adding- lifeboat ration bars, oral IV type drink mix, gorilla tape, sewing kit, laundry detergent single packs, tire tube patch kit, small tire pump, small tool kit.
Pack: Kelty backpack, it's the 45 or 50 liter pack, can't remember the name. I have the rain liner for it and a sealiner dry bag to line it with. The sealine can also be used to stash kit when entering a non permissive area. A Blackhawk fold up backpack is in the kit for giggles. Not sure who might be with you.
Weapons: Glock 26 with 250 rounds of ammo, all HP federal tactical. Clip draw and Saf-T-Blok installed for deep cover carry. Have a second threaded barrel and a solvent trap adapter. If you don't know what that is, look it up on youtube.
Adding- Take down 10/22 with a threaded barrel and mags.
Additional Items: Cash- 1500 in 50 to 5 dollar bills. The larger bills are tucked inside the zippered stowaway SOE belt. 10 dollars face value pre 64 us coins, 20 silver 1oz rounds. A plastic low profile handcuff key is gorilla taped to the inside of my SOE belt, as well as a 1.5" ceramic blade.
Strategy: My plan is to walk away from the hot area, buy a bike at a store or pawn shop and bike to the location I wish to go. I have one close and one 250+ miles away. I can bike 50-60 miles a day no problem, even with a full load, but once I get about halfway there, I'll be lucky to get 40 a day due to terrain. I have a list of family and no tell motels on the way, as well as a few camps and state parks I can pay cash for rooms and sites. I have enough cash to purchase what I need without going to civilization to resupply and get cash. These days, you can live out of a gas station and eat decent food.
I'll update this Cache with pictures the next time I pull the Cache for updates.
Location: This Cache is stored at a VERY secure location due to the items that are kept in the kit. It's just outside the city I live in in an alarmed commercial property with no retail outlets near it. Business/warehouse space only. It's only accessible by someone with a key and the pass code for the alarm. An extra key is always available. The contents are insured by the business and I do some work for them from time to time as "rent". The kit is kept in a box labeled "Rags" and is at the top of a closet that you need a ladder to get to. The box above mine is labeled "Bubble Wrap" and is the owners son's kit.
Need: I would use this kit if something happened to jeopardize my freedom, or if I needed to travel in a hurry without being able to access my bank accounts or credit cards. This is also a "Safety Deposit Box" that has no government records. The contents are low key, readily available and are meant to blend in and not draw attention to the user.
Contents-
Clothing: I have a standard set of clothes, jeans, tshirt, plain UA fleece sweatshirt, a skull cap and a ball cap to an auto parts store. None of the items have a local connection, such as a college or pro sports team or aggressive pass time such as racing or shooting. Those clothes are vacuum sealed in a plastic bag to keep the smell of the site out of them. 2 other sets of clothes are done the same way. One set is for hiking, with columbia zip off leg pants/shorts and hiking quality shirt and rain jacket/wind breaker. The last set of clothes is a bit more tactical, but subdued. Blackhawk TNT khaki pants and a navy polo shirt with no logo. I have an old pair of Brooks Cascadias that are about half used up in there as well. All of the items of clothing are synthetic except for the first set of clothes. I want to be able to blend wherever I need to go, be it the rural towns, metro areas or wilderness. Totals: pants-3, Shirts-3, Underwear-4, socks-4, sweatshirt-1, Wind breaker-1, shoes-1, skull cap-1, ball cap-1, gloves-1. Ancillary gear- Paracord bracelet, ESS crossbow sunglasses, cheapo fleece gloves and a non metallic black SOE trouser belt. More on the belt later.
Adding- Backup laces, Ear buds, small radio
Gear: A small Ti Alcohol stove, CKRT small folder, toaks ti cup, 2- 24oz nalgene bottles, Katadyn hiker filter, green tarp, Jungle bag and liner, green lightweight hammock, trac phone, Chinese ham radio, solar charger, AA/AAA Eneloop batteries, AAA headlamp, AAA LED flashlight, small bic lighter, Maps to my secondary locations, button compass, lock picks(hidden), walking sticks, Ammonia in a sealed container, pepper spray, Micro SD card (well hidden), flash drive, Cheapo non GPS tablet in a ziplock freezer bag with charger, older Garmin GPS with both route areas to my location programmed in (topo maps), Otis cleaning kit, Flip Flops, 6 oz container of bleach, Doc Bonners soap, Deodorant, toothbrush, flossers, synthetic microfiber wash rag, synthetic chamois towel, Maxpedition case for toiletries, instant cofee, tea bags, energy drinks, small med kit with motrin and Cipro, nail clippers, round knife sharpener, flattened Toilet paper rolls-3, playing cards, 3 backpackers pantry meals, holloween size assorted chocolate bars, pen, paper, rite in the rain pad.
