WHAT’S IN YOUR SURVIVAL PACK?

SOVIET UNION POCKET-SIZED

SURVIVOR INTERVIEW MED KITS
CARRY KNIFE RIFLE BAG
DESIGN DIFFERENCES ROUNDUP ISSUE 49
CONTENTS ISSUE 49

06 On the Cover FEATURES

All the Great Gear on the
Cover 42 Tailor-Made ARs: Part II
The Jack-of-All-Trades “General
10 Editor’s Letter Purpose AR”
Adapt and Overcome 42
56 Behind the Blade
14 Gear Up Four Knife Designers Share 56
The Latest and Greatest Insight into the Origins and
Products Evolutions of Their Edged-
Weapon Designs
18 Pocket Preps
On-Body IFAKs 60 Fun-Sized Gun Bags
Evaluating Four Compact Carriers
22 What If?
for Short-Barreled Rifles and AR
You Witness a Mass-
Pistols
Casualty Event?
68 Cyber Threat Awareness
32 Survivalist
Spotlight Recent Cyberattacks to
Greg Mihovich Critical Infrastructure, and
How to Prepare Personal
86 Health Countermeasures 60
Outdated Medical Gear
78 Child Abuse
90 Hands On Myths and Realizations from a
Warthog Sharpeners Child Crime Investigator
V-Sharp Classic II

94 Bag Drop
Deep Woods Survival
Pack

96 The Final Weapon

Precision Isn’t Easy

98 The Last Page 68

Review of Sustainable
Food Gardens: Myths &
Solutions
Product Disclaimer
Prices and details for products and services
featured in RECOIL OFFGRID are set by the
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subject to change without notice.
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Recoil OFFGRID (ISSN 2475-1952), June/July
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accuracy or completeness.
RELIABLE
PERFORMANCE
Norma TAC-22 ammunition is precisely manufactured to deliver
outstanding performance time and time again.

Norma TAC-22
Cleaner Shooting, Premium Powder
Reliable Feed and Function In
Semi-Auto Firearms
Highly Accurate Round Nose Projectile
Now it’s up
to you.
NormaShooting.com
 Relevant. Honest. Unfiltered.
Online streaming hosts can get rid of any content they don’t like with
a click of a mouse—and the major players absolutely don’t like guns.
So, we made our own. RECOILtv is a streaming platform created to bring
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BROUGHT TO YOU BY: PRESENTED BY:

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006 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
ISSUE 49

ON THE 1. Backpack 3. Backpack 6. Duffel Bag

COVER Make: Hazard 4

Model: Hibachi (15L)
MSRP: $240
Accessories: Stop Gap ($8 per pair);
Make: Mystery Ranch
Model: Gunfighter 24
MSRP: $325
URL: mysteryranch.com
Make: Viktos
Model: Range Trainer 44 Duffel
MSRP: $125
URL: viktos.com
Big Koala; ($25); Mil-Koala ($19);
HardPoint Beach Light (TBD) 4. Duffel Bag 7. Sling Pack
URL: hazard4.com Make: White Duck Make: Viktos
Model: FILIOS Canvas Duffel Bag Model: Upscale XL Slingbag
2. Messenger Bag MSRP: $40 MSRP: TBD
Make: 5.11 Tactical URL: whiteduckoutdoors.com URL: viktos.com
Model: Overwatch Messenger 18L
MSRP: $100 5. Backpack/Duffel
URL: 511tactical.com Make: Sitka
Model: Drifter Duffle 50L
MSRP: $169
URL: sitkagear.com
7

Cover Photos:
RECOIL OFFGRID Staff

2 3

6
 GEAR
Y
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ALL VIKTOS ® PRODUCTS ARE
DESIGNED AND DEVELOPED
BY US VETERANS. GUNFI
 FOR
RANGE TRAINER WATERPROOF SHELL
TM

$150 // RAINY-DAY RANGE DAYS

YOUR
AVAILABLE IN:
BRUSHSTROKE CAMO, TIGER GREY,
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AILY
WATERPROOF / BREATHABLE // 4-WAY STRETCH CHASSIS WITH FULLY-TAPED SEAMS

