So, You Think You’re a Shooter

When it comes to firearms you must not only know how to properly and safety shoot the weapon but you must thoroughly know and understand tactics. This aspect of training is often neglected which is a huge mistake. Being able to hit your target accurately under stress is important but this is only one part of firearms skills. Unfortunately, a lot of individuals fail to train in tactics which is an extremely important component. If your firearms’ training is held on a static range then you are not adequately prepared. If you think that playing paintball on the weekends is training you for real life violence then you are fooling yourself. Actually, you may be developing bad skills that will not benefit you in a gunfight. Fortunately, there are now a lot of shooting schools that offer marksmanship, as well as, tactical training. This is one area that you really should spend the money and get quality training from a qualified instructor. Being able to hit a target on a static range is the foundation for you to build upon. Marksmanship is the basics and it is important to master the basics before moving on to more advanced skills. Do not rush to the sexy tactical training until you become very proficient with marksmanship. 

In addition to proficient marksmanship skills you must train the following skills:

• Mindset
• Verbal De-escalation skills
• The ability to shoot and move
• Use cover and concealment
• Know how to clear malfunctions and be able to do it one handed if necessary
• Know the difference between shoot/no shoot situations
• Shoot in low-light conditions
• Know how to use a flashlight and/or laser
• Understand the use of light and shadows
• How to shoot and communicate
• How to maintain noise discipline
• Team tactics
• Structure clearing
• Downed person rescue 

 When you look at the above list, which is not necessarily a complete list, it should become clear that there is a lot more to shooting than standing on the 15 yard line and hitting a non-moving, non-threatening target that cannot shoot back and harm you. Obtaining proficient marksmanship and tactical skills requires time, consistency, discipline, patience, and practice. There are no shortcuts.

In addition to the above list I believe that it is critical that you participate in scenario based training that is filmed for later viewing with a qualified instructor. Too often what students think they do during a scenario is dramatically different from what they actually do. There is a wide chasm between their perceived skills and reality. 

So, are you really a shooter?

 
TC

© 2014

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Everyone’s an Expert!

Recently I was looking to see if there is anything new and exciting in the world of bug out bags (BOB), everyday carry (EDC), escape & evasion (E&E) and preparedness in general. I found my answers but they were not what I was expecting. It seems that everyone thinks they are subject matter experts and feel a compulsion to throw out their opinions on topics that they clearly are not qualified or have very little experience.  It was very disappointing to say the least.  Clearly, the internet age of YouTube, blogs, forums, social media, webpages, etc. has provided a platform for armchair preparedness enthusiasts to partake in the available tools to disseminate their information. 

 

I guess I have reached the point, through experience, where I can rapidly assess and tell if someone knows what they are talking about on a given topic. The problem is that there are a lot of people using the internet to increase their knowledge and use it as a resource for information. These people may not have the ability to discriminate good information from bad information.  This can lead you down a path that does not suit your needs. It can also cause you to spend money on products that you do not need or do not have the skills to use. It is important to thoroughly conduct research on a topic before making decisions. I will say that a very small percentage of people actually know what they are talking about and have the requisite experience that backs up their knowledge. These people should not be making videos or attempt to come across as an expert on an internet forum. I have watched way too many YouTube videos and read a lot of forum posts where people are poorly attempting to tell you about a subject that they are not experienced. Remember, at the end of the day it is you that needs to make decisions that impact your level of preparedness. If you follow bad advice then you will suffer the consequences, not the person who provided you the bad information.

Things to look out for when conducting research:

• "Unboxing" videos on YouTube are a complete waste of time and provide no relevant information. Skip these YouTube videos. Too the people that make such videos please STOP! I would much rather see a video of a product that you actually used and field tested so that you know the pros and cons of the item. Real world experience actually matters.

• Listen carefully to what the person is saying in a video. If they do not appear confident in what they are talking about that is a red flag. If they contradict themselves that is a red flag. The person should be able clearly articulate the pros and cons of a product based on experience.  They should be able to provide insight that is only gained through actual use.