Adding- lifeboat ration bars, oral IV type drink mix, gorilla tape, sewing kit, laundry detergent single packs, tire tube patch kit, small tire pump, small tool kit.
Pack: Kelty backpack, it's the 45 or 50 liter pack, can't remember the name. I have the rain liner for it and a sealiner dry bag to line it with. The sealine can also be used to stash kit when entering a non permissive area. A Blackhawk fold up backpack is in the kit for giggles. Not sure who might be with you.
Weapons: Glock 26 with 250 rounds of ammo, all HP federal tactical. Clip draw and Saf-T-Blok installed for deep cover carry. Have a second threaded barrel and a solvent trap adapter. If you don't know what that is, look it up on youtube.
Adding- Take down 10/22 with a threaded barrel and mags.
Additional Items: Cash- 1500 in 50 to 5 dollar bills. The larger bills are tucked inside the zippered stowaway SOE belt. 10 dollars face value pre 64 us coins, 20 silver 1oz rounds. A plastic low profile handcuff key is gorilla taped to the inside of my SOE belt, as well as a 1.5" ceramic blade.
Strategy: My plan is to walk away from the hot area, buy a bike at a store or pawn shop and bike to the location I wish to go. I have one close and one 250+ miles away. I can bike 50-60 miles a day no problem, even with a full load, but once I get about halfway there, I'll be lucky to get 40 a day due to terrain. I have a list of family and no tell motels on the way, as well as a few camps and state parks I can pay cash for rooms and sites. I have enough cash to purchase what I need without going to civilization to resupply and get cash. These days, you can live out of a gas station and eat decent food.
I'll update this Cache with pictures the next time I pull the Cache for updates.
Thursday, February 5, 2015
Minuteman Cache Example, Cache #2
We've talked a bit about Cache locations Here and Here on the Total Survivalist Blog, as well as at the Tblog Here. Now let's talk about a minimum baseline of equipment. One should have a minimum of each necessary item to successfully survive in a hostile location. Think of what would want in a certain situation and backtrack from there. I've built a cache for several of the most dire situations. Let's look at the choices I've made and use those situations to backtrack to the kit I would need.
Natural disaster:
Basic needs like clothing, important documents, shelter, money, some food, minimum weaponry, comfort items for sensitive persons, camera, limited comms, anything you might need to sort out the situation. In my area, there are 3 major issues I might have to contend with. Tornadoes, earthquakes and flooding. Flooding is the least of these worries for me. Every house I've ever purchased has been in the highest area of the surrounding few miles. At my current location, the water would have to be 60 feet over flood stage to bother my crawl space. That would be a biblical flood. Even the 100 year flood we had in my area didn't flood anything but the entrance to my neighborhood with a foot of water. Earthquakes happen in my area, but they are generally mild and without serious damage. I keep my stores in the corner of my home away from the second story as a precaution. Tornadoes are an entirely different animal. I live at the end of Tornado alley in the central midwest. The area around me has been peppered with F1-F3 twisters for years. Being that my home is elevated, it's a prime candidate for serious damage. The tornado threat generally moves southwest to northeast and rarely deviates from that pattern. This rule makes it best for my Cache to be within hiking distance to my northwest or southeast. My current disaster kit is 4.3 miles away, due north. That area isn't known to be hit with tornadoes due to it's lower level and protection to it's due west with hills and valleys. Picture below was taken near my place of business after an F3 hit, it took me 3 hours to get home.
Governmental Oppression/Revolution- Grey man kit- To be posted this week.
Total Bugout- My first tier equipment, bugout trailer and everyone's gear. Post Next week
Hide out-Civilian camping setup- Post next week
Hide out- Bubba gear! Post in the spring.
Insurrection/Riots/Social Upheaval: Cache #2 of this type.