TACTICAL FEATURES // INTEGRATED SLEEVE POCKETS & INTERIOR CARGO POCKETS

IGHT GUNVENT™ ZIPPERS // ALLOWS QUICK-ACCESS TO SIDEARM AND VENTILATION

TO SEE OUR
COMPLETE COLLECTION
GO TO WWW.VIKTOS.COM
010
ISSUE 49
EDITOR’SLETTER
Adapt and
Overcome By Tom Marshall
I
’ve discussed in past editor’s letters that we some-
times struggle to keep up with current events
due to the lag time that’s inherent to a print
production cycle. For example, by the time you
see this, we’ll be about two months into Russia’s
invasion of neighboring Ukraine. Given that the situation
is changing literally by the hour as I sit here typing, I have
no clue what the geopolitical landscape of Eastern Europe
will look like by the time this letter gets to you. While we
try to supplement our coverage of emerging threats with
real-time articles on www.offgridweb.com, we do what we
can to give similar due diligence to those of you purchas-
ing the magazine in hard copy or digital formats.
Originally, we had planned on focusing on bug-out bags:
how to select them, how to fill them, and how to maintain
them over extended periods. And we’re still addressing
some of that content. Specifically, Patrick McCarthy rounds
up a series of rifle bags designed to carry SBRs in discreet
fashion. Our health column also details how to handle
aging or expired medical supplies — which is something
you’ll wind up with plenty of, if you keep a survival bag
packed long enough. We also have our normal Bag Drop
column, featuring a deep woods survival pack.
But we also wanted to include some articles that seem
pertinent to the invasion of Ukraine, and how that might
be causing a lot of us to re-examine our preparedness
plans. David Roy runs down some of the factors to con-
sider in terms of vulnerabilities in our national infrastruc-
ture. Energy, communications, and transportation hubs
were all targeted by Russia up to and during their inva-
sion, with a combination of cyber and physically destruc-
tive attacks being used. I also want to direct you to this
issue’s Spotlight, featuring Greg Mihovich. Greg grew up
in Belarus before and during the fall of the Soviet Union.
He was also a child when the Chernobyl nuclear power
plant suffered its catastrophic disaster. Unfortunately,
both Belarus and Chernobyl are back in the public eye in
light of recent events. Greg also has personal insight into
the value of a preparedness culture as well as what life
was like before and after Soviet rule.
We’re not sure what the long-term geopolitical or
economic fallout from Russian aggression will be. But as
the world gets smaller and more connected, there’s no
doubt this will touch us in some way, shape, or form. We
hope the direct impact on America and its citizens will
be minimal. However, we will stay true to our mission of
calculating the severest of outcomes and giving you as
much information as we can to avoid or mitigate hard-
ship to the greatest degree possible.
Stay ready, and stay safe.
 Editorial.
Editor-in-Chief/ Iain Harrison
Editor, RECOIL OFFGRID/ Tom Marshall
Managing Editor/ Laura Peltakian
Features Editor/ Dave Merrill
Contributing Editor/ Steven Kuo
Contributing Editor/ Patrick McCarthy
Network Manager/ John Schwartze
Contributors/ Cassandra Dale, Kerry Davis, Patrick Diedrich,
Niccole Elizabeth, Phillip Meeks, Dave Miller, Joey Nickischer,
David Roy, Andrew Schrader, John Truman, Patrick Vuong
Art Direction & Design.
Senior Art Director/ Gene Coo
Art Director/ Katia Sverdlova
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 MORE WAYS TO
A 17
TARGET THUMBHOLE
WIN RANGE DAY.
MARK II
MINIMALIST BROWN

