Iraq PSD and Evasive Driving Training

We are launching our evasive driving series with this collection of Iraq PSD Low-profile motorcade and evasive driving training footage.  The Iraq stuff was shot in 2004-2005 in and around Baghdad in what was then known as the Triangle of Death.  That name wasn't ironic either, like when you call a really big guy Tiny or a dog with three legs Lucky.  That place totally blew.

Two out of our first three motorcades, run in early 04 in SUV type vehicles, were ambushed.  We switched to the low-profile but high-powered BMWs, and Mercedes, and used station wagons as gun trucks.  We relied on stealth and camouflage to move around whenever possible, and speed when stealth wasn't working out too good.  It had it's disadvantages, like anything else, but after we got the hang of how to do it correctly, I would not have ridden any other way.

Camouflage is key.  If you're going to look like the natives, you have to act like the natives.  Aggressive blocking or other overt security moves are going to draw attention, so you have to be relaxed and accept the normal traffic flow around you more than you would if you were running a hardened, overt motorcade.

The training showcases a group of Force Recon Marines training to deploy to Iraq for a PSD mission.  They are learning some of the techniques and tactics that may be needed to drive in that type of environment.  Barricade breaching, the PIT, emergency turns, tactical backing, etc. are all valuable skills to possess.  Seek qualified instruction before attempting any of the emergency maneuvers shown in the video.

The Shoeless Crowd

We were very fortunate that Hurricane Sandy passed by us to the northeast, and our area was spared any real effects from the storm.  We never lost power, and so I was able to watch the coverage of the aftermath of the storm as it unfolded.

One of the things that really struck me was how many of the displaced people were making their way through flooded streets with no shoes on.  Many evacuees were wading through flooded streets barefoot, carrying the only pair of shoes that had with them.  I assume that the thought process was to keep the shoes dry so they could put them back on when they got where they were going.  That's only a guess.  I didn't have a chance to ask them personally, and none of the reporters asked the question.

None of the shoeless crowd had any type of bug-out bag, luggage, or even a grocery sack with essentials in it.  I never personally saw it on the news, but I read several reports of people foraging for food out of dumpsters.  So, just so I understand, a lot of people's planning process for dealing with this natural disaster included wandering out into flooded streets shoeless, with no essential supplies, and foraging for food out of the trash, waiting around for the relief agencies to come help them out.  That's terrific.

Seriously people, you don't have to spend $300,000 on a fortified retreat to be a prepper.  Taking a few basic precautions, having a week's worth of food and water stored at your home, stockpiling a few basic tools, weapons, and equipment will make you more prepared for an emergency that a large portion of the population.

If you do have to evacuate your home, try wearing a solid pair of shoes when you're wading around the flooded streets.  Who knows what kind of debris is under the water?  Stepping on a jagged piece of concrete with no shoes on and lacerating your foot is a sure way to invite infection.  When FEMA or the Red Cross is waiting around the corner in a Zodiac boat to float you to safety, you can get away with this sort of nonsense, but when there is no outside help coming, and you are in a long-term survival situation, an infected foot will can get you killed.

Taking the time to put a toothbrush, personal hygiene kit, wallet, medication, extra glasses, a blanket, change of cloths, and extra shoes into a pillow case and taking your little bug-out bag with you will really pay off when you get to the shelter.  If you want to get really high-speed, you can stock up on a little beef jerky and pork and beans, and then you can forgo eating out of the trash, unless that's really what you're in to.

Here's a link to a video that we made talking about the importance of having a few alternate sources of light available when the grid goes down.  We made it Halloween night, after the trick or treaters had all come and gone, so I'm dressed up like a Zombie, but the information is still relevant.  For a lot of us, the concept of having a few flashlights, extra batteries, bulbs, and candles on hand will seem pretty basic, but for the shoeless clueless crowd, this might seem like advanced stuff.  Hope you enjoy.

4 Tips on How to Identify Food Grade Buckets - wikiHow

4 Tips on How to Identify Food Grade Buckets - wikiHow

One of the benefits of writing a book is that you learn a great deal as you do the research. Food storage is a survival topic that I am still learning about.  Found this interesting article this morning about how to tell the difference between a regular bucket and a food grade bucket.

