Author Archives: JD

Review – Civil Defense Manual Volume 2

A while back, I reviewed Volume 1 of Jack Lawson’s Civil Defense Manual. I finally had time over the Christmas Holiday to finish reading Volume 2 and take some serious notes. Bottom Line: You need both Volumes 1 and 2 of the Civil Defense Manual in your library. The good news is that they comeContinue reading “Review – Civil Defense Manual Volume 2”

Indicators: New Military Training

We can learn a lot by taking a look at a couple of the emergency training changes that the US Military in general are making, and one that the US Marine Corps specifically has made in preparation for the next conflict, which seems to be rushing closer every single day. The next conflict appears toContinue reading “Indicators: New Military Training”

Learning from Mongol Moon

When I first joined Twitter, some guy named Mark Sibley was promoting his novel, Mongol Moon. I had no idea who he was, but the book summary seemed interesting, so I bought it. I was so moved by the scenario the book presents that I began engaging with Mark, and now I consider him aContinue reading “Learning from Mongol Moon”

Assisted Living Family Members

In his ground-breaking novel “One Second After”, the first place William Forstchen talks about the disaster impacting is an assisted living/long term care facility. It’s important, because most people don’t realize what life-ending implications a power outage will have on such facilities, starting within MINUTES. Here, we are going to discuss some of those risks,Continue reading “Assisted Living Family Members”

The Truth About the Ukraine

As the media and international leaders point their fingers at Vladimir Putin for the current situation in the Ukraine, I thought I would take us on a trip down Memory Lane. I’m no fan of Putin or Russia, but the truth needs to be told. First, let’s remember that Barack Obama famously said he’d likeContinue reading “The Truth About the Ukraine”

“You’re Doing It Wrong, Bro”

I get a lot of questions from people looking to get into preparedness, but they don’t know where to start. Their concerns are usually around the cost, and the current economic situation has only made that even more important. The biggest fear new people have getting into preparedness is the cost. They’ve watched shows andContinue reading ““You’re Doing It Wrong, Bro””

Announcement – Clothing In Armor Summit

As a professional in the tactical and preparedness space, I get it- how hard it can be seeing attacks and tragic environmental disasters in the news and wanting to reach out to these people to support them. I remember when I first started getting into preparedness.  I had no idea what to buy, in whatContinue reading “Announcement – Clothing In Armor Summit”

Everyone Is A Fed

Last week, when it was apparent that a verdict in the Rittenhouse case was imminent, I suggested that Kenosha might be a good place for like-minded people to meet, and maybe prevent a repeat. I got dozens of responses that either I was a Fed, or that I should “Have fun hanging out with theContinue reading “Everyone Is A Fed”

Yes, It Can Happen Here

I frequently get called an alarmist. When I discuss our current situation, people say, “That will never happen here” or “This is America, they can’t ever do that”. It frustrates me to no end, because in America before March of 2020, if someone said, “The state governments here in America are going to order allContinue reading “Yes, It Can Happen Here”

Self-Defense is on Trial

As we are all watching the Kenosha Kid fight for his freedom, we need to understand that are bigger issues at stake and consider some things. The evidence that has come to light during the trial tends to indicate that charges never should have been filed, as this was a clear-cut case of self-defense. IfContinue reading “Self-Defense is on Trial”

What is the Rule of Law?

Generally, when we think of a Without Rule of Law (WROL) situation, the first thing that comes to mind is a complete and total collapse. No police, no fire services, nothing at all. That’s generally what we mean. However, we currently find ourselves in an odd world where things seem to run normally, but theContinue reading “What is the Rule of Law?”

On Principles

Earlier today, video emerged of a large man punching a small woman in the face on the subway, and literally no one intervened. To be fair, one man shouted at the guy AFTER the assault, which accomplished nothing. Some pointed out that she had just told the man that he needed to take a chillContinue reading “On Principles”

GPS Denied Environment

The US military is rapidly working to develop new doctrine for “Operating in a GPS Denied Environment”. In other words, just as I have warned, they are worried that the Chinese have the capability to either strike the ONE ground station that controls the entire system, or to negate the satellites. With America’s over-reliance onContinue reading “GPS Denied Environment”

