DON’T MISS: YOUR CHECKLIST WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES

WHY SHOOTING
PRACTICE IS
IMPORTANT

IN THIS ISSUE:
JULY 2017

STAY ALIVE STAYING

ON A DESERTED PREPARED IN
ISLAND COLLEGE

SURVIVE A TEACH YOUR

TERROR ATTACK KIDS SURVIVAL

MISTAKES TO WHY A TARP

AVOID IN A IS A KEY
HOME INVASION SURIVIAL ITEM
and more…
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017

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Contents
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WHY SHOOTING PRACTICE IS IMPORTANT

FEATURED Owning a gun is one thing, but becoming proficient enough to rely on it in a disaster or survival
scenario is a whole other story. When the SHTF there really is no substitute for…

HOW TO RESTOCK IF YOU’RE CAUGHT WITHOUT YOUR STOCKPILE OF SUPPLIES

page 3 Being on the road is part of my job. I travel for work, which means I'm in and out of airports
more than you could possibly believe…

WHY I BELIEVE CONCEALED CARRY IS THE RIGHT CHOICE

page 5 I'm a red-blooded American. I like hunting, and I definitely agree with the right to bear arms.
But when it comes to my every-day life, it's just not practical to carry openly…

TIPS FOR SURIVIVING A TERROR ATTACK

page 6 It's a sad fact of life that the world we live in is no longer safe. Schools, movie theaters, and even
concert halls have all been targeted in recent years, as terrorism is on the rise…

BEING A SURVIVALIST WHEN YOU’RE IN COLLEGE

page 7 One of the last things on your mind when you're off at college is disaster planning. Because
college is a time when you're young, you’re indestructible, so why concern yourself…

FUN ACTIVITIES TO TEACH YOUR KIDS SURVIVAL SKILLS

page 9 I've been a survivalist for far longer than I've been a dad, and one of the most important lessons
I want to teach my kids is the basics of survival…

MISTAKES TO AVOID IN A HOME INVASION

page 10 I'm not one to get scared easily, but home invasions scare me. The thought of someone breaking
into your home is bad enough. But once you start running through the likely outcomes…

HOW TO STAY ALIVE ON A DESERTED ISLAND

page 11 It sounds romantic until you start digging into the details, but if you ever find yourself stuck on
a deserted island you're in big trouble…

WHY A TARP SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN YOUR BUG-OUT KIT

page 13 One of the biggest lessons I've learnt when it comes to bugging out, is that less is more. Every
extra pound in your bag is weighing you down, making you a little less mobile…