B 17 F V- S R
OVERWATCH

A22
PRO VARMINT

A22
PRECISION

RASCAL
MINIMALIST TEAL/ GREY

RASCAL
MINIMALIST PINK/PURPLE
OUT FRONT IN RIMFIRE. OUTDONE BY NONE.
It’s no secret that practice makes perfect—which is why we’re constantly finding new,
innovative ways to meet shooters’ needs and why our rimfire lineup boasts more than
150 rifles. Whether you’re hitting the range for fun or looking to climb the leaderboard,
there’s a Savage rimfire waiting for you.
SAVAGEARMS.COM
014
1A/2A: CONGRESS SHALL,
GEARUP
1 MAKE & MODEL
Tasmanian Tiger USA
TT Passport Safe RFID
COLOR
Black, Olive
MSRP
$24
URL
tasmaniantigerusa.com
NOTES
Since August 2007, all U.S.
passports have come embed-
ded with an RFID chip. This chip
contains the same information
as the passport, including your
photograph. Unfortunately,
this also means that someone
walking past you with an RFID
scanner could capture your data
and use your personal informa-
tion for many different kinds
of identity crimes. Fortunately,
Tasmanian Tiger has come up
with a solution. The TT Passport
Safe RFID is large enough to
contain a passport, multiple
credit cards, and then some. Its
fabric has been integrated with
CRYPTALLOY foil, one of the best
RFID shielding materials on the
market, which will block most
scanning efforts, and help keep
your personal information secure
while traveling.
1
2 MAKE & MODEL
Strike Industries
Strike Mag Lighter
Cover for BIC Mini
WEIGHT
0.8 ounce
MSRP
$9
URL
strikeindustries.com
NOTES
Be prepared for a surprised
reaction the next time some-
one asks you for a light.
This lighter cover for a BIC
Mini is a fun novelty item.
Lighters are often an es-
sential part of many EDC kits
due to their water-resistant
dependability over matches.
Use one to light a camp
stove, start an emergency
fire, or seal loose ends of
paracord, but make sure you
do it in style. Modeled after
the unique Strike Industries
pistol magazine design,
the lighter cover manually
extends and retracts with a
slide mechanism. A pocket
clip on the base plate offers
a convenient way to store
a lighter in your pocket
without adding to unneces-
sary clutter.
.
2
3
3 MAKE & MODEL
RTS Triggershield
RTS Triggershield
H/T PIN SIZES
Standard (0.154), Large (0.17)
MSRP
$70
URL
rtstriggershield.com
NOTES
RTS’s slogan, “Shoot On
Purpose,” says everything these
trigger shields are intended to
do. Accidental discharges are
a possibility if a foreign object
enters a weapon’s trigger
guard, and these handy devices
were made as an extra measure
to reduce that risk. Requiring
no special tools, the shields are
easily assembled in as little as
three minutes. Two variations
are available and can accommo-
date both standard and large
H/T pin sizes. The shield is
made out of a Mil-spec polymer
designed to withstand punish-
ing conditions. A downward
spring-assisted hinge keeps
the shield from flapping during
movement. Each side of the
shield is contoured specifically
for the trigger finger to access
quickly and comfortably.
4 MAKE & MODEL
Prometheus Design Werx
CWO Full Zip Sweater
COLOR
Heather Alpine Gray, Heather Black
MSRP
$249
URL
prometheusdesignwerx.com
NOTES
Inspired by classic British outdoor
and military clothing, the CWO
(Cold Weather Operations) Full Zip
Sweater can keep you nice and warm.
Prometheus has partnered with a
generations-old Italian knitting mill
located at the base of the Dolomite
Alps to weave premium merino yarns
into an impressive 2x2 rib. It’s ideal
for comfort and breathability while
engaging in strenuous outdoor ac-
tivities, or for anyone looking to add
some classic style to their outdoor
attire. This versatile sweater boasts a
two-way, reverse coil YKK front zipper
which zips up to turtleneck height,