Knives in a Church

This afternoon, Sir David Amess of the British Parliament was holding a ‘constituent surgery’, which is what we in America would call a Town Hall meeting, inside a Methodist Church in London. During this meeting, a man stabbed Amess several times. Despite the heroic efforts of the Emergency Services, Sir David died at the scene.Continue reading “Knives in a Church”

Why You Need a Scanner

As the situation degrades more every day, I want to give you some advice and some direction on having a scanner and how best to employ it. A radio scanner is a receive-only device designed to let you listen to a large number of frequencies with a single unit. You can program either manually orContinue reading “Why You Need a Scanner”

Exercising Caution

When our tempers flare, we get very tempted to say some not very nice things. When you combine that with edicts that affect our kids, it gets ten times worse. As I pointed out the other day with my post, Give Me Liberty or Give Me Netflix, we are at a momentous point in AmericanContinue reading “Exercising Caution”

Immediate Steps – Cyberattacks

It’s a shame, really. When the Continental Pipeline attack happened, many of us warned people to up their preparedness for a serious cyber-attack. Sure, the people directly affected by the gas shortages took heed, but the average American did not. But, LORD, let Facebook and InstaGram go down for a day and watch chaos ensueContinue reading “Immediate Steps – Cyberattacks”

Recognizing Friends

As the situation here continues to deteriorate, one important thing to consider is how you will recognize members of your group or family during a chaotic event. It’s important in the initial chaos, but later, in a full collapse of society, it will become vital. For example, imagine that you are on post at yourContinue reading “Recognizing Friends”

The Minuteman Concept

The Minuteman is someone we all learned about back in school, but how much do you really know about them and what can we apply to today? Here, we will look at the Minuteman concept and discuss how we can apply those lessons today. The basis for the Minuteman was devised in the Massachusetts BayContinue reading “The Minuteman Concept”

Give me Liberty, or give me Netflix

On March 23rd, 1775, Patrick Henry gave a speech at St John’s Church in Richmond Virginia. He concluded that speech with a phrase that has echoed throughout history as a battle cry and a guiding principle, “Give me Liberty, or give me Death!”. He wasn’t just saying empty words, either. He would go on toContinue reading “Give me Liberty, or give me Netflix”

Training Task: Urban Scouting

Whatever your reason is for preparing, a second or third order effect is going to lead to the unavailability of gasoline. If you’re preparing for an EMP, then vehicles are already off the table. I know, everyone likes to say “But I’ve got a 1984 Chevy”. Cool story. How will you get gasoline without electricity?Continue reading “Training Task: Urban Scouting”

Pet Preparedness

I can’t imagine my life without my dogs, one of which is Miss Lucy above. In that photo, I think she was waiting not-very-patiently for me to put the laptop down. Also, I have a cat, and he’s the ultimate “Chad Cat” of all Chad-Cats. He stages items along the very edge of the kitchenContinue reading “Pet Preparedness”

Are you ready to live in the field?

We’ve all got a tent, and a sleeping bag, and the supplies we think we need to live in the field, should we need to. Some people plan on living a permanent mobile existence in a WROL situation, which isn’t actually realistic, and some are planning on bugging in. No matter what you envision, areContinue reading “Are you ready to live in the field?”

Finding Your Tribe

Whether it’s Max Rockatansky, former police officer of the Main Force Patrol, or Eli, former K-Mart staffer, the movies always feature a man traveling the wasteland alone, righting wrongs and accomplishing amazing feats all by himself in a world gone mad. That’s called FICTION for a reason. The truth of the matter is that alone,Continue reading “Finding Your Tribe”

72 Hours

My preparedness philosophy revolves around the idea that at any given point in time, you are no more than 72 hours from a complete and total collapse. This may seem extreme, but let me give a historical context. The most recent example is Afghanistan. We spent years training their new military and they fell withinContinue reading “72 Hours”

Jack Lawson’s Review of the book Tactical Wisdom

By Jack Lawson, Author of the Civil Defense Manual Rare does a book catch my attention like Tactical Wisdom. It could have been authored by my alter ego. But the Author, Joe Dolio, has created what I consider a companion and must-read book to my book the Civil Defense Manual. His book “Tactical Wisdom TW-01Continue reading “Jack Lawson’s Review of the book Tactical Wisdom”

