DON’T MISS: CREATING A SECURE BUG OUT LOCATION

SMART FISHING
TECHNIQUES TO
SURVIVE IN THE WILD

IN THIS ISSUE: OCTOBER 2018

WHAT HAPPENS HOW TO

ONCE YOU PULL PAY FOR
THE TRIGGER YOUR PREPS

DON’T FALL FOR IS THAT

THESE DOOMSDAY USED GUN
MYTHS SAFE TO BUY?

THE ART OF STAYING

BARTERING WHEN SANITARY WHEN
THE SHTF BUGGING OUT

and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

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Contents
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CREATING A SECURE BUG OUT LOCATION

FEATURED When the SHTF things are going to get real ugly, real fast. Hunger, a lack of preparation, and of
course, all of the delinquents out to take advantage of the less fortunate. Well, it's a recipe for…

SMART FISHING TECHNIQUES WHEN YOU’RE IN THE WILD

page 4 If you've ever spent any time in the wild with an empty stomach, you know how important it is
to be able to catch your own food. A full belly will give you energy to trek to your bug out…

SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO PAY FOR PREPS

page 5 I don’t have to tell you that this lifestyle is expensive. You're probably already putting a massive
chunk of your weekly paycheck onto your day-to-day living expenses, and spending what little…

IS THAT USED GUN SAFE TO BUY?

page 6 New guns are expensive items to buy, and they're only getting more so. One question I get asked
all the time from my students is why not buy used. I myself have bought many used guns, but…

STAYING SANITARY WHEN YOU’RE BUGGING OUT

page 8 When I was a kid I loved going camping. But my mother would always complain about the state
of the shower when I returned home. Scrubbing the accumulated dirt and grime off would…

BEFORE PULLING THE TRIGGER KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

page 9 It's one of those situations you hope never happens to you. You've been attacked by an armed
criminal, and to defend your own life you've drawn your firearm and taken them down. But…

DON’T FALL FOR THESE DOOMSDAY MYTHS

page 10 After shows like Doomsday Preppers placed a spotlight on this lifestyle, things just started to
snowball. People started sharing crazier and crazier notions of "survival" and what's worse…

MASTER THE ART OF BARTERING WHEN THE SHTF

page 11 Bartering is a dying art. These days we've all got a wallet full of cash, plastic cards that allow us
to make purchases, and stores that would certainly look at you funny if you tried to exchange…

HOW TO MANAGE A FALLING OUT WITH YOUR SURVIVAL GROUP

page 13 We all know the importance of having a strong community when it comes to survival. Extra
hands for the big tasks, extra eyes for lookouts while you sleep, and the added sense of…

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
CREATING A SECURE BUG OUT LOCATION
When the SHTF things are going to get
real ugly, real fast.
Hunger, a lack of preparation, and of
course, all of the delinquents out to
take advantage of the less fortunate.
Well, it's a recipe for disaster.
But when push comes to shove, you are
the only one who can keep your family
safe. And part of that is creating a
secure bug out location. It's probably
one of the most important tasks you
face, because without the right
protection, you risk not only all of your
supplies, but your family's well being
too.
BE SMART WHEN CHOOSING
YOUR BUG OUT LOCATION
There's no point locking yourself down
in one spot if it's not got everything
you need.
Make sure there's plenty of space for
your family, your stockpile of supplies,
and also that you've got access to fresh
water sources and adequate hunting
grounds. I'd also recommend your land
be big enough to harvest your own
food, we've setup greenhouses and
aquaponics and I couldn't tell you the
last time I needed to actually buy fresh
produce from the store. We grow all of
it ourselves.
THINK ABOUT DEFENDING Make sure you've got plenty of
YOUR HOME ammunition for all of your weapons,
you’re going to need far more than you
The last thing you want is a group of think you need. Oh, and don't forget all
bad guys coming up on your location the replacement parts, cleaning kits, and
without even triggering an alarm. the training you need in order to learn
how to shoot in high-stress situations.
If you're able to select the spot for your
bug out location, choose somewhere DON’T GIVE MARAUDERS A
that's a little higher than the CLEAR PATH TO YOUR DOOR
surrounding area (it makes it easier to
defend when your attackers are coming Your goal here is to make it as difficult
uphill), and you've got a clear line of as possible for anyone to reach your
sight to see anyone approaching. doorstep. They shouldn’t be able to
walk onto your property without your
I've also installed movement sensors at knowledge.
key points on our property, so we're
alerted if anyone approaches our gate,
and a few other natural spots intruders
are likely to come from.
BUY THE GEAR YOU NEED TO “a shotgun
DEFEND YOURSELF
Now here's where things start getting
and a
fun. Everyone should have a small
arsenal in their bug out location, to handgun for
fight back if you have people with ill
intent on your doorstep. every adult
I'd suggest at least a couple of long-
range rifles, a shotgun and a handgun
on the
for every adult on the property.
property…”
And if you've got the cash to spend,
you can't go wrong with a few semi-
automatic rifles.
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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

cont.

In our home we've done a few things to

deter anyone intent on getting to us.

The first, was to build out bug out

location on a rise by a small lake. That
way we're well out of the way of any
rising floodwaters, yet if you think
about our home sitting in the center of
a circle, about 60 percent of this is
water. Unless they bring their own boat,
they won't be able to sneak up on our
six. Our driveway was intentionally
created to cross a small stream, and the
wooden bridge that allows us to get in
would be one of the first things I'd
remove once the SHTF.