1
 VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
WHY SHOOTING
PRACTICE IS
IMPORTANT
Owning a gun is one thing, but
becoming proficient enough to rely on
it in a disaster or survival scenario is a
whole other story. When the SHTF
there really is no substitute for
experience, and if you want to be a
great shot it boils down to one simple
fact.
You're going to need to shoot. And
shoot a lot.
To develop any sort of confidence,
accuracy or proficiency with your guns,
you need practice. Because what sticks
out time and time again is just how
unprepared the average person is when
it comes to firearm use.
Sure, we've all got a few guns and a ton
of ammo stocked up, and perhaps even
a bunch of spare parts and all the gun-
related goodies we could get out hands
on.
But that means squat if we don't know
how to shoot. Being proficient with a
gun is more than just being able to blast
out some empty beer cans at 30 paces.
Take a look at this clip. This is what
professional level shooting training
looks like.
If you're wanting to have any hope of
protecting your family with the
weapons you've stockpiled, you need to
take formal classes, and get expert
training. The biggest problem I've
“To develop
any sort of
confidence,
with your
guns, you
need practice..
found with my new students is they
figured they'd be able to teach
themselves how to shoot. The problem
here is you can learn bad habits, or just
imply give up and think you'll figure it
out when you need to.
But what happens if you're confronted?
Or find yourself in a situation where
you need to defend yourself with lethal
force, and you've got no clue how to
properly aim or take a shot.
Most likely, the gun will be taken from
you, and turned back on you. And
that's not a good situation to be in. The
first step is to find a qualified
instructor.
FIND THE RIGHT SHOOTING
INSTRUCTOR
It can be tough for a new shooter to
know what makes for a good trainer,
but in my experience the best thing you
can do is ask around. Speak to the staff
in your gun store if they have any
recommendations, and there may even
be info or brochures on their counter.
Next, ihead down to the range and talk
to the manager, or the instructor. You
want to ask as many questions as
possible, from the details of the classes,
to the services available at the range
and a list of references if available.
START FROM THE BASICS
If you've been around guns as long as I
have it may feel like you're going
backwards if you start with one of the
most elementary classes, but do it
anyway. It's a good refresher on the
basics of gun use, and you'll make
friends with others in the class who will
be progressing alongside you. Plus,
many ranges usually offer discounts or
the free use of the range during certain
hours, which can help you to obtain
more experience shooting your guns.
With time, I'd also recommend taking
their advanced classes, specifically on
offensive training and long-range
shooting. After a while, good shooting
will become second-nature.
BECOME AN INSTINCTIVE
SHOOTER
The more you handle and use your
guns, the faster your confidence will
grow. The key is to keep training,
shooting, and drawing your weapon
until it's almost second-nature to use it.
You want to be able to grab your gun,
and arm yourself without a second's
2 for?
thought. That's what you need to
achieve if you ever hope to use a gun to
defend yourself, but don't just stop at
shooting practice. You want to be
comfortable carrying your weapon,
drawing and shooting, so that each shot
you land is in the kill zone. I'd also
recommend spending time on reloads,
so you're able to properly execute these
even in the middle of a shooting string.
Start slow at first until you're
comfortable, and once you've got it
down start practicing this at speed.
Don't rely on one single gun
The last and final lesson is not to limit
yourself to a single type of gun, or
even a make and model. You want to be
as comfortable shooting a rifle at 100
yards as you are with your handgun at
10. Regular practice with every gun you
own is a good idea, so if you ever need
to rely on these for defense you've got
skills and experience to rely on. For me,
I usually only take one gun to the range
at a time, but I have a rotation that
ensures I'm shooting my rifles, shotgun,
and even my dad's old pistol every
month, and I'm very confident with
them all. Because you never know what
gun you may need to rely on, if your
first preference fails, or is not available
for you.
The only thing I can promise you about
a SHTF situation is that it's going to
surprise you, and you're going to have
to rely on your wits to survive. The
wider range of shooting skills you gain
today, will only help to keep you a live
when a disaster strikes.
So don't be lazy. If you own a firearm
ensure you've taken active shooting
classes to hone your skills, and ensure
you're able to effectively use a number
of different guns. As a responsible gun
owner, it's both your duty and what you
were trying to achieve anyway when
you bought the gun. Sign up for
shooting lessons, and learn what it takes
to master every firearm you own. These
skills may just save your life, or the life
of a loved one, so what are you waiting
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
HOW TO RESTOCK IF YOU’RE CAUGHT WITHOUT YOUR STOCKPILE
Being on the road is part of my job. I
travel for work, which means I'm in and
out of airports more than you could
possibly believe.
For a survivalist, this presents a massive
red flag.
Every time I leave my home, and all of
my stockpiled supplies, I am gambling.
I am at risk of something happening
that I am not fully prepared for, and
that scares me.
Of course, my EDC comes with me
every time I have checked bags, but
sometimes I don't even have this as an
option. If I'm headed interstate for just
the night, it's cheaper and more
convenient to travel without booking
extra luggage. And with most airlines
charging fees for checked bags, it's
becoming more and more frequently
that I'm travelling unprepared.
Over the weekend, I experienced a
small earthquake in a town I was
visiting.
Not enough to do any real damage, just
a few seconds of unease as I felt the
ground move. It barely registered on
the Richter scale, but it got me thinking.
Would I have been ready if something
worse had happened?
All I had with me was a change of There's no heavy suitcase to lug around.
clothes and my toothbrush. Being
totally honest, I would have been in big I could cancel a flight and swap to
trouble if that earthquake had done any another airline, or even take the bus
real damage, and I would have needed without trying to get my checked bags
to act fast if I wanted to have any hope back.
to survive.
I can change routes if weather or any
Which is the point of this post today. emergencies see my plans rerouted.
The workarounds you need to follow if
you're caught in an emergency, and Plus, it gets me out of the airport
don't have access to your survival faster, so I'm first in line at the car
stockpile. rental agency, and you'll never have to
worry about an airline losing your bags.
THE CONVENIENCE OF NO
HEAVY LUGGAGE
We've covered what you should have in
your everyday carry (EDC) pretty
thoroughly in a previous post, but
many of these item's you're going to
struggle getting onto an airplane. You “Would I
won't pass security with knives or a
firearm, and definitely not anything have been
flammable from your fire-starting kit.
So, without any checked luggage, the
ready if
most you're going to have with you is a
flashlight, your smartphone and a small something
battery pack, a little extra money
I'm going to say this again. Travelling
worse had
without a fully-stocked EDC is a
gamble, but I do it for convenience. It's
happened?
a balance. I can bring less survival gear,
but it also makes an emergency more
convenient.
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VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017

WHAT YOU NEED WHEN A DISASTER STRIKES

These days, I have checked bags on less than half of the flights I take.
But if a disaster strikes, here's what I'd be finding:

1. Protective clothes to stay insulated from the elements

2. A shelter where I can get out of the weather and stay dry
3. A reliable source of water that is not contaminated
4. A system for purifying and storing any water I collect
5. Enough calories to keep me fed throughout the disaster
6. Weapons to protect myself from any other people

cont.

