The Will to Prepare to Win



You may have heard this before:  “"The key is not the will to win... everybody has that. It is the will to prepare to win that is important." – Bobby Knight (remember that hot-headed NCAA basketball coach?  Yep that’s the him.)

I’d venture to say the will to prepare to win is an often overlooked skill set in today’s microwaveable ready world.  Can anyone blame us?  We’ve been programmed to take care of things at the last minute.  Everything we want, we get because of “just in time” logistics at the super-market or convenience stores.  With lay-away and credit cards do we really even have to plan and save for what we want?  And believe me, we’re not pointing any fingers.  The “just-in-time” thing effects all of us.

However, there are some things I think we can all agree that deserve a little farther look down the road when it comes to planning a favorable outcome for the protection of our family.  Taking time and spending a few dollars to learn or send ourselves for retraining when it comes to survival, self-defense and first aid can mean the difference in life and death.  Trying not to be melodramatic, the reality is that training equals proficiency and proficiency equals the speed in which we can help save lives, defend threats and find safety.

And unfortunately we can type away on blogs, write books, and theorize about what’s what, but it doesn’t replace getting “out there” with qualified instructors and learning new skills, or for some of us, knocking the rust off and retraining.  It’d be nice if it weren’t so, but survival skill sets are a perishable good if not used regularly. 

And that’s where the tag line comes in:  Having the will to win in a bad situation is common, but having the will to prepare to win is stacking the deck in your favor and is the key.  Having the will to get out there and prepare to win (by training) against life threatening situations is a great start.  Our families deserve the best protection we can offer.

Luckily for us there are a number of private companies in several different regions of the US that are willing to train law abiding citizens in wilderness survival, self-defense and first aid:  John Mosby (West & Northwest), SFMedic(East / Southeast), Max Velocity (East), DTG (Great Lakes) .  These are just to name a few.  It seems that most students are satisfied when finding training instructors who’s expertise is vouched for by those in their respective community of contact.  Equally important is feedback from fulfilled students.

Life gets in the way sometimes, but it’s important to take the time to prepare to beat the odds of a SHTF situation.  We hope that as summer is waning this post finds you and your family healthy and full of energy.  Perhaps we’ll see you in the field when it’s time to retrain some of those survival skills.

Tactical Combat Casualty Care – August 23, 2013

 

 



Get the training while the training is available . . . acquire the skills to save a life.

http://defensivetraininggroup.wordpress.com/2013/07/24/tactical-combat-casualty-care-august-23-2013/

Cost: $150 per person

Objective: Participants will learn to use the latest in first aid doctrine gained from the military and applied to situations that the family defender or community defense team might find themselves faced with during a SHTF scenario.

One of the major issues facing those in the preparedness community is lack of experience in “real world” violent situations. DTG will train you in the latest techniques of Tactical Combat Casualty Care. Participants will learn to prioritize actions to take during a crisis so that you and yours have the best chance of surviving the incident you can, given your level of expertise and other factors. When the class is over, you’ll have the basic knowledge and information with which to build an even more in-depth trianing program for your own group.

Class Duration: 8 Hours
Topics Covered:
– Care Under Fire
– Tactical Field Care
– Casualty Evacuation Care
– Blow Out Kit Contents / Placement
– Use of Blow Out Kit Contents
– Treatment of the 3 most preventable causes of battlefield death

Registration: Send a note of interest to defensivetrainggroup@live.com, subject line: TC3 Class
Class size is limited, so confirm your registration today!

The Blow Out Kit and John Q Public

 

 

There are literally a couple hundred versions of the "Blow Out" First Aid Kit on the web.  Each version has their own content list.  In this blog entry we will define what a Blow Out Kit is, how it differs from an expanded First Aid Kit and why.  We will also discuss why the average guy who lives, say . . . near Detroit . . . (or any other major crime infested city) should have a BOK.  "The Blow Out Kit . . .  Not JUST for soldiers"

 

WHAT IS A BLOW OUT KIT (BOK)? -  A BOK is a small first aid kit, that treats the three most common and preventable causes of battlefield death in accordance with Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine. 

 

Through self application of the kit (if you are able), or by a buddy (if incapacitated), the BOK is to aid you in getting back "into the fight" as quickly as possible so that you can stop your enemy and save your team (See Side Note 1 below).  The BOK has only the items that are absolutely necessary to save lives that are in immediate danger of expiring due to arterial bleeding from an appendage, sucking chest wound, or clogged airway (The three most preventable causes of battlefield death).  It's designed to be small and light weight so that you can have it close by (always immediately accessible), and to limit the items to that which you only will immediately need to save a life (so you are not fumbling through sutures and stethoscopes, while you're trying to turn off the hose of blood coming from the area that used to be your lower leg). 

