Framework of Preparedness

I’d like to review for you what my idea of preparedness is. I must put a disclaimer here. I have been involved in preparedness my entire life. Even my childhood was filled with my Mother canning and baking homemade bread to my Father teaching me self-sufficiency by learning carpentry and mechanical skills. My parents taught preparedness to all of us kids. So my idea of preparedness may not be the same as yours. My guess is my idea of preparedness may seem a little excessive to you. Unless you’re paranoid too! I’m not really paranoid but I like options. Preparedness gives you options. So don’t be overwhelmed by what I think preparedness should be. Start small and work your way to your goal. My preparedness has been over 40 years in the making! Survival Plan Bug In (or retreat): Retreat and home defense books for reference Know your neighbors and surroundings Immediate neighbors Identify key infrastructure Map your area Neighborhood awareness group Network with neighbors Share information Neighborhood protection plan Command and control Security responsibilities Designated evacuation area (Related to Bug out) Home defense plan Identify vulnerable areas Reinforced structures and defenses Steel doors Window bars or coverings Fighting positions Designated evacuation area (Related to Bug out) Bug Out: Bug out bag Financial Sanitation Energy Communication Protection Food Water Medical Identify areas Identify key infrastructure State/Local government facilities Military installations Natural and weather hazards Population density National parks Forestry lands State owned lands Family/Friends property Scout areas Practice bug out plan Fuel People Obstacles Medical Knowledge (Level 1) Medication Stored medications Prescription Pet medications (Knowledge connected to First Aid Kits) Every adult should know: Stabilize neck Treat fractures Treat chest wounds Treat cuts, Suture Control bleeding Open airways Treat shock Administer an IV Clinic Medical records Medical documents Bulk medical supplies (related to First Aid Kits) Reference materials (related to First Aid Kits) First aid kits Trauma kit IFAK (Individual first aid kit) Large kit Bulk medical supplies (related to Clinic) Reference materials (related to Clinic) Desired medical personnel Recruitment Networking Veterinarian EMT/Paramedic Doctor/Dentist Knowledge (Level 2) Advanced reference materials and medical equipment Protection State Laws Property protection laws Firearms restrictions Conceal carry laws Non-Lethal Stun gun Pepper/wasp spray Baton Lethal Blades Firearms –Rifles, Shotguns, Handguns Storage- Ammo cans, gun cabinets, burial vaults Ammunition Training- Range, Shooting drills, Courses Gear- Holsters, Carriers, Pouches, Slings Maintenance Cleaning supplies Lubricants Spare parts Reference materials Communication Security- Radio discipline, Call signs, Limit distance, Privacy (Codes, protocols) Long term plan Equipment HAM- Long range, can send data, expensive, license, technical CB- Cheap, anyone can use VHF- Common to marine industry (Requires energy) 2 way- Cheap, anyone can use, GMRS, FRS, FRS/GMRS (Requires energy) Other Emergency plan Weather radio Meeting place Corded phone- powered by utility AM/FM radio Police scanner E-mail Cell phone- Text messages may work Short wave Food Hunting, fishing, foraging Foraging-wild edibles, plant identification (take a guided trip), reference materials Hunting-Firearms, trapping, slingshot, bow/sling bow Hunting experience-Supporting equipment, field dressing Fishing-Know your area (fish species & seasonal patterns) Catching fish-Cast net/traps, trout/tree lines, rod and reel, survival kit Cleaning fish-preparation, preservation (connected to food storage) 72 hour food supply (bug out/emergency supply) 1 month food supply (long term emergency) 1 year food supply (long term) Gardening/Farming (water requirements for plants, irrigation, animals) Growing crops-Sprouting, seeds Hyrdoculture/hydroponics-infrastructure, tanks, pumps Small scale gardening-Management, rotation, seasons, fertilizer, pest Management, harvest Large scale-Land assessment, Management (same as small scale) Raising livestock Water Selecting livestock Animal husbandry Butchering Aquaculture Determining fish and plants This is but a general framework for your own prepareness plan. Remember to start small, don't go into debt, and don't get overwhelmed. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn

Repost: No More "No More Mr. Nice Guy" and More

I used to be such a sweet, sweet thing
'Til they got a hold of me.
I opened doors for little old ladies,
I helped the blind to see.
I got no friends 'cause they read the papers.
They can't be seen with me and I'm gettin' real shot down
And I'm feeling mean.