We've got thick natural forest along the

entire perimeter of the property, along
with our barbed wire fencing, and it's
all pretty inhospitable to cross (there's
at least 50 to a hundred yards of thorny
blackberries we planted that they'll need
to fight through).

THE IMPORTANCE OF LINE

OF SIGHT

If you're not able to spot your target,

you won't be able to shoot back.

We intentionally created a massive

clearing where we built our home so
there's at least a couple of hundred
yards of open space so we've got a
c l e a r l i n e o f s i g h t t o a n yo n e
approaching. We've also got a rooftop
balcony that wraps around our entire
home, with a railing system crafted
from thick planks of hardwood. It
looks aesthetically pleasing, but it also
gives us a 360 degree access and a
barricade we can return fire from. If
there's a threat, we can take the
appropriate action.
INVEST IN TECHNOLOGY FOR
BETTER DEFENSES
I men tio n ed ea r li er a b o ut th e
movement sensors we have, but this is
just the first line of technology defense
we've got in our security plans.
There's a smaller inner electric fence to
keep any animals at bay, and we've got
massive spotlights that can turn our
home and the clearing surrounding it
from night into day.
There's smaller sensor-activated lights
that light up on any movement.
And we've got internet-enabled security
camera's across our entire property.
So we can always see what's happening.
And if that's not enough, I just bought
a few smaller drones that I can fly to
any location and see exactly what's
going on, and pinpoint the location and
status of anyone on my property. My
wife calls me paranoid, but it's all part
of having a smart plan.
DON’T FORGET YOUR ESCAPE
ROUTE
But even with all of these preparations,
I know that even the best plans can fail.
You can be surprised, outnumbered or
outgunned, and it's important to have
an escape plan in place before you need
it. We've got two. A small jetty that
backs onto our house is setup with a
boat we can use to get to an impassable
piece of our property (you can't follow
us on a motorbike or a car).
And there's a small utility shed on the
other side that's got a couple of
motorbikes in it, just in case.
The other is an access tunnel I had built
into our basement.
It leads about 100 yards away,
completely underground, and pops up
into a secluded spot behind one of our
sheds. It's our get out of dodge tunnel,
just in case.
The only way you can be truly ready to
survive is to be ready for anything.
When it comes to creating a secure bug
out location, it's up to you to have the
gear, weapons, tactics and plans to keep
your family safe, and the escape plans
to get out if things turn for the worst.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

SMART FISHING The hardest thing to fashion yourself is

fishing line, while green vines can work,
TECHNIQUES WHEN you're much better off having a few
lengths in your kit.
YOU’RE IN THE
WILD SETTING YOUR LINES
OVERNIGHT