The Government View on Prepping

I have long said that the government views people into preparedness (“preppers”) as a threat. Many people point at the FEMA website http://www.ready.gov and say “See, you’re wrong. They want you prepared.” Have you really looked at their guidance? Don’t get me wrong, there is a lot of great information on that site. However, thatContinue reading “The Government View on Prepping”

Counter-Surveillance

In these days of government over-reach and open militia groups on both the left and the right, it’s time to discuss a sensitive topic. Counter-Surveillance is a key tool in preparedness. Every time I start talking about stuff like this, people say, “If you aren’t doing anything wrong, why worry?”. Don’t fall into that trap;Continue reading “Counter-Surveillance”

Different Rule of Law

A little while ago, I met with a guy for the first time. Before meeting him, I arrived early and conducted a counter-surveillance sweep, as I often do, to make sure that ANTIFA isn’t setting me up. While I watched the area, I saw another vehicle make the same sweep I did, and I canContinue reading “Different Rule of Law”

Civil Defense Manual – Vol 1

It’s been said that the measure of a man’s intelligence is often how much he agrees with you. I felt that way as I read Volume 1 of Jack Lawson’s Civil Defense Manual. I’ll put link down below. Since he agrees almost completely with me, the man is clearly a GENIUS. You’d think as anContinue reading “Civil Defense Manual – Vol 1”

The Defense Production Act

The Defense Production Act is something that the preparedness community overlooks, and it can come back to bite us in this age of social media surveillance and Big Brother. Passed in 1950, the original intent of the Defense Production Act was to ensure that in the event of another all-out war (most likely at thatContinue reading “The Defense Production Act”

Wake Up Call: South Africa

The current situation in South Africa should be a learning tool for anyone interested in preparedness. The state of KwaZulu Natal is in a true Without-Rule-Of-Law situation. But first, here’s the Tactical Wisdom that applies here:  “then if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life,Continue reading “Wake Up Call: South Africa”

Field Observations

As part of preparedness, information gathering is vital. If you simply gather supplies, but not information on all of the possible actors in our current potential civil conflict, you are not really prepared. Situational Awareness is a key part of that. So many in preparedness, especially in rural areas, write off groups like BLM, ANTIFA,Continue reading “Field Observations”

But, Are You Ready?

A couple of weeks ago, I posed the question “how ready are you at any given moment”. Since then, things have gotten progressively worse in this country and we’re now seeing armed groups openly preparing for conflict and having armed confrontations with police. They’ve been resolved peacefully so far, but that won’t last. Regardless ofContinue reading “But, Are You Ready?”

The Current Environment

The current environment is dangerous, and getting more so every day. We are seeing more signs of division and potential Balkanization, and, by their actions, it would seem that government at all levels is doing everything they can to make that happen. Before we get too deep into the evidence and what we can doContinue reading “The Current Environment”

Make A Decision

Overnight, a group calling itself the Moorish American Arms was stopped while refueling vehicles on the freeway in Massachusetts. This led to a standoff in which 11 men were arrested. Because it was a black supremacist Muslim group, many applauded the MA State Police. I hold a different position, because until this group breaks theContinue reading “Make A Decision”

Urban Recon Pre Event

There is no doubt that we are in a pre-conflict stage in the US at this point. No one wants a conflict (except apparently the far left extremists and maybe some extreme far-right ones). But, what can we in the center do to prepare ourselves for civil unrest, intentional damage to the power grid, orContinue reading “Urban Recon Pre Event”

Tactical History – Ziklag

This is an epic battle story and a classic study of tactics that directly applies to us as people interested in preparedness. It highlights some pieces of Tactical Wisdom that are vital to our plans for a WROL situation, and happens to be a pretty cool story. If anyone wants to follow along, the fullContinue reading “Tactical History – Ziklag”

Fire Preparedness

We prepare for all sorts of situations, and presently most of us are worried about a potential hack taking down the electrical grid or some type of mass civil disorder, right up to a potential second civil war. You know I frequently talk about second and third order effects, and the potential for a fireContinue reading “Fire Preparedness”

Latex/Nitrile Glove Training

Last night, I had a conversation with a long-time corrections officer and he mentioned training to shoot in Nitrile or Latex gloves, due to the current pandemic and other scenarios. Anyone who has ever tried to accomplish anything in nitrile/latex gloves instantly knows what the issues will be. For context, the source I spoke toContinue reading “Latex/Nitrile Glove Training”