At its heart, preparedness means being self-sufficient. That should be your true goal. But what does that mean? The prudent see danger and take refuge; but the simple keep going and pay the penalty. Proverbs 22:3 Let’s talk about food first, since we are seeing out-of-control inflation on food and a concerted effort to limitContinue reading “Self-Sufficiency”
Author Archives: JD
Gear Shakedown – Field Time
One of the biggest challenges we face in preparedness is in actually getting in some time using our gear. I spent last week at the Von Steuben Training & Consulting Jager Course. You can find the course review on the Tactical Wisdom Locals Page. This article is more about the use and adjustment of myContinue reading “Gear Shakedown – Field Time”
Building Community
I love getting out and meeting more people in our community. I enjoy spending time learning and training with others. It’s important that we all get out and do this to build a community wherever you plan on weathering a WROL situation. It’s vital whether you plan to bug out or bug in. We’ve talkedContinue reading “Building Community”
Training – Physical Skills
Bruce Lee famously said, “I fear not the man who has practiced 10,000 kicks one time…I fear the man who has practiced one kick 10,000 times”. This quote is about getting in physical repetitions to master a skill. This applies not just to martial arts, but to every physical skill in life. It’s why skilledContinue reading “Training – Physical Skills”
Should I Stay or Should I go?
One of the biggest debates in preparedness is the bug out or bug in question. The question can’t be answered in a definite way because every situation is different, and everyone’s personal environment is specific to them. Where I have difficulty though are the absolutists on either end. First, not every situation requires a fullContinue reading “Should I Stay or Should I go?”
Reviews – NC Scout Books
I realized that I hadn’t put out a review on the Guerrilla’s Guide to the Baofeng Radio as I finished his second book, the Guerrilla Dispatch, Volume 1. Now is as good a time as any to review them both. As usual, the photos and links are affiliate links so that you can buy theContinue reading “Reviews – NC Scout Books”
Mike’s Jäger Kit, 2023 Edition
Last year, I wrote a series of articles on my “Jäger Kit”, the equipment that I carry for light infantry operations and extended patrolling. However, one’s equipment is a constant evolution as you find things that work better for you, and I am no exception. And with the Jäger Course coming up in a month,Continue reading “Mike’s Jäger Kit, 2023 Edition”
Mike’s Jäger Kit, 2023 Edition
Last year, I wrote a series of articles on my “Jäger Kit”, the equipment that I carry for light infantry operations and extended patrolling. However, one’s equipment is a constant evolution as you find things that work better for you, and I am no exception. And with the Jäger Course coming up in a month,Continue reading “Mike’s Jäger Kit, 2023 Edition”
Recognizing Your Team
The Russo-Ukrainian War (Slavic Civil War) has brought to the forefront a vital issue. If everyone is driving the same vehicles, using the same weapon platforms, and wearing the same uniforms, how do you identify your own side? As a side note, countless militias are fighting on both sides of that conflict, too, with someContinue reading “Recognizing Your Team”
Spring Updates
Time to update your gear and plans.
Sad Hams are Killing GMRS
I will admit, I was unduly harsh in the original article. While it was factually accurate, I wasn’t fair to the hams in the area…gents, I am sorry for that. Your criticism there is fair and I accept it. Let me reword, I have regularly encouraged new people to get on GMRS to learn. IContinue reading “Sad Hams are Killing GMRS”
Removed Post
In the interest of getting along, and to prevent more issues for family members, I took down the post about Hams and GMRS in Metro Detroit.