This kit is going to be weapons and comms heavy. You will want to either fit in with the rioters, or be able to put them down if threatened. Luckily, one of my insurrection Caches happens to be home for an update and to keep it at home until the construction is done at it's usual resting place. I keep 2 cases (A/B Menu) of MRE's there as well, but I'm not worried about those getting pinched. I also have a set of camos hanging in his closet to go with this kit. The homeowner is a sportsman, but has no decent kit as a fighting loadout. This kit is set up for many uses as well. It has the basic requirements to go fight at a moments notice. All you would have to do is load some mags and get busy. I built this kit from the equipment I started with when I first got into the survivalist lifesytle.
Overview:
The container is a super heavy duty tote you can get at Lowes for 11-15 bucks. I have several and they are awesome. It's secured by wrapping a 6' cable lock through the holes in the lid and bin. These are pretty bomb proof and will take a decent hit even in cold weather without breaking. I tested them the best way possible. I bought one and donated it to the scouts I work with. They didn't break it on a -10 degree camping trip, so it's pretty darn solid.
.
Chest rig partially unloaded- Glock 22 with TLR-1 with condor holster, 15rnd mag(loaded), 4- 17 round mags and 2-22 rnd mags(unloaded), 7 USGI ar mags(unloaded), Micro tool and mini flashlight, The mesh pocket in back has a topo map of my AO and the AO the kit is in. I purchased this chest rig just for this kit. It's not something I would want to use for more than a limited time.
The backpack: LA police gear 3 day pack, (In depth review Here) by compartment. Top is a TAG 6 mag carrier full of empty GI mags. Lower front compartment is a food prep compartment, fuel tabs, lightweight stove, cliff bars, more mountain house and backpackers pantry meals, salt and pepper, tobasco, TP that's been vacuum sealed flat, salt and pepper, water tabs and a couple lighters. Caffiene pills and coffee and tea are in there somewhere, never leave home without it. Will be adding some chocolate and sugar to it while it's here.
Lower add on butt pack: Tarp, Tactical bandana in OD, Poncho, gloves, GI belt. This has extra room for stripped MREs.
Main Compartment:Light sticks, Paper and pencils, cash, cordage, Otis cleaning kit, Camo Backpacking tent, Jungle bag and liner, Stainless container, aluminum cup, socks, washcloth, solar charger for AA, AAA and CR123 batteries, Spare Batteries. Adding more batteries, ESS eye pro, ear pro and a cash bought disposable phone.
Side pouch 1: Ammo on stripper clips. Once loaded, this pouch will be for stripped MRE's
Side Pouch 2: EDC belt and IWB holster for the Glock in case I need to fit in for a bit. Pouch doubles as MRE holder as well.
What it's missing- A good first aid kit with trauma gear. My EDC bag has that and I should have it with me. Clothes aren't included. I should have some in the kit but it's not meant for me as a primary so I didn't include any.A water bladder needs to be installed in this system. It's the only unit I have without one.
Estimated worth of this kit is right at 3000 bucks, about 1k less than what the rifle in my first line kit costs. It's a (relatively) inexpensive option to kit out a friendly or as a last ditch kit up location in case of a serious breach in your preparedness design. It's NOT enough by itself to get me to my alternate location.
More to follow soon!
Natural disaster:
Basic needs like clothing, important documents, shelter, money, some food, minimum weaponry, comfort items for sensitive persons, camera, limited comms, anything you might need to sort out the situation. In my area, there are 3 major issues I might have to contend with. Tornadoes, earthquakes and flooding. Flooding is the least of these worries for me. Every house I've ever purchased has been in the highest area of the surrounding few miles. At my current location, the water would have to be 60 feet over flood stage to bother my crawl space. That would be a biblical flood. Even the 100 year flood we had in my area didn't flood anything but the entrance to my neighborhood with a foot of water. Earthquakes happen in my area, but they are generally mild and without serious damage. I keep my stores in the corner of my home away from the second story as a precaution. Tornadoes are an entirely different animal. I live at the end of Tornado alley in the central midwest. The area around me has been peppered with F1-F3 twisters for years. Being that my home is elevated, it's a prime candidate for serious damage. The tornado threat generally moves southwest to northeast and rarely deviates from that pattern. This rule makes it best for my Cache to be within hiking distance to my northwest or southeast. My current disaster kit is 4.3 miles away, due north. That area isn't known to be hit with tornadoes due to it's lower level and protection to it's due west with hills and valleys. Picture below was taken near my place of business after an F3 hit, it took me 3 hours to get home.