two zippered hand pockets, four-way
stretch nylon fabric reinforcements
on the shoulders and elbows, and
turnback cuffs with thumbholes.
5 MAKE & MODEL
Varusteleka
Carbon Steel Terävä
Jääkäripuukko 110
w/Boltaron Sheath
OAL
9.4 inches
MSRP
$84
URL
varusteleka.com
NOTES
This blade uses a traditional and
proven functional Finnish puukko
profile with a drop point. The
thickness of 4.2 mm/0.17 inch
makes this a bit more robust
than most old-timey traditional
Finnish puukkos. The profile is a
Scandi grind with a tiny second-
ary bevel, and you can use the
durable Jääkäri for batoning
wood without a problem. Made
from 80CrV2 tool steel, the heat
treatment leaves the surface of
the steel softer (~52 HRC), which
creates a tough exterior to
protect the blade. As the blade
is ground, the harder (~59 HRC)
inside is revealed and improves
edge retention. The spine has
ground bevels for striking Ferro
rods. The Boltaron Sheath is a
bit like Kydex but offers better
performance in extreme temper-
atures (like cold Finnish winters).
This sheath allows carrying the
knife on your belt, vest, pack, or
anything with PALS webbing.
6 MAKE & MODEL
Streamlight
TLR-10
LUMENS
1,000
MSRP
$385
URL
streamlight.com
NOTES
Why be forced to choose
either a tactical light or
a laser on the rail of your
handgun when you could have
one system that does both?
Streamlight has introduced
the TLR-10, a tactical light
capable of producing 1,000-
lumen output and reaching
out to 200 meters, as well as
an integrated 640-660nm red
laser. Designed for full-framed
handguns, the TLR-10 includes
customized ambidextrous
switches with either a low or
high position to match your
shooting style. Both the light
and the laser can operate
stand-alone or simultane-
ously, and the light has a
user-enabled strobe function.
Water-resistant, anodized ma-
chined aluminum construction
ensures its durability, and a
weight of only 4.62 ounces
ensures it won’t slow down
your handgun of choice.
7 MAKE & MODEL
Hydaway
Collapsible Camp Bowl
DESIGN
Metolius, Yukon, Mojave,
Cascadia
MSRP
$45
URL
myhydaway.com
NOTES
Collapsible mess kits free up
room in your pack and make it
easy to enjoy outdoor cuisine.
The Collapsible Camp Bowl set
from HYDAWAY features a 1-quart
bowl and 8-ounce cup, both with
spill-resistant lids and match-
ing insulating sleeves. Several
sleeve styles are available to
accessorize your preference of
backdrop. Each container is made
from thick silicone, heat resistant
to very high temperatures,
although exposing them to open
flame should be avoided. The
containers are easy to clean and
perfect for anything from hot
soup or coffee to your favorite
snack or treat. HYDAWAY has
found the right balance between
rigidity and flexibility to ensure
your container retains its shape
when in use, but still collapses
with minimal effort when it’s
ready to be put away.
7
8 MAKE & MODEL
Garmin
Tread XL Overland Edition
SERIES
Base Edition, SxS Edition
MSRP
$1,500
URL
garmin.com
NOTES
This is not your run-of-the-mill, stick-
it-to-your-windshield GPS. Instead, it’s
an over river, through the woods, up
the mountain on purpose, adventure-
having techno-marvel. The receiver
is tuned to GLONASS and 10HZ-GNSS/
GPS in the United States and South
America, and GALILEO in Europe.
Tread XL has a 10-inch screen, six-
hour battery life, preloaded topo
maps, and satellite imagery. It also
comes preloaded with USFS Roads
and Trails, including motor-vehicle-
use-maps for motorcycle, ATV, SxS,
and full-size 4x4. Take it off the
trail and on to the highway with
the full Garmin suite of navigation
features. It has Wi-Fi and Bluetooth
connectivity, weather notifications,
and compatibility with Group Ride,
Powerswitch, and In-Reach. The Tread