If you've ever spent any time in the
wild with an empty stomach, you know
how important it is to be able to catch
your own food. A full belly will give
you energy to trek to your bug out
location, and keep you on your feet
when you're tired after a long day. And
one of the best sources of good
protein are the fish living in the
waterways all over the country.
I like to think I've mastered the art of
"survival fishing." That is, improvising
the gear I need to catch a feed of fish
no matter where I am. Of course,
things will be far easier if you've got a
small fishing kit in your bug out bag.
Because hooks and lures, swivels,
sinkers and line are possible to fashion
yourself, but it takes far more time than
it's worth. Spend a few bucks and have
at least the bare minimum of gear.
HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT
LOCATION
There are so many variables when it
comes to finding fish, it's impossible to
distill it all into a single post. Fishing in
a stream is different to a lake, and of
course you're going to need to target
your fishing style, depths and even the
bait being used on the specific fish
species you're after. The best option
here is experience. Do your research in
your local area, and try different spots.
In general, I've usually had the best
success near structures, like a grass bed,
weeds, tree trunks and other rocky
foundations. Fish like interesting pieces
of water, where they can hide.
HOW TO FASHION YOUR OWN
GEAR
If you're wanting to add a little distance
to your casting, you need a rod. I like to
cut a green branch or sapling that has
some g ood f lex, and trim off
everything except the main branch.
Then just tie your line and hook, with
the weight to the end. Just use about 6
or 7 feet of line as you won't have a
reel. Your goal is to simple lift the fish
out of the water once it's hooked.
Without hooks I'd recommend
breaking up animal bones for a sharp
shard, and you can use small rocks as a
weight.
One method I like to use when I'm in
the wild is to "set and forget" my lines.
I'll attach three or four lengths of
baited line, each tied to a short (3 to 4
foot branch) hanging above the water.
If there's no trees you could always
bang a post into the shore for the
anchor.
Then I just come and check these
periodically, even leaving them
overnight sometimes so I've a fresh
feed of fish waiting for me in the
morning. It's the least taxing fishing you
can do, and allows you to get on with
your other survival tasks around camp.
Depending on the fish you're targeting
you could use weighted baits, or use
balloons or floats or even just an old
plastic bottle to hold the hooks at the
surface.
BUILDING A FISH TRAP OUT
OF VINES
There's a couple of techniques you can
use to create a fish trap, there's two I
really like.
The first works well if you've a
relatively calm piece of water with little
tidal movement. You're going to need
about 40 or 50 lengths of branches,
that are about 2 to 3 feet in length.
What you're going to make is essentially
a giant "W" trap, by pushing the sticks
into the mud so they stay in place. I use
the thicker branches for supporting
poles, and then push leafier ones in to
close the gaps. The only opening
should be right in the center of the
"W" for the fish to swim in. Once they
do, they will struggle to find the exit,
and you can either reach in and grab
them by hand, or use a spear.
The second is creating a basket. It
works on a similar principle, that the
fish swim inside and cannot figure out
how to escape, but this is created out
of 6 or 7 longer branches, woven
together with soft vines. Start by tying
the ends of the branches together, then
use a vine to interweave these all the
way along. Your goal is to make what
essentially looks like a laundry basket.
For the top, you will weave a similar
funnel as a separate piece, and then just
tie it in place with the funnel pointing
in.
Of course, you're going to need to bait
these traps to attract the fish, but they
are great as they will continue to
produce fish for you again and again,
the only downside is the time needed to
build them initially.
LEARN HOW TO SPEARFISH
Making a pole spear is as simply as fire-
hardening the tip of a long branch in a
fire, splitting it into four prongs,
inserting a thin stick to push them out,
and sharpen the points. On a beach
setting a pole spear can help you fish in
the tidal rock pools for any trapped
fish, crabs or octopus, and if you've got
a snorkel you could even try swimming
out onto the reef to catch your meal.
Of course, this works far better with a
speargun and a pair of flippers, and
spearfishing is a sport I highly
recommend to every survivalist.
Being a nature lover, I'm not going to
go into the details of poison fishing or
netting, as these are both highly
unsustainable and practices that need to
stop. There's no reason to destroy an
environment for one meal, and the
bycatch is just not worth it.
When it all comes down to it, knowing
how to fish is an important survival
skill. It's one of the best ways to bring
in a healthy supply of fresh protein,
and with a little practice you'll be
bringing in more fish than you know
what to do with.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
SIMPLE STRATEGIES TO PAY FOR PREPS
I don’t have to tell you this lifestyle is
expensive. You're probably putting a
massive chunk of your weekly paycheck
onto your day-to-day living expenses,
and spending what little is leftover on
as much extra food, guns, ammunition
and every other piece of gear you need.
Then comes your bug out location, and
everything you need to do to get your
family completely off the grid. It's a
massive investment, and no one is
going to give you a hand out. It's up to
you to find ways to raise a little more
cash to better fund this lifestyle choice.
For me, I've done my fair share of odd
jobs. And done consistently, these
simple strategies add up fast.
FIND A COMPLEMENTARY
SECOND JOB
The first, was to get another job. But
not just anything. I wanted to get more
fit, and I was spending most mornings
walking around my neighborhood. So I
started delivering newspapers. It didn't
pay much (I took home an extra $200 a
week), but it gave me cash for
something I was already doing. Think
about what you're spending your time
on, and find a way to make money from
it. It could be dog walking. Or whatever
it is you're into. You could even get a
night job flipping burgers. The money
adds up fast, especially if you've not got
that much time to spend it.
BE AVAILABLE FOR ODD JOBS
Now if there's one thing we survivalists
love, it's a good bit of machinery. With
my property I've got a rather decent
mower, and I can power through a
home fast. One week I dropped a
bunch of flyers (while I was on my mail
route) advertising a lawn mowing
ser vice, and I signed up three
customers my first month, and I do
about 5 to 7 on a regular basis now. At
$30 a pop, at least once a month, that's
at least another $150 in my pocket.
Often more. You could do the same for
power-washing, junk removal, or start
your own hauling side gig with just your
truck. There's so many opportunities, if
you've got a little hustle to do it.
HOST A PET-SITTING SERVICE
This was one of the most fun things
we've done. We've got so much space
on our property, there's an old empty
stable that was just going to waste. So,
we converted it to kennels, installed
CCTV cameras so pet owners could
check in on their little darlings, and
fenced off almost half an acre of land
for their dogs to roam. We're a little
fussy about the dogs who we host
(we've got our own pets too and don't
want to cause too many issues), but this
is a steady little earner that usually see's
us having two or three new pets each
month for a visit. Our kids love it.
5
GET SMART WITH SPENDING
Another smart move is to control
everything you're dropping money on.
Call your phone provider and see if
there's a better deal. Cancel any
subscriptions you don’t use, like your
cable or the Dollar Shave Club
promotion you never got around to
using. And start spending smart. Use
coupons when you're at the
super market. Buy food in large
quantities when it's on sale and freeze
it. Oh, and things like dropping $7 on a
Starbucks before work each morning.
You gotta stop doing that. I bought an
old coffee filter at a garage sale for $5,
and I go through a fresh bag of beans
like once a month. It's much more
affordable, and it's probably better-
quality coffee too.
CLEAR OUT YOUR CLUTTER
I don't know about you, but after a nice
"purge" to unclutter my life a bit, I feel
good. The last garage sale we held
netted us almost $700. Clothes we
never wore, gear we never used, and
useless pieces of furniture that were
simply taking up space all had to go.
You could also do that same selling
things on your local classifieds site, or
even on eBay. My wife has a knack for
repainting and refinishing old wooden
furniture, and she'll turn a $5 wooden
chair into an "art deco" piece that sells
for $40 or more when she advertises it
on eBay. There's good money to be
made with secondhand gear.
AIRBNB A SPARE ROOM
Now this is something my folks do to a
great extent. I've not got the space in
my homestead, but they've a beautiful
property up in a remote part of their
state, that has walk on access to some
of the best hiking around. Nearby
hotels go for $150+ a night, so once us
kids moved out and the whole "app"
scene took off, they refurbished out our
rooms and now rent them online.
They're pulling almost $2,000 a month
during summer (the "peak" season),
which is a tidy little profit on rooms
that would be empty anyway. And mom
loves looking after all their guests. You
could do the same if you've a little
room in your house.
There's so much potential for making
money in this day and age, I get angry
when my friends tell me that funds are
tight. Of course, they are. You simply
need to think smarter, and find ways to
make money from what you have.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

IS THAT USED GUN SAFE TO BUY?