Tradecraft in Uncertain Times
Times are scary right now. People on both sides of the political spectrum (yes, both sides) are leveling threats at each other and people are seeking to “cancel” each other, which is a white-washed way of saying ruin each other’s lives and ability to make a living. Add to this the ever-present threat of anContinue reading “Tradecraft in Uncertain Times”
Prudence in Uncertain Times
Banks are on dangerous ground, the Russo-Ukrainian War risks escalation, and China is expanding it’s challenges. What more could go wrong? Well, the Manhattan DA claims he’s about to arrest Donald Trump. Rather than calling for calm, Donald Trump, as usual, decided to play right into their hands and call for protests to “take backContinue reading “Prudence in Uncertain Times”
Review: Blue Dawn & A Most Uncivil War
My friend and fellow Michigan Native, Blaine Pardoe, has done something not many have – He sent a chill down my spine with his Blue Dawn Series. And, unlike my dear friend Mark Sibley, Blaine is pumping the sequels out pretty quick. I just finished Book 2, “A Most Uncivil War”, and I have toContinue reading “Review: Blue Dawn & A Most Uncivil War”
Review: Brushbeater Scout & Recce Courses
I recently attended the Scout and Recce courses at Brushbeater. While NC Scout is a friend, he didn’t ask me to write this, and I have received nothing for it. This is an unbiased review. The TLDR of it this: TAKE THE COURSES. I know you’re afraid of the feds. Go to the class anywayContinue reading “Review: Brushbeater Scout & Recce Courses”
Seven Nights in the Field
Last week, I spent 8 days and 7 nights in the field attending NC Scout’s Scout and Recce courses at his facility in North Carolina. Later in the week, I will do a review of the courses, but for today, I want to talk about the gear and review some of it. “…The Lord is with you, mightyContinue reading “Seven Nights in the Field”
Wake Up Call
After the East Palestine train incident and the string of balloon shoot-downs, including one over Michigan, I was already working on upping my actual “walk out the door” preparedness. Then, this morning, I woke to text messages from the local police. They were advising residents that a Norfolk Southern train had derailed ON THE STREETContinue reading “Wake Up Call”
Normalcy Bias is Bad, OK?
I’m convinced that the vast majority of Americans (and people in the West in general) are OK with literally anything, as long Netflix still works, and Amazon still delivers. This whole spy balloon saga just reinforced it. Before I delve into normalcy bias and ways to avoid it, let me give you two pieces ofContinue reading “Normalcy Bias is Bad, OK?”
Uncertain Times
With us all already on edge from the Russo-Ukrainian War, an impending Chinese blockade on Taiwan, and potential riots over Memphis, the weekend was bad enough. Then, out of nowhere, an “unknown party” launched a series of drone strikes across central and northern Iran with absolutely no warning. The attacks went on all night and,Continue reading “Uncertain Times”
Our Heritage
As the SHOT Show winds down, I’m reflecting on our heritage and what the Founding Fathers would think of what we’ve become. I’m certain that they are disappointed and incredulous. Watch out for false prophets. They come to you in sheep’s clothing, but inwardly they are ferocious wolves. Matthew 7:15 The worst part is that manyContinue reading “Our Heritage”
Low-Tech to No-Tech is The Way
Being a public figure in the preparedness world, I get swamped with people asking me for my recommendations on the latest and coolest cool-guy Ultra-Tacticool gear. Which night vision should I buy, what’s the best range finder, and what rifle accessories do I need top the list. While I give the best answers I canContinue reading “Low-Tech to No-Tech is The Way”
The Surveillance State
Every week, we get closer and closer to a social credit system. ESG (Environmental, Social, and Governance) scores, once called a right-wing conspiracy theory, are now an actual thing used to determine if businesses get loans. How long before it gets down to private citizens? The US was founded on the principle that individual freedom,Continue reading “The Surveillance State”
Winter Preparedness
As I write this, word is coming out that NY Police are finding bodies frozen in vehicles all along the highways in areas impacted by the storm. Buffalo is finding frozen people buried in the snow. It’s a horrible tragedy, but all the more so because it was 100% avoidable. Over the weekend, we alsoContinue reading “Winter Preparedness”
TDG 1: Antifa Roadblock
Originally posted on Von Steuben Training & Consulting:
Originally posted on American Partisan on March 9, 2021 I am starting this new series, TDG (Tactical Decision Game) Tuesdays, to get you more in the mindset of how you could potentially handle a given tactical scenario with a limited amount of resources and manpower. My goal…
Stranded in Peru – Lessons Learned
As Peru devolves into civil war, tourists, including Americans, Canadians, and Europeans, found themselves stranded in a remote region that was experiencing a full Without Rule of Law situation. There was no law enforcement, and armed groups & protestors were on the roads. Some of these tourists were forced out of vehicles and had toContinue reading “Stranded in Peru – Lessons Learned”
Principles Over Fear
A few days ago, I shared the video of NYFD Lt. Alison Russo-Elling being murdered on the street. I lamented that no one stopped to help her or engage her attacker. She was walking to lunch when a man stabbed her 19 times, killing her. Multiple people drove by or walked by, without even slowingContinue reading “Principles Over Fear”
Winter Is Indeed Coming
As I write this, Moore County is still without power and may well be long after the promised December 8th end date. You can’t guarantee electrical repairs on a timeline, and if you remember back to Covid, we were told 3 weeks and we’re on year 3. Friends, I’ve been warning about this scenario sinceContinue reading “Winter Is Indeed Coming”
It’s Not Hyperbole
Normalcy Bias is a killer. No matter how bad things get, most people think that “it” can never happen here. The entire world is devolving into civil war or open conflict, yet folks in the West, and the US in particular, just believe that those are problems for “over there where those people live”. Now,Continue reading “It’s Not Hyperbole”
Are You REALLY In?