Governmental Oppression/Revolution- Grey man kit- To be posted this week.
Total Bugout- My first tier equipment, bugout trailer and everyone's gear. Post Next week
Hide out-Civilian camping setup- Post next week
Hide out- Bubba gear! Post in the spring.
Insurrection/Riots/Social Upheaval: Cache #2 of this type.
This kit is going to be weapons and comms heavy. You will want to either fit in with the rioters, or be able to put them down if threatened. Luckily, one of my insurrection Caches happens to be home for an update and to keep it at home until the construction is done at it's usual resting place. I keep 2 cases (A/B Menu) of MRE's there as well, but I'm not worried about those getting pinched. I also have a set of camos hanging in his closet to go with this kit. The homeowner is a sportsman, but has no decent kit as a fighting loadout. This kit is set up for many uses as well. It has the basic requirements to go fight at a moments notice. All you would have to do is load some mags and get busy. I built this kit from the equipment I started with when I first got into the survivalist lifesytle.
Overview:
The container is a super heavy duty tote you can get at Lowes for 11-15 bucks. I have several and they are awesome. It's secured by wrapping a 6' cable lock through the holes in the lid and bin. These are pretty bomb proof and will take a decent hit even in cold weather without breaking. I tested them the best way possible. I bought one and donated it to the scouts I work with. They didn't break it on a -10 degree camping trip, so it's pretty darn solid.
Everything out of the box:AR15 by bushmaster with a
lightweight DPMS upper and a full mag of TAP ammo, vortex RDS, Cheapo BUIS with Trijicon front sight insert, Hogue grip with insert
that has extra batteries for the RDS, Midway Sling, Quickie MH food, chest rig by
condor, Beofeng radio-programmed for local tower and Em. services, Ammo
boxes-federal and ZQI, Hornady critical duty 40 SW ammo.
.
Chest rig partially unloaded- Glock 22 with TLR-1 with condor holster, 15rnd mag(loaded), 4- 17 round mags and 2-22 rnd mags(unloaded), 7 USGI ar mags(unloaded), Micro tool and mini flashlight, The mesh pocket in back has a topo map of my AO and the AO the kit is in. I purchased this chest rig just for this kit. It's not something I would want to use for more than a limited time.
Upper compartment: Snivel kit, Deodorant, soap, toothbrush, toothpaste, light stick, headlamp, fishing line for perimeter traps, head net for bugs, matches, large multitool, 100% DEET spray, Frog Lube, toothpicks, Adding a cover (hat) and some trash bags and gorilla tape to it while it's here.
Main Compartment:Light sticks, Paper and pencils, cash, cordage, Otis cleaning kit, Camo Backpacking tent, Jungle bag and liner, Stainless container, aluminum cup, socks, washcloth, solar charger for AA, AAA and CR123 batteries, Spare Batteries. Adding more batteries, ESS eye pro, ear pro and a cash bought disposable phone.
Side pouch 1: Ammo on stripper clips. Once loaded, this pouch will be for stripped MRE's
Side Pouch 2: EDC belt and IWB holster for the Glock in case I need to fit in for a bit. Pouch doubles as MRE holder as well.
Estimated worth of this kit is right at 3000 bucks, about 1k less than what the rifle in my first line kit costs. It's a (relatively) inexpensive option to kit out a friendly or as a last ditch kit up location in case of a serious breach in your preparedness design. It's NOT enough by itself to get me to my alternate location.
More to follow soon!
Monday, February 2, 2015
Cache Locations and Strategy Family Cache #1
Over the past year and a half, I have invested heavily in training and Cache locations. Why you ask? The answer is a complicated one, but the greatest reason is due to the tracking ability of our nefarious leadership. There is little to nothing you can hide from them unless you have a very serious plan in place to combat their plans. I'm not a criminal, I have no convictions of any kind above a couple traffic tickets in my youth, and shouldn't be on the radar for most authorities. That doesn't mean that bad things cannot happen to me and my family.
A few years ago, a local thug talked his girlfriend into blowing up her house for insurance money to sustain their obvious drug habit. They filled their house with natural gas and it exploded the next time the furnace turned on. It was a fairly warm day and far more gas than intended flowed into the house before it blew. 2 neighbors lost their lives and hundreds of houses were damaged. Several had to be bulldozed. No car traffic was allowed to leave the scene and victims were taken to a school for evacuation. The ATF, FBI and local authorities closed off the neighborhood for their investigation and hundreds were homeless for weeks until the investigation was complete, as well as the local inspectors deemed the houses to be salvageable and/or liveable. People were literally thrown out of their houses in their PJ's with the clothes on their backs. A Cache of some type would have been the only way to operate should the incident be a long running one. I did a story on it at http://survivalblog.com/, click if you would like to read it. It was my first submission of many posted on survival websites.