 

Very rarely on the net do you see any of this mentioned.  Why is that?  Who knows, it could be a lack of study time in what Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine is and how it relates to the BOK.  It could be driven by excluding certain items due to pricing margins . . . or any number of combinations.  Either way it causes a major problem for the average person and what happens is that a bunch of different variations of Blow Out Kits are sold, leaving the consumer to wonder how one BOK is better or worse than another?

 

______________________________________________________________________________

*Side Note 1:  How is treating battlefield preventable deaths applicable to John Q Public you say? 

 

Anyone who's ever lived in or near a major city or ghetto can tell you gun fights do happen, gunshot wounds do need to be treated to save lives, and if/when the SHTF, there is going to be a potential for an even higher number of shootings. 

 

As mentioned earlier, the drug addict, carjacker, or mad man is the enemy of the citizen.  The battlefield is the area that the altercation happens in.  The "fight" may be the race against time to save one's life.  The actual attacker may be gone, but the enemy now becomes the loss of life.  The tragedy in Boston is a perfect example of this (what was encouraging were the citizens jumping into action to help save lives).  So it might make sense how TC3 training and kits are very applicable to the John Q of this day and age even if you don't carry a firearm for a living like soldiers do.

 

The simple trip across town today could end up in a carjacking for the guy sitting in traffic next to you, which could leave him bleeding out and you with the decision to help him.  Would you know how?  Would you have the required items to save his life?

 

*Side Note 2: Can you please define Tactical Combat Casualty Care in a nutshell?

 

Tactical Combat Casualty Care is care provided to treat the three most preventable causes of battlefield deaths during the following situations.

 

1.  Providing Care Under Fire - CUF - (Providing care while the attack is happening).

2.  Tactical Field Care - TFC - (Providing care after the attack has stopped or paused).

3.  Combat Casualty Evacuation Care - CASEVAC - (Providing care to evacuate the casualty for more thorough medical attention).

 

________________________________________________________________________________ 

 

 

The link below is a great place to start with what should be in your "BOK".  The second link is an excellent look at the same ex-SF soldier's perspective on TC3.  Take it to heart, the guy knows his stuff.

 

http://mountainguerrilla.blogspot.com/2012/06/ifakbok-contents.html

 

http://mountainguerrilla.blogspot.com/2012/03/tactical-combat-casualty-care-part.html

 

Great Lake Survival has put together one of the most affordable Blow Out Kits around, with all of the items needed to provide immediate life saving care in line with tactical field care doctrine.  We don't push a lot of our products on this blog because they generally sell themselves.  However we have a good product, it's relatively affordable, so you might consider it. 

 

http://www.greatlakesurvival.com/First_Aid_Kits.html

 

you can also get our kits here:

 

http://www.defensivetraininggroup.net/First_Aid___TCCC.html

 

The list of contents in the GLSC Blow Out Kit:

 

2 Pairs Black Nitrile Gloves NSN: 6515-01-515-0197 1 EMT Shears NSN: 6515-00-935-7138

1 Nasopharyngeal Airway / Lubricant NSN: 6515-01-529-1187

1 Compress gauze 4.5”x4.1 yds. NSN: 6510-01-503-2117

1 Israeli Bandage 4” or 1 ETD dressing NSN: 6510-01-558-4114

2 - HALO Chest Seals NSN: 6510-01-581-0553 

1 Decompression Needle  NSN: 6515-01-541-0635

1 TK4 Tourniquet NSN: 6515-01-542-7696

1 2-mil re-sealable plastic pouch 

 

 

To get a better understand in depth of "TC3" or Tactical Combat Casualty Care doctrine that is in use by the US Armed forces there is the current Ranger Medic Handbook (4th Edition) can be bought at http://www.defensivetraininggroup.net/First_Aid___TCCC.html .  It describes TC3 in detail.  It's also waterproof.  You can also download the free Combat Life Saver Course Study Guide from http://www.greatlakesurvival.com/uploads/IS0871_Edition_C_ALMS.pdf

(Note that simply having the right kit doesn't replace going out and getting proper first aid instruction.)

 

 

Thanks for Reading

 

 

 

 

 

Defensive Training Group - The Buddy Team



Hats off to DTG for an excellent post on the basic building block for multiplying your chances of survival . . . with the Buddy Team.