The danger of using a regular bucket for long-term food storage is that chemicals used in the manufacturing process may leach out into your food, which doesn't sound good.

If you are improvising after the zombie apocalypse, I don't suppose it will make too big of difference, as you'll be going through the food fast enough that chemicals won't have much of a chance to get into the food.  That's just a guess, based on no scientific data.

Major Robert Rogers' Standing Orders 1759

"In 1756, Major Robert Rogers, of New Hampshire, recruited nine companies of American colonists to fight for the British during the French and Indian War.  Ranger techniques and methods of operation inherently characterized the American fronterismen.  Major Rogers was the first to capitalize on them and incorporate them into the fighting doctrine of a permanently organized fighting force."  The Ranger Handbook, pg. i.

While equipment has changed, Rogers' standing orders are still as relevant today as they were in 1756.

1.  Don't forget nothing.

2.  Have your musket clean as a whistle, hatchet scoured, sixty rounds powder and ball, and be ready to march at a minute's warning.

3.  When you're on the march, act the way you would if you was sneaking up on a deer.  See the enemy first.

4.  Tell the truth about what you see and what you do.  There is an army depending on us for correct information.  You can lie all you please when you tell other folks about the Rangers, but don't never lie to a Ranger or officer.

5.  Don't never take a chance you don't have to.

6.  When we're on the march we march single file, far enough apart so one shot can't go through two men.

7.  If we strike swamps, or soft ground, we spread out abreast so it's hard to track us.

8.  When we march, we keep moving until dark, so as to give the enemy the least possible chance at us.

9.  When we camp, half the party stays awake while the other half sleeps.

10.  If we take prisoners, we keep 'em separate till we have had time to examine them, so they can't cook up a story between 'em.

11.  Don't ever march home the same way.  Take a different route so you won't be ambushed.

12.  No matter whether we travel in big parties or little ones, each party has to keep a scout 20 yards ahead, 20 yards on each flank, and 20 yards in the rear so the main party can't be surprised and wiped out.

13.  Every night you'll be told where to meet if surrounded by a superior force.

14.  Don't sit down to eat without posting sentries.

15.  Don't sleep beyond dawn.  Dawn's when the French and Indians attack.

16.  Don't cross a river by a regular ford.

17.  If somebody's trailing you, make a circle, come back onto your own tracks, and ambush the folks that aim to ambush you.

18.  Don't stand up when the enemy's coming against you.  Kneel down, lie down, hide behind a tree.

19.  Le the enemy come till he's almost close enough to touch, then let him have it and jump out and finish him up with your hatchet.

Firearms Safety

I found this video on YouTube a few days ago, and I thought it was so revealing and noteworthy that it became the first video I added to my playlist on my YouTube channel.

Take comfort in knowing that during a Zombie Apocalypse or any other post collapse survival situation, these people and millions like them will be running around the streets armed.  A big reason that a large percentage of the population will be wiped out within the first couple of months is that these people will run around shooting each other and themselves, and unfortunately, people who are prepared and squared away.

Stay off the streets whenever possible during the first couple of months after the collapse.  It will be a chaotic, uncertain, scary time, and that's just because of the people who will panic and riot or riot and then panic.  But I digress.

Muzzle management and trigger finger discipline are the two cardinal rules of firearms safety.  If you do nothing else right but those two things, the chances of someone being injured or killed negligently goes way, way down.  A lot of the examples in this video might be sort of funny if they weren't so sad, scary, and tragic.

Seek qualified firearms instruction if you don't know what you are doing.  A little common sense never hurt either.  Seriously, if you give a toddler a gun to play with and you get shot in the stomach, that one's on you dude.  What did you expect?  Genius.  Get it together people.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Et33bbA0GeM&list=PLcS15-b6W2zsg_-egPUzavrb-IsW-j6JP&feature=plcp

New Rally Point LLC Blog

Hello everyone.  My wife and I watched Julie and Julia or some such thing a few weeks ago, and she convinced me that a blog would be a really good way to help spread the word about Rally Point LLC and Assemble on Us.  The blog is in the early stages (I've been working on it for a total of about 20 minutes) so please be patient as we continue to refine and develop our blog presence.

www.rally-point-llc.com