As I drove into Montana for a series of meetings and explorations to be revealed later, it got pretty foggy and misty as I drove up the ridiculously winding mountain road. I thought, “This area would be a nightmare for an occupying force – ambush heaven”. A lot of curves, vertical cliffs on one side and steep wooded cover on the other meant that a guerrilla force could stop an occupier easily.

Then today, during a meeting at Shield Arms, the term “Partisan” came up and it got me thinking about how it ties into to a local defense force in a preparedness aspect. Yes, your local protection force is more of a partisan force than a “militia”. A militia is a group that follows some type of political power or belligerent power, whereas Partisans are generally considered to be any force from a local area that resists occupation.

The concept is closely tied to guerrillas. Guerrillas comes from the French “petit guerre” or “little war”. The term was coined for the Portuguese and Russian resistance fighters that resisted Napoleon, although the term was also used earlier during the Franco-Dutch War and the Seven Years War, to reference local, community-based defense forces, rather than organized militias serving a crown or belligerent. Partisans were generally considered “free fighters” tied to a local area only.

The same “Partisan” concept was also widely used during World War 2 with French partisans defending their local areas from occupation and Josip Tito’s “Partizans” in Yugoslavia. My favorite tale of partisan fighters in WW2 is the Bielski Otriad, a local defense force of Jewish folk in Belarus.

During the American Civil War, Mosby’s Raiders and McNeill’s Rangers fought for the Confederates rather effectively. They were authorized by the Confederate Congress under the “Partisan Ranger Act”.

For our purposes, the partisan is a local person who joins a loose movement to resist an occupier. That occupier can be an invading foreign force (CHYYY-NA), an occupying “peacekeeper” force (UN), a tyrannical & over-reaching government (can’t imagine THAT ever happening – our overlords are benevolent), or even a group of raiders and bandits terrorizing an area. It’s a concept we can embrace.

Our partners at Shield Arms have devised a gear and clothing line designed to serve that role and today, NC Scout, Wyoming Survival, and I provided some input and ideas to that line. It fits nicely with what we all teach and the turbulent future we all see for America. Local is where we win, and to do that, local men & women may have to pick up their shields and stand together in the shield wall. Mountain Partisan Gear will support that. More to come later…stay tuned.

The concept goes back even further. When Norse and Dane war bands went “Viking” (Viking is a verb meaning raiding – not a noun describing an entire people) in Anglo-Saxon lands, the local lord raised the “Fyrd”, which was a band of local men to protect the area. After the fight was over and the raiders driven off, the men of the Fyrd went home to work their fields or trades.

In fact, The Bible covers Partisans as well – God’s command to Gideon was to become a Partisan, when Israel was occupied by Midianites.

The Lord turned to him and said, “Go in the strength you have and save Israel out of Midian’s hand. Am I not sending you?”

Judges 6:14

The “Minuteman” concept and the pioneer “militant farmer” were also partisans by definition. It’s actually a concept that ties perfectly to the preparedness community. If you are willing to take a stand in your local area to preserve your freedoms or defend your community, you are a PARTISAN, not a militia. Let’s get behind this and use this to describe our activity rather than other, less favorable terms.

Study partisan concepts and the art of waging “small war”. Great resources are the “Australian Guerrilla” series, “Total Resistance” by Von Dach, and “Resistance to Tyranny” by Joseph Martino. The undelined links are affiliate links and I may make a few pennies if you buy one (at no added cost to you). Attend a Brushbeater Scout or Recce course.

If you like my work and would like to support it, make a donation below or become a monthly supporter on Locals for additional content (tacticalwisdom.locals.com).

Throughout history, we have recognized many cultures as “warrior cultures”. The Spartans, the Mongols, Feudal Japan, the Norse/Danes, and the ‘Warring States” period in China, to name a few.

But even within non-warrior cultures as a whole, there was usually a “warrior class” who espoused a warrior culture. Most of rural Europe was composed of farmers and laborers, but there was still a professional warrior class who served their Lords in exchange for food and shelter. These eventually became the Knights and Crusaders we know from history. After Korea was unified, they created the Hwa Rang, an educated warrior class who produced the Sul-Sa, who could give the Ninja of Japan a run for their money.

In early America, during the colonial period, we had a professional warrior class, but they functioned mostly as private military companies, offering their services to Crown Governors and settlement “companies” (a lot of colonies were established as business ventures) to ward off raids by Natives or opposing forces. Most famously, Roger’s Rangers served settlements early on fighting the French and Native tribes and was absorbed into the British Army during the Seven Year’s War and the French and Indian War. We get Roger’s Rules for Ranging, still used around the world today, from this warrior culture. We keep it alive at the Ranger School and the Reconnaissance and Surveillance Leader’s Course.

The early pioneers and frontier farmers retained a warrior culture, always ready to gear up and defend the frontier farms together. That same attitude went west with American expansion but fell off as we created a Standing Army. In the post-World War 2 society, the general assumption was that the military was the only place we needed a Warrior Culture.

In the last 30 years, we’ve seen American Law Enforcement grasp onto Warrior Culture, and not necessarily always in a good way. The culture does indeed help them protect the flock, don’t get me wrong, but some have embraced it into an “Us vs Them’ mentality instead of a “Protect those who need protecting” one. Most haven’t, but enough have that it is noticeable.

Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes; each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

Nehemiah 4:23

We see Warrior Culture embraced in the Bible. The best books describing a warrior culture are Nehemiah and Maccabees. Nehemiah and Judas Maccabeus embraced and demonstrated a warrior culture to the betterment of their societies.

But what does that have to do with us, right? Well, we are fast approaching a time in history when the need for a broader warrior culture will be urgent. We, as people into preparedness, need to embrace that concept. Now, I know, I’ll get a comment like “But I don’t want to be a soldier – I just want to farm, survive, and be left alone”. Fair enough, and I’d love that too. How’s that working out for South African farmers? And, before you say “but that’s South Africa” – compare the cultural rhetorical in South Africa to the rhetoric here. Not very different.

Also, while our geography protected us from invasion in the 20th century, it will NOT in the 21st. We have unfettered illegal immigration crossing our southern border and among the folks seeking a better life are Chinese, Iranian, Venezuelan, Nicaraguan, and Cuban soldiers and agents. Should a broader war break out, and it looks more and more likely every day, we can expect widespread irregular attacks, terrorism, grid attacks, and ground action at US installation WITHIN THE HOMELAND. If you think I’m exaggerating, the Marine Corps ran ground defense drills at their bases last month because they expect these very things to happen. Fort Riley did a weekend drill on operating their base without power.

Coming without warning, he would set fire to towns and villages. He captured strategic positions and put to flight not a few of the enemy.  He found the nights most advantageous for such attacks. And talk of his valor spread everywhere.

2 Maccabees 8:6-7

We need to embrace the warrior culture, but how do we do that?

Training. The first thing that comes to mind is Martial Arts training. Martial Arts teaches discipline and military bearing, as well as awareness. Unarmed self-defense skills give you self-confidence. Heck, even knowing that you have mastered your bodily movement to the point that you can land a roundhouse kick builds confidence.

The other area is going to tactical training like that offered by Brushbeater, Clay Martin Defense, Warlizard Tactical, Interpid Tactics, Tremis Dynamics and dozens of others (sorry y’allcan’t mention everybody). Getting out and learning the basics of patrolling your local area for defense is a great way to embrace warrior culture. Medical and communications classes are important as well. My books are great (TW-05 is OUT NOW) but books only take you so far.

Another piece of warrior culture we need to embrace is vigilance. We have to ditch normalcy bias and start realizing that we are already in a societal collapse that is happening as World War 3 begins. Riots can pop up at any time, as Philadelphia found out. Street takeovers and flash mobs are increasingly common and so is police disengagement of these events. What do you imagine Black Friday will look like this year? Start raising your alert level. You are already in the collapse.

Warrior Culture isn’t a hyper-paranoid wannabe thing. It’s understanding that we need to be ready to defend our homes and communities at a moment’s notice, and being aware that evil exists in the world we live in, not just “those other countries”. When people say it’s a LARP or playing soldier, it’s because they don’t want to have to think about what’s ahead. They want “those government people” to protect them. Ironically, they usually say “the police will protect us” while also claiming that the police are oppressing people. It’s weird. You can’t change these people’s minds, so rather than engaging with them, just ignore the naysayers. Go to the classes, stack food to the rafters, and get vigilant. Train and prepare and don’t care what others think. You aren’t doing it for them.

Thanks for reading this and get out there. Embrace a warrior culture and I will see you out in the field training.

If you like my content and would like to support me, you can sign up as a monthly supporter at tacticalwisdom.locals.com, where there is a ton of additional content. You can also make a donation below (NC Scout has a new radio and I need $700….LOL). As always, the Feds want me to remind you that the photos are affiliate links that support me and I might make a small commission if you make a purchase.

Head on over to the Tactical Wisdom Series page and buy TW-05 First Aid. I’ll ship the signed copies when I return from the Self Reliance Festival in Camden, Tennessee (join me there Oct 14-15).

Anyone who has followed me for more than a few days knows that I say watch South Africa for what is going to happen here.  In fact, today’s riot in Johannesburg looked remarkably similar to the one in Philadelphia last night.  An incident happened last week in which South Africans used the skills outlined in TW03 Defensive Operations and TW04 Scouting and Patrolling.  They were able to stop cold a gang of murderous bandits, exactly like we’d expect to see in a Without Rule of Law situation.  In fact, the situation was indeed a WROL situation because the police fled.

A little background first.  Both Gideon Joubert of Paratus (paratus.info) and “K9 Reaper” in South Africa have copies of my books.  They need them because they live in a WROL society, where the South African Police Service (SAPS) exists only on paper.  Riots and lawlessness are the rule.  Enter the “community safety initiative” or “farm watch”.  Reaper patrols with a community safety initiative. 

These are what we would call a cross between a neighborhood watch and a mutual assistance group/militia.  It is essentially the members of the community who have decided to do all within their power to protect their community during a complete societal collapse. 

The prudent see danger and take refuge,

but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 27:12

When I put out TW03 and TW04, some people said that they couldn’t imagine a scenario in which those hard security and small unit skills would be used.  Well, Hoedspruit in Limpopo gives us a REAL-WORLD example.

On Wednesday, September 20^th, G4S security was running a “cash in transit” convoy.  We would consider this an armored car, but they also had an escort vehicle.  An armed gang of robbers (pirates) ambushed the convoy and forced both vehicles to stop.  The armored car driver was killed and the two escort guards were wounded.  The robbers used explosives to blow the armored car open and stole the cash.  The SAPS arrived and a firefight broke out between the police and the robbers.  The police, quickly realizing they were outgunned, got back in their vehicles and fled the scene.  That’s right, you are on your own.

Based on how the Farm Watch works, the Hoedspruit Farm Watch was already aware of the robbery and the suspects.  Once they heard that the police had left and the robbers were about to flee the scene, the Farm Watch took action to protect the community.  They were on solid common law ground here because the police refused to act.

The first step they took was right out of TW03.  In that volume, I said that to create the impression of a secure community, roadblocks and checkpoints were needed to steer bad folks to easier targets.  The Hoedspruit Farm Watch set up a series of roadblocks and checkpoints to try and prevent the pirates from getting deeper into the community to victimize anyone else.  Solid defense.

Next, knowing that a large party of armed threats was active, they moved to offense with their Quick Reaction Force.  These guys went out of TW04 and set up an ambush on the route the bad guys were taking.  When the bad guys continued towards the community, the Farm Watch took offensive action to prevent an attack.  They ambushed the pirates on the road.

A long gun battle ensued. The pirates had AK’s and pistols, but the Farm Watch was better armed and in a better position.  The initial gun battle left 3 pirates dead and 1 wounded, with 2 others fleeing.

Our Farm Watch heroes didn’t stop here.  The 2 fleeing suspects still posed a threat to the community at large, so a tracking patrol was sent out complete with dogs to run down the remaining bad guys.  After a long pursuit through the bush, both suspects were captured and all of the stolen money was recovered.  The Farm Watch used their citizen’s arrest authority to hold the bad guys until the SAPS could be coaxed back into the area to arrest the suspects.

The Farm Watch successfully defended their community, neutralized the threat, captured the survivors, and sustained zero casualties while doing so.  This might sound like a Mad Max movie plot, but this really happened.

This story is why we train.  Going to a Brushbeater Scout or Recce course, an RTO Course, or reading my books will help develop you and your team’s ability to do exactly this.  These kinds of things are coming.  Just look at Philadelphia last night.  If you lived in certain areas, the police weren’t coming to help you.