New guns are expensive items to buy,
and they're only getting more so.
One question I get asked all the time
from my students is why not buy used.
I myself have bought many used guns,
but I've also had a couple of duds.
But enough about that.
When you're buying a used gun there's
a few red flags to watch out for.
ALWAYS, ALWAYS CHECK IT’S
NOT LOADED
LOOK FOR ANY OBVIOUS
IMPERFECTIONS
When you're considering the purchase
of a used gun, you want a jewelers eye
loupe to really investigate the condition
of the firearm.

With used guns you're almost rolling
the dice. You can get a fantastic deal,
but you have to know what to look for
otherwise you could end up with an
unsafe piece of gear.
But with the right approach and a close
inspection, you can find the diamonds
in the rough.
I'm personally a sucker for a deal.
One of my favorite firearms to this day
is a steal I found at an old estate sale. I
rather enjoy poking around yard sales
when I've a Saturday morning free, and
on this particular morning I noticed a
small handgun in a cigar box that had
obviously been neglected in the back of
a cupboard for decades. Surrounded by
more rust and rat droppings than
anything else, I picked it up for under
$100, and after putting it through the
works I was surprised to see the
internals had been well looked after (for
the most part).
It was an old colt six-shooter, and I still
feel like a cowboy when I shoot it.
This should be a given, because far too Pay attention to any cracks, deep
many people don't follow the rules for scratches in the metal, or any obvious
good gun safety. imperfections that may hinder the guns
performance.
Before you do anything with someone
else's gun, check that the gun isn't If the final finish is a little worn that's
loaded. It's just common sense, too fine, but anything else would be a red
many things can go wrong once you flag for me.
start inspecting the gun if there's a
round in the chamber.
And I don't want there to be any
accidents. Safety first people.
LOOK AT JUST HOW MUCH “there’s a
RUST THERE IS
With metal firearms you're always going
few red
to find a little rust, but that's not a deal
breaker. What you want to watch out flags to
for is the deep, pitted rust that shows
it's been neglected for years. watch out
I'd never recommend buying a firearm
if there's massive damage to the metal.
for…”
Surface rust you can clean off, so take a
good look at the overall condition of
the gun.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

cont.

LOOK DOWN THE BARREL

AND AT THE MUZZLE

Take a look at the end of the muzzle, if

it's all roughed up it probably means it's
not going to shoot right.

You also want a light to look inside the

barrel at how many lands and grooves
are inside. It's unusual it'll be shot out,
but there's always a chance so look
closely. A flashlight will help immensely.

LOOK AT THE SCREWS ON

THE GUN

If someone has treated their gun a little

rough, you'll notice it in the heads of
the screws. If they're burred or warped,
it means they've actually removed key
pieces of the gun (like the side plate on
a revolver), and then you need to
wonder what they've fiddled with
inside. I'd avoid it.

God only knows what they've messed

with internally, especially on a semi-
automatic.

FEEL THE TRIGGER PRESS

Once you've shot your fair share of

guns, you'll get a feel for the "right"
amount of tension in the trigger.

Too light, and you know someone's

messed with it. Too much movement,
and you could be facing a misaligned
cylinder that isn't good either. There
should be no wiggle room between the
forcing cone and the cylinder when it's
all closed.

On a semi-automatic, make sure to also

check the hammer follow through while
holding the trigger pressed. If it follows
the slide when you're re-racking, it's
definitely going to need some work
before you can safely shoot it.

FEEL THE PLAY IN THE GUN

With a semi-automatic there's just so
much that can go wrong, but one of
the things you can notice is the play in
the slide. If you hear a rattle when it's
shaken, that's a bad sign. You should
also not be able to press down on the
barrel hood and get it to move too
much. Tighter is better.
BUY FROM A REPUTABLE
DEALER
Now the final piece of advice I can give
is this. Buy from a reputable dealer.
Most will have a store policy where they
stand behind the guns they sell, which
gives you an added reassurance when
considering a used gun.
Usually they'll throw in a good cleaning,
and will offer a limited warranty to
repair or replace any malfunctioning
parts after the sale.
At my local gunsmith they offer a 30
day warranty on any sale, and will
replace any used gun with store credit
if it doesn't shoot safely.
Buying a used firear m isn't as
dangerous as people think. In fact, it's a
smart way to arm yourself without
breaking the bank, so long as you know
what to look for.
The trick is to inspect the weapons
thoroughly, and be willing to wait for
the right deal.
Shop around, and only buy a gun if it
feels right.