I've had luggage lost, and it's not fun.
Waiting 48 hours for your belongings to
be returned to you, after an airline's
mistake sent them to the other side of
the world.
Now let's imagine something has just
gone down. Perhaps an earthquake, it
could also be an EMP strike, or any of
a hundred other examples of a
localized disaster.
This is the time to take immediate
action.
Forget the people who are milling
around, trying to film the crisis, or call
their loved ones while the phone
system is down, my first priority is to
start getting supplies.
Of course, I'd send a quick text to my
wife to let her know I'm all OK. But a
longer chat can come later. Now is the
time to ensure I make it through the
disaster. First stop, a sporting goods
store. If you can get somewhere like
REI or even Walmart, you'd be able to
buy everything you need.
Take the money you've got with you,
and stock up on everything you need.
$300 should more than cover it, but
when I'm travelling like this I usually
carry a little more cash, just in case, and A crowbar can be a good clubbing
I've also got a credit card that'll work if weapon, so can a hammer, or even a
the store's systems are up. box-cutter. Look around at what's
available, and ensure you've got
Just don't rely on your credit card, often something to protect yourself with.
in a crisis they'll accept cash only.
Of course, I'd be much safer with my
BUT WHAT HAPPENS IF concealed carry firearm or a can of
THERE'S NO SPORTING pepper spray, but having something is
GOODS STORE? better than nothing.
Instead, I'd hit up a pharmacy or a And that's what survival is all about.
grocery.
Having the right gear is a bonus, but if
You want the homewares section. Duct you've thought ahead and have the right
tape and heavy-duty garbage bags can survival mindset, you'll be able to
substitute for a tarp, grab a flashlight, improvise.
and don't forget to stock up on
batteries, matches and anything else you Plus, if you're quick enough you can get
may need. everything you need before true panic
sets in, and the shelves in the shops are
For food, I'd grab a bunch of high- stripped bare.
density foods that will keep me going
without needing to prepare them.
Energy bars, protein powder, even
muesli bars can stack up the calories
you need to keep going, without adding
a whole lot of weight to your kit.
Finally, I'd find something to defend
myself with. You're probably not going
to be able to buy a firearm without
background checks and a whole lot of
paperwork, so get creative.