Sign up for Forward Observer’s Far Left Playbook to be aware of planned BLM/ANTIFA actions at: Far Left Playbook

I hope this real-life Mutual Aid Group story motivates you and your team to train.  At the very least, buy my books and train on them, but consider traveling to legit course.

If you like my work and would like to support it, sign up as a supporter at tacticalwisdom.locals.com or make a donation below.

On Saturday (September 23^rd), I attended the Ruck to Live in Brighton, Michigan.  This was my second year attending.  I went with a group of people who were fans and have become friends after meeting on Twitter, then in real life.  I can’t encourage you enough to go to events and meet your mutuals in real life.

The Ruck to Live is put on by a great organization called Veterans Connected.  Check them out at the link under their name.  They are 100% supported via community donations and have given out over $500,000 in aid to veterans.   They are a worthy cause and should be supported.

The event was also supported by the Brighton Police and fire departments, with several firefighters in full gear doing the course with us.  The people of Brighton were great hosts, and we were greeted by supportive honking, shouts of thanks from the residents, and plenty of the local dog folk were out to share doggie hugs with us at corners. If you know anything about Brighton, it’s that it’s the most dog friendly town in Michigan with most restaurants allowing dogs.  One woman even dragged a massive cooler into the street to hand out water bottles.  Amazing folks.

The course was an 8 Mile ruck throughout the town.  Each mile, we stopped to honor the memory of a veteran who took their own life, in the hopes that someone will know there is always help.  It is reported that after last year’s ruck, 3 veterans came forward and lives were saved.  Don’t pass out hotlines, go knock on the doors of your veteran friends and talk face to face or call them yourself.  It has more of an impact than you know.

There are many who will attest that I will pick up the phone at 3 AM and talk you through the long dark night even for total strangers from Twitter.  There are many of us who will.  Be there for each other, which is the point of this walk. 

This one hit me right in the feels at Mile One.  The first memorial stop was at a retirement home.  As I made my way to the water table, I saw this old man struggling his way out of the retirement home in his walker, struggling to hurry so as not to miss it.  Many of you know how I feel about old folks, and especially old veterans, so I rushed over to help get him to the front row.  He was dressed up nicely in a sportscoat and was wearing his US Air Force hat.  This is the ONE TIME I didn’t make an Air Force joke, and that’s a big deal.  We delayed the memorial to let him get up front. 

Both the first and second stop were dedicated to two brothers who both took their own lives within 3 months of each other.  Think about that.  That really hits home.  Their mother was at the second stop and after reading the memorial, lots of the group loved on her and hugged her.  What an emotional moment, and if anyone tells you they had dry eyes there they are lying to you.

As the walk wore on, the pain set in, but no one dropped out, because we ALL wanted to get to the next marker, hear the next story, and honor the next veteran.  Yes, giving up a Saturday morning to haul a 30-pound ruck for 8 miles when I didn’t have to sucked, but it HAD to be done.  The thing is, you don’t know who signed up for that ruck because they were struggling and wanted to spend a few hours walking and talking with people who might understand.  You don’t know who, at the end, seeing everyone grieve over lost lives, might say “Hey, bro, I need some help.”  So, we ruck on.  Not for ourselves, but FOR EACH OTHER.

As we neared the finish line, one of the young men behind us was playing music on a Bluetooth speaker. The song that was playing right then was “I Was Only 19”, an OUTSTANDING and moving Australian Vietnam War song, featured in the movie Danger Close. It was the perfect song, because it contains this section about the things the stories never tell:

And the ANZAC legends didn’t mention mud and blood and tears
And the stories that my father told me never seemed quite real

While a group of us met there and went to lunch after, as the ruck progressed, we spread out through the crowd to mingle and meet new folks and check on each other, as did every other group there.  That’s the veteran connection in action; it’s just what we all naturally do.  I made new friendships, gave and received a lot of inter-service ribbing and had a great time.  That’s the point. 

After the event, I met with Board Member Brandyn Mickus.  I committed to helping promote next year’s event by having him on my channel several times before the next event.

An interesting fact was presented during the closing ceremony.  The “22 lives a day” statistic is outdated.  The current statistic is 42 a day.  42. Every. Single. Day.  Pick up your phone and call your people and check on them. Today.

You’ll notice that I didn’t include any ads in this article.  That’s because this is too important to distract from.  Call people. Any ads you see in this article are from WordPress, not me, BTW.

Check on each other.

To the fallen: Til Valhalla.

Brothers and sisters, we do not want you to be uninformed about those who sleep in death, so that you do not grieve like the rest of mankind, who have no hope.  For we believe that Jesus died and rose again, and so we believe that God will bring with Jesus those who have fallen asleep in him.

1 Thessalonians 4:13-14

Back in early American history, the “militant farmer” was the concept of the pioneers heading west. Born out of the “Minuteman” that led to this nation’s birth, the militant farmer was little changed until 1900 rolled around. He may have traded his musket for a lever action, but the principle was the same.

The farmer and his neighbors formed an informal militia. If bandits, hostile forces like the French or Spanish, or Native warriors attacked, the farmers grabbed their gear, fought the fight, and then returned to their farms. Each man from 12 and up was expected to have a fighting rifle and a knife or hatchet, along with the field gear to live in the field ready at a moment’s notice. This is remarkably similar to the modern preparedness philosophy, isn’t it?

Dear friends, do not be surprised at the fiery ordeal that has come on you to test you,

as though something strange were happening to you.

1 Peter 4:12

How did they handle community security when there was generally only one Sheriff or none? There was no network of state, local, and federal law enforcement to harass, I mean protect, the community. With the exception of massive cities, most towns had little to no law enforcement. These communities were self-policing.

For the rural community, security consisted of men visiting each place. One group would start at one end of the community and go along stopping at each farm or home and chatting, checking in on each other and sharing news. If the traveling group was at your house at mealtime, it was expected that you would feed them. If they were at your place at the end of the day, you let them sleep there, either in a guest room or the barn. The next time, a different group did the riding. This was in modern terms nothing more than a local security patrol.

When one farm or homestead was under attack, word was sent for the fighting age men (the “militia”) to meet somewhere to march to the aid of the victims. The same was done throughout the west with the “Posse” concept when a group of bandits was thought to be in an area. The Posse was doing what we would consider scouting and patrolling (TW-04) to locate the bandit camp and then conduct a raid. Based on this, it’s not out of the norm for us to plan on needing to do these things again. Remember, this bubble of Western society we live in is the exception, not the norm.

But has it ever been done in a relatively modern way and what did it look like? To apply it to the modern world, we look to the late stages of Rhodesian Bush War and the farm attacks. Similarly, my friends Gideon and Reaper will tell you that this is informally being done in South Africa, as they are on the same glide path. Don Shift in his excellent book “Rural Home Defense” covered this same topic.

The “Agric-Alert” program was a way to fight back against bandits and terrorists attacking farms and rural homesteads. Under this program, each rural farm was issued a base station radio. In our context, this means you need a radio more powerful than your Baofeng radio. The Baofengs are for local (less than 500m) communications and aren’t designed for more. You should pick up some type of base/mobile radio that is capable of transmitting at higher power. I have 25W, 40W, and 50W radios set up in my office, one of which is a repeater (that I never turn on – it’s for THOSE times). Combined with putting your antenna on the roof, these can get you 10-20 miles in urban areas and even farther in rural areas. My 40 Watt Motorola in the office hits a repeater about 35 miles away easily in urban terrain. Once things go bad, the HOA rules go out the window and I can toss up the LARGE antenna for more range. NC Scout sells the BTech 25×4 on his website for $135 and it’s a 25W radio that lets you monitor 4 frequencies at once. Side note: He has the BF-F8 handheld at the cheapest price I’ve ever seen so check out brushbeater.store.

On the Agric-Alert system, there was “roll-call” each morning and night. We would call that a “net check-in” and it’s absolutely a good idea. The morning check-in was to make sure that everyone made it through the night and to share any intelligence developed or suspicious incidents that occurred overnight. The nightly check-in was to make sure everyone was in the proper security posture and to share any warnings of activity. If someone missed a check-in, the local “security group”, which was nothing more than a militia or posse of local men, would go and check on that farm to make sure no attack had happened. During the day, any alerts or suspicious activity was shared over the radio.

Your preparedness group should already be running “nets”, even if it’s just on a weekly or bi-weekly basis. I participate in a few each week. It’s a good way to test your gear and stay abreast of local conditions. I know that most of you think of this as an Amateur Radio thing, and Amateur Radio is a good thing. But these nets I participate in are all done via GMRS or license free. You can run a net on MURS or FRS with your local people as long as they are in range. We run GMRS nets via repeater, covering large areas. One regional net is shared via the internet so that unlicensed folks can listen and contribute via online messaging. I’ve run preparedness nets via CB radio which is also a good idea. Start running these so that your people get familiar with their equipment and ensure that it all works.

A CB side note to the base/mobile point made earlier: All CB’s in the US and most of the world are limited to 4 watts. You can get 12 watts PEP using SSB, which is recommended for nets. In my radio deck here in the office I have an SSB-capable mobile radio and it is attached to a longer antenna outside the house for better range. Remember, radio is about antenna and atmospherics, not simply power.

Under the Agric-Alert program, all participants were expected to contribute to community security. If you wanted other folks to come and help you, you were required to be ready to come and help them at a moment’s notice. Every adult and teen were expected to be armed with a long gun and sidearm whenever outside. They were expected to keep field gear like a belt kit/patrol pack ready for a “grab and go” situation. Make no mistake, these people were at existential risk and were killed frequently.

Neither I nor my brothers nor my men nor the guards with me took off our clothes;

each had his weapon, even when he went for water.

Nehemiah 4:23

Each family unit was expected to commit personnel to the local patrol, which would check on farms, scout for infiltrators, man defenses at a threatened farm, or whatever other local security tasks that needed doing (see TW-03). They would even occasionally throw up checkpoints and set ambushes.

Doesn’t that sound like the “militant farmer” described above?

I’ve had guys comment before that they “don’t want to play soldier boy” and that they are just preparing to live some type of prairie farm life. Well, that’s a great plan and I’d love to as well, but we have to live in the real world. That idyllic “prairie farm life” was frequently punctuated by raids by Native Americans or thieves. We just saw last week an attempted attack on a rural property in California using South African-style tactics (crawling like a dog or animal to defeat some sensors). We have a wide-open border allowing in unvetted people from regions of the world where such attacks are common. It’s foolish to close your eyes to the possibility. The best-case scenario is to train for this type of attacks, yet never have them happen. For the record, if you run this type of system, coupled with patrols like the Rhodesians did, you most likely WON’T be attacked, because the bad guys will choose a softer target, like someone who DOESN’T do this.

I know at some point someone will point out that the Rhodesians lost. Well, they were sold out by their partners. It was not for lack of will or skill on the part of the Rhodesians. They were infiltrated by communists from within (speaking of things that sound familiar). Make Zimbabwe Rhodesia Again. The best line in the movie Blood Diamond comes after Danny tells the reporter that he’s from Rhodesia. She says, “Rhodesia? We say Zimbabwe now, don’t we?”, to which Danny replies, in EPIC fashion, “Do we?”. Let’s keep them north of the Zambezi, boys. We’re all Rhodesians and Rhodesians never die.

Use this system to up your local situational awareness.

On that note, as we enter election season again, we expect to see more unrest. In response to what they are seeing, my friends at Forward Observer are bringing back the Far Left Playbook, which is their reporting on planned protests and extremist training events. Sign up for a special offer: https://farleftplaybook.com/far-left-playbook1694101246770

You can support my work by becoming a supporter at tacticalwisdom.locals.com or by making a donation below.

Last week, my friend Mike Shelby of Forward Observer/GrayZone Activity put out a thread detailing the indictment of 61 far left activists for their activity at the Cop City protests. While many cheered on what seemed to be a far-overdue indictment against ANTIFA, what the indictment reveals are significant risks to those of us involved in preparedness, and rather than cheering on State overreach, we should be sounding alarm bells. Reminder: If the State abuses its authority against those you oppose, it will also abuse its authority against you. Let me explain, but first, some Tactical Wisdom:

…if anyone hears the trumpet but does not heed the warning and the sword comes and takes their life, their blood will be on their own head.  Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.

Ezekiel 33:4-5

A couple of years ago, in a DHS Bulletin, the FBI and DHS listed preparedness and a desire to be “be ready” as indicators of potential extremism. It went so far as to list interest in canning and food preservation (yes, really) as signs of extremism and as a response, Facebook began issuing warnings to people inside canning groups on Facebook that they might have been exposed to extremist content. Yes, this all happened. Why is it important? Because the FBI also calls ANTIFA extremists, and they listed many things that we do every day as preparedness-minded people as signs of engaging in criminal extremism.