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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
STAYING SANITARY WHEN
YOU’RE BUGGING OUT
When I was a kid I loved going camping. But my mother would always complain about the state of the shower when I returned
home. Scrubbing the accumulated dirt and grime off would always leave the bathroom a mess, but as I got older I realized I was
doing camping wrong. You see, I used it as an excuse to get a little wild, and throw good hygiene out the window.
But now I know about all the nasty bugs and bacteria living in
the woods, and the simple ways you can still stay sanitary when
you're spending weeks, and months, living in the wild. In a grid-
down scenario, knowing how to stay clean is critical to your
survival. Because the biggest killer is going to be sickness. As
people go down with infections that could have been totally
prevented with a little common sense. You need to find ways to
stay clean.
DON’T FORGO A GOOD SOAPY SCRUB
Just because you're in the woods, it's no excuse to let yourself
get dirty. At a bare minimum you should always wash your
hands before preparing or cooking any food. You don't want to
transfer in any nasty bacteria to the food you're about to eat. It's
also a good idea to give yourself a good scrub when you have
the chance, to prevent infections and the spread of bacteria. My
advice is to pack a biodegradable soap so you're free to wash in
any stream or a lake you come across. If water is scarce, you
could always use wet wipes and hand sanitizer on key areas that
need a clean. If you've got none of these you'll have to
improvise. We used to do beach scrubs on our long treks up the
coast, using sand and salt water to stay (relatively) clean. There's
also many "soap" plants you can crush up to get a good soapy
later in the wild, do your research locally and ensure you know
what they look like. I'd not recommend making your own soap
in camp, but in a pinch you can mix up animal fat with ashes
from your fire for a homemade alternative.
REMEMBER TO KEEP YOUR TEETH CLEAN
Every time you're heading into the wild, it pays to pack a
toothbrush and a tube of toothpaste. A roll of floss can also
help you remove any food that's stuck where your toothbrush
can't reach, and it's a good idea to brush your teeth at least
twice a day. Otherwise you risk bigger dental problems forming.
If you do happen to run out of toothpaste you've still got
options. Baking soda can be mixed with a little water to create
an alternative "toothpaste," and if you're near the ocean (or
have access to salt) you can cook up a mouthwash of salt water
to kill off any bacteria in your mouth. Without a toothbrush
you can simple break off a pencil-sized twig from a hardwood
like birch, oak or maple, pound the end to break up the fibers,
give it a bit of a chew then brush away. It's what the native
Americans did, and it works a treat.
8
SHAMPOO IS A VALUABLE RESOURCE
If you've got a full head of hair, or you've got your wife and
daughter along with you, having some travel-sized packs of
shampoo is a godsend. Many women like washing their hair
daily, and it will quickly get oily and dirty fast, especially if
they're sporting a long hair style. In a pinch you can also use
normal soap to break down the oils when you shower, just
ensure whatever you're using is biodegradable so you're not
doing any untoward damage to the area you're bathing in. Oh,
and a bandana and a hat is a good improvise to keep the dirt
out if you're in an area that's relatively dry. Or in a real crisis
you could always take your knife to it and give them a nice short
crop. It's much easier to care for short hair in a survival
situation, and it'll always grow back.
BE SMART WITH YOUR BATHROOM BREAKS
Going to pee in the woods is fine, and my advice here is to
ensure you're not trying to "hold it in" too much. It will cause
UTIs and a world of problems. Just drink enough water, and
ensure you're peeing regularly. For the girls a roll of toilet paper
or a clean cloth can help to wipe dry, and if you let it dry in the
sun the cloth can be used multiple times before it needs a wash.
We usually just wash it when we bathe during the day. Going
number two requires a bit more planning, just use your
biodegradable wet-wipes to clean up afterwards, and always
bury your business.
HOW ABOUT YOUR WIFE’S MONTHLY FLOWS?
It's a given that a period is a rather big inconvenience in the
wild, but it doesn't have to be a deal breaker. Good planning is
critical, and whilst you can make your own feminine hygiene
products, it's probably smarter to ensure you've got enough to
last until you reach your bug out location, and the rest of your
stockpile.
I understand that it's not really exciting to think about soap and
staying clean when you're planning for a SHTF event, but it
should be one of your top priorities. Without good sanitation,
you're risking the health of you and your family, a risk that's far
more prevalent then marauders or anything else that could go
wrong during a crisis. Without medical aid, an infection or a
sickness could be the last mistake you make.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
BEFORE PULLING THE TRIGGER KNOW
WHAT HAPPENS NEXT
It's one of those situations you hope
never happens to you. You've been
attacked by an armed criminal, and to
defend your own life you've drawn your
firearm and taken them down. But now
comes the scariest part of the whole
ordeal. What happens next.
Now before we get too far into this I
just want to reiterate a point. I'm not a
lawyer, and all the advice here I give is
general, and is only meant to be
informative to give you an idea of what
will happen after a shooting. The actual
steps may differ from state to state, and
your own personal circumstances, my
only advice is to do a little research
beforehand so you know what you're
getting into. It's all part of being a
responsible gun owner.
THE IMMEDIATE AFTERMATH
The first thing you need to do is ensure
the threat is over. Make sure the bad
guy is down, and take in everything else
going on in the area. Are his friends
scattered, or are they circling around to
jump you from behind. Once you're in
the clear re-holster your weapon and
check for any injuries to yourself, or the
people around you.
MAKING THE 911 CALL
Now you're going to need help. But
before you call take a breath.
All 911 calls are recorded, and anything
you say can actually be introduced as
evidence in court. So, don't get caught
up in a lengthy discussion of what
happened. You can be brief. Tell the
operator your location, your name, and
a brief summary of what happened. "A
man tried to rob me and I had to shoot
him" is more than adequate. Ask for
the police to be dispatched and to send
an ambulance.
WHEN THE OFFICERS ARRIVE
This is the riskiest part of the whole
ordeal. The police are armed, and they
are approaching a situation where they
know someone has already been shot.
They will be on edge, and very likely to
shoot first if they feel even the slightest
bit unsafe. Be calm, controlled and
steady in your movements, and obey
every instruction they give. I'd also like
to remind you of the importance of
being unarmed. You don't want to be
mistaken for the attacker or a threat
that needs to be taken out. Because
remember, they don’t know the players
or the details yet of what's happened.
Their whole goal is to get the location
safe, so you may even be handcuffed or
taken down. The best course of action
for you is to tell them you're the victim,
and to cooperate fully with their
commands. They will figure it out soon
enough, so just be patient.
9
WHEN IT’S TIME TO GIVE A
STATEMENT
Eventually the police will come to you
asking for a statement. You'll be read
your constitutional rights, and they'll
appear all friendly and tell you this is
simply a formality. My advice here is to
be very wary. Say the wrong thing now
and you could incriminate yourself,
even if you did nothing wrong. It's
much better to remain polite, and tell
the interviewing officer that you're
upset, and a little stressed out, and that
whilst you intend to cooperate fully,
you'd like your attorney present before
making any form of statement. This is
well within your rights, and the officers
cannot force you to do otherwise. So,
make the call, and get your attorney to
the scene asap. They’ll help you to
avoid saying anything you may regret
later, or that you could have explained
clearer if you had a little time to replay
the shooting in your head and
remember all the facts.
It's not unreasonable to assume that
you'll be taken down to the station for