• Are the item(s) shown new or used? If an item appears to be new that means that the person probably did not field test it. For me, anything they say becomes valueless without a testing and review process. Yes, there is a chance that the person has multiple items of the same implement but this is probably not the case. I recently watched an “Escape & Evasion” video on an E&E kit. The kit and all of its contents were brand new. Some of the contents were still in the original packaging! Every other comment was, “we sell this in our online store.” Clearly, this person made the video to sell items under the guise of this is my E&E kit. The video was not based on his experience. Beware of such people! Their goal is money; not knowledge.

• Production quality of a video, while nice, is not relational to the quality of information that you will receive. I have watched some very well produced videos but the information was terrible and incorrect. On the other hand I have seen poor quality videos where the information was suburb. Do not confuse these two issues.

• Resist the urge to jump on the bandwagon just because everyone else does. For example, there are a lot of forums where people discuss a topic and everyone agrees or thinks that it is a great idea. But, in reality it is not a good idea. I remember one time I participated in a very popular firearms forum. The thread was on the use of flashlights that strobe. The original poster said that flashlights that strobe are a gimmick and useless. Everyone was agreeing and saying that these flashlights suck. I joined in the forum and said that such flashlights are a very valuable tool IF you know how to use it properly. I provided very specific examples and details why such flashlights are valuable. As expected everyone teamed up on me saying I didn’t know what I was talking about and that I was ignorant despite the fact that I had extensive training with such lights. Then, a well-known and popular “firearms expert” joined the discussion saying that such flashlights were a very valuable tool. From that moment on everyone changed their tune and the strobing flashlight was the best tool ever invented.  The same people who bashed the light now completely supported it! What changed? Nothing. These people still had no experience or training with the light. They changed their view on the word of an expert and nothing else. (As a side note the firearms expert is actually an expert and someone whose opinion that I value and respect.) The point is that you should not be persuaded on group think. Come to your own conclusions which is best obtained through experience.

• Internet forums tend to be very clicky and often childish. Be wary of those with high “post” counts as they tend to be spending a lot of time on the computer as opposed to using the skills that they profess to have. If you are new to the forum with a low post count they tend to treat you like crap unless you adhere to their closely protected structure which means they want you to acquiesce to their beliefs and not stir the pot with original thinking. They tend to be very wary of new people who go against the grain and who can think for themselves.

Never lose the lust to obtain new knowledge and skills. It is unfortunate that you may need to sift through many layers of conflicting information to get the little nuggets of gold. But, in the end you will learn a lot.

TC

© 2014

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Evils of Islam: Are you Prepared?

As a former law enforcement officer survival instructor I have trained a lot of law enforcement officers. As a former martial arts instructor I have trained a lot of civilians. One commonality that I have seen with both groups is that many people tend to put their own values, morals, and ethics on other people. This even occurs when these people want to do you harm. This practice of projecting who you are as a person onto someone else that wants to hurt you needs to stop. Absolutely nothing good will come from it. Humans tend to want to believe the best in other people. This is a good trait to have but not at the expense of your life.  Recently, I have been giving some thought to why we project our qualities on other people. My hypothesis is due to the environment that we are raised.  America is a Judeo/Christian society that is based on laws. At an early age we are told what behaviors are acceptable and which behaviors are not acceptable. Yet, not everyone gets the lessons and the result is that there are bad people in the world. Some of these individuals grow up to be predators on the weak. We see this when people engage in the so called, “knock out” game that is going on for well over a year now. The bottom line is that your values, morals, and ethics do not apply to predators. Today we see a world full of predators hiding behind religion.