also offers pitch and roll gauges, dog
tracking, and SOS functions.
8
ISSUE 49
OFFGRIDWEB.COM 015
016
1A/2A: MAKE NO LAW OFFGRIDWEB.COM
9 MAKE & MODEL
Zip Targets
Zip Range Kit
MAX RANGE
100 feet
MSRP
$149
URL
ziptargets.com
NOTES
Living far from a range or
not being able to justify the
cost of a range membership
can be a pain when you want
to hone your marksmanship
skills. The Zip Range Kit is a
low-cost alternative to a fully
established range, and fits
easily in a small drawstring
bag. Perfect for a location
with a safe backdrop, the
Zip Range can move targets
between 0 and 100 feet. By
using an uncomplicated sys-
tem of pulleys, the target is
moved via 550 paracord and
a cordless drill attachment
(user provides the drill). The
target hanger can carry pa-
per targets, hanging cans or
bottles, clay discs, balloons,
archery foam, and steel gun
targets.
9
10 MAKE
5COL
& MODEL
11
Wire Saw, Flexible
WEIGHT
< 1.0 ounce
MSRP
$20
URL
5col.com
NOTES
Manufactured for the
U.S. Military, it’s nor-
mally included in aviation
survival kits for pilots who
find themselves without
wings. This wire saw is
portable, concealable,
and has a unique array of
teeth not found on similar
products. Weighing less
than an ounce, this flexible
saw straightens out to
16 inches long, making it
ideal for survival, camp,
or SERE applications. 5COL
strongly recommends using
a suitable, fresh tree limb
to fashion a bow-saw for
superior results. Others
have taken advantage of
the paracorded eyelets
on the ends of the wire to
fashion a makeshift frame
saw, further increasing its
versatility.
MAKE & MODEL
SUUNTO
Core
COLOR
All Black, Black Red, Black Yellow TX,
Brushed Steel, Regular Black
MSRP
$219
URL
suunto.com
NOTES
Sometimes a watch with endless fea-
tures is unnecessary and only serves to
burn battery life faster. Suunto’s Core is
a simple, yet versatile “ABC” (altimeter,
barometer, compass) style watch with
just enough features to help you make
it back home. Multiple watch and date
settings allow the user to switch easily
between time zones or borders without
the need to stop and readjust. People
pursuing recreational, hunting, or duty
endeavors will appreciate the sunrise/
sunset tracker. The Core’s compass
feature is accurate to 5 degrees and
offers declination adjustment. It can
operate in conditions as low as -20
degrees C (-5 degrees F), as high as
over 60 degrees C (140 degrees F), and
will display underwater depth down
to 10 meters. There’s no Bluetooth or
GPS connectivity, but for those in law
enforcement or the military who may
be concerned about signal discipline,
having a high-tech timepiece that’ll
not give away your position could be a
game changer.
10
12 MAKE & MODEL
G-Code
Access EDC Tool
GRIP STYLE
Full Loop, Half Loop
MSRP
$20
URL
tacticalholsters.com
NOTES
Ever find yourself standing behind
someone at a kiosk or check-out
touch pad, only to realize the
person in front of you is sneezing
and wiping their drippy nose with
their hand? If only there were a way
to still use those public terminals
without testing your immune system.
G-Code has created the versatile
Access EDC Tool for just such a pur-
pose. The Access EDC is made with
antimicrobial materials that prevent
bacteria and other organisms from
surviving on its surface, allowing
the owner to press elevator buttons,
touch screens, and many other digi-
tal keying devices without having to
use the tip of a finger. Additionally,
it’s made from solid brass and is
ergonomically designed to comfort-
ably fit a hand in case self-defense is
necessary. The Access EDC attaches
easily to a lanyard, key chain, or
ID badge holder, making it an easy
addition to your EDC loadout.
12
11
018
1A/2A: RESPECTING
PocketPREPS

