retreat defense, preppers, tactical, training, tactical training,
Preparedness

Preppers Need to Know Their Limitations

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I was asked recently what my opinion was of SouthernPrepper1’s recent video titled – “Prepper’s will die….No tactics are better than bad tactics“. In the video, SP1 discusses a combination of poor and incorrect tactical training, physical conditioning, and the propensity for prepper’s to train for offensive conditions.

While I have no military background and the majority of “tactical” training that I have had has been firearm based – I have a few thoughts.


I’ve always believed that given whatever the “SHTF” event is – avoiding problems is of paramount importance. This means taking a defensive stand on a day to day basis. Area patrol’s and scout’s to serve as information gatherers and early warning systems would be the extent of those leaving the retreat. Bringing the absolute minimum attention to yourself is a definite effort in self-preservation.

Preparation for suspect visitors is a must. Defensive tactics for protecting the property and fending off those who wish to do harm is certainly important. Tactics to go out and attack someone else’s property? Think about it. Consider the enormous risk to that operation.

tactics, fields of fire, military,

Prepper groups need to work on what SP1 stated such as fortifying their position, covering areas of engagements, know the kill zones, and be capable of placing accurate fire into them. Everyone within the group needs to know their weapons systems. Placing fire downrange, accurately, and being able to quickly reload to re-engage are strong tactics that most should be capable of. A plan on what to do in case of attack needs to be made now.

SP1 discusses fitness level and age. I can tell you this is a HUGE problem I have seen first hand. Far too often people are just too “nice” to tell people the truth. If you cannot get down behind a 55-gallon barrel and get cover that is a issue that may get you killed. Prepper’s need to know their limitations. If a group member remembers what it was like before electricity then they are not likely one you can depend on for high demand physical activity. If someone is 150 pounds overweight and cannot run from Position A to Position B with some sense of urgency – then they need to stay at Position A or be delegated to another function(or not be in Position A to start with).

I’ll mention something else that drives me crazy – these posts about how as part of an arsenal you’ve got to have a rifle capable of shooting 600, 800, no – at least 1000 yards. Why? Again – if a possible threat is 1,000 yards away how much of a threat are they? How have you identified the target from that distance? If they are unaware of your presence and a shot is fired alerting them of your presence – wouldn’t it have been better to not shoot? Granted there are a gazillion scenario’s out there but in general, I don’t get it. I believe for the most part these types of discussions where a .300 Win Mag is pitted against the .308 Win versus a 6.5 Creedmore is an effort in futility. Come on.

The keyboard warrior mentality is alive and well. Preppers need to know their limitations and train/prepare accordingly.

With a lot to learn…..

Rourke

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21 Comments

  3. James Walton says:

    This is a great article. I was talking to a prepper, well known, the other day and he was trying to sell me on the idea that his faith and will would carry him through bullets and grenades and whatever else the SHTF would throw at him. Scary stuff. I think as preppers we all need to spend more time on ourselves and what we are really capable of.

    Reply
  4. Oren says:

    Good post John. Here on my property, I have been attempting to determine access points most likely used by intruders and potential intruders. From that, the defensive points will be prepared and maintained. Tractor Supply has barbed wire at really decent prices. Should be able to develop entanglements to channel flow. Or at least slow down intruders and have them thru an area with alarms. It’s an interesting problem which I am absolutely sure the rest of the family will be called in to vote on the best facility I should be confined in. They think I’ve lost my mind and I’m descending into senility an dementia. Oh well.

    Reply
  5. JAS says:

    Good points. My philosophy is to avoid a fight if possible. I read all the time some commenter saying they aren’t hiding from anyone. Yes we may have military and or police training, but during a shtf situation you are not going to have the same support that a military unit would have. The won’t be a full medical staff to take care of those hit. Ask anyone who has been in a fire fight just how much ammo gets expended. Not a problem if you have a supply chain replenishing you, but you dont. Unless you have a sizable group of fit well trained people along with the support personnel behind the lines, going up against any large group is going to cost a lot of lives and supplies. Your best bet is to try and stay concralled and avoid contact.

    Reply
  6. goingray58 says:

    umm.. maybe .. Not be the contrarian here but .. You can only do what you can do right ? Training and security for preppers is primarily defensive, agreed. For a minor correction that is. Eventually it would take warriors… While a warrior can be a prepper a prepper is not always a warrior. Defensiveness runs it’s course when you are out of a vital something, that you have to go an get. Meds, food, water whatever. Then what ? If it’s a civil transaction cool, if not then you need to understand those limitations and the cost as well.
    On the long shot thing.. Ok so I’ll differ here as well. you’ve seen my place JR, so you know a 600 – 800 driveway shot to discourage or stop a vehicle, is a possibility. I’d agree that that is simply not the case for most folks. But that brings to a mind a possibility of roughly classifying your situation. Urban, suburban, rural and other .. preppers locations. As a friend on mine is fond of saying. “every location has it’s strengths and it’s weaknesses”. Area of the country, county, city.. terrain, weather, water etc etc .. Most folks start prepping in place, and come to it however they are having their own strengths and weaknesses. Knowledge, age, fitness, medical, your own list is specific you you alone, if similar to others.
    Anyway, we prep in place first, usually.
    Probably the most important part is accurately recognizing those limitations for what they really are and not what we want them to0 be. One benefit of a group, is others see things you might miss or misinterpret. It isn’t something to feel bad about, just something to recognize. It would be better to know now that find out very inconveniently afterword and think. “Why did I not think of that ?”. It puts a premium on find others of similar mindset. I have a couple brutally honest friends. I can become offended or take it in the spirit it is offered. Not being offended allows me to correct it.
    I’m rambling.. We don’t expose our tender underbellies to our peers usually, so one way is to find a mentor. you can work on getting together a group as well of course.
    good luck
    GG58

    Reply
    1. JR says:

      Thanks, GG58. As stated there are many situations and exceptions out there for most everything. You are correct you can only do what you can do. Your 600-800 yard driveway shot is certainly an exception compared to most and viable. I would assume that your driveway would receive some type of barricade thus someone going through it and driving up the driveway would be considered a threat. After all, if they breached the barricade intentions would likely not be very positive.

