Do you train enough, or do you train at all?

Discussion in 'General Survival and Preparedness' started by badkarma, Mar 20, 2008.


  1. badkarma

    badkarma ΜΟΛΩΝ ΛΑΒΕ

    After posting the clip about the robbery in Houston, I got to thinking about my personal plans for survival. I thought about what survival means to me.

    I thought about prepping and all the things "normally" associated with survival or preparedness or homesteading or kamana or whatever lifestyle you chose to live.

    To me preparedness means more than having enough food to last 2 years, or enough ammunition, or a library of books for reference. It means more that having a freezer full of heirloom seeds or 3 BOB's. For me preparedness also means beaing able, equipped and ready to survive the right now. It can be as simple as putting on your seat belt, or having your firearm with you. Being aware of your surroundings, and they guy in the long sleeve hoody in the convenience store.

    What good are all the stored goods in the basement if you get shot in the face during a carjacking or smashed by a truck you didn't see running a red light the first 10 minutes after TSHTF? Are you prepared to resist, do you practice situational awareness? Have you ever trained in vehicle gun-fighting?

    I have to give myself these gut checks or I get complacent in my training and practice of what I've already learned. I've read probably 5 books and watched probaby twice again that many DVD's on reactionary gunfighting/combatives/self defense/etc. But it wasn't until I actually DID it many times over in training that I got comfortable with the speed at which things happen in the real world. Books and DVD's can't prepare you for the reaction of your body when someone caps off 10 rounds with an AK about 2 feet from your head, or someone fires a .45 inside a vehicle.

    thoughts, comments, corrections, suggestions?


    Sorry if I rambled.....

    you will survive another day
     
  2. ghrit

    ghrit Bad company Administrator Founding Member

    bk, rambling is welcome here, it prods thoughts often enough to be well worth it. I personally do gut checks pretty regularly and try to maintain situational awareness, that is, limiting mind wandering when (for examples) on the roads and in stores. So far as practice goes, there are few that can say they get enough, no matter what, whether it is canning for the coming apocalypse or defensive shooting techniques. Personally, that has to be, and will be covered in the near term. Fairly soon I'm buying cheap insurance, and will do more with prepping than I can here.

    Aside day to day personal awareness, my thinking always has been that no one person can take care of all the needs in the event of teotwawki, and is arguable in shtf situations. It will be the tribe, where areas of expertise can be exploited to best benefit, that will make it thru.
     
  3. E.L.

    E.L. Moderator of Lead Moderator Emeritus Founding Member

    Amazing what stimulates the thought process, be it a close encounter/personal experience, reading "Lights Out", or watching a youtube/liveleak video on something like the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina. Hopefully it stimulates that thought process and keeps you alert and alive.

    Amen my thoughts exactly. Armed home invasions, carjacking, getting lost in the mountains/woods, hurricanes, tornadoes, financial SHTF problems, car wrecks.......there is no end to what a SHTF event can be.

    I have practiced weak hand shooting, night shooting, shooting in different positions, clearing jammed weapons, trigger reset, transfer from primary to secondary weapons, but.......not shooting a shotgun, center fire rifle or pistol out of a vehicle in a defensive mode. (yes, I have shot game this way). This will have to take some thought, and time as I will have to wait until my range is empty to practice this. Maybe Friday afternoon.

    Good point, many of us here have watched the videos and read countless articles, but until you actually do it over and over you cannot develop the muscle memory.

    Excellent post.
     
  4. Wild Trapper

    Wild Trapper Pirate Biker

    One of my neighbors used to work at the same hospital I did only I worked as a boiler operator and he worked security. several times I'd get called to help back security up. You never knew what was coming in the door next. I was visiting him the other day, talking about old times, we're both Vietnam Veterans, and I told him how most of the time I was armed while working there and that I knew several others that were as well. I'm sure it surprised him some but then he thought about it and said he understood.

    Never drop your guard! I live where I can still shoot besides belonging to a gun club with a range and shooting sometimes with a LEO friend. He said, even though he had a lot of ammo, he hasn't shot in a while.
     
  5. TailorMadeHell

    TailorMadeHell Lurking Shadow Creature

    I've done some weapons training and will do more in the near future. Firing from prone, firing while moving, firing from vehicle and a few more. Good stuff to get down. In the words of my DS, It either takes one good blow to the head or 800 repetitions to get it down. Maybe someone can start a thread on the tactical aspects of shooting. Most know it's not just point and bang, though some wouldn't think of it.

    Cover and concealment, 360 security, buddy teams and other good stuff goes into being able to survive a firefight. When your tribe sets up, make sure the one you get to pass on his/her 'experience' is worth their salt. Get manuals about Infantry Tactics and practice. Remember playing cops and robbers or cowboys and indians? Same thing unless you need to visit L.A. for a practical exercise. Haha.
     
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