further questioning as the officers try to
understand what happened, and your
role in the shooting.
From here, there's far too many
variables to explain what happens next.
It'll vary from state to state, but be
prepared for lots of delays. The officers
can keep you in custody for up to 48
hours, while they figure out what to do
next. You could be released after the
prosecutor's office has reviewed the
details of the case and decided not to
press charges. You could have a friend
or a family member post your bail to
get you out while it's all being
investigated. Or you stay in jail until
your arraignment hearing. This is where
a criminal defense attorney is a valuable
asset, as they will help navigate the legal
system for you and make the process as
painless as possible.
Shooting another person is a rather big
deal, even if you've acted in self-
defense. Because you've taken a life, it
lengthy police process you must follow,
to ensure, without a question of a
doubt, that you had no other option
but to pull the trigger.
Before you even start carrying a firearm
for self-defense, it's important to know
what will happen if you were to use it
on another person.
So you can prepare, and understand the
right way to handle it if you ever face a
situation like this yourself.
 VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
DON’T FALL FOR
THESE DOOMSDAY
MYTHS
After shows like Doomsday Preppers
placed a spotlight on this lifestyle,
things just started to snowball. People
started sharing crazier and crazier
notions of "survival" and what's worse,
is that the ill-informed started to
believe the hype. And that's where
things start getting dangerous, because
we all have good intentions, but if
you're off in the wrong direction you
could be doing more harm than good.
Today, I'd like to clear up the biggest
myths in the prepping community.
YOU WON’T BE BUYING
BREAD WITH GOLD
I have far too many friends who talk
about the merits of hoarding silver and
gold over currencies like the greenback.
But I can't imagine very many day-to-
day situations where you'll need to
actually use these precious metals.
Perhaps if you're bargaining a big
purchase, like a car, but in my book
you'd be much better off getting the
gear and supplies you need now, with
actual cash.
YOUR FOOD WON’T BE ANY
GOOD IN 25 YEARS
Food storage is of course a critical part
of survival, but I hope you realize that
food which has been sitting around for
almost 3 decades isn't going to be any
good for you once you do try to eat it.
“if you're off
in the wrong
direction you
could be
doing more
harm than
good…”
Oh, and you should probably also
know these estimations (because that's
what they are), are also based on you
keeping your stockpile in a
temperature-controlled room, at under
55 degrees Fahrenheit. I don't know
about you, but that's not my storage
room. Instead you'd be better off
setting up a rotation system with your
stock, and use first-in, first-out to keep
your stockpile moving.
YOU WILL STRUGGLE TO FIND
ENOUGH FOOD FORAGING
There's a reason civilization only started
advancing once we learned how to
farm. For us to thrive we need enough
food, and it's impossible to get these
from foraging. Once you start hunting,
maybe, but then you have to consider
the millions of other patriots who are
after the small amount of food you're
chasing. There won't be enough to go
around, and within a short amount of
time anything that's even remotely
edible will be gone.
YOUR GUNS AREN’T ENOUGH
AGAINST THE GOVERNMENT
In most circles the government is the
ultimate bad guy. I've got friends with
considerably large amounts of weapons
stockpiled, but they've got one thing
wrong. Whilst your arsenal may hold
off an armed intruder, or a group of
looters, against a force like the
government you will simply fail. If the
government decides to take what's
yours, is rounding up troops with a
forced conscription, or wants to keep
you in quarantine. They will. Your guns
aren't enough, they never will be.
YOUR CELLPHONE IS USELESS
We're all glued to our phones, but in a
real crisis the networks we currently
rely on for our daily dose of cat memes
and social network updates will not
work. There are executive orders in
place that give the government the
ability to seize control of all cellular
networks in a crisis. For the good of
national security. So, you better have a
damn good backup plan to ensure
you're still able to remain updated once
the SHTF. Things like CB and HAM
radio are much harder to shut down.
GEAR WILL KEEP YOU SAFE
Of course, things get much easier when
you have the right survival gear, but if
you don’t actually know how to use half
the things in your stockpile they might
as well not be in there.
10
What's most important is that you've
had the practice using your gear, you've
got the experience to implement all that
knowledge in your head, and you
actually know what to do in a crisis.
That's more important than any piece
of gear you could ever buy.
YOU NEED A FIREARM WITH
“REAL STOPPING POWER”
I cringe every time I hear someone brag
about the stopping power of their latest
handgun. Much like that old phrase,
"it's how you use it that counts," I'd feel
much safer knowing my wife can
actually take a breath and accurately
shoot her 9mm, than need a hand
cannon that can blow a hole in a
refrigerator. It doesn't matter how
much stopping power you have if you
can't hit your target.
YOU’RE READY FOR A CRISIS
I've got a couple of friends who are
actively looking forward to a grid down
scenario. I hate to be the one to break it
to you, but they're kidding themselves. I
like to think I'm as prepared as I can,
but there's always more. And there's
still so much that I don't know. Even
with my years, my experience, and my
strong support networks, I know I
would still struggle through a true
SHTF collapse. The key to being
actually ready, is to realize you know
nothing and be willing to learn, adapt
and overcome whatever comes your
way.
When it comes to survival there really is
far too much misinformation out there.
Armchair warriors on their keyboards
doing more talking than anything else.
My advice, is to be smart. Use logic in
your survival planning, and don't listen
to the pseudo-science and anecdotes
people use to teach these concepts.
They're far too dangerous to get wrong,
and I hope I've cleared up a few of the
biggest myths here for you today. Stay
safe out there people, and here's to your
survival.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
MASTER THE ART OF BARTERING WHEN THE SHTF
Bartering is a dying art.
These days we've all got a wallet full of
cash, plastic cards that allow us to make
purchases, and stores that would
certainly look at you funny if you tried
to exchange actual products for what
you need at your home.
As a homesteader I like to think I've
got a good handle on what it takes to
make a good barter, and I've set up a
variety of different deals on my home.
Things like giving a local beekeeper
access to a remote part of my land for
their hives, in return for four or five jars
of pure honey each month. Far more
than we can ever eat, so the excess goes
straight into our stockpile. We've also
got a friend who comes onto our
property every month or two to collect
a load of firewood, and in return he
gives us a case of his homebrewed beer.
Both of these are win-win situations,
where we've bartered deals for
something other than money.
In a crisis, you need to remember one My advice is to find inexpensive, yet
thing. The money you own is only good useful items, that will last in your
so long as someone is willing to accept stockpile.
it. And eventually, in a long, drawn-out
crisis, it'll be worthless. I like to think that people will get
hungry first, before they get bored and
You can't eat money. It won't help you start looking for entertainment, then
keep the lights on in your home, or need to find supplies to start making
your family safe and warm. Not unless their own clothes and more.
you burn it. But I have to tell you,
firewood would be a better option.
In its purest form, bartering is simply
the act of trading one product for
another. It requires trust on both sides,
and most survivalists you'll talk to are “bartering
aware of the concept.
is the act of
They'll tell you they've got stockpiles of
cigarettes, alcohol, ammo and perhaps
even gold and silver to trade with once
trading one
the SHTF.
product for
Now this is all well and good, but I
haven't got access to the kind of money another…”
you'd need to stock up on all of these
pricey items, just in case. There's better
things to spend on.
11
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