I know a lot of people in the preparedness space. Some people are dead serious about it, some are not. The truth is, a lot of the folks allegedly into preparedness are actually just collectors and gear junkies, rather than actually into preparedness. How do I know? Well, I’m glad you asked, because it’s timeContinue reading “Are You REALLY In?”
How Ready Are You – Minute Men
Consider our world for a moment, as I did on Wednesday morning. Russia shows no signs of pulling out of Ukraine and is threatening the UK. China is becoming more and more bellicose in relation to Taiwan and the US. North Korea is off the chain (again). Iran is threatening both Saudi Arabia and AzerbaijanContinue reading “How Ready Are You – Minute Men”
Brazil – Lessons and Observations
On Sunday night, the Brazilian run-off election got underway. Bolsonaro supporters were thrilled because Bolsonaro maintained a commanding lead all day. While it wasn’t a rout, he had it in the bag. Something happened in those last few hours though. Lula made a surprising comeback in just one region. Although Bolsonaro won 6 of theContinue reading “Brazil – Lessons and Observations”
Snapping In
When you go to US Marine Corps Boot Camp, after the first few weeks of Phase 1, if you survive, you get sent to Recruit Field Training Duty for Phase 2, or as I call it, THE FUN STUFF. At RFTD, you learn individual movement techniques, basic infantry tactics, and marksmanship. During the 2 weeksContinue reading “Snapping In”
Getting Out There
How many times have you heard someone say, “I’d like to meet like-minded people, but I’m worried that everyone is a Fed”? I hear it every week, and to be fair, I begin every class I teach with “For the Fed who is inevitably among us reporting on this class…..”. We’re all a little gun-shyContinue reading “Getting Out There”
Testing Yourself
I’m a big fan of the Vikings TV Series. Yes, I know it’s not 100% historically accurate, but that doesn’t mean there isn’t some Tactical Wisdom in it. In fact, the plot line from Season 1 is very instructive for the moment we find ourselves in and can guide you in getting ready. Ragnar hadContinue reading “Testing Yourself”
It Will Just Be OK….
Friend, I know it seems like the economy is crashing all over the world. I know your grocery bill that was $150 is now $245. I know gas is over double what it was before the election. I know that every petty dictator in the world is pushing their boundaries. More importantly, I know thatContinue reading “It Will Just Be OK….”
Making A Stand
There’s a country song (No, not a country fan) that says, “You’ve got to stand for something, or you’ll fall for anything.” The events of the last year in general, and the last 2 weeks, tell me that it’s time to revisit that idea. As our country continues to call anyone who criticizes the governmentContinue reading “Making A Stand”
Review – USMC One Man Combat Tent
Anyone who has read any of my writings knows that I advocate training in low-profile camping. By low profile, I mean stealth/hidden from view. In a WROL society, other people mean risk. Our best defense is being as unseen as we can be. In the Baseline Training Manual, I advocate buying a small 2-person backpackingContinue reading “Review – USMC One Man Combat Tent”
A Rebuttal
I never in my life, not once, ever envisioned a speech by an American President against an eerie red background in the night (which can only be called SATANIC) wherein he called half the country a threat to democracy and where he said, “we will eradicate this cancer”, meaning those people. Never. I felt chillsContinue reading “A Rebuttal”
Mobile Lifestyle – What is it?
