[urban]

Did you really think this contributed to the thread? :xeye:

-----
We have discussed this topic over in our OK group forum. I'm sure other state and local groups discuss it as well. It's good to know what your neighbors know so you know who to ask for help and who you can offer assistance to some day.

If thats all it takes to get you cranky then you must get a lot of grey hairs from this site. Im super cool you can ask anyone. I was just joking. Cranky.

 

[urban]

I'm guessing it was tongue in cheek. But, seriously, demolitions/munitions would be a great skill.

I have a neighbor with a gazillion guns and mountains of ammo and little else. I think he could arm half our town and train them to be effective border patrol/militia guys. His ammo and guns could also be used as currency and he's exactly the kind of guy I'd want to have around because he's a veteran with combat experience and has remarkable firearms skills.

A guy like that could learn re-loading and gun smithing and be even more indespensible.

Doc

All i know how to do is shoot people. Honestly. Thats basically what the Army teaches you. In a SHTF scenario i think i could be useful. Put me on guard. I can totally be SOG.

 

[DogDoc]

All i know how to do is shoot people. Honestly. Thats basically what the Army teaches you. In a SHTF scenario i think i could be useful. Put me on guard. I can totally be SOG.

Yer gonna have to help me out...SOG?

Sensitive and Optimistic Guy?
Spiller Of Guts?
Sentry On Guard?
Surviving On Granola?

Doc

 

[urban]

Yer gonna have to help me out...SOG?

Sensitive and Optimistic Guy?
Spiller Of Guts?
Sentry On Guard?

Doc

Sergeant Of the Guard

Duties:
- Inspect all on coming guards and weapons for cleanliness and serviceability.
- Conduct radio checks with each guard position as well as roving guards every hour.
- Make random visits to each guard point throughout the shift (to make sure they arent sleeping)
- Arrange for meals, latrine breaks, fresh batteries, coffee, and most anything else needed by the guards.
- Insure that the guards are relieved on time.
- Pass on to the guards any information given by the off going SOG.
- Brief on coming SOG of anything that happened over night.
- Maintain Log Book.

Any a lot of other crap. I'll take the 12 hr night shift. oktx sounds like shes got the right cranky attitude. She can do days.

 

[DogDoc]

Sergeant Of the Guard

Duties:
- Inspect all on coming guards and weapons for cleanliness and serviceability.
- Conduct radio checks with each guard position as well as roving guards every hour.
- Make random visits to each guard point throughout the shift (to make sure they arent sleeping)
- Arrange for meals, latrine breaks, fresh batteries, coffee, and most anything else needed by the guards.
- Insure that the guards are relieved on time.
- Pass on to the guards any information given by the off going SOG.
- Brief on coming SOG of anything that happened over night.
- Maintain Log Book.

Any a lot of other crap. I'll take the 12 hr night shift. oktx sounds like shes got the right cranky attitude. She can do days.

Good enough. You're hired. Just holler "SOG" at the gate and we'll let you in. :

Doc

 

[mongoose]

Teacher, Mechanic, Wrecker Driver and Soldier (lrrp),

If I'm still alive when ya start ta put it back together,
I can fix ****, teach kids, and stand guard

 

[Hick Industries]

Yes I do actually. I believe that I have the skills to hide it all from the unprepared "Lets all pull together and sing Kumbaya" morons.

I have spent long enough carrying the uneducated and unprepared wellfare mentality folks and I hope to live long enough to see them all starve.

But even if I am taken out before that I can assure you that they will not find my stuff.

 

[onemoreday]

I believe one of the "groups" that you are talking about could be a MAG. A group of people that are committed to the singular purpose of preparing for, and surviving, TEOTWAWKI.

 

[survivor01]

Library of DIY books and materials.

Hey Doc. How about a library of DIY books and related materials do? I have a small assortment of books dating bake to the 60's up to today.

 

[Graywolf]

First thing the whole "you cant leave alive" is an unenforceable rule. Basically anyone can slip away in the middle of the night or put a bullet in your face in the middle of the night. You have to give them an out. This rule would tear a group apart. Basically disputes would be solved with deadly force. This would then lead to paranoia and a complete lack of cohesion.

What you other half did was amazing but what allowed him to do that was hope. He knew if he could make it things would be better. He would be safe. Having to survive with no hope of things getting better, no hope of ever being safe, no hope of ever being a member of a group or family, that different. Completely different. After a while you will lose the will to live. Once that happens its over. Without hope there is no survival.