By Joey Nickischer

T
3
he on-body IFAK (Individual
First-Aid Kit) has been a
standard item in military
kit for generations and has
become common with 2
police, fire, and other first responders. As
the trend goes with smart ideas, it’s now
becoming common with hunters, hikers,
and savvy moms at the playground.
Minor accidents and injuries happen all
the time and it’s nice to be able to just deal
with the issue on the spot, rather than hav-
ing to run home or dash off to the closest
store for the needed equipment. But on
top of that, some of the better-equipped
IFAKs contain trauma dressings and
tourniquets, for when the absolute worst
happens and minutes or seconds can
mean the difference between life, death, or
long-term impairment, while waiting for a
9-1-1 response.
Naturally, your personal IFAK will vary Ryker Nylon Gear Dark Angel Medical Arbor Arms
1 4WS AFAK 2 Every Day Carry (EDC) 3 Medical Nut Ruck Small
depending on the level of your training, DIMENSIONS: Trauma Kit
DIMENSIONS:
your destination, and even your outfit. It’s 6 H by 17 W by 2 D DIMENSIONS: 5.5 H by 7.5 W by 2 D inches
(full) inches 4.5 H by 3.25 W by 1.25 D
not socially acceptable to wear a business COLORS: inches COLORS:
Black, Coyote Brown, Grey,
suit and have a large, red IFAK worn on Black, Coyote Brown, COLORS: MultiCam, MultiCam Black,
Gray, Ranger Green Black, Coyote Brown, MultiCam, Ranger Green
your belt. However, a pocket or ankle carry Ranger Green, Red
INCLUDES:
kit will likely go unnoticed to all but the Pouch only INCLUDES:
INCLUDES:
Pouch, 5x elastic bands,
Pouch, hemostatic gauze,
most astute observer. Likewise, a larger kit MSRP nitrile gloves, mini compression
1x wrap
$75 bandage, pair of Hyfin Vent
could blend well with your backpack-style Compact chest seals MSRP
URL $60
water carrier while you’re hitting the trail rykernylongear.com MSRP
or single-track forest path on your moun- $100 URL
arborarmsusa.com
tain bike. For whatever your social engage- URL
darkangelmedical.com
ment, there’s a kit that fits your needs.
 4

Doom and Bloom Live the Creed Live the Creed North American Rescue
4 Ultimate Compact First 5 Responder IFAK 6 EDC Pocket Trauma Kit 7 Enhanced Trauma Aid Kit
Aid Trauma Kit Grab N Go (ETAK)
DIMENSIONS: DIMENSIONS:
DIMENSIONS: 7 H by 4.5 W by 1.5 D inches 5.5 H by 3.5 W by 1.25 D inches DIMENSIONS:
7 H by 6 W by 4.75 D inches 5.75 H by 4 W by 1.75 D inches
COLORS: COLORS:
COLORS: Black, Coyote, MultiCam, MutiCam Black/Red, Coyote/Red, Grey, COLORS:
Black, Coyote, Digital Camo, Black, Ranger Green, Wolf Grey MutiCam Black/Wolf, Ranger Black, Coyote, MultiCam,
Red Green/Black, Wolf Grey/Red Ranger Green
INCLUDES:
INCLUDES: Pouch, QuikClot Combat Gauze, INCLUDES: INCLUDES:
A lot! (see notes) NAR HyFin Vent Compact chest Pouch, SWAT-Tourniquet, HyFin Vent Twin Pack, wound
seal, nasopharyngeal airway, QuikClot Dressing, Tan XL nitrile packing gauze, 4-inch mini
MSRP H&H Mini Israeli bandage, trauma gloves, bandages, wound closure emergency trauma dressing,
$99 shears, XL Bear Claw gloves strips, iodine wipe, alcohol wipe, large black nitrile gloves,
bacitracin ointment permanent marker
MSRP
URL $150
doomandbloom.net MSRP MSRP
$75 $85
URL
ISSUE 49

ltcreed.com URL URL

ltcreed.com ltcreed.com

OFFGRIDWEB.COM 019
020
1A/2A: AN ESTABLISHMENT
Pocket PREPS

Ryker Nylon Dark Angel Arbor Arms Doom and Bloom Live The Creed Live The Creed North American
Gear Medical Medical Nut Ruck Ultimate Compact Responder IFAK EDC Pocket Rescue
4WS AFAK Every Day Carry Small First Aid Trauma Trauma Kit Enhanced Trauma
(EDC) Trauma Kit Kit Grab N Go Aid Kit (ETAK)