SMART RULES BEFORE MEETING FOR A TRADE

In a crisis though, there's a few rules I'd recommend before meeting a random person for a trade. These
also apply today, you never know what to expect, especially if they're a stranger.
1. Don't go to the meeting alone, unarmed, or unprepared to defend yourself
2. Don't meet anyone in a secluded area, find a public place for the trade
3. Don't invite anyone you don't know to your home (or go to theirs)
4. Don't fall for the "it's too good to be true" routine, go with your gut if things don't feel right
5. Don't go without letting someone know where you're going, and when you'll be back

I've got almost a year's supply of food
stockpiled right now, and the means to
continue replenishing it with both our
fully-functioning garden, and our few
investments we've made in livestock.
I've built up not only a pretty solid
survival-oriented library, but I've also
got well over a thousand books in my
home, that could be a welcome source
of entertainment once the grid goes
down.
I've also got far more crafting gear than
almost anyone you can imagine. From
sewing machines to knitting needles
and wool, many of these items would
make a great barter item to the right
person.
• Like getting a set of beehives that
churn out a steady supply of fresh
honey.
• Like raising a clutch of hens that
regularly produce eggs for your
breakfast.
• Like collecting the heritage seeds
from your garden to help others
grow their own food.
• Like learning how to cook your
own soaps and washing products for
staying clean
• Like learning how to skin and
prepare furs and hides for use in
clothes
Any time I'm looking for a particular
item, I put posts up on the local
bulletin board, put an ad in our
community newspaper, and make a few
posts on local forums.
There's always a few hits, and by ending
the ad with "bartering welcomed" you
may be surprised at the offers you get.
Personally, there's a few things I know
I'll want when the SHTF, and would
make great items for me.
A n y t h i n g m e d i c a l r e l a t e d , l i ke
antibiotics and medicine, spices and
condiments for cooking, batteries and
small electronics, and fuel (of pretty
much any kind).

I've also got more than my fair share of Think about what skills you have, and Of course, we've got these in our
fishing and hunting gear, along with what resources you've got on your stockpile, but I know how important
more equipment that I could possibly property to create the sort of items you they’ll be to the people who are
ever use myself. think other people will want. woefully unprepared.