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 VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
WHY I BELIEVE
CONCEALED CARRY
IS THE RIGHT
CHOICE
I'm a red-blooded American. I like
hunting, and I definitely agree with the
right to bear arms. But when it comes
to my every-day life, it's just not
practical to carry openly. It can put
people off-side, and you get treated
much differently when you're
noticeably armed. That's why I started
carrying concealed.
And I was shocked at the different way
I've been treated. I no longer get
sidelong glances from concerned
h o u s e w i ve s w h e n I ' m g r o c e r y
shopping, or have security guards jump
to attention when I simply walk past. It
really makes that much of a difference.
For me personally, I'm armed and able
to defend myself, and that's all I care
about. Here's why I believe concealing
your firearm is the right choice.
YOU’RE NOT VISIBLY ARMED
This first reason is probably the main
reason why I got my concealed carry
license. I know it's a constitutional right
to own and carry a firearm, but I wasn't
comfortable advertising to the world
around me that I was armed and loaded
at all times.
It puts people off-side, and by certain I
mean the majority of the general
population. You just get treated
differently.
“when it
comes to my
everyday life,
it's just not
practical to
carry openly..
Oh and you lose probably one of the
most important things in self-defense.
The element of surprise. You can
maintain your tactical advantage by
keeping your firearm hidden and out of
sight, so if you ever do need to use it,
the bad guys are not ready for it.
YOU STAY A STEP AHEAD
Now this was a point raised to me by a
good friend, who is also a law-
enforcement officer. Not every criminal
is a loose cannon. They don't all burst
in the door and start waving a gun
around. Some are cunning. Some are
smart. And some, actually make a plan
before they hit their intended target.
Of course, this presents a danger to
you. If you're openly carrying a firearm,
you may be singled out and targeted
first, as you represent one of the
biggest threats to their plan. Or, it may
be enough of a deterrent that they
simply decide not to go ahead with
their plans. But that's a big gamble, and
when it's your life that hangs in the
balance, I wouldn't risk it.
By carrying concealed, you can hide
your firearm and slip under the radar
when anyone is casing a potential
target, or identifying threats in the area.
Personally, I'd rather have the element
of surprise than find myself being shot
at first, but that's just me.
DONT NEED TO AVOID LAW
ENFORECEMENT
Now this is a tricky one. Online and
you’ll find plenty of confrontations
between police officers and those who
openly carry, because many officers just
don't get it. The officers are doing their
part to "protect the public" but they
lack the knowledge of what's actually
legal. And the general public are just
calling in what they see as a threat.
So the officers get calls saying "there's a
man with a gun." Now, if you're on the
receiving end of that call, how can you
possibly understand the circumstances
around the situation? That's why many
police officers are very aggressive on
their approach, because they want to
take charge of the situation. Which can
often end very badly.
When you carry concealed, you avoid
many of these situations, as the people
in the general public who would be
inclined to call and report you, don't
actually notice your weapon.
5
You're flying under the radar now, and
skipping straight past those accusing
looks and negative attention. Plus,
avoiding confrontations altogether
means neither you, or the police
officers, are ever in potential danger.
D O N ” T N E E D TO WO R RY
ABOUT THE PUBLIC
The news has played a big part in this,
as the general public, in general, get
pretty upset when they see another
normal person carrying a gun. It's what
they've been conditioned to believe by
both the media and news outlets. That
crazy gun owners are running riot on
the streets ready to shoot at anything
that blinks.
In my experience, the general feeling I
receive when I wear my gun openly is
hostility. People get upset, accuse me of
all sorts of things, and once someone
even ran away. I was waiting in line at
an ATM, and there was a security guard
about 10 yards from me.
Unfortunately, you've got to care about
this. Unless you're living somewhere
rural where open carry is readily
accepted, the general population just
isn't ready to accept that people want to
be able to defend themselves. Our gun
rights are already under attack in
enough states, I'd much rather carry
concealed and not provoke anyone to
petition or call for further restrictions.
It seems like with every new shooting
on the news people are calling for
harsher restrictions on gun owners, but
this isn't going to help. Once a terrorist
has decided to make a stand and hurt
those around them, they will go to
whatever means necessary to do it. If
firearms are not available, they'll find
another way.
What's important, is you've got the
ability to defend yourself if the
situation ever calls for it.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
TIPS FOR SURVIVING A TERROR ATTACK
It's a sad fact of life that the world we
live in is no longer safe. Schools, movie
theaters, and even concert halls have all
been targeted in recent years, as
terrorism is on the rise, all over the
world. Perhaps it's to push their
religious agenda, or simply a frustrated
teen wanting to make a name for
themselves, the real trick, is to avoid
getting caught up in a bad situation
yourself.
If you want to ensure you survive,
there's four key rules to follow.
INCREASE YOUR AWARENESS
This goes for any crime. If you want to
avoid becoming a victim, you need to
be aware of what's going on around
you. The military calls it situational
awareness, but to me, it's just a matter
of paying attention. Paying attention to
the things around you.
In any terror attack, there is an element
of preparation needed. The terrorist
will need to arrive on the scene, and
whilst you may only have a few seconds
to notice something is wrong, a few
seconds could be enough. Most of us
aren't paying attention when we're out
and about. Our faces are buried in
smartphones, and you could walk
straight past your best friend without
even knowing they were there. Look up,
and look around. That’s all.
should your life ever be in danger.
Generally, you'll need to take a short
class, have a background check run, and
pay a fee. Then you can legally carry
your gun with you, at all times.
If you're not comfortable with guns,
you could always opt for a non-lethal
form of self defense like a taser, a stun
gun, or even a can of pepper spray. Just
do me two favors.
1. Carry it with you at all times.
2. Know how to actually use it.
I can't tell you the amount of people
I've met who are confident, yet lack real
self-defensive or shooting skills.
ACT ON YOUR PLANS
If you're up against an act of terror,
your first priority needs to be getting
yourself and your family to safety.
Perhaps standing your ground and
fighting back is your only option, or it
could well be that you are better off
turning tail and running the other way.
I'll say this again. Do not put yourself
at risk to be a hero. Fighting back is
I make it a game. First, I figure out
definitely a good plan, but only if
what "normal" looks like. What people
you've not got any options, because,
are wearing, doing, and acting like.
well, you may not make it out alive.
Then, I look for outliers. Things that
are out of place, or don't belong. Like
If you have the chance to run, do it. As
the guy in a trenchcoat in the middle of
you do so, keep an eye out for any
summer, or the delivery van parked on
possible ways that you can escape. Is
the corner that's not moving.
there another exit you noticed on the
way into the building, or a potential
Once you've found the risks, consider
escape route through the staff-only
what your plan of action would be. Is
corridors. Surviving also means acting
there anywhere nearby you could use
on your plans, and having a sense of
for cover, or do you have alternative
purpose when everyone is cowering in
escape routes. That way, if something
fear or not knowing what to do.
does happen you can react immediately.
Some of my friends like to call me
B E C A R E F U L I N TA R G E T
paranoid, as I'll do this every single
AREAS
time I walk into a building. I make a
plan of escape, and I also create a plan
Now this could be anywhere that's in
B, which is my "last stand" plan. I think
the spotlight, with a big crowd of
about where I'd position myself in the
people. But if you hid at home from
room to get both cover and take out a
every potential threat you'd not get to
potential shooter.
enjoy much of your life at all.
That way, should anything ever happen,
Just be careful if you're in a public
I can react in a split-second.
place with a lot of people around, as
terrorists like to cause a scene. More
Of course, following these rules is one
people equals more press.
thing, but they also don't guarantee
you'll make it out of a bad situation. All
BE READY TO DEFEND
they do is give you a baseline of the
YOURSELF
right way to react, which sends your
chances of survival through the roof.
I don't go anywhere without my
So pay attention, be ready to defend
firearm. If you don't have your license,
yourself, and stick to your plan. That's
get it. It's not all that difficult, and it
how you'll survive.
gives you something to fight back with
6
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
BEING A SURVIVALIST WHILE YOU’RE IN COLLEGE
One of the last things on your mind
when you're off at college is disaster
planning. Because college is a time
w h e n y o u ' r e y o u n g. Yo u f e e l
indestructible, so why would you even
concern yourself with preparedness.
You're just having a ball with all the
other freshmen.
Until something goes wrong.
If something does happen when you're
away from home, it's a good idea to
have a plan in place, just in case. What
you prepare now, could make all the
difference in keeping you, and your
friends, alive.
But it's not going to be easy.
There are three massive challenges you
need to overcome before you can even
start planning.
1. The lack of space to store much
of anything in your dorm.
2. The inability to carry firearms or
personal defense items on campus.
3. The adjustments to make to best
understand the threats faced.
Here's how I'd approach disaster
preparedness if I was back in college.
MAKE A PLAN FOR THE MOST EXPLORE AND LEARN YOUR
LIKELY EVENTS ESCAPE ROUTES
The first step to take is to determine One thing I enjoyed in my college days
what's most likely to happen in the area was wandering around campus. It's so
where you're studying. Perhaps where lively, and there's always people
you've moved to a location that has a everywhere. But I bet, that once you
tornado risk, or you're now living close know your way to class, you're going to
to a fault line and an earthquake is the follow that same route, every, single
most likely. day. It's totally normal, but it puts you
at a disadvantage.
Take your time and do a little research
on your area, so you have all the You need to explore and learn your way
information you need to create a around the different buildings and
proper plan. Then, figure out your best dorms, so if there is ever an event like
course of action should any of these an active shooter, you can quickly head
occur. For me, I lived about 300 miles
from my family home during college,
and my plan was always to evacuate.
That involved never letting the gas in
my car drop below half-full, and
ensuring I had enough supplies in my “a can of
car to complete the hike on foot,
should the situation ever call for it. pepper
K E E P I M P O R TA N T I N F O
HANDY
spray is
One thing I'd do straight away is to always a
setup your phone with your emergency
contacts. In addition to basics like your
mom and dad, pre-load in the numbers
good back
for the police and fire departments, the
emergency department of the closest
up…
hospital, and any support numbers for
the security team on your campus.
7
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017