      Your point of having a group is very true and valid. Far too many by themselves are not assessing themselves nor their situation realistically. Multiple views provide discussion and discussion provide discovery.

      Reply
  7. jh says:

    Thanks for the post JR, glad I’m not the only one who has similar thoughts. This blog (sorry JR but this link is too good not to post), https://masondixonsurvivalistassociation.wordpress.com/2017/07/16/commentary-on-a-good-southern-prepper-1-video-about-training/ really talks about it more in detail from a old school survivalist perspective. There is a article I want to do so bad on a topic he discusses in that blog post, just can’t figure out how to do it.
    Not all of us can do patrolling and the warrior tribe stuff but there is also a huge amount of preppers/militia/patriots who think because they have all the cool guy guns and gear they will be part of the security group, I cannot tell you how many times I’ve seen this since the 90’s. Hell, I was kicked out of a group who instead of doing ANY training of it’s members brought in a local militia group to be their ‘security team’ and our job was to supply THEM. I became Mr. Unpopular the instant I opened my mouth and escorted out a half hour later of the meeting.

    Reply
  8. 3rdMan says:

    John Mosby hits on being able to shoot at great distances. What he fails to realize in his article is the fact that this isn’t Afghanistan. We need to train for realistic situations. While making 800 yard shots are great, why would anyone as you said communicate their location to someone who didn’t even know you were there in the first place. To many people want to play soldier or guerrilla fighter. They will die early in SHTF, with no medevac. Train for what you’re likely to encounter and gun battles at 800 yards in the Rockies isn’t one of them!!!
    https://mountainguerrilla.wordpress.com/2017/07/05/establishing-hard-standards/

    Reply
    1. goingray58 says:

      Feet dry and mobile I agree. the perimeter of the square acre would be 835 feet (divide by 4 and yo get 208ft or near it)… if you live on 10, 20, 30 acres.. 600 yds isn’t all that far ..(10 x 208/3 = approx 700/1400/2100 yds respectively, ball park if the land is perfectly square and it never is) IF you have an LPOP.. By definition it would be away from the dwelling and command a definitive view of out buildings, and access and egress points right ? If someone is on their way through your gate, bushes whatever .. they already have your position. moreover if yo clang a plate with a shot… it is very discouraging. Only time I’ve ever had to do it .. was a glass pane .. still worked well .. they left. Just sayin…
      I do agree if you are walking or sitting out and on the way to or from somewhere.. stealth is a better idea and don’t reveal a lotion, unless you are mobile and long shots are necessarily offensive. (like a tire or an engine etc). Then a long shot is dead useful to engage and leave, but still riskier than avoidance.

      Reply
  9. SingleMom says:

    I agree with most everything above. I particularly like Roarke’s comment about the overweight person. My basic philosophy comes from my first boss, a man who firmly believed in utilizing his staff’s strengths rather than exploiting their weaknesses. Nothing irritates me more than those who try to force square pegs into round holes. That overweight man might not be able to run from Point A to Point B, but he could be the best cook or a communications expert or a trained medic. Know the limitations of the people in your group and position them to work with their strengths. Don’t set the entire group up for failure by intentionally pushing someone into a situation that they can’t handle.

    Reply
    1. goingray58 says:

      That’s true SingelMom. While it is not always achievable, the military has a concept. Everyone is a rifleman. The idea is that there are a basic set of core proficiency at arms and procedures/tactics. Even if you are not the one executing them, you need to understand them. One so communications is not prolonged, because at times you just don’t have the time for long discussion. Two, it really helps to understand everyone’s role in any endeavor so no one inadvertently does or says something that puts the rest of the team in jeopardy, or to fill in if the roll opens up for some reason, until it can be filled again. I’ve been on lots of different teams of different sorts. The best ones were the ones where team members were will to reshape themselves a bit.. mostly just rough edges, because if it’s more then they were not a good fit in the first place.
      good topic
      GG58

      Reply
      1. 3rdMan says:

        That would be the Marines, where everyone is a rifleman first!! I know guys who were in the Air Force, and never touched an M16 after basic. I think siglemom is correct in working off everyone strengths. SingleMom, your first boss was an example of a leader and not just a manager.

        Reply
        1. goingray58 says:

          3rdMan .. I wasn’t poking buddy .. I guess I poorly stated my point, by using the rifleman example (Army has a similar saying). I meant everyone has a role and everyone should know what all the roles do, even if they aren’t doing them. And that people can grow into the other roles. Not that anyone should be made to be anything. I’m fairly aware of what leaders do, having had examples of good and bad for comparison. again.. good conversation
          GG58

          Reply
          1. 3rdMan says:

            I wasn’t saying anything negative towards you about being a leader. I was just point out that her boss was an example of a leader. It wasn’t a jab at you in any way. I didn’t take anything you said in a negative way either. Just good conversation all around!!! We all have something to contribute.

        2. SingleMom says:

          Absolutely! I should have added that he insisted that each of us be cross-trained in several different jobs (whether it was clerical, management, or skilled union) so that we could fill in where necessary at the drop of a hat, and he made a point of learning enough of each of our jobs to do the same. No matter what happened, the work didn’t stop. He died far too young, and although the funeral was on a major summer holiday weekend, it was standing room only. When I’ve been in management, I’ve done my best to follow his lead. There aren’t many like him around, at least not in the private sector.

          Reply

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