Most of us involved in preparedness are concerned about our personal security and privacy. We use apps like Signal and Telegram to communicate. According to the Cop City indictment, using Signal, Telegram, and Tor to avoid government surveillance is a sign of extremism. I teach Bible studies and we use Signal because the men in my studies need to know that the personal issues we discuss are safe and secure from prying eyes, not because it’s extreme.

Another tool they say people use to avoid surveillance is radio. Now, as folks involved in preparedness, we discuss and use radios a lot. We get licenses and use them daily. They never claim in the indictment that a crime was committed using radio, which would have been a separate count and well-justified, they just said that using radio instead of cell phones was “indicative” of criminal behavior. News flash: It isn’t. Be aware, though, that this activity is being tracked. This should get even the saddest of sad hams on alert.

The use of Faraday Bags was covered as well. The FBI pointed out that the members of this extremist group used Faraday bags to avoid government eavesdropping. Well, so do I, but I’m more worried about Google’s eavesdropping quite frankly. I have several and use them to protect my electronics from EMP nad to limit Big Tech surveillance. Most of us do.

One of the more hilarious points made was that “they avoid storing phone numbers by memorizing them”. Congratulations, if you were born before 1990 and had the phone number of everyone you knew memorized, you were an extremist and didn’t even know it. I get it, it’s unusual NOW, but I still know a lot of phone numbers by heart.

The indictment also mentions burner phones, and that’s a topic that both NC Scout and I talk about. From his perspective, he says there is no such thing because that phone has an IMEI that is associated with your activity, and he’s right. I point out that after the passing of the PATRIOT Act and Know Your Customer laws, you cannot get a true burner phone without already violating the law, so don’t try. Never give them an easy win. The fact that they tied these “burner phones” to the 61 indicted people PROVES NC Scout’s point that the IMEI can still be used as evidence (International Mobile Equipment Identification – a ID number of the phone).

As Mike Shelby pointed out in his Twitter thread, the practice of “vouching” for others while vetting members in your groups is how groups get infiltrated. One person gets charged with some obscure thing and suddenly is “vouching” for his “cousin” that no one has ever met, who wants into your prepper group, and he has this neat idea about kidnapping a governor or something. Never let crazy people or extremists into your mutual assistance groups. Anyone who advocates for illegal activity should be removed immediately and have no further contact.

I know, a lot of you are thinking, but we’re not doing anything more extreme than preparing for a Maui-like fire or hurricane, so who cares? Remember – they think that IS EXTREMISM. One guy in the Whitmer case testified yesterday that he didn’t think the plot was even serious, but he was still arrested. The Federal government came in and CREATED a plot because they didn’t like militias. I don’t like the term militia for this reason. Avoid it.

All I hoped to do here was point out to you that if the government considers these things as signs of extremism for ANTIFA, they consider it the same for you. I urge you to be very careful in who you share your communications and preparedness plans with. Also, be VERY selective in letting people into your groups, and monitor what they are saying, both privately and on social media. You don’t need a member of your group saying things like the poor man in Provo (he was dumb but didn’t deserve to be murdered).

Be careful and stay secure.

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 22:3

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The rapid expansion and proliferation of drones across every spectrum of society has us now needing to understand their uses and implications from a preparedness perspective.  I’ve touched on these topics briefly in my books, but we need to revisit it.  My friend Don Shift has written an excellent book on drones that I will be reviewing, and there is an Amazon link to it below.  As always, the Feds want me to tell you that if you make a purchase, I might make a few pennies and eventually have enough to buy a Diet Coke at McDonalds at no additional cost to you.

Drones were once the province of only the highest end nation states.  Now, with relatively cheap commercial drones, about every 4^th police car on the road has a drone and trained “Police Drone Operator”, fire departments use them, survey crews and literally every industry (especially construction).  Being a commercial drone pilot is now a legit career and not just a hobby.

With them everywhere, we need to discuss the benefits of using them, as well as the risks related to others using them against us.  There is danger in the form of drones, as footage from Ukraine shows us.  There is some Tactical Wisdom we like to share on seeing danger:

The prudent see danger and take refuge;

But the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 22:3

Let’s be prudent.

Drones are everywhere.  Even a cheap child’s toy drone can be weaponized or used for surveillance, but they have very limited range.  The biggest risks are in larger commercial quad copter type drones.  Any drones over 250 grams in weight are required to be registered with FAA.  These drones have real time surveillance capability and can fly high enough that they are difficult to see and hear.

The most common sign that drones are near is the buzzing noise they make.  Your team needs to be aware of that sound.  In an emergency or disaster, it can mean help is on the way and you might want to have a signal flag or something available to make yourself known to it.  On the flip side, in a full collapse type situation, it means that danger in the form of a sophisticated threat is nearby, and you need to upgrade your security posture.

There is a misconception that drones are hard to defeat.  If you know the proper techniques, they are easy to defeat.  As soon as you hear a drone, get under overhead cover.  It’s really that simple.  When planning patrol routes or movement paths, try to select routes with continuous overhead cover to limit your exposure to drones.  Even drones with thermal viewers are defeated by overhead cover, especially vegetation.

Another tool is a thermal tarp.  While this isn’t drone specific, sleeping under a camouflaged thermal tarp protects you from both drone and ground-based thermal detection.  At his courses, NC Scout teaches you how to defeat ground-level thermal viewers and drones are no different.  Take a Scout class.  Just make sure there is at least 12 inches between your body and the tarp.  Unlike when using one for warming, we want an air gap between the tarp and our body.

Another low-tech way to defeat drones is getting underground.  The tried-and-true method of digging fighting holes with overhead cover will protect you.  It’s VITAL though, that you have overhead cover.  Putting your warm body in the cold ground will make you stand out.  Cover the hole with logs covered in vegetation, and it’s best if you layer a thermal tarp among the vegetation.

We can use drones for scouting.  Remember though, that drones are a SUPPLEMENT to foot patrols around your perimeter, not a replacement.  Drones can be used to range farther faster and aren’t encumbered with gear and blocked by rough terrain.  They can be a great force multiplier.  You should consider having a serious drone operator on your team.

A good use is to bring one along on patrols.  When you encounter a danger area or buildings/signs of an encampment, you can set up a hasty security perimeter and toss your drone up into the air to check it out from outside of small arms range.  This keeps everyone safe and allows you to move away if it’s not safe.

Drones can be used to check your obstacles/fence line.  Many drones can have flight paths preprogrammed and will fly them automatically, like a security guard patrol tour.

The danger in using drones for this is that if a hostile party sees your drone, all they have to do is watch the drone to see where it lands.  That’s why I recommend leaving your perimeter before launching any.  Why would they care if you were using a drone?  Because you having a drone airborne means that you at least have the capacity to generate enough electricity to charge batteries and if you have  that, you probably have other resources.  When sending a drone operator out, send at least one person along as security.  The drone operator will be focused on the drone and needs protection.

You can use a larger drone to either hold a small mesh network repeater aloft or to emplace one on a tall object, increasing your radio range.  You can also type out a message, put your tablet/phone and radio on a drone, and raise it up high before it sends a scheduled digital burst transmission, drastically improving your range.

On that note, understand that drone use can be detected using radio intercept tools.  They can be DF’d and the controller can be located relatively easily.  That works both ways.

Drones are a double-edged sword.  You should understand, but not overestimate the risk.  Understand how you can use them, but also understand the risks in using them.

I will have more tips and tricks after I finish Don Shift’s book, “Poor Man’s Air Force”.

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In 1501, a writer and priest named Desiderius Erasmus was staying at a castle occupied by one of the orders of knights then spread throughout Europe. He met a Knight there who was rather friendly, but quite rough around the edges. The Knight’s wife begged Erasmus to help her husband, so Erasmus wrote Enchiridion Militis Christiani, or The Manual of the Christian Knight. It was a guide to how a Knight should live.

This book has passed down over the generations as an outstanding guide for the sheepdogs and warriors among western society as a way to guide your behavior. It’s been a favorite of mine since a Chaplain turned me on to it many years ago. The picture at the top is an affiliate link to buy a copy.

Sgt Pascoe of the Michigan State Police pulled out Erasmus’ 22 Rules and Lt Col Dave Grossman recapped them in his work, On Combat. We’re going to look at them here and discuss how they apply to us today.

But first, here is today’s Tactical Wisdom, which applies to Knights and Protectors:

Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

First Rule
Increase Your Faith
Even if the entire world appears mad.

Our faith can carry us through the worst of times. If we lose our faith, we lose our guiding principles that set us apart from the evil we claim to resist.

Second Rule
Act Upon Your Faith.
Even if you must undergo the loss of everything.

We are called to “Go and Make Disciples” in Matthew 28. We are not to keep our faith bottled inside; we need to share it. Also, when we know something is wrong, we cannot just say “Oh, well. I can’t do anything.” James 4:17 says “If a man knows the good he ought to do and does not do it, it will count as sin for him.”. Act on your faith, even if it is unpopular.

Third Rule
Analyze Your Fears.
You will find that things are not as bad as they appear.

Things are never as bad as they look. In order for things to look bad, you have to be ALIVE. If you are wounded, you are not DEAD. There is always a good thing to be seen.

Fourth Rule
Make Virtue The Only Goal Of Your Life.
Dedicate all your enthusiasm, all your effort, your leisure, as well as your business.

It’s not enough to be good most of the time. Sure, Christ paid for our sins and errors, but that doesn’t mean we can just run out and do whatever. Remember, you cannot become worse than that which you claim to fight.

Fifth Rule
Turn Away from Material Things.
If you are greatly concerned with money you will be weak of spirit.

This doesn’t mean you must be poor. The Bible never says MONEY is bad, just the LOVE OF MONEY. If you are always chasing the next possession, you will eventually cut corners to get there. Your soul is more important than possessions.

Sixth Rule
Train Your Mind To Distinguish Good And Evil.
Let your rule of government be determined by the common good.

When we are placed in charge, we work for the good of the whole, not just for our own benefit. No, not socialism, mutual benefit. Like our security arrangements, we are contributing to the greater good around us.

Seventh Rule
Never Let Any Setback Stop You In Your Quest.
We are not perfect—this only means we should try harder.

We cannot give up. There are no half measures. We are in a literal fight between good and evil and most refuse to see it. We can’t sit idly by, and we also can’t just try to do one thing and give up. You can’t stop fighting…. there are no timeouts in survival. We are in it to survive and THRIVE, so never give up.

Eighth Rule
If You Have Frequent Temptations, Do Not Worry.
Begin to worry when you do not have temptation, because that is a sure sign that you cannot distinguish good from evil.

The minute you stop worrying about if you are the right person or good enough, is the time that you are at risk. Be watching for temptation, but realize it comes for us all (1 Corinthians 10:13). In Equalizer 3, a doctor tells McCall that he knew McCall was a good man because when he asked him, McCall had answered that he didn’t know if he was a good or a bad man. If we are certain, we’re not good.

Ninth Rule
Always Be Prepared for an Attack.
Careful generals set guards even in times of peace.

Just like Nehemiah, we have to always post a guard, always be armed, and always be ready. Famously, he had each man work with a weapon in one hand to be ready for attack. The world is dangerous and getting worse, and we don’t get to pick the day.

Tenth Rule
Spit, As It Were, In The Face Of Danger.
Keep a stirring quotation with you for encouragement.

It’s OK to be afraid, it’s not OK to give in to fear. Fear makes us cautious. Channel that fear into right action. We don’t get to give up when it gets too rough, we’re in it for survival.

Eleventh Rule
There Are Two Dangers:
One Is Giving Up, The Other Is Pride.
After you have performed some worthy task, give all the credit to someone else.

We already talked about giving up. Remember that any good you do is a team effort. Tell people what your tribe did, not what you did. You didn’t do it alone.

Twelfth Rule
Turn Your Weakness Into Virtue.
If you are inclined to be selfish, make a deliberate effort to be giving.

This is a good one. We all know our strengths, but it’s our weaknesses that need work. If I’m prone to embellish my part of events, when I tell the story, I should tell what someone else did. If I’m bad about giving praise, I should look for a reason to praise others.

Thirteenth Rule
Treat Each Battle As Though It Were Your Last.
And you will finish, in the end, victorious!

Go into any struggle with the idea that you will either win or die trying. This is important. When I teach self-defense, I mention having the attitude of winning versus surviving. I can have horrible things done to me and survive, but if I beat my enemy, I won’t. Win – don’t merely survive.

Fourteenth Rule
Don’t Assume That Doing Good Allows You To Keep A Few Vices.
The enemy you ignore the most is the one who conquers you.