cont.

to the closest exit.

I'd even recommend practicing using

these a couple of times, so you know
exactly where you're going if an
emergency ever occurs.

I'd also plan out who is going to be

your main point of contact, and ensure
they know what you're planning to do
during a disaster should it happen.
They are your first call when a crisis
hits. This is a basic point in a
communication plan, but often your
phone's signal is going to be the first
thing that goes down. Your point of
contacts job is to ensure the rest of
your loved ones know what you're
planning, and that you’re safe.

HAVE YOUR GO-BAG READY

Even if you're sharing a dorm there will

be enough space for your go-bag, so
don't neglect setting this up. Again,
pack light so it doesn't take up too
much space, as that's one of the most
limiting factors when you're living in
college.

You need a small first aid kit, enough

non-perishable food to last a day or
two, bottled water, and a decent
flashlight with a spare set of batteries.
I'd also recommend tossing a good
quality sleeping bag in there as well, it'll
come in handy should the heat go off
during the middle of winter.

Oh, and if they fit, those "under the

bed" storage containers are a great way
to have supplies on hand, but out of
sight. If you've g ot a car, I'd
recommend upping the amount of
food and water you're hoarding so
there's at least enough to last a week.

LEARN BASIC SURVIVAL SKILLS
This isn't rocket science, but even just a
general knowledge of topics like first
aid can prove very useful in a crisis.
You'll learn techniques like CPR, as well
as how to patch up some common
injuries.
I'd also recommend taking a self-
defense course, just in case you ever
need to fight back, being able to throw
a decent punch can make all the
difference. And a can of pepper spray
is always a good back up for a campus
that doesn't allow firearms.
Oh, and make use of your student-level
prices at the gym to get yourself in top
shape. Your fitness may very well be the
thing that helps you escape the disaster
when it happens.
Finally, take the time to learn the basics
of good situational awareness.
The biggest threat you're realistically
going to face on campus is the people
who mean to do you harm.
So, keep your wits about you, and don't
walk around with your headphones in
and your nose buried in your phone.
Otherwise you're going to be the one
the criminals do target.
I understand that many people are
going to think that having a survival
mindset while they're in college isn't
really "cool." But to me, making it
through a crisis unscathed is my only
goal. And to be successful, you should
always remember the principles of
Operational Security.
Keep your preparations to yourself, and
never make a big deal about the
supplies and gear you're hoarding.
That's how to be a survivalist while
you're in college.

8
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017

FUN ACTIVITIES TO
TEACH YOUR KIDS
SURVIVAL SKILLS

#1. LIGHTS OUT

My daughter was scared the first time the power cut in a storm, and rightly so. It was windy, with thunder, lighting and rain, and we
were pitched into darkness. Since then, we play lights out. Cut the power, and shout "lights out." We've taught our kids where the
flashlights are, and after a couple of rounds they are starting to enjoy when we cook dinner on the grill, and sleep by the fireplace
in our living room roasting marshmallows. It's like movie night but with real family bonding, and I love it.