Today the Middle East is falling apart. In reality, the Middle East has always been an unstable environment but recent events have proven how violent the Middle East has become all under the guise of Islam. From a very early age young Muslims are taught to hate and that the infidel must be killed. I find it very interesting that the “religion of peace” continually uses brutal and lethal violence as a means to convey its message. Each and every day I am bombarded with news about Islamic violence or videos of beheadings, beatings, torture, and rape. All in the name of religion! When it comes to Islamic violence you cannot afford to project your values, morals, and ethics. I have seen too many videos of Islamic violence and more often than not the result is unwarranted brutal murder in the name of Islam. Recently, ISIS was pompous enough to produce a video called “Clanking of the Swords” which shows their continued lust for violence – all in the name of Islam. If they break into your home, stop your vehicle, or corner you on the street their goal is your death in the name of Allah. In such situations you have but one option and that is to fight with all of your might. Because if you do not fight you are dead. Yes, you may end up dead anyway since you will more than likely be outnumbered and outgunned but this does not mean you have to lie down and die. Fight and resist until your dying breathe if necessary. 

Personally, I am sick of Islam’s continued violence and I am sick of all the political correctness that our own government uses to appease Islam. I embrace diversity and do not care about your color, education, religion, natural origin, sexual preference, job title, income, or anything else that makes you different from me. But, I draw the line when you kill innocent people in the name of your religion. I have seen the videos of young girls beheaded, young boys shot to death, homosexuals hung from a crane, elderly men beaten to death, groups of people burned alive, and women raped. I will no longer be silent. I choose to take a stand. They will scream racism and use a made up term “Islamophobia” to label anyone who talks negatively about Islam. Well, there are about 1.2 billion Muslims in the world. All credible estimates state that anywhere between 15-25% are radicalized. That means that there are an estimated 900,000,000 Muslims who are supposedly not radicalized and who should be standing out against such violence but this is not the case!  Yet, their silence speaks volumes. Do not ever call me Islamophobic as you stand silent! Your silence is implicit approval of Islam’s violence. I have made up a word to counter their word of Islamophobia. I am Islam-Aware. I am educated to the facts and will not fall prey to a false term such as Islamophobe. I will call a spade a spade. Islam is the problem. I do not see videos of Christians beheading or killing innocent people.  I do not see videos of Jews beheading or killing innocent people. I do not see videos of Hindus beheading or killing innocent people.  I do not see videos of Buddhists beheading or killing innocent people. I ONLY SEE THIS FROM ISLAM! And not only do I see it but they continually provide more videos of their violence and proudly share their brutality for the world to see. Islam is a religion that preaches hate and has an insatiable lust for violence. Killing in the name of Allah.

If and when their brutal jihad comes to America, such as is occurring in the Middle East, then you had better be prepared to fight. They will not negotiate with you. They will not listen to your pleas for mercy. They do not care if you are young. They do not care if you are old. They do not care if you are injured. They do not care if you are pregnant. They are on a mission to destroy. They are on a mission to kill. YOU ARE THE TARGET. Are you prepared? We have a southern border that is completely porous. Do not think for a moment that Islamists have not already crossed the border into the United States. According to homelandsecurity.us.com:

“Our initial investigation has concluded there are between 400 to 500 radical Islamic centers in the U.S. In those places, they preach an extreme version of Islam that says America and the West is the enemy. They espouse violence, hatred and the need for terrorism.” 

(Source: Homelandsecurityus.com)

Radicalized Islamists who want to kill you and your family are already here in the United States training and planning a jihad. Now is the time to take a stand. Now is the time to be pro-active. Now is the time to speak up. You cannot afford to be silent any longer. Get involved and get educated to the facts. Become Islam-Aware. Are you prepared? If not, just remember that Islam is prepared to use extreme violence. And they are training.

Disclaimer: Survival Skillcraft does not advocate the use of violence and this article is not stating that you should go out and target any person or group. We are stating that you need to be prepared when violence is projected in your direction. We also encourage you to use your 1^st Amendment rights to speak up against the violence of Islam.