In recent news, swatting has become a fad for the insane and progressive left. A man called in a bomb threat on a person he disliked. The police did a no knock raid (Don't get me started on this practice) on the home of a prepared person. The home owner defended his house and fired on officers without knowing who they were. The police chief was hit in the exchange of fire. Until the entire issue was sorted out, I'm sure the man lost his firearms and his house became a crime scene. Once again, he only source of protection could have been a cache. Swatting Raid
These are two very public instances where even innocent people can be displaced from their homes without means unless they have a backup plan. Your personal situation will dictate the size and type of cache you will need. You should first determine the scope of your needed items as well as the logistics of placement and retrieval. My personal Caches are fairly outlandish in scope, overlapping in items and range widely in location. That's not for everyone. A simple cache at a free location, such as a family member, would be a start.
What's a "Simple" Cache in my mind? Relatively innocuous everyday items you would need if you lost your house. This Cache would get you by for a day or two until you could get into a hotel or would keep you clean and clothed for a day or two at your relative's house. Every day items would be the key to keeping some normalcy during a time of stress or strife. Clothing, toiletries of the type you normally use (toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, soap) and that your family likes, some cash, candy, duplicate credit cards, car keys, house keys, insurance information, insurance cards, important files in a flash drive, and any medication that is crucial to your survival. This Cache would be prudent to keep your family from getting overwhelmed in an emergency.
A complex Cache can be as outlandish as a travel trailer or cargo trailer on rented space at a self storage location or friends property. It can be filled with everything you would need to survive the zombie apocalypse in style. I would propose something in between the outlandish and basic. Consider your personal budget and needs to strategically choose what you need for what events are possible for you area.
The Cache can be whatever you want it to be and wherever you want it. It's up to you. In order for it to be successful, you should practice with all the items you have Cached. Access is a key feature you need to decide is important. If it's a deep cover Cache, you may want to place it underground or hidden in a secret area of your house or property. Here are some unique ideas I've heard of, used in the past, or talked about in a group.
One of my favorites uses big brother against himself. A gentleman mailed his Cache to himself at a rent a mailbox location. It's small and legal to mail, but has some good stuff in it to keep him fed and comfy for a while. Here are some other locations to consider.
A friends house, (tribe member's house)
At a family members house or property
Vacation property
Storage unit- Be careful, these are reported to a searchable database in my state.
Buried - Be sure of adequate water intrusion protection
Hidden compartment in your home- Watch for moisture
In a hollow fencepost
Abandoned car at a friends property
In your trunk
In your gym locker
Be resourceful. Starting a company that doesn't make any income is an easy way to mask your identity and be able to Cache in locations that would normally be searchable to authorities. Same goes for vehicles. A company beater truck with Farm plates is about the ultimate Camo for where I live. A beater Minivan chock full of supplies in a storage facility may be your best bet. It may cost you a nominal fee, but how much is a piece of mind worth? I know I pay far more for insurance than a storage bay, and the storage bay gives me far more piece of mind. Consider local laws before registering a company in your state. What's legal here may not be legal there.
Post up if you have questions or know of any unique storage solutions I haven't covered.
A few years ago, a local thug talked his girlfriend into blowing up her house for insurance money to sustain their obvious drug habit. They filled their house with natural gas and it exploded the next time the furnace turned on. It was a fairly warm day and far more gas than intended flowed into the house before it blew. 2 neighbors lost their lives and hundreds of houses were damaged. Several had to be bulldozed. No car traffic was allowed to leave the scene and victims were taken to a school for evacuation. The ATF, FBI and local authorities closed off the neighborhood for their investigation and hundreds were homeless for weeks until the investigation was complete, as well as the local inspectors deemed the houses to be salvageable and/or liveable. People were literally thrown out of their houses in their PJ's with the clothes on their backs. A Cache of some type would have been the only way to operate should the incident be a long running one. I did a story on it at http://survivalblog.com/, click if you would like to read it. It was my first submission of many posted on survival websites.