#2. INSTANT PICNICS

To test the my kid's bug out bags, we do "instant picnics." With zero notice, I’ll announce its time to go, and we've got to be ready
and out the front door within 2 minutes. My kids have got to make do with what’s packed in their bug out bags. It's a fun time to
show them how to use items, like the water filter in their pack, and we always review what could be better for next time.

#3. BACKYARD CAMP OUTS

This is like an extension of our lights out game, but we take it a step further and do a camp out in our backyard. Complete with
tents, cooking over an open fire, and even using a bush toilet. There's nothing better than sleeping under the open stars, and it gets
your kids comfortable with being in the outdoors, and setting up all of their gear.

#4. CONTROL THE FIRE

Once my kids were old enough I tasked them with controlling the fire. It's less of a game, more of a responsibility, and my two
kids love it. They'll collect wood, and know how to properly stack the tinder bundle and kindling so it'll light up when they're ready.
Anytime you can teach and delegate "important" tasks like these to your kids, do it. It gives them skills and boosts their confidence.

#5. HIDE AND GO SEEK

My daughter loves playing this game, often refusing to let us do any of the hiding as the loves being the one who is being hunted.
But what we've done is teach both our kids the "safest" parts of the house to hide in, while we pretend it's difficult to actually find
them. This is one of the best ways to reinforce where your kids should run and hide to if there's ever an intruder in your home.

#6. BUILD A FORT

Each time we go camping, I have our kids build a “fort.” Initially they were unable to get even the basics together, but with a bit of
guidance, they're quite comfortable now at getting a rough bed together, along with a roof and walls to keep any rain out. In fact,
my son now prefers sleeping in the shelter he's built on our property over the tent we got him last Christmas. Go figure.

#7. GROW A GARDEN

Kids love playing in the dirt, but if you give them some responsibility they can thrive. Their own section of garden is a great way
for your kids to learn about how to plant and grow their own vegetables, a skill that's invaluable should they ever need to live a
sustainable lifestyle. Plus, they will feel like they're contributing to the dinner table, and will take pride in the produce they've grown.
I wondered at the start if my kids would continue to look after their plants, and I was amazed at just how well they've done.

#8. HOW TO GET HOME

As soon as your kids start remembering directions this is a great game to play. It's pretty simple. All you do is ask your kids to be a
cab driver, and tell us how to get home. It's a really fun way for kids to learn basic navigation skills, and you can pretty quickly build
on this to teach them map reading skills as well. That way you know they'll always be able to find their way home.