This goes along with some of the earlier ones. Don’t think that because you do MOSTLY good, this one little evil I do is OK. It corrupts and grows, and eventually kills the host.

Fifteenth Rule
Weigh Your Alternatives Carefully.
The wrong way will often seem easier than the right way.

The right path is seldom the easiest one. Men always take the least painful and least stressful way, but that is almost never the right way.

Sixteenth Rule
Never Admit Defeat Even If You Have Been Wounded.
The good soldier’s painful wounds spur him to gather his strength.

Being wounded means you are still alive and can still fight. There are no timeouts. If I fall and break my leg right after a hurricane, I can’t say “shucks, maybe next time”. If I don’t get up and deal with the injury, there may not be a next time. The same goes in combat. You are never out of the fight, as Lt Michael Murphy used to say.

Seventeenth Rule
Always Have A Plan Of Action.
So when the time comes for battle, you will know what to do.

Listen, we harp on this. Do your area study. Develop PACE plans (TW-03A can help). Put in the thinking now, so you don’t have to under stress. PLAN.

Eighteenth Rule
Calm Your Passions By Seeing How Little There Is To Gain.
We often worry and scheme about trifling matters of no real importance.

Never commit to fights that don’t matter. I see this on Twitter (yes, I know, I’m the worst at this). Fight the fights that matter, and don’t get worked up over things that don’t. Fight the battle you are in, not the one you’d prefer.

Nineteenth Rule
Speak With Yourself This Way:
If I do what I am considering, would I want my family to know about it?

This is among the best ways to consider your possible courses of action.

Twentieth Rule
Virtue Has Its Own Reward
Once a person has it, they would not exchange it for anything.

Being good feels good. We all feel bad when we do things that are wrong, because the Holy Spirit (your conscience) dwells in you. Do the right thing and you’ll feel better.

Twenty-first Rule
Life Can Be Sad, Difficult, And Quick:
Make It Count For Something!
Since we do not know when death will come, act honorably everyday.

There may not be time later to make up for our shortcomings today. If you live for something bigger than yourself (your family, your tribe, your church) you will make a bigger difference and a mark on the world.

Twenty-second Rule
Repent Your Wrongs
Those who do not admit their faults have the most to fear.

The guy who says he has no sins or faults has at least one – he’s a liar. We all do things wrong every day. What sets us apart is REPENTANCE. Ask God for forgiveness and He will grant it before you’ve even finished the request. You’ll feel better after too. Repenting isn’t merely apologizing; it’s that plus taking steps to correct the error and to prevent it from happening again.

I hope Erasmus’ 22 Rules can help you live out life as a Righteous Protector of your community.

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Friends, it’s been a rough couple of weeks. We still don’t know the extent of the deaths in Maui, and here locally, we woke up flooded one morning, then were struck by a tornado the very next night. This had me re-evaluating my immediate readiness. I’ll be honest – I was not where you would expect a preparedness author to be. I thought I would let my self reflection benefit us all, so that you can learn from my mistakes.

Even God says you need to have a Get Home or Bug Out Bag ready:

Gather up your belongings to leave the land,
    you who live under siege.

Jeremiah 10:17

I know, some of you will say “nope, I’m bugging in.” If you had that attitude during the Maui incident, you would be dead. It’s silly to not have at least a TEMPORARY bug out plan.

In evaluating my own readiness, I always have a Get Home Bag in my car, so that was good. If I was trapped out when the flood came, as many were, I could get home. Mine has the basics as outlined in my Baseline Training Manual, including some shelter, some rain gear, water purification and treatment, some self-defense tools, fire gear, medical, and light. Just the basics for 24-48 hours, along with a little food.

My problem was that at home, I didn’t have a bug out bag prepared. What if the tornado had done enough damage to require us to leave home immediately and walk somewhere? I had unpacked it after a training event and said, “I’ll get it set back up tomorrow”. And then the next day, and then the next day. You see, without an imminent threat, it’s easy for us to let our guard down. And we might have paid dearly for it.

I also realized that while I had radio gear with me, and I know that our son always has his radio with him, I hadn’t made sure that the others had radios. We have already corrected that. Remember, your emergency communications plan only works if everyone carries a radio all the time, because you don’t get to choose the time or place. I had been so focused on making sure the rest of my network had their radios on, that I forgot to ensure that my immediate family did. Zoom back out once in a while and check on those whose preparedness you take for granted.

The biggest win for us though was that all our cars were full of gas. A lot of people (our youngest included) were caught the morning after the tornado with almost no gas and no gas stations open because there was no power. There is no excuse for this – fill your car every day.

On that note, the rough weather here and the Maui situation all reinforce the idea of the Area Study. In Maui, there were roadblocks on the main artery (just like I warned in TW-01), and an area study would have given them other options. Here, every major intersection was now a 4 way stop, which should be easy, but most people have no clue on how to do that. If you doubt how fast society can collapse, watch people sit at a major intersection when the lights go out. It gets ugly fast. The lesson from this is know every route around town that avoids these snarls. Do that homework now.

Also, after flooding or a tornado, get out quick and do an area recon. Find out where you can get through, what is open, and how extensive the damage is. Don’t put yourself at risk, but get out and see, in case you need to leave in a hurry or get to medical care. In a disaster, it may be easier and better to drive yourself to the hospital than to wait on an ambulance. On that note, ambulances aren’t exempt from disaster – a good friend (Mustachioed Medic on X) was working in an ambulance during the tornado and a tree ran into the ambulance.

While out there, have some basic supplies in case you need to help an injured person, pull another vehicle out of a ditch, or cut a tree out of the road (our own tree fell into the road – thank God it didn’t hit the house). Have a section of rope that you can toss to someone trapped in a car, so that they can use it to get out of the water. When you come across a vehicle stranded in flood waters (we had some all the way up to the roof), tell the people to get out of the car and get on solid ground. Many people sit in their cars, not realizing that flood waters will keep going up for about 24 hours after heavy rain, and many drown.

When me and some other security folks responded to Hurricanes Sandy and Irene, we carried cases of water in our vehicles and handed them out to folks as we found them. After Sandy, we encountered an elderly couple trying the doors on all the stores while we were doing some anti-looter work and we checked on them, they hadn’t had water in 2 days, and nothing was open. We gave them a case of water and checked on their apartment to make sure they were safe to stay there. Help your fellow man when you are able, but don’t put yourself at risk to do so. Check on your elderly or less-able neighbors.

Have a plan – scout out your local area. Your plan is only good if you have current information. The only way to gather that information is to get out.

On that note, tend to your security as well. During a crisis like this, the police are tied up protecting infrastructure and working on rescuing stranded drivers. Your burglary in progress or armed robbery call may take a lot longer for them to respond to, if you are even able to call them.

Speaking of phone service, many of you may have noticed that I was absent from social media all day on Friday. That’s because my entire township had no cell service beyond short text messages and absolutely no internet service until late in the evening. Have a plan for that. Radios come into play again.

After this event, I’ve decided to embrace our history and put “Minuteman” practices back into place, like I had during the turbulent 2020-2021 era. Every person must leave the house with a Get Home Bag and a radio at a minimum. Each person’s Bug Out Bag will be fully packed and staged in a closet, so that it can be grabbed in a few seconds. Each trained adult will have their “782 Gear” as we Marines call it (belt kits and chest rig) and defensive tools ready to be grabbed at a minute’s notice. This way, within one minute, everyone can be fully kitted out, armed, and ready to move.

A great item to help with this is the USMC variant of the 6-magazine bandolier. Standard Army ones have a blank rear panel, but the USMC ones have MOLLE webbing on the back. This makes it easy to attach a radio pouch and first aid kit. This way, rather than grabbing a full belt kit or chest rig, you can toss the bandolier on, and you are fully prepared. Find them at military surplus stores on Ebay, but make sure you get the USMC coyote brown ones. They make a good vehicle preparedness option as well.

Learn from the recent disasters and the trend towards civil conflict or global war and be ready, every single day.

Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.

Ezekiel 33:5

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Two events this week have me considering updating the Area Study. First, the Lahaina fire area is now seeing not just looting, but also the inevitable armed robberies that will follow in ANY WROL situation. The second is unrest in South Africa related to Jacob Zuma’s legal issues which has claimed several lives and now has the South African Army deployed.

Our friend Reaper (@k9_Reaper on Twitter) is on the front lines there as part of a community safety patrol (the only real police services in SA are private). He does a great job documenting the chaos, so give him a follow. Today, he was posting video from some of the 21 truck burnings that have happened this week. Locals are stopping semi-trucks and blocking the roads with them, and then lighting them on fire. Reaper posed an interesting question: What is your plan to get out when this happens, and the police aren’t coming.

We all make great plans and discuss our egress routes out of the danger zone but, as I pointed out in the article on Lahaina and in the Fire Story series, what do you do if all the vehicle routes are blocked by fire, or WORSE, by armed rioters?

Well, as I point out in my books, you need to have at least two routes out on foot. One can be along a road in case it’s just debris that limits vehicle movement or your vehicle isn’t running. At least one though, needs to be a covert exfiltration lane (preferably more than one). You need a covered and concealed foot route out of your neighborhood. Find a footpath that leads to a wooded drain (these are everywhere even in urban areas) or a utility line and take that past the danger zone. Having a route like this can protect you from having to take more drastic (kinetic) action to get out of the area. For example, I can follow a wood line along the highway fence behind our house to a local wooded trail system. That trail system intersects a power line that leads out of the township. Easy and concealed egress. After leaving the township, the power line turns north and leads out of the Metro area. Yes, please, as quickly as we can ruck it.

The time to find and explore these routes is now. While the power and internet is up, use satellite mapping to find concealed routes out of your area. On the flip side, note that these areas can be used by bad folks to find their way IN as well, so (as we mention in TW-03 Defensive Operations) you need to develop a plan to defend these areas.

Two years ago, we awoke one morning to find that overnight, our town had completely flooded. Our subdivision was safe, because we are on a hill, but the only road out was flooded in both directions and had semis stranded in the water, blocking the road. We decided that since we weren’t going to work that day, it was a good day to practice leaving our sub on foot quickly. This is an exercise you can do today.

Start planning alternate routes and select some link up points a bit away. For example, let’s say there is a riot ongoing between your house and the rest of your crew. Rather than risking a gun battle, your crew can move to a pre-arranged meet up location to pick you up outside the zone as you & your family quietly use your covert route to get out of the affected area. You can coordinate via radio, and they can feed you real-time intelligence from their safe vantage point. This might seem like a bit much, but it’s better to have a plan and not need it than to try and come up with a plan in the middle of chaos. Having a plan is calming.

In Lahaina, looting is being reported. Additionally, there are reports of people getting through with supplies only to be robbed at gunpoint by roving bands of bandits. Now, the media is saying that these are “just desperate people who need help”, but that’s BS. If these people are willing to rob others at GUNPOINT, they are pre-disposed to criminal activity. I’m sorry, but that’s TRUE and I frequently mention that crime will get WORSE, not better, even in a temporary WROL situation. You need a defensive plan, even if it’s only for the short term.

As I frequently warn, the local and state police are all tied up protecting key infrastructure like aid distribution points and government facilities, so they aren’t patrolling or are very limited at best. They sure aren’t responding to burglaries in a disaster zone. There is no shortage of military in Hawaii, either, but they are also tied up marshaling and distributing aid at collection points. For the record, the fire and rescue crews won’t deploy to help you without police protection either.

Many people are trying to get through with aid and are being turned away at police checkpoints. A warning for a larger scale disaster: The DPA (Defense Production Act) allows the government to turn you away AFTER taking any supplies you brought in for your family or friends for “the good of the community”. Remember earlier when I said know concealed routes into and out of your neighborhood? Those can be used for covert resupply or reinforcement of positions as well. The government exists to protect itself, not you. Don’t rely on them for help or trust them with your plans.

TW-03, Defensive Operations has a lot of ideas that can help you and your neighborhood if you find yourself in an area with rampant robberies and looting and limited police protection (it even happened in our Canadian fire story). Setting up an access control point at the entrance to your neighborhood can be a lifesaver. Several groups did that during the KwaZulu-Natal riots of 2021 in South Africa. The sight of armed and prepared defenders with a roadblock sent the crowds looking for an easier target. Having a roving 2- or 3-man patrol checking on the elderly or sick is good idea as well. This patrol can also check the concealed routes into the neighborhood to make sure no one is slipping in.

The minute the lights go out, it’s a good idea for all trained adults in your family to arm themselves. I won’t go into specifics because you each have your own plans, but any defensive tool is better than none. Pass out radios, even if it’s only for local communications. If she stays at the house while I walk down to the sub entrance, I’d like her to be able to reach me and vice versa. This is where dual-watch radios excel. My neighborhood team might have one security channel, but my family can also have their own and if my radio has dual-watch, I can listen to both. Baofeng’s have dual watch, those really cool encrypted Motorolas do not. I also have a vehicle-plug repeater that I could fire up to extend our range.

