Episode 144 – Mindset of military vs. civilian survivalism
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This episode is about the differences between a military point of view and a civilian point of view, with respect to preparedness. Often times on internet boards and blogs you see a post from someone who feeds you a lot of information from a military or law enforcement perspective. It may be great information but not applicable to a civilian who wants to get his/her family prepared for a common emergency or disaster. This problem sometimes leads people to spend more time and money than they need to, on supplies they probably won’t need. I know, it happened to me. So I found some information written by FerFal and also posted on a blog called The Modern Survivalist. I used this article as a basis to give you some of my own thoughts and experiences on preparing from a civilian standpoint. Thanks for downloading and listening, Bob Mayne Today’s Survival Show.
hey bob love the show and have learned a lot from you. but i have to disagree with you on on this one. all the situations you discussed where based on prepping for and planned/known engagement and not a true survival situation like an escape and evade scenario which is more in line with the prepper/survivalist mindset. i would never left the relative safety of the FOB (Forward Operating Base) with out at least 3 bottles of water, 3 MRE’s and a extra uniform on the slight chance the stink would hit the fan. just like i am dong now in my civlian life with the help of you and Jack Spirko from the Survival Podcast. i get the point you where trying to make with the fantasy based survivalists out there but there is a place in a bug out bag for a few mags of ammo even if they (and i hope i never have to use them) are not needed. i would rather have and not need then need and not have.
Nathan Hougaboom
ps. Pack the right way 5 rifle mags should take up almost no space in a bug out bag.
My primary goal in this show was to point out that many people on the internet over do it in my opinion when encourage newbies to prep. They tend to approach it from a military point of view because that’s their background. As a general rule, I stick to my theory that most civilians will face different types of challenges than will military personnel, after disaster strikes. I carry a Glock because it will hold more round in the same size gun as a comparable revolver. That doesn’t make me an internet commando. As for what to carry in a Bug out Bag? What’s more important, extra food and water or an extra 5 rifle magazines? The likelihood of having to feed yourself or your family or administer first aid, or build a fire and shelter are far more likely than having to shoot someone. That’s my point and was intended to be my primary point in this podcast. Yet so many people encourage bug out bags that can carry several hundred rounds of ammo, when it likely won’t be needed as much as several pounds of food, for example. I understand not all situations are the same, I’m dealing with the odds in this show, primarily.
Hey Bob:
I love your show, and usually your logic is well founded, but I have to disagree with you on aspects of this show.
According to a NY times story regarding police shootings ( http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/08/nyregion/08nypd.html?pagewanted=print )
the average number of shots fired by cops in a shooting with bad guys is 4.7.
Given that, we should all be OK with a revolver, right? 6 rounds is what, 16% overkill? But you carry a Glock. That holds way more than 6 rounds. Why? Are you paranoid? Are you a Internet Commando? No. You realize that life -especially your own life- may not be an average one. You know that sometimes, you need just another few rounds. You understand that not all situations are “usually.”
Bob, you can’t guarantee what’s going to happen. No one can. If I want to carry 100 rounds in my bugout bag, it’s really no skin off your nose, is it? Who does it hurt? Nobody but me (and my aching back!), that’s who.
Not all preppers or survivalists come from the same mold. Only time will tell if the “sane” survivalist who carried only one magazine and the “crazy” survivalist who carried 4 magazines plus one in the gun will die.
God willing, they’ll both die of old age in bed with the lights still on.