Urban,
I know you think that can't be enforced, but it can be! The man I am talking about retired from 5th Special Forces group as a Command Seargent Major. He is the most loving person I have ever had in my life, and he is the meanest son of a betch you ever met. He currently teaches tracking to groups like police, and other ABC agencies. He teaches wilderness survival and does search and rescue. The people that have an invitation with us know two rules. Rule #1 He is in charge and what he says goes. Rule #2 If you come with us you don't leave. Everyone in the group understands it is for their safety and the safety of everyone else in the group. They all know him well, and understand that their best chance for survival is to listen to him, because he has the skill set to keep us alive, and they are all smart enough to understand that should they leave, someone could easily make them talk whether they wanted to or not. Did I mention he was a tracker!

Also, he said to tell you that if you make it through the day, there is always hope tomorrow will be better. The trick is surviving the day ... No Surrender! I am not trying to make you feel bad or start an arguement with you, but you had better understand quickly that a soft heart and compassion will get you killed! Helping people you don't know will get you killed. Whoever you have around you, you had better know them and know them well, because you are trusting them with your life, and their actions will directly affect the groups chances for survival. Having skills when the restoration begins will be a wonderful thing, but you have to survive that long to be able to utilize them! Democracies are all well and good, but when you have well meaning people wanting to vote on everything, you are already dead. There is one leader, and everyone listens to him and follows his directions. If this is unacceptable, find a different leader, but understand that one person is in charge period, and even though they will listen to your ideas, what they say goes. That is why the military has commanders and followers ... it is the only way it will work. Otherwise, someone's little feelings are gonna get hurt, cause they can't make big decisions, and the whole group will fall apart from infighting over whose turn it is to be the big dog!

 

[Texas Pete]

I think forming a close knit group of people you can trust and are of a like mind is a good thing to do.

There is a town just SSE of Fort Worth, TX called Dublin. It does not have its name for the obvious Irish connection it was called Dublin becuase the town is on the site of a fortified cabin which the early Texas Settlers built and when the Comanche went on the warpath they sould send a rider to all the homesteads and he would shout "Double In!" which told them to go to the fortified cabin to fight off the indians. Of course over time "double in" became Dublin.

I think that kind of loose orginization would be essential in any TEOTWAWKI situation.

 

[Jeep]

Did you really think this contributed to the thread? :xeye:

-----
We have discussed this topic over in our OK group forum. I'm sure other state and local groups discuss it as well. It's good to know what your neighbors know so you know who to ask for help and who you can offer assistance to some day.

Wow, your a hard critic

I am sure he meant well

Better then me because this is all I can do:

 

[DogDoc]

Yes I do actually. I believe that I have the skills to hide it all from the unprepared "Lets all pull together and sing Kumbaya" morons.

I have spent long enough carrying the uneducated and unprepared wellfare mentality folks and I hope to live long enough to see them all starve.

But even if I am taken out before that I can assure you that they will not find my stuff.

I think some will be in exactly that position...well prepared, skilled and lucky.

The point of the post is that skills and knowledge could be a powerful position from which to barter.

If the medical guy in a survival group got killed when the group was fighting off a biker gang, would that group be more likely to admit an experienced herbalist who was displaced from his BOL through bad luck or a guy that knew how to flip hamburgers at Burger King?

If you're a loner and tear your rotator cuff and can't chop wood, would you admit a big strong fellow in good shape or a guy that can't catch his breath because he's a chain smoker?

None of us know what fortune will bring us at TEOTWAWKI. We think we are prepared. We hope so. We assume we'll have the benefit of our stuff.

The fact is many will, in spite of their best efforts, lose their stuff or never reach it. In that scenario, those with useful skills will be more likely to find acceptance (and therefore survival) in another group or community.

The point of the thread is to get us thinking about what skills we could acquire now that might save our bacon later.

Doc

 

[Wheelgunner]

Graywolf/Urban debate

I'm enjoying the debate between Urban and Graywolf.

I admire both of these two.
I get the feeling that they would get along great if they met each other at a picnic.

Many times I have observed two strong-willed individuals that had a lot in common, find a sticking point between them because they both feel strongly about a particular subject that they mostly agree on.

Not that I would ever stir up any trouble between two fellow survivalists *insert halo over my head here*
But...

...Urban, you gonna just let her get away with having the last word?