Pre-stage emergency supplies as long as the power is out. Get the first aid kit out and put it in a central location. Get the fire extinguishers out of the laundry room or basement and put them where the people are – fires have a habit of starting in places between you and the extinguishers. I mentioned fire blankets before, and a forest fire or riot situation are key times to have fire blankets handy to either toss on a Molotov cocktail or wrap someone in to jump through the flames.

Start thinking about these things. Another good source is the Civil Defense Manual (click the photo). It describes how to set up a Neighborhood Protection Plan, including the access control point I mentioned before.

Guys, things are getting more and more tense on the world and national stages every day. Take your planning seriously.

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Just a quick note…since I’ve gotten back from my travels, I’m hearing about interference on the Metro Detroit GMRS Repeaters. I just wanted to toss a note out because I have some local followers.

These guys are providing a service to all for free. They don’t have to, but they are.

If you need help setting up your equipment, they are willing to help you, and so am I. Let’s make sure your stuff isn’t interfering with anybody.

Now, if you’re doing it intentionally, that’s childish and illegal. This hurts everyone and doesn’t do anyone any good.

We’ll give the benefit of the doubt and say it’s a training thing, so reach out if you need a hand, rather than being prideful and letting it impact all of us.

You can train properly if your gear isn’t set up right.

As the tragedy unfolds in Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii, I ask you to pray for some miracles. There is tremendous loss of life and horrific property damage. We could use a miracle here.

As usual, we can use the event to learn. This event really highlighted why you need to do an area study RIGHT NOW to develop your emergency plans.

The prudent see danger and take refuge,
    but the simple keep going and pay the penalty.

Proverbs 22:3

Looking at the photo above, I can tell you why there was so much loss of life. The map shows only 3 high speed routes out of Lahaina. An area study would expose this risk and cause you to seek out alternate routes out. What if the fire was to the south and thus blocking 2 of the 3 exits? Traffic would be at a standstill on the northern route due to traffic.

This is a tough situation all the way around. To the east, you have rough mountains. To the west is the vast Pacific Ocean. To the north and south you have roads through rugged terrain. A serious study would show that your routes out need to be on secondary roads through rough country to avoid the traffic snarls.

In his excellent book, The Area Intelligence Handbook, Mike Shelby talks about listing your risks on a matrix. Let’s be honest, using Mike’s matrix the combination of a High Impact/Low Probability event is the very definition of what happened here, a wildfire just as a Hurricane (Dora) approached. While it’s unlikely, it is indeed a threat that you would have put in your study and since it was High Impact, you’d need a plan to deal with it.

Hundreds of people were forced to flee into the water as the 86 mile an hour wind carried the firestorm through the town in minutes. This brings us to a point I make in my soon-to-be-released TW-05 First Aid Handbook: You cannot consider yourself preparedness-minded if you cannot swim and swim well. You need to spend time developing and refreshing your swimming skills. I don’t understand how guys will go to the range every single weekend, but don’t know how to swim. They’ll practice room clearing, but not first aid.

Be honest, the vast majority of people have never, nor will they ever, got into a gunfight. But literally everyone has fallen down and hurt themselves and nearly everyone has fallen into or had to cross a body of water. Practice what you will really need.

This event came on suddenly and a lot of people were caught without even basic supplies. A Get Home Bag like I cover in TW-01 (Baseline Training Manual) can go a long way. Also – what do I always say? WHERE IS YOUR FIRST AID KIT? Have one and carry it with you everywhere. A small kit and be kept in your backpack or purse every day.

With a few hours, all cell phone service in the area went out due to the destruction of backup generators and towers, and landlines also suffered. Having a communications plan already in place AND CARRYING A RADIO would certainly have helped.

On that note, the Coast Guard had a lot of issues trying to find everyone who fled into the water. A lot of folks in the preparedness world suggest not programming Marine VHF frequencies into your radios, but if you live near a large body of water like the Pacific or the Great Lakes, I recommend at least programming in Marine Channel 16, the distress calling channel that is monitored by the US Coast Guard. A SLNT Faraday Dry Bag can protect your radio from water until you are ready to make a call for help.

In my car, I keep a couple of items that could have helped here. First, I keep a fire extinguisher. Simple, right? The next item took a little more thinking, but it’s a FIRE BLANKET. This is a fire-resistant blanket that you can wrap around yourself if you find yourself surrounded by fire. It will allow you to walk out of the fire zone far better protected. Click the photo for an affiliate link (I may make a small commission if you buy one).

This was a horrible tragedy, but some prior planning could help you survive a similar event in the future. Get your area study done and consider what you would do should a fire suddenly erupt. If you are new here, go through the archives and the story of our Canadian friend who just went through something similar recently and learn from his experience.

If you like our content, become a supporter over on our Locals page (tacticalwisdom.locals.com). You can also make a donation below or on Venmo to @Joseph-Dolio. I could use a donation or two because I may or may not have just bought another radio that Mrs. JD doesn’t know about yet….(hey, the price was amazing).

Since they heard the sound of the trumpet but did not heed the warning, their blood will be on their own head. If they had heeded the warning, they would have saved themselves.

Ezekiel 33:5

Be safe and PREPARE.

I like to read other books about preparedness and share them with you all.  I realize that I’m not all-knowing and I get a lot of great information from reading other authors.  I mean, I’d get more from Mark Sibley if he’d ever finish the sequel to Mongol Moon, but that’s another story.  On that note, if you want some fiction that will first give you chills, but then teach you a little about life in a divided America, I encourage you to read Blaine Pardoe’s Blue Dawn Series.  Just click the hyperlink to learn more.

I was shocked to learn that Tactical Wisdom wasn’t a new idea recently.  During the early days of World War Two, Japan and Germany were on the move.  It looked like nothing could stop the Imperial Japanese Navy, especially after they destroyed the US Fleet at Pearl Harbor.  Soon after, they began bombing and shelling attacks all along the northern Australian coast.

Fearing that an invasion was imminent, and knowing that the average Australian was ill-prepared, WW1 sniper Ion Idriess created a series of small, pocket-sized field manuals.  They were geared at getting small resistance cells trained and ready in short order.  He illustrated his ideas using his own stories from WW1 battles to highlight points.  Here, we are going to go over them.

Let me first say that I highly recommend getting them all.  The ideas contained in them are timeless, and designed to help a small, outgunned group mount an effective resistance.  Man, that sounds like something we might need.   I mean, if the Chinese invade, of course.

Book 1 – Shoot to Kill

This is a no-nonsense book about marksmanship.  By that, I mean combat marksmanship, not competition.  He covers the basics of choosing a rifle, but keep in mind it was the 1940s, bolt actions mostly.  He discusses various shooting positions and how to aim in combat.  What’s amazing to me is that during that time, he discussed that riflemen should be able to shoot out to 600 or 1000 yards and now we’re lucky if anyone uses a service rifle beyond 300.  That’s probably a function of the fact that he was dealing with bolt action hunting rifles. 

He covers how to estimate range and how vital that is.  On that note, go over to brushbeater.store and pick up one of his Range-R devices.  You can thank me later.  Get one with the bullet drop compensator for your platform (I have them both for 5.56 and 7.2×39).  Idriess covers windage and leads, as well as night shooting.  Unlike most of his contemporaries, he discussed “snap-shooting”, which is what we now call point shooting.

Book 2 – Sniping

Here Idriess carries marksmanship out to sniping.  In modern guerrilla warfare, nearly every person should be capable of at least being a designated marksman (hunting goes a long way to building this skill set).  This book can help, especially with bolt action guns.

Idriess points out that most of sniping isn’t shooting.  It’s observing and not being observed.  Getting yourself into position is vital.  The book covers camouflage and concealment, remaining motionless, building sniper hides, and the like.  He mentions in detail how snipers are found, thus enabling you to avoid those mistakes.  Some sniper strategy is discussed (targeting officers, technicians, and crew-served weapon crews) as well being able to adapt and get away.

The book closes with a tale from his time at Gallipoli facing off against a Turkish sniper.

Book 3 – Guerrilla Tactics

Just like the name implies, this volume covers all there is to know about running a guerrilla band.  He talks about organization and recruiting.  Idriess covers the absolute importance of knowing every inch of the ground you operate on.  He recommends familiarization patrols long before any contact.

The book covers how to hide and set up security on your base camp (sounds like TW-03 Defensive Operations).  He covers how to get around to include vehicles, horses, and bicycles, which I think is way overlooked today.

When it gets into tactics it covers advancing to contact, conducting raids & ambushes, and how to break contact as a large group.  Other tactics include stopping tanks (“You can’t fight the gubmint, they got tanks”, amirite?) and cutting lines of communication (convoys/telephones).

Book 4 – Trapping the Jap

Look, I didn’t name it.  It was a different time, OK? 

This volume goes into more detail about how to lure an occupying army into your ambushes and traps.  It talks about luring tanks into mud traps and the like.  He also covers how to infiltrate and strike an airfield.

Tactics for dealing with trains are covered (ANTIFA is way ahead of you on this).  He goes into detail on how to employ bombs and grenades (no, Feds, he doesn’t tell you how to make them.  Really.).  The dangers of minefields and how to turn them against the enemy are covered (maybe the UKR army should read this).

This book has two entire chapters explaining what a “beaten zone” and “cone of fire” are, and I’ll be honest, he did a better job than the USMC School of Infantry does.  After describing these terms, he explains in great detail how to keep the enemy inside yours and keep your people out of theirs.

The book covers how to run intelligence operations as well.

Book 5 – Lurking Death

This book is less about tactics but is a collection of stories from World War One, describing what campaigns looked like from the sniper/observer team standpoint.  It covers operations in Gallipoli, the Sinai, and Palestine from both the Turkish and Commonwealth/ANZAC perspective.

It’s instructive as to how men react to battle and danger.

Book 6 – The Scout

I loved this one, as it covered scouting skills.  He started right off with a few chapters on land navigation.  Remember, in WW2, there was no GPS.  He discussed using a compass alone, using the terrain with your compass, and also using a map and compass together.  Yes, you need all of these skills.

Idriess points out that man has navigated long before the magnetic compass was discovered, so he goes into more primitive navigation methods like the stars and the sun as well.

He reflects that the most important skill of the scout is to see without being seen.  He provides tactics to improve your night vision (there were no PVS-14s) and how to use artificial skylines to find the opposition at night.

All in all, it’s a great series and I highly recommend it. Each of the books above has a hyperlink to buy the book. They are affiliate links and I’ll make a few pennies at no cost to you if you buy them, OK?

I know that I joked above about the Ukrainian army needing his manuals, but do you know whose manual they DO actually use?  NC Scout’s Guide to the Baofeng Radio turned up in a photo of Ukrainian Army training briefing.  If the book is good enough for dudes fighting the Russians, it’s good enough for you.

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Scott and I made an epic road trip last week, and I felt that there was some learning value in it. As we attended various events and just randomly interacted with people, we built and strengthened networks, and found hope for America in weird places.

For where two or three gather in my name, there am I with them.

Matthew 18:20

I met Scott in Louisville, where I met his amazing parents. They’d have to be though, wouldn’t they, to raise someone like Scott? Friendly and outgoing, just good people to talk to. Scott’s dad took us to dinner where we chatted about the world and where it was headed. The restaurant was packed full of happy people, none of them acting like the world was falling apart. That’s lesson one…we can prepare and be ready, but we don’t have to live doom and gloom 24/7. Take breaks and enjoy life. I do that by getting out with a ruck on and walking in nature.

We left the next morning for the Brushbeater Training Center, where NC Scout was holding a class. On the way, we stopped at various truck stops and a Cracker Barrel. You might not have noticed, but both Scott and I are fairly outgoing people, so we spoke to cashiers, other customers, and waitstaff everywhere we went. Getting out and talking to others will help you realize that not everyone is (and in fact very few people are) a pink or blue haired liberal with facial piercings. It was refreshing to hear most people talking about the same things we were concerned with. Middle America, where we made our journey, is not the coastal cities, who are the most vocal.

Wednesday night, we made it to NC Scout‘s class as it was ending for the day. There were over 30 (and nearly 40) people in the class, seeking to learn how to communicate. The class was his RTO/Advanced RTO/SIGINT course, which I’ve taken in the past. If you want to know how to make radios do magical things without having to listen to sad hams talking about goiter surgery and demanding blind compliance to the government, this is the class for you. You go from basic radio operations to designing a comms plan, then on to how to secure your traffic and hide in plain sight, finally progressing onto how to gather information via signals. The class uses everything from HF & CB up through VHF and UHF. Yes, sad hams, only licensed amateurs are allowed to operate in licensed bands, but the beauty of the course is that it mostly focuses on UNLICENSED bands. Students even learned how to operate digital modes from a tablet and sending photos. NC Scout makes it easy. You even learn how to build your own antennas.