Two brains are better than one, especially in a FUBAR situation.

http://defensivetraininggroup.wordpress.com/2013/04/20/basic-building-block-the-buddy-team/

Basic Building Block: The Buddy Team

Posted by Defensive Training Group on April 20, 2013

Posted in: Small Unit Tactics. Leave a Comment

 

Nearly everyone has an idea about what a ‘Buddy Team’ should be, but not many people can actually articulate their expectations. That’s the point of this post: To provide you with some basic essentials of what the ‘Buddy Team’ is and what you can expect of your ‘Buddy’. You can, and should, build Buddy Teams in your family as well as the rest of your tribe. Working in pairs increases probability of survival significantly.

Your buddy is just as important as your rifle, your knife, or your fire making device to your survival! Without your buddy, your chances of survival are diminished by such a large percentage that you must face the fact that you have very little chance to survive a hostile encounter in a SHTF scenario, short of Devine intervention.

So then, what is your responsibility as a ‘Buddy’? Here are some good guidelines:

o Always watch your buddy’s back because he’s watching yours!
o Never take more from your buddy than you can give (supplies, time, support, etc).
o Know that your buddy is your best friend, even if he’s jumping your ass to get you to learn something new or do something better!
o Never lie to your buddy (lie to anyone outside your tribe all you want, but never to your buddy)!
o Never leave your buddy behind unless he’s dead.
o Never betray your buddy – Loyalty that can be bought is despicable!
o Learn his rifle as well as you know your own if his is different.
o Learn where everything is on his harness and make him learn where everything is on yours, especially those things that will keep him alive!
o Get to know him! This means outside of training: Trust is built this way!
o Be ready to listen to him when he’s got a problem.
o Be honest with him about your own weaknesses and strengths. You can’t build your team on bullshit.
o Take the calculated risk to build trust with each other. NOW! Yeah, it’s hard when you first get to know each other, but you’ve got a pair of balls, right?
o If your Buddy has more experience than you, admit it to yourself and listen to him!
o Always give your best to and for your buddy-no exceptions!
o Be a friend, because he could be the only one you’ve got when the SHTF!

Winter Survival Tips



 

One of the good things about being with Great Lake Survival is that the friends and family of this company actually get out in the wilderness to practice their survival skills on a regular basis.  It would be easy to sit behind the computer screen all the time.  Although it takes discipline to continually get out and practice what you know . . . it helps us keep grounded.  Not to mention staying out in the bush keeps giving us things to write about :)

 

Winter Survival Tips

(some of these tips we've had funny stories with, some of them more serious stories)

 

1.  Listen to your teammates:  When 3 guys on a 4 man team are telling you important task "X" would be better done by doing A instead of B (and if you screw up on B it costs your whole team a lot of work), it would pay to listen to the team.  After all, if you willingly go far enough into the bush to need a chopper out if someone gets hurt, you better trust the people you're with enough to listen to them.

 

2.  Sizing up the situation? Ever heard a coach say, "you will play in the game, the way you practice on the field". Constantly goofing off, or wasting energy, because it's just training . . . well that's not smart. Every time we go into winter survival training - it IS a survival situation. Weather can change an easy going training session into a butt-kicker in no time, let alone adding an injured team member into the mix.

 

3.  Have purpose in the morning:  During winter training, in the morning getting out of the bag and lean to is a dangerous time.  Usually everything is still bitterly cold, one's internal furnace is starving for food so that it can produce warmth.  The hands and feet will freeze up a lot quicker than usual.  There's a short period of time once the frozen boots are on to get a fire going, get hot liquids going or get moving if you need to bug out.  It's a mistake to get out of the sack without a purpose and sense of urgency.  It usually is a mistake only made once though.  Hypothermia is a B! 

 

4.  Sno-seal leather boots:  It's inexpensive, it works, it keeps your leather flexible and dry.  When the temp dumps really low, wet boots freeze up, so that the next morning it's like trying to get on a glass vase over the feet.  Sno-seal will keep leather pack boots from getting saturated with wet snow, keeping them flexible.

 

5.  Void the bladder before bed:  Some of the best advice we've ever heard.  Getting out of the bag in the middle of the night wastes energy.  Urinals make the risk of getting urine in the bag . . .

