My concept of the Four man Survival Unit

Yea I am discarding the specialization and adding Toosl, Medical, Food/Water, and Shelter kits in addition to my Comm setup. The bag I have demonstrated weighs 18 lbs. I think the remainder should remian under 30 lbs and I plan on purchasing a camping backup and Gor-Tex camo outfit and a military modular sleeping system...I will be a jack of all and a master of Two (medical and comm)

reply to post by THE_PROFESSIONAL


I can appreciate the value of specialists, but most of my friends are pretty well-rounded, even the city folk. That said, it is a good idea to evaluate their skills by category.

FIREARMS/DEFENSE/HUNTING/FISHING

For example, we're all decent with guns, and one of our pastimes is Paintball (which is good as you get kind of the kill or be killed rush/fear of combat, but in a safe setting...so, it won't be a complete shock to the system). Also, we learn how to be a team this way (and of course, how to shoot quickly. In addition to this, we all are familiar with firearms. Only a couple of us are good scrappers in melee though. But, we have a LOT of swords, hehe. (as we're all into many medieval kind of things). Also, these same skills can be turned to hunting game.

CONSTRUCTION/REPAIR

I didn't see this in your list, but this is essential for any kind of settlement. On my ranch, it seems every other week there's some kind of mini-project requiring these skills. More than half of my friends are pretty decent DIY guys, and that is extremely important, I'd think, in getting through a SHTF event. Fences, roofs, equipment, and DIY engineering ideas. Plumbing, mechanics, electrical work, etc.

FOOD STORAGE/GROWING/PREPARATION/HUSBANDRY

You can't just put a bunch of food in a closet and hope for the best. There's a lot to know to store it right (and safely), and prepping it, etc. Also, there's agriculture, arguably the ONLY solution that is a long-term solution for an apocalyptic level event. Any meat that is gained, needs to be treated and stored to last, and maybe without refrigeration. Once the fuel is gone, horses may be transport again, and someone will be looking after these also (and their manure is good for gardening) (and they'll just eat grass..though hopefully we could grow some other stuff to supplement).

MEDICAL

A must, but medicine is going to backslide decades after a SHTF scenario. We've got an RN and an EMT in our circle of friends, so we've got this covered somewhat. Plus, most of us are all First Aid Certified. The other trick will be (in a long term event) looting medications to create a stockpile in case they are needed (and/or for trade). But, we'd need to know what to get, and what it's used for.

EDUCATION/KNOWLEDGE/MANAGEMENT

Eventually, repopulation, educating the young, and just general knowledge exercises like rules, management of the community, etc.

COMMUNICATIONS

I mostly think this is going to be important only in the beginning (getting the team assembled in one location). After that, we're likely going to some charged walkie talkies with a 3 mile range.

SCROUNGING/LOOTING

These people will need a variety of skills. Stealth, Speed, Breaking & Entering, Navigation, etc. In addition, they'll need good planning to concentrate on what to hit, what to get, and to get back without being followed, etc.

ENTERTAINMENT

Someone needs to keep people entertained...no TV, etc. Good thing we're all fans of boardgames!

Of course, many of these roles would be done by the same people. That's what I mean, more like a bunch of people with different skills and talents. The guy who's good at hunting, may not be the best manager or grower, etc.

reply to post by THE_PROFESSIONAL


To be a bit more real IMHO...you'd need four "minimum"special interest groups, along the same lines that you have laid out.....but, the gunpowder firearms guys would need to mine coal, salt peter, and another chem...

They would need to be "camps" or so to say, not all your eggs in one basket, besides, water near a coal, source...and other reasons....they just logistically, can't and should not be all together at one place...

The medics would need more than rudamentary supplies ...abilities to grow basic antibodies...etc...

Farmers, yeah....better put them near the guys with gunpowder, or it'll just get taken.

I get your idea and follow it, but how much should be said ....is up to you...and yours...

Not to mention, you must mean not more than one generation, or god forbid the medic has a heart attack...D'ohhh

Or you have that genetic breading thing down pat...

I have a 6 man team concept in the works should things ever get out of hands.
Myself, my older brother who is out of the Marines, 2 of his Marine buddies, my fiance and my brothers wife who is a doctor.

No kids, no elderly, no sick, no worries.

reply to post by THE_PROFESSIONAL

The US Army Special Forces "A Team" is also organized in a similar manner. I love your communications bag, good planning!

I do have one suggestion though, I recommend that everyone in your team be 'cross trained' in at least one other field - people get sick, hurt, etc.