We really enjoyed meeting our Twitter mutuals in real life, which is the biggest takeaway here. Get out and meet each other in real life. You will be amazed at how refreshing it is. You’ll meet great folks and build REAL relationships.

This is how you build that network. For example, one mutual, who might actually be a giant, told me that he was aware that I ran a protection operation in his area recently. He said that if I ever need help, he has a team (his mutual assistance group) that could help. I now know that I can have a QRF (Quick Reaction Force) or a radio guy to just listen in case I need help in current-world situations. In a WROL situation, I now have a solid contact for a safe haven. We exchanged secure comms links and radio protocols for a denied environment. This is good stuff.

One of the most common questions I get is “How can I build my network?” or “How do I meet like-minded people?”. This is how. Get out and attend training courses or other events and meet people.

While we were there, we ran into our friend, International Man of Mystery and Intrigue Jim, who is a frequent guest on the Council on Future Conflict and the Privy Council. We had a great time getting to know Jim in real life, and we shared stories from some of the sketchier corners of the Earth. Jim also really enjoyed meeting the students and hanging out at the NC Scout Guerilla Camp.

After spending a couple of nights in NC, we headed back to Louisville to get ready for our event. When we got back, I spent some time with more show fans at a hotel bar just talking and making connections. Let me tell you, this is the best part.

Saturday, we held our meetup along with fellow author Blaine Pardoe (side note, Mrs. Pardoe is awesome and way better than Blaine deserves). We had about 25 fans show up and we ran a live version of the show, followed by a Q & A session. Afterwards, we just hung out and chatted. The real value is in breaking bread and having drinks with each other.

Let me digress for a moment. I never imagined in my life that people would come from all over the country, and in the case of the Lanky Canadian nurse with a weird penchant for pineapple pizza, from another country, just to meet me and hear me speak. I treasure that and I thank every fan for this. I’m amazed that you all want to listen to me.

After the event, we re-convened for more conversations over drinks at the hotel bar where most of the people stayed.

Sunday, I took Scott farther south to meet one of the more interesting members of my most secure network. They immediately took to each other as we bonded over man-type outdoor activities. Now, Scott has made a solid addition to his own network (that happens to be in his home state) and so has my buddy. This is another way to build your network, introducing people to your trusted network, and vice versa.

I would be remiss if I failed to mention the OUTSTANDING Sunday family dinner that Scott’s parents hosted. It’s not every day that your son returns to the US after 3 years outside of it, so a grand meal was in order. Scott’s mom makes a fantastic Derby Pie (it’s a Kentucky thing, IYKYK).

Right about now is when people start saying, “Yeah, but half the people were probably Feds.” My answer is, so what? We didn’t discuss anything illegal and none of the activities we partook in were even remotely sketchy. There is nothing illegal about training (despite what the Michigan Attorney General thinks). Not one person mentioned kidnapping Governors or taking unauthorized tours of government buildings. If you are sitting home because you’re worried about Feds, you’re not living. You’re also doing exactly what they want you to do. Get out and live.

Here’s my advice for those afraid:

…not giving up meeting together, as some are in the habit of doing, but encouraging one another—and all the more as you see the Day approaching.

Hebrews 10:25

The biggest learning is that we need to get out and meet each other. Once you do, you will build your network and not feel so alone. If you start talking to others, you’ll realize it’s not all on fire (just most of it) and that there are good things going on out there.

On that note, I’ll be at the Self-Reliance Festival in Camden, Tennessee October 14-15. I’ll be camping on site, so stop by the campfire. There will be all kinds of classes and vendors of preparedness gear, so it’s worth the ticket price.

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When US Embassy or military personnel are assigned to duty in a nation that is not friendly to us, we call that a “non-permissive environment”. This means that the host nation’s government will not allow us to operate without challenges or restrictions. We send personnel heading there to special courses on how to live and operate clandestinely in a non-permissive environment.

Well, let’s call a spade a spade. If you are a conservative Christian who is interested in preparedness in the US today, you are operating in a non-permissive environment. The Department of Homeland Security has stated that an interest in “being prepared” or “being ready” is an indicator of domestic violent extremism. Facebook went so far as to warn people joining canning groups that they might have been exposed to violent extremism (yes, really). As a matter of fact, they’ve called people “concerned about their Constitutional Rights” potential violent extremists.

Now, this isn’t a political article. It’s an article on some tips and techniques for living in a non-permissive environment, something I know a thing or two about. As a protective security agent, I advise clients and travel with them to areas where they are targeted. It takes some skills to stay under the radar.

The first tip is to maybe dial back the public commentary. I know, I certainly don’t, but I’m a published author who is already out there. Be anonymous online but notice the big purge last week because the “NAFO”/Ukraine crowd decided to bait people into saying things that would get them banned. Being banned on social media is an inconvenience, but some ANTIFA people specialize in tracking down people and doxing them. You don’t need that. It’s not worth the risk to “dunk” on people. Realize that you’re never going to change their minds, so dial it back, just a bit. I’m not saying hide, I’m saying choose winnable battles and maintain personal security.

The next thing is the uncomfortable one – but it comes right from the US government and private military contracting training. Your phone is a spy device. It does NOT need to go everywhere you do and you can live for long stretches of time without instant communications. I know, a lot of you THINK you’ve locked it down by turning off location, but that just means the phone stops telling YOU about your location history. It’s always tracking. It’s also always listening. I get a lot of push back on this but hear me out…how can your phone know you said, “hey Siri” or “hey Google” UNLESS it was listening to you 100% of the time? Yeah, mind blown, right?

The best solution is to leave the phone at home, but that’s not realistic because you don’t know when you might need it. The most realistic option is a faraday bag like the SLNT one pictured above (that’s an affiliate link, click to buy). Put the phone in and only take it out at safe locations that you don’t mind being tracked or listened to at.

Now, for a little faraday tradecraft. A lot of people put the phone in the bag only when they go somewhere to meet someone. If you both do that and anyone was tracking, all they know is that at least two people hid their phones in the same location for the same period of time, which RAISES interest in you (encrypted radios do that too – makes people wonder why you need encryption). Instead, have your phone out on the way, but stop at a movie theater or shopping mall. Pull into the lot and park, only then placing your phone in the faraday bag. Get back on the road and go to your meeting. After the meeting, drive back to the same lot, and then take the phone out. It looks like you turned it off to shop or go to the movies. Buying a movie ticket can help if there ever is a question later – tradecraft.

One of the things people into preparedness love to do is get into online groups and share their ideas. I’m guilty. But here’s the thing – once you do that, that photo of your hidden wall of canned goods or your secret safe is now out there. Yes, even in a private group. Read the TOS…once you post it, it is no longer your intellectual property. Save those photos and discussions for in-person get-togethers. Ironically, with everyone’s paranoia about “feds”, they are more likely to share this data with complete strangers online than with people they meet face-to-face. It’s an odd phenomenon.

Operating in a non-permissive environment involves being low key, even with vehicles. Remove all the political and firearms related stickers from your car, as they can lead to targeting. On the same note, take note of local cars with extremist views all over them.

As an example, at a recent protection detail I did, the speaker was opposed by a large crowd of over 1,000 people. You might think we rolled the client around in a large motorcade with all that high-risk attention. Actually, as the protestors loudly screamed and tried to surround the building, we slipped the client out and over to dinner a few miles away in a few low-key vehicles and no police escort, using a back lot surrounded by trees. We did it with virtually no radio or phone traffic either, and we even fooled poor Watcher on the Web, who was acting as a dispatcher/online tracker. I forgot to tell him we had left, and he frantically warned me about the protestors getting the building surrounded. I laughed and told him we were sipping whiskey and eating dinner safely ensconced away. Low key every time.

When operating in a non-permissive environment, surveillance awareness is key. Listen, the government isn’t the only group out there doing surveillance. ANTIFA, legit extremist groups like the Black Hebrew Israelites & the Covenant, Sword, and Arm of the Lord (CSA), and plain old criminals are out conducting surveillance to choose targets. Trust me, if you’re a conservative Christian, any one of those groups could put you on their target list (don’t let the CSA’s name fool you – if you don’t hate Jews, they don’t like you). Pay attention to who is in your neighborhood, at work, and other places. Watch for vehicles that re-appear. This is the same advice your police department will give you. Learn to do a surveillance detection route.

Readiness to evade or escape is another tenet of non-permissive environments. I know we all know about Get Home Bags and Bug Out Bags, but US personnel in hostile areas have a “Five Minute Bag” which is really similar to a Get Home Bag, except it has a few extra things to enable evasion and eventual hook-up with others. Some additions include things like IR Chem lights or in my case an IR strobe with extra batteries. Also, a radio and spare battery are vital, along with some type of earpiece for silent monitoring. A scanner with “close call” technology or an Alinco “communications receiver” will allow you to monitor for radio signals near you, but again remember earpieces. Little portable burglar alarms from the Dollar Tree (or $1.25 Tree) will allow you to secure a room to sleep in if needed.

Have this bag (with 72 hours of food included) staged somewhere that you can just grab it and walk out of wherever you are in under 5 minutes. I say walk, because if you are under observation by any hostile party, running draws attention. Walking calmly away and into a planned evasion route is a far better idea.

One big thing is to have done Area Studies on everywhere you might need to evade from like home, work, your gym, etc. A great resource for this is Mike Shelby’s Area Study Handbook. Put in the work now so that you are ready.

The last two points are ones I harp on every single week. First, fill your car with gas every single day. You’ll find that you end up paying less for gas over time when you do this (research dollar cost averaging). Second, get a radio, program it for your local area and team, and then CARRY it. It does you no good to have 4 Baofeng’s still in the boxes when you need to jet like right now. Listen, with the WEALTH of information on YouTube and the availability of the new CHIRPNext programming, there is no excuse to not knowing how to use your radio. I have a good starter video on Locals for paid supporters. On the radio note, if you have a mobile radio in your car, like I do, invest a few dollars in a low-profile antenna like the one above. It’s dual band and doesn’t perform as well as a bigger antenna, but it doesn’t scream “HAM RADIO”. I can always switch to a higher performance antenna when things fully collapse. This one enables me to work low-key right now, especially using GMRS and MURS at short range with a team. I can also plug my portable repeater into it in a pinch (yes, I keep that in my trunk).

Ladies and Gents, we live in dangerous times. It’s time to start acting like it.

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Times are rough. Preppers are being called “extremists”. Anyone who fails to agree with the prevailing narrative on either side is called a “domestic violent extremist”. God forbid, if you don’t jump in with both feet on the most extreme LGBTQ+ agenda and support the mutilation of children, you’ll be called a bigot and a Nazi.

Meanwhile, outside of the political arena, there are people who think Christians are fascists. Neighbors who think anyone who prepares is “weird” or “odd” and might report you to an increasingly authoritarian government over issues that are not criminal.

Amidst all this, we have the increasing threat of war with Russia or China, or both.

Let’s face it, it’s a scary time. That leads us to want to prepare more but makes us afraid to try and organize mutual assistance groups or to gather at all. But we all know that no man is an island, and you need community. How do we get past this and organize or gather anyway?

The answer, as usual, comes from the Ultimate Tactical Handbook:

The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and he helps me..

Psalm 28:7a

Start by trusting God. Now, I know, God isn’t going to help you with the DHS. But if you step out in faith and don’t say or do anything silly, you will be fine. It’s absolutely critical that we meet, have community, and attend events/training classes.

Every time I post that I’m going to a meet-up or giving a speech, or going to a training class, I get a ton of replies about “save a table for the Feds” or “No way, the Feds will be there” or whatever. This infuriates me. This is exactly what the powers that be want – you too afraid to get out and learn to be self-sufficient; too afraid to organize; too afraid to do anything. Stop being a coward (yes, I said it) and STAND FIRM. Assert your rights. You have the freedom to assemble AND the freedom to petition your government for the redress of grievances (appearing at school board meetings to complain). You even have the right to be a Christian.

If we just have faith and get out and meet anyway, we will be OK. When someone you’ve never met walks up and tries to steer the conversation into a ridiculous area, walk away. Have nothing to do with them. If they persist, have the meeting organizer ask them to leave. NO ONE at the event, meeting, or class needs those entanglements. Be bold in your comments to them, because the “Kidnapping” plot suspects weren’t & they never said “NO” flat out to the informants.