(sorry for thread hijack, I couldn't resist)

=)

Wheel

 

[urban]

Urban,
I know you think that can't be enforced, but it can be! The man I am talking about retired from 5th Special Forces group as a Command Seargent Major. He is the most loving person I have ever had in my life, and he is the meanest son of a betch you ever met. He currently teaches tracking to groups like police, and other ABC agencies. He teaches wilderness survival and does search and rescue. The people that have an invitation with us know two rules. Rule #1 He is in charge and what he says goes. Rule #2 If you come with us you don't leave. Everyone in the group understands it is for their safety and the safety of everyone else in the group. They all know him well, and understand that their best chance for survival is to listen to him, because he has the skill set to keep us alive, and they are all smart enough to understand that should they leave, someone could easily make them talk whether they wanted to or not. Did I mention he was a tracker!

Also, he said to tell you that if you make it through the day, there is always hope tomorrow will be better. The trick is surviving the day ... No Surrender! I am not trying to make you feel bad or start an arguement with you, but you had better understand quickly that a soft heart and compassion will get you killed! Helping people you don't know will get you killed. Whoever you have around you, you had better know them and know them well, because you are trusting them with your life, and their actions will directly affect the groups chances for survival. Having skills when the restoration begins will be a wonderful thing, but you have to survive that long to be able to utilize them! Democracies are all well and good, but when you have well meaning people wanting to vote on everything, you are already dead. There is one leader, and everyone listens to him and follows his directions. If this is unacceptable, find a different leader, but understand that one person is in charge period, and even though they will listen to your ideas, what they say goes. That is why the military has commanders and followers ... it is the only way it will work. Otherwise, someone's little feelings are gonna get hurt, cause they can't make big decisions, and the whole group will fall apart from infighting over whose turn it is to be the big dog!

That may impress some on this board but honestly a retired CSM from 5th SF doesnt really impress me. I met three retired SF SGMs last week at and a change of command and i wouldnt follow any of them into the chow hall more less into a survival situation.

I agree there needs to be a leader but there is nothing wrong with electing one. Your CSM can support him and the group just as well. The military doesnt work near as well as you may think. The reason most officers are still in charge is because its illegal to kill them. In "the end of the world" there wont be that hang up. What happens when he makes a decision that the majority of the group doesnt agree with. In most groups the leader can be releaved. In your group its a bullet in the back of his head and one in your face. He would be stupid to think thats not a real possibility. You and him would have to live in state of paranoia. Unless you take complete sheeple with you.

To him is say, I am also a member of my nation's chosen soldiery. God grant that I may not be found wanting, that I will not fail this sacred trust.

 

[capelthwait]

This is an interesting way of thinking about the future. The problem is living within a group requires certain skill too, like learning that your own opinion is not as important as you may think it is. Or knowing that being a boss when the going is easy is not the same as being the boss when the going gets tough. Those who have the 'my way or the highway' attitude will not be able to stay working in groups for very long. It works fine when people can go home and gossip about the big jerk who thinks he knows everything. It wouldn't work when people are forced day in and day out to deal with the big jerk.

I am very community orientated, meaning I work now with many community projects. I have been on the school board many times and the village board once. I help out with the villages Second Harvest food bank. I teach hunter's safety 5 or 6 times a year. I am always called when school testing comes up to help out and I am a member of the Red Cross and go out and help when disasters hit. I believe very much in community.

However, once you work in community projects you quickly learn that holding a community together takes a great deal of work. You don't just have a skill like I can bake pies. You have to have the ability to hold a community together and this takes sacrifice on your part. I see it is if you are not a corner stone of your community now, you will never be more than a perifial member of one if the community becomes stressed. And there is no guarantee that you will be able to hold your community together even if you are a cornerstone of it now. I have seen good people infighting on whether or not to let a Walmart come in. I read threatening signs in protests on the streets now. In a true stress situation even the tightest communities would suffer damage. If you are not part of a tight community now in a true stress situation you will fail.

If community is important to you in the future, start building one today. Learn to compromise now to build the contacts you will need later and MAYBE you will be able to live within a community and not just be the coyote circling it and looking in. That's a big maybe though. People, even good people, go crazy in stress situations. Anyone who has worked in a community setting knows this and if they say it doesn't happen I know they are making up their involvement status.

 

[Graywolf]

I'm enjoying the debate between Urban and Graywolf.