No more Mister Nice Guy,
No more Mister Clean,
No more Mister Nice Guy,
They say he's sick, he's obscene.
I had a conversation with an old friend of mine from our years in the military. He is no longer in the military and neither am I. We were talking about the time we were in that often we weren’t very nice guys. We talked about the way we acted and came to the conclusion that it had to do with the job and the training. That is not an excuse. We both made choices and they were our choices, no one forced us to be that way. But the cause was the constant ruthlessness that was being pounded into us. When you must take another human beings life it is not normal or natural. To do so without feeling would be impossible. I do understand that killing can be a very addictive behavior that can turn normally good people into a form of monster.
Years ago my Mother sent me all of my Dad’s military pictures from his time in the navy during WWII. I noticed that his ship was one of the many ships that went into Japan after the surrender and he had pictures of it. On the back of the pictures my Dad wrote comments about each picture. Moving a large ship into a harbor can be a dangerous thing. So, the Japanese put a soldier on board my Dad’s ship to help guide it into port. He had pictures of the soldier and on the back he describes the soldier as the “Nip soldier”. My Dad taught his children that calling anyone a name was wrong, but especially words that are racially offensive. When I asked him about it years before he said, “Son, it was war. In war you must demonize the enemy or you will be killing fathers and sons, good people who just want to live their lives.” Years later I am training to kill “rag heads”. It is something we must do as humans to justify killing a fellow human being.
I have the same feelings at times like the Alice Cooper song “No more Mr. Nice Guy”. Like the lyrics at the beginning of this post I consider myself a good guy. I consider myself a Christian trying to live a Christ-like life. As a Mormon, we try to emphasize Christ and His mission of atonement here on this earth. So how can I train to kill someone? That’s the exact opposite of Christ’s teachings. It does seem that Christ’s teachings center around peace, but He did understand the need for defense.
If you’ve ever trained in the military or with law enforcement, you know that everyone is a liar, a cheat, and would kill you for nothing. They are the enemy. That can turn a “sweet, sweet thing” into a not good guy.
You must fight this. You must be realistic and know that everyone out there is not trying to get you. It’s a form of paranoia. It can ruin your life or at the very least, relationships. Relationships with your spouse and your children are the most important relationships you can ever have. They are more important than the brotherhood relationships that you have with your “brothers in arms”. If you didn’t learn that quick, you could be in a world of hurt later on.
Training for self-defense is similar but not quite as intense. You are training to kill another human being. I’ve been to gun ranges that won’t let you shoot “human-like” targets. I think that’s a politically correct way of trying to keep liability off their doorstep. I guess they don’t think anyone is training to kill, even though defense is not necessarily killing. But if you have a hard time thinking that you may very well have to kill, don’t carry a gun. You will hesitate if there is a doubt that you can kill. You may be able to choose not to kill, and that’s what separates you from the animals. You can make a conscience effort to not become cold, and judgmental.
When I was a Bishop I had a counselor who worked in intell in Customs. Because of the nature of his work he was becoming a cold dude. I finally had to take him aside and tell him what he was becoming and what he was doing to his family and others. To his credit, he recognized his direction and changed it.
There is a quote from General James N. Mattis, Marine Commander of US CENTCOMM:
“Be polite, be professional, but have a plan to kill everybody you meet.”
That is our challenge. To not let our training, our job, our past experiences affect us as a father, a husband, a citizen, a priesthood holder, a Christian. But to be prepared.
If you are in combat that is very difficult. The same goes for law enforcement. Be extra vigilant if you are in these situations. As a concealed carry holder you may be faced with killing, but you are not duty bound to kill. You can run away if you want to. Combat and law enforcement won’t allow that.
My dog bit me on the leg today.
My cat clawed my eyes.
Ma's been thrown out of the social circle,
And Dad has to hide.
I went to church incognito.
When everybody rose, the Reverend Smith,
He recognized me,
And punched me in the nose, he said.
No more Mister Nice Guy,
No more Mister Clean,
No more Mister Nice Guy,
He said you're sick, you're obscene.
You can be prepared and still be a nice guy. The world is not as bleak as your training tells you. There are good people out there and not everyone is trying to harm others. But be vigilant, because Mr. Evil is out there. He would like more than anything for you to be asleep. A sheep.
It’s possible to be prepared to fight Mr. Evil and still be Mr. Good Guy. It takes effort and discipline. So don’t let No more Mr. Nice Guy take over your life. I've reprinted this for reasons of self-defense. This is what I do here, promote self-defense. But I also want to talk about being a "nice guy". What reason do you have to be a nice guy? Niceness is not a virtue or commandment. Kindness is. Patience is. Niceness in the men in the church is turning us into soft, less than resiliant, wimps. I'm not promoting meanness or being nasty and cantankerous, but nice is getting old! You don't have to explain why you can't be at an activity trying to justify your absence. You can say no. I'm also not promoting not being courteous. I'm talking about the icky, sweet niceness that is not very genuine. Men can be men. You can be kind and not nice at the same time! Men in the church should work at being good husbands and fathers. But not to the detriment of their masculinity. We should help at home and with our wives, but that doesn't mean we can't go to the shooting range occasionally. Or the golf course or the camp out or fishing trip or even Leggoland. The world would have us be subservient to our wives when the Lord teaches working together as husband and wife. The term "happy wife, happy life" is all kinds of silly! As husband and wife we should work hard to care for, love, and make the other happy. But not just a one-sided mess! There is give and take in a releationship. Wives stop forcing your husbands to do what they don't really want to do only to please you! Husbands stop being a selfish jerk and care for and love your wife! I am not saying that neither should ever give into the other and sacrifice, but it should be a two way street. Men stop trying to be "nice" and be yourself. Be this way: persuasive, long-suffering, gentle and meek, and by having love unfeigned; Be kind and have pure knowledge (I call this revelation), non hypocritical and have no guile. Have charity and faith and virtuous thoughts. And above all, have the Holy Ghost as your constant companion. (Paraphrased from D&C 121:41, 42, 45, 46) Let men be men and women be women. Each has roles. Sometimes those roles are moved around some. That is OK. As long as you are all trying to live Christ-like lives. Don't let Satan and the world fool you into anything else. No more Mr. Nice Guy. Semper Paratus Check 6 Burn