[twyggy]

A friend and I were having a discussion about whether or not it was better to go it alone in SHTF (assuming you had the option), or to group up. We both decided that grouping up is obviously the best strategy. In order to not bias your responses, I won't tell you the conclusion we arrived at yet, but we were wondering what YOU all thought the IDEAL group size was for a SHTF event.

Let's avoid all the "depends on the scenario" responses. Everyone knows it depends on the scenario, as well as a multitude of other factors. We're merely theory-crafting here.

So, what do you think the best group size for a SHTF scenario is, and, more importantly, WHY?

Thanks for your contribution! :thumb:

 

[merccom]

i would say a group of around the size of a well staffed division would be good.

plenty big to make challengers think twice, you have enough people to specialize in whatever needs doing.

 

[Highlander]

i would say a group of around the size of a well staffed division would be good.

plenty big to make challengers think twice, you have enough people to specialize in whatever needs doing.

25,000??? Ohhhkaaay....

Can we hear some realistic numbers now?

I think that it would depend on the size of the area you have to occupy an the amount of resources available on hand. A family is the smallest unit (3-5) people and if young kids are around, it will not be a large enough group.

If it is all adults, 8-11 might work out well if mobile but as many as 30 would be needed for a permanent AO. A lot of it would depend on the area and particular skills of the group members.

The bigger the group, the bigger the logistical challenges, communications challenges and leadership challenges. Anything larger than a platoon-sized group and there will be conflict within the group eventually.

 

[merccom]

geeze people want reality, how greedy.

i would say ideally you would want around 6 - 8 family groups

that way you could have 2 familys running 8 hour security shifts 24/7 and everybody could get at least 8 hours of sleep every night and still have 8 hours a day to attend to running the fortress.

for this group you would want around 10 - 12 acres of cropland with natural cover from the main travel ways for example 50- 100 yards of trees between the main property and the road frontage.

if that is to big and complex, and i think it is then i would say a single family group located on the back side of a hill away from the main road as long as they had some sort of electronic servailence. that way you dont have bickering between familys and you can run a very low profile (underground house ideally)

 

[name-old]

5

 

[fat larry]

Prior to moving to Utah my family belonged to a rather large group about 120 family’s. But the group went into self-destruct mod when one of the couples filed for divorce and everyone started taking sides.. there are now only 6 family’s left in that group and they are in some major finical problems.
I am guessing that maybe 6 to 12 family’s would be a good size…

 

[survivalistmomma]

I am really interested in this topic. We have the acreage, the square footage, a well, ect. Between the family that I would allow and my daughter's in-laws, (who are our good friends and 20 year preppers,) we would have 25 people, (6 of them being young children.)

I have 2 other couples and their two children in mind. The guys work for us, have hunted here, the couples garden, and one wife is a nurse. But I imagine that they would try to get to their families out of state.

It is hard to bring this up with them. Some would have to come from out of state... I wounder if in the back of their mind if they wish we would ask, or if they would be offended to know I was thinking they would need a place.

 

[Jerry D Young]

My thoughts on an ideal group.

2 platoons of 4 13-person squads each + 6-person command team external security = 110

8 50-person work teams for 24/7 coverage of essential activities = 400
(farming, animal husbandry, general labor, firewood collection, salvage work, etc.)

2 50-person groups of needed services = 100
(school, medical, dental, admin, internal security, child care, etc.)

Probably up to 100 non-productive children = 100

Probably up to 40 non-productive adults = 40

750 total on 9 -16 square miles (5,760 – 10,240 acres) w/small walled settlement plus some isolated housing units.

 

[OhioMan]

I gues it would depend on the size of your compound. I will have 5 men and 6 women in my group. That's what we have to defend and produce food.

It has been said that 20 dedicated men can change the world-

 

[oldcamper]

well i could say wow to some of these choices, but I think that 20 -40 is a good number to cover security and work the crops. that does not count kids.

 

[MikeK]

To me, the ideal sized group would be as large as could support itself. The more people you have working on the various aspects of self sufficiency and security, the better. Takes a lot of manpower to deal with farming. And there's no such thing as too many when it comes to security. This is why villages did so well in the old days.

 

[Averageguy209]

My personal view Is a group would be the only way to defend and protect and so on
That does open up challenges food,shelter,leadership,and a whole lot of Trust wich I dont give out lightly So it is hard

I would figure You would want 25-100 folks enough to creat a small community and Networking system Enough to have hunting partys and security site maintanance
education,Medical care and so on so forth

It also depends how long your talking aswell weeks months years
I have a base family and friends camp of 10-20 if shtf and there was time to get them here

 

[Hick Industries]

Keep in mind that with good soil and generous rainfall you need 2 ac per person to provide a well balanced diet. In some parts of the west it might take more like 8-10 ac.

I have not found more than 8-10 folks I would trust with my back, so I vote for a small group.

 

[MikeK]

Prior to moving to Utah my family belonged to a rather large group about 120 family’s. But the group went into self-destruct mod when one of the couples filed for divorce and everyone started taking sides.. there are now only 6 family’s left in that group and they are in some major finical problems.
I am guessing that maybe 6 to 12 family’s would be a good size…

I had that same thing happen in my own circle of friends many years ago when I divorced my wife. I've seen it in other groups too. It's part of what caused me to develop my "star of friends" philosophy. I don't hang with a "circle" anymore, but with individuals that are part of their own circle. If drama starts and their circle goes into self destruct mode, it doesn't take me with it. That and I have zero tolerance for drama now and will immediately disassociate with drama queens. Too bad this model doesn't work for survival groups. It's been especially successful.

Human nature, especially group dynamics, is going to play a huge role in the success or failure of any groups we put together for survival. It's something to consider ahead of time. Because people in a group will always exhibit their worst behavior during bad times.

 

[jamonmygeetar]

3-4 adults for security/ hard labor plus the wife and kids; less mouths to feed and fewer people to worry about stabbing you in the back.

Don't need too many chiefs
Right?

 

[Averageguy209]

3-4 adults for security/ hard labor plus the wife and kids; less mouths to feed and fewer people to worry about stabbing you in the back.

Don't need too many chiefs
Right?

I have thought about ths and i get it
But my main thing would be security And Im all for having a tight knit community its something we have lost
There are still good people with solid morals out there

 

[jamonmygeetar]

I have thought about ths and i get it
But my main thing would be security And Im all for having a tight knit community its something we have lost
There are still good people with solid morals out there

I haven't lost my faith in man, just in a desperate man.

Security= 1 up, if SHTF the others wake up to assist, you don't need a group to be awake to achieve a secure perimeter.

I know what you're saying about trust, currently i'm in a new town with no friends so this is my strategy until things change. :thumb:

 

[Averageguy209]

I haven't lost my faith in man, just in a desperate man.

Security= 1 up, if SHTF the others wake up to assist, you don't need a group to be awake to achieve a secure perimeter.

I know what you're saying about trust, currently i'm in a new town with no friends so this is my strategy until things change. :thumb:

Ya i hear ya
In a few years we are moving someplace better to lay down some roots and ill be in that place not knowing any one and it will suck hopefully i will have time to meet folks feel things out and make a plan

 

[MCraider]

A dirty dozen.

 

[gallon]

A platoon.