I admire both of these two.
I get the feeling that they would get along great if they met each other at a picnic.

Many times I have observed two strong-willed individuals that had a lot in common, find a sticking point between them because they both feel strongly about a particular subject that they mostly agree on.

Not that I would ever stir up any trouble between two fellow survivalists *insert halo over my head here*
But...

...Urban, you gonna just let her get away with having the last word?

(sorry for thread hijack, I couldn't resist)

=)

Wheel

Wheelgunner ... you are soooooo bad! I have a lot of respect for Urban's service to this country to start with. But ... I gotta tell you ... I have Command Seargent Major sitting next to me, so you are actually debating with him. I am just the go between. I have been trying to get him to start posting on this site, and he has already signed up as "Inamhe". I think I have just about convinced him, so look for some posts from him in the future after you see one from him in "New Members", but I gotta warn you ... he says the best way to describe himself is, "does not play well with others!" He doesn't give a twit about stepping on toes, and he isn't long on words. What he does have is a LOT of experience. I have talked at length with him about this site, cause I believe that most of the people on here, with a few troll exceptions, are really just doing what they can to make a plan for survival. I am the compassionate one, he is the realist! Still, while the opportunity is here to maybe say something that will save someone in the long haul, I believe it is worth it. I started posting on this site years ago, and because of personal problems, had to quit for a couple of years. I still believe in this site, and I sincerely care about the people on it. I am hoping once he gets to know you guys a little bit, he will start to feel a kinship with you all as well. As for Urbans last post ... Inahme just smiled ... he said you pick people that you have much in common with, are lifelong friends or those you have served with and know well. He also said as far as the bullet in the back of the head, after 36 years of service in more than 10 publicised theatres, that that has been tried, and he is still sitting here ... smiling! Doesn't mean that it will always be that way, but, so far so good!

The biggest problem with preppers is that they are looking at survival situations from the prespective of law and order. Regardless of what they say, the rule of law is still in the back of their minds. They still look for the good in people. You can make fun of us, you can make fun of his service to this country, but if you take anything away from this dialog, know that things that worked in a civilized world won't work in this kind of situation. Understand that your total way of thinking will be completely changed, and prepare yourselves for that reality.

 

[BOBtheBUTCHER]

skills well Ive only been doing my bob bag and reading lots of material for the last 7 months, Ive been in the same proffession for the last 20 years and to be honest once its all gone haywire I dont want to be doing the same crap.
Ive not lived my life thinking about what skills could I attain for a shtfs as its not been so main stream as it seems to be today.
now Im a chef so I can cook, butcher, fishmonger, bake, and cook for any number, I also manage people on a daily basis, I perform health and safety and risk assessments daily.
I manage stores and im pretty handy with a knife.
I can do some first aid and a bit of fire safety.

but thats it, now I can learn new skills easily so I suppose, maybe a buddy system would work to teach other people handy skills after the SHTF.
Also Id like to chime in regarding the special forces bloke, now I understand his skills are going to be up there in this situation but It sounds like a dictatorship in the waiting,I dont think any group would last long if the leader was giving the orders "or else" no matter how skilled you are it wouldnt take much for the group to get rid of you.
I know a strong leader is required but you have to have some form of group discussion to co exist it wouldnt be a healthy group if everyone was scared of the leader, now would it.
"does not play well with others" doesnt sound like a good leader to me.

 

[ActionJackson]

I'm pretty talentless but I did buy three Berkey Water filters with the idea that I will be able to purify any pond water or gutter water that someone brings me and provide it to my local community.

I've also made two knives out of junk items and both turned out to be very usable.

I converted this old tree saw into a Knife/Saw.

http://www.survivalistboards.com/album.php?albumid=259&pictureid=4051

I created this knife from an old pair of hedge snippers. I wove the paracord handle myself:

http://www.survivalistboards.com/album.php?albumid=259&pictureid=4030

 

[Wheelgunner]

Alphas

The alpha wolf pair and their entourage loped tirelessly through the snow, following their instincts, their training and their noses.

When the pack got to the edge of their territory, the alpha wolf ****ed on a tree to prove that his pack still protected this edge of his domain.
He howled.

In the distance, the alpha wolf that controlled the next ridge howled into the night. His howl said, "By the fullness of the moon, I swear death to any wolves that violate my ridge". His pack voiced their encouragement.

Thus it was settled by the the ancient way.

Better to howl in agreement than to kill your own kind.