When someone challenges that faith and calls you a Christo-Fascist, resist the temptation to fight them. Once you go on the defensive, they’ve won, and they’ll say that you are defensive because it’s true. Tell them you love them and that you’ll pray that they find the Hope of Jesus. Listen, Jesus warned us that this would come:

You will be hated by everyone because of me,

but the one who stands firm to the end will be saved.

Matthew 10:22

There it is. We need to stand firm. Prepare anyway. Meet anyway. Don’t back down.

Now, we’re going to get to the hard part – You cannot be passive. There are some points here that need to be made. God doesn’t expect you to stand idly by while persecution happens, when children are harmed, or when oppression happens. Lose the idea that Christians are supposed to be pacificists because Jesus wasn’t one. Look at the next piece of Tactical Wisdom:

Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter.

Proverbs 24:11

That’s not a passive statement. It requires positive action. “Rescue” is a verb, an action word. I can’t rescue people by sitting on the sidelines. Now, before you Feds get all excited, I can “rescue” folks by talking to them. I can hold them back by helping them prepare, sharing the Word, and giving them hope. But, if more active measures are needed, you are expected to act (James 4:17).

Learn to do right; seek justice.
    Defend the oppressed.
Take up the cause of the fatherless;
    plead the case of the widow.

Isaiah 1:17

Again, all active. In a prepping context, this means help those who need a hand. Teach them how to can and preserve food, teach them to hunt/fish/trap, help them organize their gear. Show them local edible plants. It can mean during a crisis, check on your elderly neighbors and those with young kids. Offer assistance. More importantly, defend the oppressed.

Guys, we need to stop being afraid to meet and organize. You aren’t doing anything wrong. You’re not planning anything kinetic, and DON’T LET OTHERS DO SO. You absolutely have the right to assemble. You even have the right to criticize your government (despite what they tell you).

Time for some tough love, though…if you are still unwilling to set aside your fear and press on, you are wasting your money and time. You cannot do this alone. You need a community, and you can’t build that from behind a keyboard. Get out and meet people in real life. I will tell you what, the online folks I’ve gone and met in real life have become some of my closest friends. Braxton McCoy, Mark Sibley, and I had never met in real life, yet we spent a weekend in the mountains with a bunch of fans and had a blast.

If you have radios and you don’t know how to use them (most of you), then go and take a class from NC Scout. If you don’t have outdoor skills, go and take a class. If you don’t know other folks in your area into preparedness, go to a preparedness picnic or expo (there are WAY more of these than you know).

I hope this helps and gives you some hope, and more importantly some courage.

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We’re going to pick right up on Day 7 of the ordeal. For anyone who is new to this tale, our hero has decided to stay behind during a wildfire evacuation. There was some heavy smoke, but no fire in the area yet. After about 72 hours, there was some looting.

Again he prayed, and the heavens gave rain…

James 5:18

It rained overnight from Day 6 to Day 7, which helped with the fire as well as preventing more fires. By now, the natives are restless. People in the area are getting upset at the lack of communication and the fact that it seems that the police are turning away civilians who offer to help with the fires. Our resident decided to break into his survival stocks and bake a loaf of bread from his supplies. Apparently, it was the best loaf of bread he’d ever made, despite the butter having been frozen. I can’t confirm this, because he never sent me a sample (seems rude, doesn’t it?). What this did though, was give him CONFIDENCE that he could use his supplies and still eat well. That’s important.

As I’ve said before – you need to try out and practice using your supplies so that it’s not a failure when the big day comes. Try making complete meals using only emergency supplies. Have fun with it.

On Day 8, the neighbor (also into preparedness) headed into the city for resupply while our man decided to shop local and support the local shop that stayed open. Prices were a little higher than normal, but they weren’t gouging. Stock levels were low, and after he asked, the shop owner said that trucks were having an issue getting through the road closures.

This is one area where our hero made a great decision: He decided to shop here more often rather than supporting the big chains in town. He knew that he could gather information better with a local shopkeeper and he was building a relationship he might need later on. For example, in a full collapse, a shopkeeper is less likely to open the door for or sell his limited stock to someone he doesn’t already know and trust. You need to build this beyond mere acquaintance.

Up by our family cabin is a local store and butcher shop. I’ve been going there my whole life, and the entire family up there knows me, because their grandparents knew mine, their parents knew mine, and so on. I stop in every time I pass through, just to chat and keep that channel open. As I said a few weeks ago, if you plan on going into a different area to bug out, go and spend a lot of time there, building community and becoming a known quantity. Otherwise, you’re just another sketchy dude from downstate.

Day 9 was pretty uneventful with a little smoke seen, and our guy spent the day working from home. The weather was forecast to be hot and dry for the next two weeks, so the risk went up. Good point here: Pay attention to the weather.

On Day 10, the wind shifted, again increasing the local risk. He checked in with his network, some of whom had evacuated. The evacuation center was in Edmonton at an Expo Center. One of the big issues and red flags was that the government wanted everyone to sign up for the Provincial Digital ID in order to get evacuation benefits or reimbursement for evacuation expenses (like hotels and food). Many people resisted and demanded an alternate form of payment.

I’ve put this in my books and said it on here – the government (any government) wants you WHOLLY dependent on them. They want to be able to control you by controlling your money and food supply. I will NEVER go into an evacuation center (I’ll camp under a tarp in the cold if I have to) and you should resist this if at all possible. Remember, they tried forced relocation during Katrina, too. Ask yourself why they are so adamant that you make yourself dependent on them.

Good on them for resisting the Digital ID. It’s a draconian control scheme designed to give them insight into every aspect of your life. And before you say “well, if you aren’t doing anything wrong….”; that’s not the point. They should not have that level of control, full stop.

On Day 11, there was quite a bit of smoke, but the wind shifted again, moving the risk away from our guy’s town. On that same day, the government started letting “essential workers” back in the area. I hate that phrase because it implies that everyone else is non-essential. They’ve created a new language, which is meant to control you, but I digress.

Our guy made another trip to the local shop and the stock situation had gotten worse. He was only able to get half of what he was looking for (just potatoes, not onions, we were on a vital stew mission). Almost all of the fresh produce was gone. That’s a good note, plan on perishables vanishing quickly without resupply.

On Day 12, the evacuation order was lifted. They did a staggered re-entry with odd numbered addresses allowed in at 2 PM, and even at 4 PM. This wasn’t enforced, but it’s solid plan to avoid the traffic snarls they had when everyone left.

All in all, our guy toughed it out quite well by being well-prepared and the government wasn’t overly difficult in enforcing their evacuation. There were some good lessons learned and these types of situations are far more likely than a full collapse.

I hope these diary entries help you produce a good plan and I thank Twitter user @Bestiuk1 for his hard work in documenting his experiences. It takes a big man to list out everything and tell their story, knowing that the rest of the judgmental internet was going to see it. I think he did a great job and handled it well. Give him a follow on the Bird App.

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I have a rather extensive library at home and last Wednesday, a couple of my Every Man A Warrior Bible Study guys suggested I make a list of the books I recommend. Now, a Christian Warrior isn’t (necessarily) used in the literal sense. Any Christian man who wants to preserve our values and way of life can benefit from the these.

I’ll give a short paragraph or two description of each and why I think it will help. The photos are actually affiliate links where you can buy the books by clicking on the photo. I may make a penny or two off the link at no cost to you. These books are great guides.

First up, A Christian Manifesto by Francis A Schaeffer. First written in 1981, Dr. Schaeffer illustrates how we have shifted from our Judeo-Christian founding into a legalistic society that legally justifies abominations and sin. In the book, he lays out the foundation for returning this great nation (or any so conceived) to a Judeo-Christian based system. We must use our political power, make our voices heard, engage the legal system, and when necessary, physically protest via picketing and even resist the government that has lost it’s legitimacy.

He points out that the American Revolution was such a struggle. He also points out that the average German during WW2 SHOULD have resisted their illegitimate government that was lost its legitimacy by murdering millions. Resistance doesn’t always mean violence. Resistance could have meant hiding your Jewish neighbors.

Still relevant today, this is a good book and only 147 pages long. It’s a quick and thought-provoking read.

This one is a favorite of mine. I’ve owned one copy or another for over 20 years. This tome was originally written in 1501 by Erasmus in Rotterdam. Erasmus was the chief clerk at a fortress of a military order and a wife asked him to help improve her husband, a knight, who was a little rough around the edges. What Erasmus came up with was essentially the first Bible study for men.

It contains 22 Rules for the behavior and bearing of a Christian soldier. The book has all kinds of rules of chivalrous and gentlemanly behavior, as well the deportment and bearing of any military man. It warns us that as we do battle with and struggle with evil, we are at risk of falling into evil ourselves.

The first rule is against ignorance, and the second is to be ready at every moment to lose life and property. It’s a commitment we must make if we are to impact the world around us, but too many are afraid to.

It’s a bit hard to read as it’s written in King James-style English and the references are all King James. It’s definitely worth the read.

Another Every Man A Warrior leader recommended this book to me a few years back, and I was amazed that it even existed. Much like A Christian Manifesto, this book points out that America has turned from Christian values and, more importantly, personal liberty. Christians are being persecuted and silenced at every turn.

This book shows you ways in which you can genuinely live and share your faith in a world that hates you. You need to live out your faith IN SPITE OF the condemnation and hostility. It is truly a book that will enable you to fight back against each of the left’s tactics like divide and conquer, “capitalism is bad but socialism is good”, and all the other lies. It discusses how to push back against the sexualization of our children.

On that note – Here is our Tactical Wisdom for today:

If a man knows the good he ought to do and he does not do it, it will count as sin for him.

James 4:17

Written in 1925 by Ivan Ilyin, this book was the White Russian (Byelorussian) response to Count Tolstoy’s ideas on pacificism. Ilyin rightly points out that Tolstoy’s demands that Eastern Orthodox men not resist the Red Army in its fight against the White Army is what led to the destruction of Christianity and all religion in the newly founded USSR.

Ilyin states that all men must become “Knights” who resist evil by force when necessary and that it is a moral obligation to do so. He also points out that courage means doing so even in the face of fear of the legal consequences. “We must obey God rather than man” sounds familiar.

While the book was written specifically about resisting the Bolsheviks and was originally a White Russian Army handbook, it is equally relevant today as we face increasing oppression and condemnation. We must stand up for our Christian values because they are God’s values.

While this book is not strictly a Christian book, I included it because it contains a very well-presented chapter on the Catholic Just War Doctrine and applies it to civil conflict and resistance to an oppressive government. This book is outstanding from just that perspective.

The book also offers an outstanding guide to organizing, equipping, and training a band of resistance fighters. We would, of course (for the Feds reading), only be resisting a Chinese or Russian invasion.

This one is written by my friend Aden Tate, who I am reliably informed is the King of the South. Tate explains in here how being prepared is indeed Biblical. He also pushes back against common Christian arguments against prepping, like “If you trust in God, why are you prepping?” He also covers charity and a lot of other Christian concepts and what that looks like in a collapse or survival situation.

He discusses, unlike most, how to continue to witness to others in a crisis or collapse and what role a church community can have in these events. This is a brass-tacks how-to manual on how to organize your church to not just survive but thrive and be a force for good in world gone mad. It’s an outstanding book.

Finally, we have Nehemiah Strong. I think you all know that Nehemiah is one of my favorites. He established a lot of military doctrine that we still use today, like half the men work while half the force pulls security. He also established a lot of our post-collapse SOP, like when he reported that he and his men never went anywhere without weapons and armor and that everyone worked with a weapon in one hand.

John Dyslin creates an entire preparedness program here based on Nehemiah and a plan to retain your rights in the face of government overreach like we saw during Covid.

This book is a solid addition.

I hope this list gave you some ideas for books to build your library on. These books contain solid Christian doctrine and can give you some hope amidst the oppression and condemnation we face every day. Get these books, read them, and get off the couch.

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I leave you with the Knight’s Oath from Kingdom of Heaven:

This is the second installment in our recapping of one man’s real-life experience staying behind during a wildfire evacuation in Alberta in May.  If you like his information, head over to Twitter and give him a follow – his handle is @Bestiuk1.

To recap, he initially packed up his vehicle in case he was forced to leave.  The first thing he packed were his firearms, because he didn’t want to leave them unsecured and risk either theft or government confiscation (also theft).  His evacuation routes were cut off and he conducted an area recon to see what was happening around him.  He let his network know where he was and offered a safe house for anyone else who wanted it.  By day 3 (72 Hour Theory), looting activity was happening in the evacuation zone and a good guy had to fight off the looters.

Our friend had the situation well in hand as he had a room full of dry goods and half a pig & a quarter of a cow in his freezer.  Have food supplies you can count on for a while.  14 days is a minimum, and enough to live through a full growing season should be a goal.