9
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
MISTAKES TO AVOID IN A HOME INVASION
I'm not one to get scared easily, but
home invasions scare me. The thought
of someone breaking into your home is
bad enough. But once you start running
through the likely outcomes of a home
invasion it's all a bit too much. Your
refuge has been invaded. The one safe
place you had, where you felt
comfortable and secure is now gone.
With statistics showing a growing trend
in violent home invasions all over the
United States, it's definitely a crisis all
we need to prepare for. Now of course,
the first step is always prevention, and
there's many posts covering how to
fortify your home or make yourself less
of a target to criminals.
But what doesn't usually get written
about is your mindset, and it's your
mindset that matters most.
Because criminals can get around your
security system. The fancy self-
defensive gear you bought is only as
good as your ability to use it. If a
criminal really wants to get into your
home they can smash through a
window, or cut through a wall. Unless
you're living in a state-of-the-art
underground bunker, the only real asset
you can rely on is your mindset.
Have you ever thought about what
you'd do in a home invasion?
KNOW WHAT’S GOING ON
Far too many people waste their days
away with their head in the clouds. If
you walk through life thinking it's all
sunshine and roses you're going to be
shocked when something bad happens.
My advice here is simple. Be realistic.
There are bad people. They want what
you have. There will take it from you.
So, keep your head on a swivel and
ensure you're never caught by surprise.
Watch out for anyone that looks
suspicious in your neighborhood, and
don't be afraid to call the police if
something is out of place.
DON’T BE ARROGANT
Just because you did a martial arts class
when you were 13 years old, it doesn't
mean you're going to be able to
effectively defend yourself when you're
the victim of a home invasion.
I've trained for the majority of my adult
life, and while I believe I can handle
myself well, there is always going to be
someone better. Or better armed. Or
who takes you by surprise. The key is
When I ask my students this question,
not being arrogant about your abilities,
the answer is always "of course," and
and don’t underestimate an opponent.
only once I start pressing them what
they'd do in a specific situation does it
DONT PUSH TOO HARD
become clear they haven't put enough
thought into it. Of course, this article is
When you're fighting back the one
only my opinion, but I've spent a lot of
thing to keep in mind is what you're
time planning and thinking this through
actually setting out to achieve. Let's
I want to share the four biggest mental
imagine you've effectively chased a
hurdles you need to overcome if you
home invader from your home, and
want to survive a home invasion.
they’ve taken off down the street. You
do not need to chase them, because
TAKE ACTION FIRST
your primary objective is to keep your
home and family safe. If you leave,
Do not let fear overtake you. Your
you're risking them doubling back, with
attacker is out looking for an easy
a weapon or their friends.
victim, and you need to show them that
you're not going to go down without a
Always remember your objective. To
fight. Don't freeze up and give in to
keep your family safe and get the
panic, especially in the initial stages of a
invader to leave your home.
home invasion. Run, fight back, do
whatever you can to demonstrate you're
What many people forget is that
not an innocent victim.
criminals are out for easy money. Once
they see that they're mistaken, they're
If they've got hold of you, make as
most likely to turn tail and run. But if
much noise as you can. Kick, scream,
you chase them and back them into a
bite, and escape their grasp and run to
corner, it's like cornering a wild animal.
safety. If you're trapped inside your safe
You never know what may happen.
room, let the intruders know you're
Your only priority should be to keep
armed, you've called the police, and
your family safe.
you're going to shoot them if they
continue to try and harm you. If you've
Keeping these four principles in mind
escaped, run to a neighbor's house and
will help you to survive a home
alert the police.
invasion, as it's the only asset you can
rely on no matter what.
You need to be ready and willing to
take action first, if you want to survive.
10
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
HOW TO STAY ALIVE
ON A DESERTED
ISLAND
It sounds romantic until you start
digging into the details, but if you ever
find yourself stuck on a deserted island
you're in big trouble. Perhaps your
plane has gone down or the cruise has
gone astray and you're left to fend for
yourself on an island in the middle of
nowehere. It's not ideal, but you can
survive, if you follow a few basic tips.
SORT YOUR SUPPLIES
Let's imagine you've landed on a beach.
The first thing is to discover what
you're working with. Is there any debris
washed up that you could use? There
might be supplies like cans of drink or
food, I'd go through everything and put
it together. Specifically looking for:
1. Anything for shelter building. An
inflatable life raft can keep the rain off.
Wires and cables make great cordage.
Life jackets can become pillows.
Blankets are obvious. Any bits of wood
or metal can be used to reinforce the
structure of your shelter, so gather
whatever looks promising.
2. Anything to contact help. Finding
a cell phone may save your life if you
can get a call out to the authorities, so
don't be worried about going through
any personal belongings that have
washed up. In the cockpit there will
usually be a radio, see if it's still
working and if you can raise a signal.
“find a way
to collect,
purify, and
store as
much water
as possible..
3. Anything for collecting water.
Water is going to be your primary
concern on a tropical island, and you're
going to need to find a way to collect,
purify, and store as much water as
possible. Get dehydrated and you're in
big trouble.
FIND A WATER SOURCE
Before you do anything else you need
to find a source of water. You can't
drink the salt water surrounding the
island directly, so you need a plan. If
you're lucky you may find whole bottles
of water washed up, or a spring or
fresh-water creek that's running out to
the ocean. Coconuts are good in a
pinch, but you can't rely on these alone.
If the island is dry I'd do two things.
Find as much plastic sheeting or large
garbage bags as possible. If you encase
the leafy branches of a tree in plastic,
condensation will collect on the inside
that is safe to drink.
Setup a rain catchment system. On a
tropical island, you can expect storms
to come through, especially if it's the
rainy season. Be prepared before they
start, with plastic sheeting suspended
between trees to collect and funnel any
rainwater into bottles for storage.
Finally, I'd keep an eye out for any
materials to create a still. You need a
metal container and a length of pipe.
Attach the pipe to the top of the
container so no air can escape with the
other end set at a lower point so the
water will run down and out. Fill the
metal container with salt water and set
it boiling. As the water begins to steam
it will rise and condense in the pipe,
and drip out the other end.
BUILD A SHELTER