A couple of weeks ago, our friends at S2 Underground posed this question: Are you prepared RIGHT NOW, to walk out the door with the gear you have and live a mobile lifestyle for the next 3-5 years? That’s a solid question, but a lot of you may not realize what we’re talking about here,Continue reading “Mobile Lifestyle – What is it?”
Establishing Daily Routines
With the chaotic pace of world events and the rampant speed of the collapse we seem to be hurtling towards, it’s easy to lose focus and miss things. As the next big headline drops, we can be so surprised by it that we forget to take basic precautions or to continue to prepare. What weContinue reading “Establishing Daily Routines”
Upgrading Comms – Retevis RT97
We had some pretty significant storms this last week, which left tens of thousands without power for days. The storms came up suddenly, with no notice. It got me back to thinking about comms. In trying times, we need to stay connected to each other, as this piece of tactical wisdom tells us: Not givingContinue reading “Upgrading Comms – Retevis RT97”
Oh, No! It’s the Christians!
Over the last several weeks, story after story has come about how “Christians” and “Christian Nationalists” are putting our democracy at risk. This is a patently false statement, and we’re going to discuss it, but before we get into it, I wanted to point out that Jesus Himself warned us this was going to happen:Continue reading “Oh, No! It’s the Christians!”
Safety in Public – Immediate Actions
In the last couple of days, we’ve had some mass shootings (both stopped by good guys with guns), a lot of protests, and an explosion at Hoover Dam (they say it was a transformer). During this same period, we’ve seen Iran, Turkey, and Russia hold meetings as China threatened to shoot down Nancy Pelosi’s plane.Continue reading “Safety in Public – Immediate Actions”
How Can I Help?
This one has a bit of a long intro, so bear with me as I explain the WHY before I get to the HOW. Each morning, when I do my daily prayer, I ask God to put me where I can help. That may be on the side of the road, at a gas station,Continue reading “How Can I Help?”
Guest Post – Sniper’s Nest
We focus a lot on the bad that is happening and that is coming, but it’s important to celebrate the wins when they happen. The other night, on Sniper’s Nest, several of us were on, and Sniper made this statement. Now, his language is rough, but he’s a work in progress. I’m proud of hisContinue reading “Guest Post – Sniper’s Nest”
Unlicensed Radio
Earlier this week, those good people at Slate ran a story about how “right wing extremists” are using unlicensed radio services to “plan crimes”. It was slanted heavily to try and suggest that the unlicensed services should go away, because on January 6th, there were some right-wing people holding radios. The article fails to mentionContinue reading “Unlicensed Radio”
A Momentous Moment
It’s time for a chat. Grab a chair and your favorite holiday weekend drink. I was in rural Kentucky and stopped at the Maker’s Mark Distillery because it’s my Dad’s favorite drink, and this took me along on another route to my friend’s house. As I was rolling along a two-lane backcountry road among thoseContinue reading “A Momentous Moment”
Action Steps – 4th Of July Weekend
The “Night of Rage” may have been a bust, but the left is still indeed out in the streets, taking action, and some events happened that have us wanting to issue some reminders and help you prepare for the holiday weekend. This weekend is the 4th of July, a holiday that Marxist extremists hold inContinue reading “Action Steps – 4th Of July Weekend”
Technology is Not Your Friend
As you all know by now, I advocate a low-tech to no-tech approach. Mostly, this is because we can’t rely on having the ability to connect to a network, or to even charge and power our devices. Being low-to-no tech keeps us able to function. Recently, however, a couple of events have me leaning evenContinue reading “Technology is Not Your Friend”
Tactical Wisdom 