In recent news, swatting has become a fad for the insane and progressive left. A man called in a bomb threat on a person he disliked. The police did a no knock raid (Don't get me started on this practice) on the home of a prepared person. The home owner defended his house and fired on officers without knowing who they were. The police chief was hit in the exchange of fire. Until the entire issue was sorted out, I'm sure the man lost his firearms and his house became a crime scene. Once again, he only source of protection could have been a cache. Swatting Raid
These are two very public instances where even innocent people can be displaced from their homes without means unless they have a backup plan. Your personal situation will dictate the size and type of cache you will need. You should first determine the scope of your needed items as well as the logistics of placement and retrieval. My personal Caches are fairly outlandish in scope, overlapping in items and range widely in location. That's not for everyone. A simple cache at a free location, such as a family member, would be a start.
What's a "Simple" Cache in my mind? Relatively innocuous everyday items you would need if you lost your house. This Cache would get you by for a day or two until you could get into a hotel or would keep you clean and clothed for a day or two at your relative's house. Every day items would be the key to keeping some normalcy during a time of stress or strife. Clothing, toiletries of the type you normally use (toothbrushes, deodorant, shampoo, soap) and that your family likes, some cash, candy, duplicate credit cards, car keys, house keys, insurance information, insurance cards, important files in a flash drive, and any medication that is crucial to your survival. This Cache would be prudent to keep your family from getting overwhelmed in an emergency.
A complex Cache can be as outlandish as a travel trailer or cargo trailer on rented space at a self storage location or friends property. It can be filled with everything you would need to survive the zombie apocalypse in style. I would propose something in between the outlandish and basic. Consider your personal budget and needs to strategically choose what you need for what events are possible for you area.
The Cache can be whatever you want it to be and wherever you want it. It's up to you. In order for it to be successful, you should practice with all the items you have Cached. Access is a key feature you need to decide is important. If it's a deep cover Cache, you may want to place it underground or hidden in a secret area of your house or property. Here are some unique ideas I've heard of, used in the past, or talked about in a group.
One of my favorites uses big brother against himself. A gentleman mailed his Cache to himself at a rent a mailbox location. It's small and legal to mail, but has some good stuff in it to keep him fed and comfy for a while. Here are some other locations to consider.
A friends house, (tribe member's house)
At a family members house or property
Vacation property
Storage unit- Be careful, these are reported to a searchable database in my state.
Buried - Be sure of adequate water intrusion protection
Hidden compartment in your home- Watch for moisture
In a hollow fencepost
Abandoned car at a friends property
In your trunk
In your gym locker
Be resourceful. Starting a company that doesn't make any income is an easy way to mask your identity and be able to Cache in locations that would normally be searchable to authorities. Same goes for vehicles. A company beater truck with Farm plates is about the ultimate Camo for where I live. A beater Minivan chock full of supplies in a storage facility may be your best bet. It may cost you a nominal fee, but how much is a piece of mind worth? I know I pay far more for insurance than a storage bay, and the storage bay gives me far more piece of mind. Consider local laws before registering a company in your state. What's legal here may not be legal there.
Post up if you have questions or know of any unique storage solutions I haven't covered.
Long Time No Post
It's been a very busy holiday season for me, but it's also been a very profitable one. My consulting services have really taken off and getting results has been easier than I expected. I have, however, been remiss in my duties as a blog host to keep my readers updated on the comings and goings of my survivalist lifestyle. I've been selling some posts to other websites with an anonymity clause so I cannot divulge where. If you are a regular reader of survivalist websites, you should have read a few. It's not big money, but if I can sit and type out a story in a few hours and sell it for 50-100 bucks, that gets me closer to my goals than posting it here and getting 15-25 cents a day in advertising space. I'm sure you understand why, and selling it gets the info out to thousands of people a day instead of a hundred or less.
Ryan at http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/, my favorite survivalist and preparedness based one man blog has asked me to list the contents of my "Grey Man" Cache. I'll be posting it and my #2 cache in the next couple days. His blog was the inspiration for mine. Dissemination of quality information to those with the survival mindset is the goal.
Another of my favs, Alexander Wolf at http://www.teotwawki-blog.com/ is in on it as well and has some very useful insight into the idea of what a Cache should be.