On the fourth day, he woke up to no gas.  After trying to relight the pilot unsuccessfully, he went through the process that both Dr. David Perrodin and I suggest called a “member check”.  He called people in the town to see if they were experiencing the same thing.  On a side note, check out Dr Perrodin’s book with contributions by yours truly by clicking the link below.   When his network reported having gas in the town, he checked with the gas company and learned that they had indeed turned it off to prevent fire issues.  This illustrates a point I made in Perrodin’s book, The Velocity of Information; when in doubt, CHECK YOURSELF, rather than make an assumption.

Our friend was fine, because he also has an induction stove and a camp stove with propane if needed.  Don’t rely on gas power.  As I frequently point out, if the power goes out, you will lose pressure in both the gas and water lines.  Have a plan to deal with that.

He didn’t have to worry about water, as he has his own flowing well (so do I, it’s a superpower).  For the internet, he has Starlink, so he isn’t reliant on ground networks that could burn.  The only danger was loss of electricity.  I HIGHLY recommend preparing for that FIRST as nearly every scenario involves the loss of power at some point.

The fifth day began with still no gas.  While our man is fine with cold showers, flowing wells in the north are RIDICULOUSLY cold (ask me how I know) and could actually lead to cold injuries.  Bucket baths are a good solution; they worked for thousands of years before the hot water heater.  Another great solution is a good supply of bath wipes/baby wipes.  Hygiene is vital and poor hygiene leads to illness and infection.  Stay clean. 

An important note is that our friend was monitoring local Facebook groups – a VITAL piece of your local intelligence/Area Study plan.  He noted that the disagreement among folks online was getting heated in the area.  Those who trust blindly in the government and those who chose to remain fiercely self-sufficient were arguing more and getting heated.  The stress was pushing people FARTHER into their pre-conceived sides, rather than bringing them together to get through it as a community.  This is an important learning.  Again, check out Dr Perrodin’s book above for his discussion of “crowding-in” behaviors under stress.

Also, an alert went out from the nearest Reservation about a dangerous individual, with a shelter in place order.  Again, more VITAL local intelligence.  Our partner armed up and raised his awareness level, until the alert was lifted. Here’s some Tactical Wisdom that applies:

Then I will encamp at my house as a guard,
    so that none shall march to and fro;
no oppressor shall again march over them,
    for now I see with my own eyes.

Zechariah 9:8

On day 6, the local gas company showed up to relight the pilot.  This signaled a reduced risk.  After the gas company left, he noticed a large flashy truck that was clearly not from the area rolling slow through the neighborhood.  While they could have been looking for an address, it was enough to raise his awareness.  He was worried about returning to work and leaving his property unguarded, but his employer told him to work from home.  This is vital, don’t just disregard these types of incidents during an evacuation or emergency.  Unusual vehicles traveling slowly could be looking for unattended houses to loot – they had already run into this.  He took note of the vehicle and raised his awareness and security posture – outstanding work.

We’ll leave it here for now; we have a couple of more installments.  Key takeaways:

1. Plan for utility outages – have a way to cook food, even if it’s just MRE heaters.
2. Be obsessive about security.  The threat level is high and getting worse.
3. Take nothing for granted.
4. Gather information from every possible source.  Police scanners are a good source.
5. Have a network and stay in touch with them.
6. Be self-sufficient in every way; especially security.  The police cannot and will not protect your property as well as you can.

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A group of us went “up north”, which is Michigan-speak for getting the heck out of the cities a week or so ago. We went to a friend’s cabin for a weekend of manly activities like fishing, boating, kayaking, and drinking adult refreshments. There were campfires and grills involved, a great time. On Saturday night, though, we began to see smoke and learned that we were adjacent to an area that had been ordered to evacuate due to a wildfire. We did what most men would do, we opened another bottle of whiskey and carried on with our evening.

Before this, I had received a DM from a Twitter mutual who told me that he lived inside a fire evacuation zone in Alberta but was staying behind. I asked him to keep a log so that we could use his experience to better prepare others. Over the next couple of weeks, we’re going to present a recap of those notes, with some analysis on how you can be better prepared. While his experience is a wildfire, the principles apply to many other situations as well (like a hurricane evacuation).

On May 3rd, he received an alert about a wildfire. The first thing our partner did was reach out to his network and find out who was where and begin gathering information. This is solid – intelligence gathering should shape all of your decisions. After gathering what he could, he decided to put together the bug out bag that he had never quite gotten around to building. This is an important point. We all talk a good game, but most of us have our gear strewn about in various states of readiness. You don’t know when something is going to happen, so get it in order. Yes, I know my gear room is atrocious. How’s yours?

In fact, God, through Jeremiah, COMMANDS you to have a bug out bag:

Gather up your belongings to leave the land,
    you who live under siege.

Jeremiah 10:17

The next morning, he saw smoke trailing behind the house all day. It was hot with no rain forecast for at least 4 days. He stayed in touch with his family and friends all day and tracked the fire’s progress. Since there were no alerts, he stayed put. Here’s a solid lesson – Don’t wait on alerts IF you are going to leave. If your decision is to get out, get out EARLY, and beat the panic crowd. You can always come back. The opposite may not be true. Your route may be blocked or closed.

At about 10:30 PM, he got a text message about the entire nearby town being evacuated. The evacuation zone stopped just 6 km from his house. Our friend’s next action was to immediately pack the vehicle and bug out bag, just in case. This is a solid idea, even if you decide to stay. If you eventually have to leave or if looters come, your vehicle is already prepared to make a quick escape.

He loaded his guns into the truck, but not for defensive uses. His idea there was looters. If he had to leave, he didn’t want to leave guns behind for looters. Think about this if you have a safe with 47 long guns in it (you know who you are). He also was worried because during the floods in High River, Alberta in 2013, the RCMP broke into 745 homes and seized 609 firearms as “unattended”. While they gave them back, I doubt they would now. Our homeowner was also worried that under the current regime in Syrupistan, he could not replace his handguns if they were destroyed.

After loading the vehicle, he decided to pick an evacuation route. Well done here, as he decided to avoid the southern route that the authorities told everyone to take, and choose a route to the west, which would have had almost no traffic on it, rather than being stuck in traffic on the announced route.

He decided to stay and immediately informed his network of this, offering those who lived directly within the zone a place to stay. While they didn’t take him up on this, this was a solid idea. More people mean more division of labor. It’d be good to be able to take turns on fire watch.

Another good decision he made was to set an alarm to wake up every hour to check for updates, and make sure his house wasn’t on fire. Yes, it makes for poor sleep, but that’s the nature of disaster operations. Checking with his people, he learned that the 1.5-hour drive to Edmonton took an average of 5 hours, because of traffic. I harp on this point for this reason: Choose your own route that avoids everyone else’s.

Moses sent them to spy out the land of Canaan.

He said to them, “Go up there into the Negev. Then go up into the hill country. 

Numbers 13:17

You didn’t know Moses ran a recon element, did you? For as long as humans have lived, they have sent out scouts. On the third day, Friday the 5th, that’s what our stalwart adventurer did. He knew that only one of his people was still in town, defending his large gun safe from the bad folks who probably stayed behind (they did, as we’ll see in a minute). He jumped on his motorcycle and went to do some scouting. The police had all the roads into town blocked, as well as all the highways. Remember earlier when I said your route might be closed if you wait too long? It was. That’s OK because our man had a freezer full of food and fresh groceries.

He spent the rest of the day monitoring social media and his phone for updates. The fire now surrounded him and the town on three sides. He pre-emptively set up his sprinklers to water down the house if needed, this was a solid idea. Sparks can’t start damp things very well.

The week ended with him just doing chores around his property while monitoring the situation. The biggest development was a news story about a resident who went back into the town to rescue his dog and found looters in his house. He fought the looters, and the police eventually caught them.

This story of looters attacking at the end of day 3 proves the Tactical Wisdom 72 Hour Theory. You are never more than 72 hours from a complete collapse of law and order. You might be well prepared, but are the lowest common denominators in your community? And with the police mostly manning checkpoints and protecting infrastructure like government buildings and hospitals, how quickly do you think they’ll get to you? No one is coming – expect to self-rescue.

Here’s where radios could come into play. They had cell phones at this point, but what if the fire had destroyed the towers? Our guy having a radio and his friend 6 KM away having one, they would very likely have been in radio range since it was a predominantly rural area. This is between 3 &4 miles, well within the envelope for a Baofeng type or Ham type radio. Canada allows the same FRS frequencies with a 2-watt limit, but I doubt that Industry Canada (the Goose-Land FCC) was out rolling around checking power levels or what type of radio you were using. It’s a good use case for handhelds, with or without begging your overlords for permission first. (See? I recommended getting a license. Sort of.)

We’ll leave it here for now and return in a few days with another installment.

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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 limit your options for purchasing meat and the addition of mRNA vaccines to food products that we might not want. Food self-sufficiency, despite what some “preppers” will tell you, is not having a 10-year supply of long-term storage food. That’s a stopgap measure, because once you crack the seal on that supply, the countdown to running out has begun. True food self-sufficiency involves having a food production plan. You need to have a plan and the ability to grow food, gather food, and to produce protein through raising livestock, hunting, trapping, and fishing. Until you have a realistic plan for this, you are not truly self-sufficient.

This is vital, because throughout history, food has been a weapon to bring people into compliance. Imagine a food shortage, but one community has a bunch of people who own guns in it. Without their own source of food, their “benevolent” government masters can force them to surrender their firearms as a precondition to getting food. The same goes for forced labor – if you want to eat, you have to work on the government farms or camps.

The second area is water. In order to be self-sufficient on water, you need your own water source. It doesn’t have to be directly on your property, it just has to be somewhere you can get without exposing yourself too much to others. A wooded stream a half mile away isn’t that bad. A river 4 miles away is. You can never store or carry enough water, so you need enough supplies or capability to purify water. Remember that what may be a secluded source today, like that stream in your urban park, will NOT be secluded in a true collapse/WROL (Without Rule of Law) situation, because EVERYONE will be using it.

As always, boiling water remains the best way to purify it, but have filters or chemical treatment options as a backup. I have a well with filtration at my bug out location, but I keep tablets for filtration on the move. If you are moving and come across a water source, fill the containers you have. Never pass up a source of water without at least topping off your carried water.

Great numbers of people are completely at the mercy of municipal water systems and would have no idea how to safely source their own water. This will lead to violence, disease, and dehydration deaths. Plan to rise above that.

The flip side of water is sanitation. You need to be self-sufficient here also, because the normal sewage system will back up quickly. If you have a place with its own septic system, you are in good shape. A good portion of the world still uses vault toilets (outhouses) so you should consider a plan for one on your property. The time to put one in is NOW, you can just wait to use it until needed. These facilities need to be set up away from water used for drinking, but most won’t think of that. Middle Age cities were disease-ridden because of improper handling of human waste. Plan ahead.

Next, you need to be self-sufficient for security. This means having a plan to secure and defend your property from criminals and the inevitable hungry hordes traveling the countryside. Many people think that being remote is enough. It isn’t. Eventually, when the cities are picked clean, hungry refugees will start venturing out looking for food and shelter. You need the means and a plan to defend your property, when there are no police or sheriff to call.

A lot of folks I talk to say, well we have a good Constitutional Sheriff, so we’ll be OK. Well, when the lights go out, the Sheriff will be too busy protecting whatever infrastructure his local government needs like water sources, government buildings, and hospitals to come out and help you. You also won’t exactly have a means to dial 911. You need a solid plan with your neighbors to defend your community or farm (TW-03 can help here).

One of the first things to go down will be the cell phone and internet. You need to be self sufficient in communications. This means having a radio communications plan, whether it be CB, VHF/UHF, or some other system. Hammer out the details NOW and more importantly, start carrying that radio. I have a mobile radio in the car and a handheld with me at all times.

Make no mistake, the government would like you to rely on them in every one of these areas. If you rely on them, they can bend you to their will. This is how the old feudal systems worked. The serfs produced food or goods and paid the local warlord in food, goods, or labor for protection from bandits. They were literally at the mercy of the local lord. You don’t want to be that way.

Our heritage in America is that of the pioneers. They were self-sufficient militant farmers. They spent their days working their land, hunting/trapping/fishing, and making their own goods. They engaged in barter-trading with tradesmen who produced the unique items (metal and woodworking) that they needed. When a threat emerged, the men armed themselves and defended the community or sallied out to meet the threat far away from their homes and families (TW-04 can help here). We have drifted from that, but we can return.

I hope this article helped you understand that your freedom is only guaranteed through self-sufficiency.

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