 

6.  Get some Wiggy's gear:  Wiggy's brand outdoor gear is pretty darn good stuff.  Boots, Sleeping bags, Gloves, Coats, Ground pads and Sweaters.  Wiggy's gear is insulated with Lamilite, which insulates even when wet, better than anything on the planet.  It wicks water like no other.  Seriously it's awesome stuff.  If you have to be in the bitterly cold, do it with Wiggy's by your side.  Trust us, we've tested the snot out of their products. 

 

Hopefully your winter survival training gives you some nuggets of wisdom to share.  If you get out to test your skills, God bless ya.

 

 

Survival Training - Where to Start?



This is a “take-off” on the earlier post in June, “getting out there”.

In our case, we have our Level 1, 2 and 3 kits, ready to go.  The kits are configured the way we’d best use them, we’ve balanced load properly, we carry our Level 1 gear everywhere we go, and our Level 2 and 3 gear usually isn’t too far away . . . Now what?

Instruction:

Proper instruction is definitely a pre-requisite to getting out and training.  Printed instruction is good, and a live instructor who demonstrates, trains you, and then grades you, is better.

Basic survival instruction should cover the following:  Body Temperature Regulation (Shelter and Fire), Hydration (Water Purification), First Aid, Sanitation and Food collection / preparation.

A good printed source for that kind of information:

Free: FM 21-76 US Military Survival Manual: http://www.equipped.org/fm21-76.htm

$15 shipped:  The USRSOG Manual:  http://www.usrsog.org/manu.htm (probably the best information for the money around today).

Again, instruction given in person with demonstration is probably the best return on investment.  If you know a former military instructor who knows his or her way around the survival world, who’s willing to help you learn, that’s always a plus.

Another thing to do is search out companies in your local area that offer survival training.  For example, in Michigan, Great Lake Survival teams up with Ravenswood Enterprises to offer disaster preparedness, wilderness survival and team building training.

If you’re not in the Michigan area, there are several survival training companies that we recommend across the country.  Drop us a line and we might be able to point you in the right direction depending on where you live.

Training:

Assuming we’ve had proper instruction, we now have our Level 1, 2 and 3 kits squared away.  We’re ready to go do some Training.  The backyard is a good place to start.  Here’s how we would recommend getting one’s “feet wet” with survival training.

1.       Basic Survival Training:  Stay a night out in your local camp ground or back yard with your level 1 and 2 kit.  (obviously if you have a medical condition, this trumps whatever training you are attempting, use common sense).  Construct a shelter with your knife and paracord.  Make survival fire.  Make an insulated place to sleep in your shelter.  If available try and catch some fish with the line, hooks and insects for bait.  Filter and purify some water with in your utility pot.  If the going gets too tough, go inside and figure out what went wrong or what you could do better.  The next time, do it on a rainy day and night in the same area.  Each time you have a successful experience, record it, what went well, what you could do better.  Each time you do a new training day, make the conditions just a little more difficult.  Basic Survival Training should be just over night.  Surviving outside for a night is a skill that just about anybody with the right tools, instruction and attitude can obtain.

2.       Intermediate Survival Training:  This is where we like to turn survival training into a “weekend thing”.  One night here or there is great, but now we’re ready for a couple days in the bush.  Still it would be good to go close to home in the woods not too far away in case something goes wrong.  We have our Level’s 1, 2 and 3.  We’ve set up shelter, made a fire, have purified water (hot or tepid depending on the weather).  Maybe (if it’s legal with the proper hunting permits), want to set up a few animal snares and do some hunting with our “survival pistol”.  Maybe some wild game over the camp fire that night would be tasty.  Each time we go out we test out selves a little more, making sure not to get in over our heads.

3.       Advanced Survival Training:   The only thing different in advanced training is that we’re extending our stay in the wild, and the weather might be a bit more extreme or the location a bit more remote.  There is inherent risk in this type of training.  The individual bears the sole responsibility for his or her outcome.  If your skills aren’t up to snuff or you haven’t been properly trained, it could cost a life.

Having been trained properly, we think the inherent risk in survival training is worth the return on investment to us.  Each time we “push” ourselves to be a little better or a little less comfortable in our training, we develop the attribute of being tough.

People will ultimately have to make the decision inside their mind, whether critiquing a few episodes of “Man vs. Wild” has the same merit as getting out on a regular basis to train and re-train survival skills.  We try not to fool ourselves into thinking that it does.

There is a sense of satisfaction in retraining old skills and testing new skills, knowing that our loved ones can count on us to give them a fighting chance in bad situations. 

As always, Thanks for reading,

-          The Great Lake Survival Team