These two great minds have been invaluable to the growth in my preparedness level. Everyone starts out pouring over every site they can find and trying to justify throwing money at the problem without really thinking through your options because the big name blogs/websites tell you what you HAVE to do. Once you start getting to the point that you've gotten enough gear to be marginally ready for a small emergency, you try testing it out and find some of the items lacking significantly. The reason is because you didn't get the insight into using the gear, nor did you look at the holistic value of each item in the kit. It's a rookie mistake I've made in the past.
I'm to the point now that I have been living the preparedness lifestyle for 5 years pretty heavily. My stores are significant enough to last us in a serious emergency such as a Katrina or Haiti length disaster. I've made a ton of mistakes, bought a bunch of gear that didn't work for me, and failed out in the field enough that I'm very confident in my abilities to survive in austere conditions.
I do have a few factors that increased my readiness level several factors over your average Joe. I became an assistant scoutmaster for my sons scout troop. This puts me out in the field camping and testing new gear every month. My sons likes hiking and camping enough that we go even more often than the scouts do. The additional wear and tear on camping gear that most people wouldn't get on gear 10 years old helps me to get a better gauge on what will last and what is junk.
This past fall I also became an instructor for a local firearms training and security consulting firm. The owner is a retired special forces team Sargent that worked in the field for 22 years training for counter terrorist operations, insurgency operations and indigenous personnel training. I get FREE training from the one of the guys who spent a couple decades at the sharp end of the spear. This leads to me shooting at least once a month in high level tactics, personal defense, personal security detail team classes, advanced carbine and pistol drills and a host of non lethal, combatives and mindset training. I even get paid to take those classes. Luckily I have 3 Dillon ammunition trees in my garage, Otherwise I would be broke due to ammo costs.
Lastly, I have the run of a local gun shop that specializes in tactical firearms and precision rifles. I get to play with new guns and gear as they hit the shelves, learn what issues certain guns have, and utilize the tools and facilities to modify my guns and gear without paying additional gunsmithing fees.I live close to a training facility for military and police sniper teams and the shop has a good working relationship with the sniper teams and local shooting clubs that has been an asset for learning the ins and outs of what's hot in the distance shooting scene.One of the largest military small arms testing facilities is less than an hour away as well, and some of them come in to the shop at times.
I offer my readers a chance to learn from my failures and triumphs, to get inside info on gear that works and some that doesn't. Gear reviews are the bread and butter of this blog and will continue to do so, I will be cross posting those reviews to my gear review blog as well. I have had the humbling opportunity to work with the professionals that live and breath the warrior mindset. They have insight into tactics that have been proven on the battlefield and in the back alleys of foreign nations that aren't friendly to the US. I'll pass along as much info as possible at Zero cost to you. Unfortunately, my schedule has kept me from being able to do so, but I will attempt to make a better effort.
Ryan at http://www.totalsurvivalist.com/, my favorite survivalist and preparedness based one man blog has asked me to list the contents of my "Grey Man" Cache. I'll be posting it and my #2 cache in the next couple days. His blog was the inspiration for mine. Dissemination of quality information to those with the survival mindset is the goal.
Another of my favs, Alexander Wolf at http://www.teotwawki-blog.com/ is in on it as well and has some very useful insight into the idea of what a Cache should be.
These two great minds have been invaluable to the growth in my preparedness level. Everyone starts out pouring over every site they can find and trying to justify throwing money at the problem without really thinking through your options because the big name blogs/websites tell you what you HAVE to do. Once you start getting to the point that you've gotten enough gear to be marginally ready for a small emergency, you try testing it out and find some of the items lacking significantly. The reason is because you didn't get the insight into using the gear, nor did you look at the holistic value of each item in the kit. It's a rookie mistake I've made in the past.
I'm to the point now that I have been living the preparedness lifestyle for 5 years pretty heavily. My stores are significant enough to last us in a serious emergency such as a Katrina or Haiti length disaster. I've made a ton of mistakes, bought a bunch of gear that didn't work for me, and failed out in the field enough that I'm very confident in my abilities to survive in austere conditions.
I do have a few factors that increased my readiness level several factors over your average Joe. I became an assistant scoutmaster for my sons scout troop. This puts me out in the field camping and testing new gear every month. My sons likes hiking and camping enough that we go even more often than the scouts do. The additional wear and tear on camping gear that most people wouldn't get on gear 10 years old helps me to get a better gauge on what will last and what is junk.
