Wednesday, June 10, 2009

Survival Groups

When is comes to Long Term Survival we may all dream of the Lone Wolf fantasy were a man or woman with a rifle and a survival knife live all by themselves surviving and thriving in our new found life. But, as much as we like to think this is the way of survival, it's not reality. Only in a group will we be able to survive the long term effects of the future. One person can not make it near as well as a group. Alone, a person will never be able to rest, eat or work without someone else keeping guard over him. Vandals and bandits will roam the land looking for the Lone Wolf as he will be an easy target. He will have to sleep sometime and with no one to watch his back he is sure to perish in a matter of time. With a Survival Group there is safety in numbers. There will be someone to man the lookout post while others perform the required duties of Long Term Survival. Among these duties may be, tending the garden planted with heirloom seeds for use in future gardens, taking care of animals that you may be keeping for milk, meat or eggs, cutting and stacking firewood for heat or for cooking, performing maintenance on you alternative power source be it solar, hydro, or wind power. Looking out for would be looters and guarding what you have will be a full time job for several people.

If you can at all, I suggest that you start forming your groups as soon as possible. Check to see if you have neighbors that are like minded and most importantly have skills. Your group will need to consist of people with a variety of skills. Are any of your neighbors in the medical field? That is for sure one skill that you will want to have around. Carpenters, mechanics, those who know how to raise and care for livestock and of course, shooters. Everyone in the group will need to have shooting skills and tactical skills as well. Having someone that can teach these skills is a must too.

Life as we know it will change forever, like it or not. The members of your group need to be people you can trust with your life because that's what you will be doing for each, watching each others backs. Group members that are prepping now are by far the best choice. Meet with these group members regularly to discuss what options you have and be honest about them all. Don't tell me you can shoot and then let me find out after SHTF that you don't know one end of a rifle from the other. Practice with your group and get a feel for what others can and can't do. Train now rather than later although on going training will be a must for all.

Make a list of skills that the group has and see what is lacking, then look for others that may fill this void. If we are to survive and thrive in the new world that we will be living in we must pull together and form groups or tribes if you will. Michael over at Staying Alive has a good post today were he is talking about people re-tribing. Children moving back in with their parents to help secure the homestead and the family. Extra hands to work and eyes to watch out for would be looters. Be sure to give it a read, it's good stuff. I like the idea.

This is a topic that one could spend weeks studying about and come up with a million different ways to form your group. I encourage you to comment and voice your ideas on this subject. There is a lot that can be covered on this subject and I hope you will join in on the discussion. Most of all I hope that you will start forming your own group.

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This is Bullseye...OUT !!!

9 comments:

Anonymous said...

Great post Bullseye. You're exactly right. We all need to work together to survive. Nobody can do everything alone.

matthiasj
Kentucky Preppers Network

Bullseye said...

Thanks Matt, Gotta have someone to watch our backs when it hits the fan, best to find them now.

ErinAndBrad said...

Great job Bull! Yep, no going it alone - need enough folks to have guards 24/7 - gotta protect home, crops, livestock and humans. We have become the retreat locale for some odd reason! LOL! Great post! Must remember too it will not be a democracy - should have a leader that knows his shit and will keep the order and the peace too!

Anonymous said...

Some very good advice here, but the logistics of having a fixed group of people in ONE location are pretty difficult. After a while, fire wood becomes pretty scarce as people use it up, and sanitation problems crop us as well. Natural food sources become depleted as well.

I think Jim Dakin (and others) are on to something when they talk about semi-nomadic groups. If you can live long term on the land, you have a big advantage.

Do agree that going it alone is virtually impossible - sooner or later, you will be got.

Good post Bullseye.

Bullseye said...

Big E, thanks are you are dead right. There will have to be someone in charge and what they say go's no matter what. We need to get started forming our groups ASAP !! Thanks again.

Anon 6:44, Thank you and yep, your right too. Can't stay in one place forever but, it's a start. Once your groups are formed you will no doubt have to move on sometime but getting together and getting organized is the first thing that will need to be done. Once that has happened you can take a look at all your other options. The most important thing I think is to get started and have some kind of plan in place. Thanks again and please come back often.

Dragon said...

I am a tribal member and I'll be going the lone route...
Frankly the rest of the tribe think that just their heritage will sustain them, that and they'll be able to sponge off of the members who actually prepare...
Here comes a big bad dose of the truth: many of these folks won't survive one winter and when the expire, I hate to say this, I'll bury the remains and take what is of use to me... since two thirds of the populance will be expiring I'll find no shortage of useful items...its gonna be mountain rules not queensbury. Whether or not I own the mountain in the near future or take posession in the PAW...
It's already mine. fifty percent of my heritage and forebearers came from there. and if anyone thinks I don't want my anscestral lands, they have another thing coming...I've heard many different groups laying claim to areas not theirs by any right...One example is a re-wilding groups claim to ancestral Senaca and Mohawk land...Wanna guess how that turns out? Else where another group is noising about how they are gonna get rid of those pagans next door come SHTF...if those idiots only knew who their neighbors actually were, they wouldn't be making such noises. To late they'll be finding out the neighbor is a retired civilian contractor. and those other friends of his are all retired military...all in all. I hope cooler heads prevail.
Many say they'll be running to the hills but most will not make it...
ones that camp on the wrong hill will get burned out...It really depends on your school of thought. Some folks think that SHTF and PAW are just a hiccup and things will go back to the way they were. They are in error. Just my 2 cents

Bullseye said...

Dragon, very good points you make here. The law of the mountain will be the only law and yes, many will never make it thru the first winter. Most will be gone after just a few months, either killer for being stupid or starved for being the same. Folks who have never done any hard work will probably rather be dead anyway.....this easy come easy go life will be over soon. Even those that "think" they are ready will rue the day it hit the fan, as much as they "think" they will embrace it. When the dust settles, and it will be a long time before it does, only the strongest and the smartest will be left standing. Smarts may be even more important that strength really. One stupid move by even the strongest will be fatal. I am working on getting a small group together,,pretty hard too. Most have fantasy ideas about what is to come and will die soon after day one. A few have the skills to stay alive but very few. I feel that I will, in the end, be on my own too. Not the ideal plan but it beats staying with fools and and having my blood spill along side theirs. Daily survival will be a way of life, the games will be over. And this is just my 2 cents worth as well. Thank you for sharing yours. You got your head on right, stay safe.

Amber said...

I really appreciated this post Bullseye. It's an important reminder. We can't do everything, so we should start quietly assessing our family, friends and neighbors strengths (and weaknesses). Like it or not we will have to rely on each other when TSHTF.

Bullseye said...

Amber, thank you. Will need each other, like it or not we will have to depend on each other. I'm glad you agree and that you are thinking about it too. Good luck and please come back often. Would also love to hear of any progress you make in forming a group. Thanks again.