From the materials you've been able to
find, it's time to start on a shelter. In
general, I'd ensure you're back in the
tree-line and off the beach to give you a
little more protection from any wind or
rain that may hit, and you've got a thick
layer of cover to stop any rain leaking
through. Build it stronger than you
think you'll need, you'll be glad you did
after the first tropical storm rolls
through.
START A FIRE
In addition to being able to boil your
water and cook any food you collect,
you can use a fire to signal for help.
11
I'd look for anything that you can use
to start a fire, from any cigarette
lighters you can find, to lenses that you
can use to magnify the rays of the sun.
Without these you’ll need to start a fire
using friction, which can take hours.
FIND SOME FOOD
On a tropical island you're going to be
eating bananas, coconuts and a whole
lot of fish, crabs, and shells until you're
rescued. If there's any fruit you don't
recognize, you can test if it's toxic by
rubbing it on the inside of your wrist,
and then on the inside of your cheek.
If there's any redness or swelling in the
next 6 to 8 hours, don't eat it.
For meat, I'd make a pole spear then go
scour over any rock pools when the tide
drops. Flip over the rocks and look
under and crevices to find crabs, and
perhaps even fish or an octopus.
Longer term you could build your own
fish traps out of reeds and sticks, or
permanent structures with rocks.
SIGNAL FOR HELP
Finally, you need a way to let others
know you're on the island. Lay out
rocks on the beach to spell out SOS to
any airplanes that may fly over, and
setup three signal fires that you can
light if you see a boat out on the water.
Having these ready to go at a moment's
notice is very important, as you may
only have a minute or two before your
potential saviors have passed by.
Whether or not you survive on a
deserted island is all up to you.
We humans only have a few basic
needs, and with the right mindset you
can stay alive. Get water, shelter and
food, and you'll make it until help
arrives, no matter how long that takes.
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
WHY A TARP SHOULD ALWAYS BE IN YOUR BUG-OUT KIT
One of the biggest lessons I've learnt
when it comes to bugging out, is that
less is more.
Every extra pound in your bag is
weighing you down, making you a little
less mobile, and limiting the distance
you're able to cover each day you're on
the road.
When I was younger, I did a whole lot
of hiking. But if you go anywhere near
a hiking trail or a campground these
days, I'm amazed at the amount of
stuff people carry, that they believe is
actually necessary when spending time
in the outdoors.
Do you really need specialist camping
chairs? Or a set of folding shelves for
all your kitchen items?
I don't think so.
The only thing you should be worried
about when you're in the outdoors is
exposure.
Exposure is a killer. If you're ever
forced from your home and need to
spend your nights in the rain and cold,
you'll learn quickly that Mother Nature
is unforgiving.
You need a shelter if you want to
survive. But carrying a tent with you
isn't always practical.
It's big. It's bulky. And half the time, your tarp, I've already got a couple
you don't even really need it. It's also patched up with duct tape on the
time-consuming to build a water-tight current one in my kit.
debris shelter, time that you may not
have if night’s falling.But there's a But I'm far less worried about burning
solution. a hole in a $10 tarp over a $500 tent.
Carry a tarp with you. Here's a few ideas of the different types
of shelter you can construct with a
Should I ever need to protect myself basic tarp.
from the elements, I can use the tarp as
protection from the rain or wind, and All you need is some paracord, and
it'll be up in minutes. you'll have a shelter up in minutes.
Now there's a whole lot of different
tarps you can buy. Cloth. Canvas. Vinyl.
Polyester. Some allow wind and light
through. Others are completely water
tight.
For me, I carry a basic poly tarp with
me in my kit. It's quite common, and
probably what you're imagining when I
“Every
say the word "tarp" already, a big blue
sheet that has hundreds of different extra pound
uses.
But the biggest benefits are these three.
in your bag
1. It's cheaper than a hiking tent
is weighing
2. It's lighter than a hiking tent you down…
3. I can cook underneath it
Of course, you should only use a small
fire because sparks will burn holes in
12
VIP SURVIVAL ACADEMY - JULY 2017
#1. THE RAIN COVER
This is as simple as it sounds. Tie a line
between two trees, and hang your tarp
over it so the line runs down the
middle. Then anchor down each corner
with some improvised tent pegs or
rocks, or tie them off. I find this works
great as a cover when I'm sleeping in
my hammock. I'm up off the ground,
and waking up without being covered
in morning dew is a good thing.
Of course, the benefits of a good tarp
can extend further than simple shelter
building.
I've used mine to keep the rain off my
woodpile for the night, to ensure I've
got dry timber to both start and keep
my fire going. It's also a good way to
replenish your water supplies, as by
dropping one corner of my shelter's
roof down lower than the others I can
stick my pot underneath and catch
more than enough rain water to drink.
Plus, you could wrap a tarp around two
sturdy poles to build a makeshift
stretcher if you need to haul an injured
person back to civilization.
#2. THE A-FRAME
Similar to the rain cover this is a good
technique to keep yourself dry when
you've not got a hammock to stay off
the ground. String a line between two
trees and hang your tarp over it so it's
creating a fold about a third of the way
in. The longer side of your tarp should
extend to the ground, so peg it out and
fold any additional tarp back inside the
"A" so you've now got ground cover.
If you've not guessed it already, you can
probably tell by now. I'm a big
supporter of having a tarp in your bug-
out kit.
In addition to your tarp and paracord,
there's a couple of other items I
recommend packing in your bug-out
bag to make your time spent in the wild
a little more comfortable.
1. A hammock. It gets you up off the
ground, which is ideal in a wet or
muddy climate.
2. A space blanket. In addition to
being a great way to reflect heat, it takes
up very little space.
13
#3. THE LEAN-TO
In an extreme situation, I’d recommend
building a lean-to. Take two poles and
lash a third between them (parallel to
the ground) to form the structure. Lay
additional poles from the ground up to
the bar, and lash tight. Then tie your
tarp over the top to make it water tight.
If it's really bad I make this as small as
possible, so my tarp hangs over the
sides to reinforce the walls.
3. A bivy sack. In warmer climates
replace your sleeping bag with a
“a can of
waterproof bivouac sack.
pepper
4. A mosquito net. If there's bugs
where you're hiking, invest in one of
spray is
these so you can sleep.
Personally, I don't see the benefit of a
always
tent. The a and the
weight, the bulkiness,
fact it's only got a single use don't
appeal good
to me. Whenback you're packing
your kit, you've got to be brutal. You
Maybe up…
may need to carry it 50 miles. 100 miles.
more. And trust me, every
pound will be weighing you down,
making you less mobile, and more of a
target.