This past fall I also became an instructor for a local firearms training and security consulting firm. The owner is a retired special forces team Sargent that worked in the field for 22 years training for counter terrorist operations, insurgency operations and indigenous personnel training. I get FREE training from the one of the guys who spent a couple decades at the sharp end of the spear. This leads to me shooting at least once a month in high level tactics, personal defense, personal security detail team classes, advanced carbine and pistol drills and a host of non lethal, combatives and mindset training. I even get paid to take those classes. Luckily I have 3 Dillon ammunition trees in my garage, Otherwise I would be broke due to ammo costs.
Lastly, I have the run of a local gun shop that specializes in tactical firearms and precision rifles. I get to play with new guns and gear as they hit the shelves, learn what issues certain guns have, and utilize the tools and facilities to modify my guns and gear without paying additional gunsmithing fees.I live close to a training facility for military and police sniper teams and the shop has a good working relationship with the sniper teams and local shooting clubs that has been an asset for learning the ins and outs of what's hot in the distance shooting scene.One of the largest military small arms testing facilities is less than an hour away as well, and some of them come in to the shop at times.
I offer my readers a chance to learn from my failures and triumphs, to get inside info on gear that works and some that doesn't. Gear reviews are the bread and butter of this blog and will continue to do so, I will be cross posting those reviews to my gear review blog as well. I have had the humbling opportunity to work with the professionals that live and breath the warrior mindset. They have insight into tactics that have been proven on the battlefield and in the back alleys of foreign nations that aren't friendly to the US. I'll pass along as much info as possible at Zero cost to you. Unfortunately, my schedule has kept me from being able to do so, but I will attempt to make a better effort.
Tuesday, August 5, 2014
2014 Goals revisited
My plans for 2014
-Get certified as an NRA Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol instructor- class in Feb-Done
-Get another business off the ground that will enable our self sustaining lifestyle-Done
-Start a solar/battery system to remove some loads from the grid-Not done
-Take enough classes to get up to speed in Carbine and Patrol techniques-Done
-Complete the remodel on the house-Not Done
-Have 100,000 rounds of ammo stored in components or rounds-Shot it all up
-Backpack a 100 mile trail-got up to 50
-Build up fuel storage-Slightly
-Build 2 more cache locations-1 Done
-Buy a grain mill-Not Done
-Outfit the B/O trailer with solar power-Not Done
-Get the HAM up and running-Not Done
-Buy a Jeep for a 3rd vehicle-Not Done
-Expand my food storage by 6 months with long term items-Close but not quite
-Get my oldest son up to speed with a rifle and pistol-Done
-Clear out the rest of the useless junk in my house-Done
-Install a hidden compartment in the house-Not Fone
-Install an alternate water supply in the house-Not done
-Build an observation post-Not Done
-Read more apocalyptic fiction (good ideas at times)-Done-48 books total
-Finish a second Blog for gear reviews-Started
-Build window and door covers-Not done
-Build a safe room inside the house-Not Done
-Upgrade the surveillance system-Not Done
Not great, but not bad either. Still a few months left to get it done.
-Get certified as an NRA Rifle, Shotgun and Pistol instructor- class in Feb-Done
-Get another business off the ground that will enable our self sustaining lifestyle-Done
-Start a solar/battery system to remove some loads from the grid-Not done
-Take enough classes to get up to speed in Carbine and Patrol techniques-Done
-Complete the remodel on the house-Not Done
-Have 100,000 rounds of ammo stored in components or rounds-Shot it all up
-Backpack a 100 mile trail-got up to 50
-Build up fuel storage-Slightly
-Build 2 more cache locations-1 Done
-Buy a grain mill-Not Done
-Outfit the B/O trailer with solar power-Not Done
-Get the HAM up and running-Not Done
-Buy a Jeep for a 3rd vehicle-Not Done
-Expand my food storage by 6 months with long term items-Close but not quite
-Get my oldest son up to speed with a rifle and pistol-Done
-Clear out the rest of the useless junk in my house-Done
-Install a hidden compartment in the house-Not Fone
-Install an alternate water supply in the house-Not done
-Build an observation post-Not Done
-Read more apocalyptic fiction (good ideas at times)-Done-48 books total
-Finish a second Blog for gear reviews-Started
-Build window and door covers-Not done
-Build a safe room inside the house-Not Done
-Upgrade the surveillance system-Not Done
Not great, but not bad either. Still a few months left to get it done.
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