It's both backup gear for me, and easily
tradeable items.
Or better yet, you could always learn
how to make tradable items yourself.
• Like a garden that produces fruit
or vegetables you could jar or pickle.
Then start stockpiling them.
Once you've got some items to barter,
it's time to put your skills into practice.
I'd recommend getting started sooner
(rather than later), as this will also help
you build a bit of a reputation locally.
The key is to use your imagination. I
always say that one man's trash is
another man's treasure, so think about
what you've got in your home that
could make for a good barter. There's
more to it than just having a pile of
silver coins, or carton after carton of
cigarettes.

12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018

HOW TO MANAGE A FALLING OUT WITH YOUR SURVIVAL GROUP

We all know the importance of having
a strong community when it comes to
survival.
Extra hands for the big tasks, extra eyes
for lookouts while you sleep, and the
added sense of security and comfort
you'll have with a bigger group. There is
strength in numbers, and it's why most
survivalists will recommend you to join
a survival group.
But I want to share a word of caution.
You need to choose wisely, as these
people will be privy to your most
confidential plans. And if they breach
your trust or betray the group, it can
have serious repercussions.
He was single for a long time and
found a partner who unfortunately
didn't support this lifestyle.
She pushed back on everything, and it
was the cause of massive tension within
all of us, until things came to a head
when she raided one of our bug out
locations. It was weeks before we even
knew. But she sold off pretty much all
the gear she could get her hands on, as
retaliation for her partners spending on
survival. We lost hundreds of dollars in
gear, that we had bought as a group.
Needless to say, we decided it was best
to part ways before things got any
worse.
Here's how we managed it.
THINK ABOUT THE DAMAGE
THAT’S BEEN DONE
Your operational security is critical in a
crisis, as even a little bit of knowledge
can do serious harm.
While you may not be able to relocate
to a new location, what you can change
is your survival plans and all of your
operational procedures.
Create new rally points, new caches for
your survival gear, and be willing to
update everything that you possibly can
to reduce the damage that's been done.

First, I want to tell you one thing. You

don't have to forgive them. I'm a little
harsh with who I let into my inner
circles, and I trust them implicitly.
If someone breaks my trust, for
whatever reason, it's on me now to
decide whether or not I'll forgive them.
Of course, you are going to need to
consider just how much they know
about you and your family, and the
supplies and preps you've made.
It does hurt when a trusted ally goes
south. We had a member of our group
who had a rather large falling out a few
years back.
BE WILLING TO SAY IT’S OVER
“we decided
Now it'll depend on the reason for the
betrayal of course, but you're always
going to wonder when it will happen
it was best
again. In a crisis, the people in your
group need to be reliable. If they're no
to part ways
longer interested in pulling their weight,
don't be afraid to cut them loose and before it got
send them packing. Especially if they’ve
done something like cheat you out of
money, or do inappropriate things with
any
a friends spouse or partner. Who
knows what they'll try when the rule of worse…”
law is gone. Better to let them go now,
before they do something that threatens
the life of your family or worse.

13
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - OCTOBER 2018
cont.
You want this bad egg to know as little
about you as possible, so that if a crisis
does hit, they can't use what they used
to know against you and the rest of
your survival group. Or like in our case,
beforehand. Our stores are valuable,
and if they're not there when you need
them you can be in big trouble. If
you're the one being outed, I'd also
consider a relocation and a fresh start.
It'll be much simpler than knowing
there's so many people around you who
know your plans inside and out (and
may still be harboring a grudge).
BLOOD ISN’T ALWAYS
THICKER THAN WATER
If its someone in your family who has
betrayed you, don't be afraid to cut
them lose. Of course, your immediate
family presents a challenge, but if it's
your parents, or your adult kids who
have let you down, my advice would be
to simply scale back what you tell them.
A divided household is not what you
want when the SHTF, and remember.
If they've happily betrayed you once,
you can be sure they'll do it again. It
may seem harsh because you're outing
your own flesh and blood, but getting
rid of a toxic influencer in your life is a
good move, no matter who they are.
You'll feel much better once it's done.
DON’T LET YOUR BOSS HOLD
IT OVER YOU
This is a word of warning for anyone
looking to broaden their group. Never,
ever, bring your boss or colleagues into
your survival group. It's a recipe for
disaster, as you've already got an
unbalanced relationship. They're used
to working with you and bossing you
around now, imagine what life will be
like when the SHTF. But if you've
already got them in, and they turn out
to be less than desirable, cut all ties.
Find a new job, and separate yourself
as much as possible from any fallout.
The last thing you want is someone
actively sabotaging your career and
finances now, or keeping a steady watch
on what you're doing without them in
the group. Keep your personal and
work life as separate as possible.
A L W A Y S P R A C T I C E YO U R
OPERATIONAL SECURITY
Now when it all comes down to it
actually managing your survival group
requires a balance. You need to give
them enough information and insights
on your plans so they can assist and you
can all "work together" to make it
through a crisis. But you need to hold
enough back that they've not got
anything to betray you with if they
decide to become less than reliable.
14
Be smart with the information you
share, and don't give them an open
book to all your plans, stock lists, and
supplies. In our group we've become
much more cautious after the fall out,
and we've also flagged key pieces of
intel that we no longer share (like our
caches of supplies).
It was a massive effort to relocate these,
and one member even sold their bug
out location because they no longer
trusted it was secure.
These days, we're much more cautious
with the information we share, which is
probably a good thing,
Losing a member of your survival
group can hurt, but if your smart you'll
cut the ties fast.
If you don't want to have to completely
rework all of your survival plans I'd
recommend being smart about any
information you do share, especially if
it's a critical part of your plan, like your
hidden caches of gear.
There's no reason other people need to
know the full extent of your plans.
It's just too risky.