© 2014

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Book Review: Realistic Bug Out Bag by Max Cooper

I read a lot of books and have a personal library of over 900 books which is almost exclusively non-fiction. To me reading is an activity that I really enjoy as it provides relaxation, knowledge, and information. I am constantly looking to expand my knowledge base. I also read a lot of books on all aspects of survival, prepping, and emergency preparedness. Unfortunately, these genres tend to produce a lot of books that are not the best quality and are quite frankly worthless. With the advent of self-publishing through Amazon it seems that everyone thinks they can write a book on these topics. In reality, many of these books are short being under 50 pages, contain lists, and lack very little new information or insight. One of the main problems with such short books is that they never focus on details. All the information is very superficial and of little value to anyone who has even the slightest amount of experience. A few months ago I read a book called Realistic Bug Out Bag by Max Cooper and I felt like I hit the jackpot.

Finally, a great book on bug out bags that is not just a packing list of items to throw in a bag. This book is well thought out and contains relevant information, which I believe, will benefit all preppers from the newbie to those with years of experience. Even though I have years of experience I still picked up some very valuable information in this book. I should also say that I do not think it is possible for one book to be so comprehensive that it provides every nugget of information that you will need. This book is no exception. Yet, compared to every other bug out bag book I have read this one is head and shoulders above the rest. This book contains 170 pages of information that is relevant to building a bug out bag that you can use should you need to immediately evacuate. Let’s review the book.

Topics covered include: Kit methodology, bug out bag assessment, fire, water, food, shelter, light, communications, clothing, medical, weapons, pets, miscellaneous items, summary, resources, and references. I am going to highlight items that I believe are relevant to anyone who reads this book.

• First, I like that the author stresses that the weight of your bug out bag is always going to be a significant priority since you may be forced to walk for miles for a host of reasons. 

• Many authors also talk about using a bug out bag that allows you to ‘blend into your environment’ but Cooper discusses another approach. Without giving away his information I like his ideas about not necessarily blending in. 

• Cooper goes on to provide a Bug Out Bag Assessment that I think is genius. If you take the time to complete the assessment in an honest manner you will know whether you are mentally, physically, and medically capable of bugging out with your bag. In many respects this is an aspect that a lot of preppers tend to overlook. They tend to ignore their weaknesses which will have disastrous consequences in a SHTF situation. Sticking your head in the sand and ignoring facts does not make them go away! In my opinion the assessment is worth the price of the book. 

• The author goes on to stress that your BOB should be light, mobile, and efficient. With this in mind Cooper goes on to discuss options for items that you can use in your BOB. 

• Another aspect of the book that I really like, and proves to me that Cooper knows what he is talking about, is the section on food. Way too many preppers say you do not need food in your BOB as most BOB’s are designed to get you through the first 72 hours. These “preppers” advocate that you do not carry food or that you carry a couple of energy bars. Yes, we can all survive about 30 days without food but who wants to do so! More importantly, have you ever done three full days without food? Even during the first 72 hours of a crisis you are going to need to be able to think clearly and provide your body necessary fuel in the form of food. 

• Cooper talks about bugging out with elderly parents, young children, and pets. Each of these situations presents unique challenges that must be worked out ahead of time. 

• The Weapons section on firearms talks about a host of relevant skills that one must have in addition to basic marksmanship skills. Again, this is really good information as too many preppers incorrectly believe that your ability to shoot is the most important and they fail to have even a basic understanding of tactics and other important survival skills. 

• The book provides good use of photographs. 

Throughout Realistic Bug Out Bag there are gems of information that are only known and obtained through experience. Too many books fail to provide the little gems of information that truly make the book worth the cost. That is not the case with this book. This book has earned a spot on my bookshelf and is a book that I will read again at some point in the future. If you were to read one book on bug out bags this is the one. It is well written, well organized, and full of useful and insightful information that many other BOB books lack. 

As of the writing of this review the book is priced at $9.29 which is definitely a bargain. At this time it does not appear that a Kindle version is available. Remember, this book contains 170 pages of information and is not a 50 page pamphlet of lists. This book makes a great gift for the prepper in your life. 

Pick up your copy on Amazon at: Realistic Bug Out Bag by Max Cooper

I hope you enjoy this book as much as I did. As always: Stay Safe

TC

© 2014

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