A nice take on the Compact and light-
IFAK, the Ryker Nylon weight, this pouch
Gear AFAK is an ankle features a Hypalon
worn kit, which keeps panel on the back
it discreetly out of the with cuts made for the
way when wearing a included MALICE clips,
suit and tie, or keeping and a belt channel
your tactical vest that’ll fit up to a 2-inch-
uncluttered. It features wide belt. There are
three vertical pockets webbing loops on the
with hook- and loop- right side that can hold
style retention straps a pair of reduced-size
and one long hori- trauma shears (not
zontal pocket on the included), and elastic
smooth back side. It’s loops on the left to
designed to hold their hold a tourniquet (not
AFAK Medical Supply included). I particularly
Kit (sold separately, like the design of the
$134), which includes large loop pull handle
an orange SOF Tactical on the top of the flap
Tourniquet, QuikCot for fast, break-away
Combat Gauze, HyFin style access in an
Vent chest seal twin emergency. You have
pack, trauma shear, to pull this flap away
and Black-Fire latex- from you, not toward
free nitrile gloves. This your body as on
will cover the basics common pouches.
of major trauma, like a There’s even a loop
sucking chest wound square on the front
or arterial bleed. I of the pouch for the
found this kit to be included red cross
more comfortable identifier, or your 1-inch
worn over a high-top patch of choice. This
boot, but love the kit comes standard
ankle concealment with QuikClot Bleeding
aspect. Control Dressing, but
ChitoGauze XR Pro is
Pros: available for a small
Discreet carry, keeps upcharge.
chest and waist free
for other uses Pros:
Size, excellent top
Cons: opening, quick
Can be access to tourniquet
uncomfortable on and shears
skin for prolonged
wear Cons:
Tourniquet windlass
juts out a bit
The Arbor Arms Medi- If you’re looking for the This is a strong, This kit is more like an This nicely sized kit
cal Nut Ruck Small is most comprehensive compact, and very “IFAK lite,” but rather holds the bare es-
a very versatile and IFAK assortment for well-secured IFAK. It’s than that being a sentials. Sized to fit on
customizable pouch. It your journey to the lo- made from laser-cut weakness, that is its a standard belt, duty
can be worn as a tradi- cal trail, you may have laminated Cordura strength. The compact belt, or MOLLE system,
tional fanny pack with found your kit. This kit and secured with a nature of this kit allows this kit has a tearaway
its stowable/removable includes: pouch, CPR medium-sized 1.5-inch it to fit into the breast back panel to assist
waist strap, which can instruction booklet, quick-release buckle. pocket of most coats with stowage options
be either side-release tourniquet, “how to The narrow profile has and many lighter or rapid deploy-
or G-hook. You could stop bleeding” instruc- a different design than jackets. It’s really about ment. There’s also a
also attach it directly to tions on waterproof most other pouches. the size of a very, very convenient carry/grab
their SALT belt system paper, surgical face It has both top and fat wallet, but easily fits handle on the rear. The
or similar MOLLE gun mask, hand sanitizer bottom pass-through into the rear pocket of main retention buckle
belt via snap-on side- packets, 4-inch Israeli openings (or left and a pair of jeans. You can is well designed. It
release buckles or the bandage, Celox 2gm right, depending on also MOLLE mount it stays closed securely,
built-in Velcro flap, or powder, organic cay- the pouch orientation), or clip it onto a belt. It even when the pull tab
to a plate carrier with enne pepper powder so supplies can be certainly lives up to its is grabbed, ensuring
their First Spear Tube (35,000HU), raw removed from either EDC name. it doesn’t acciden-
Hanger (not included). unprocessed honey side. And the included tally detach until you
The Check-Mate panel packets, 6-inch gauze, trauma supplies fit nice Pros: consciously open the
on the inner back wall 4-inch ACE bandage, and snug, no wasted Fits into most flip-up buckle. But if
of the pouch offers a stainless steel Mayo space and no frills. The pockets for everyday you rip the pouch off
ton of versatility for a scissors, four nitrile Responder IFAK can carry in an upward rotation
customizable setup. gloves, 3M Steri Strips, be mounted horizon- manner, it detaches
The Medical Nut Ruck super glue, 4x3-inch tally to any MOLLE Cons: nicely. The pull tab also
Small is 80 percent Moleskin, 3x4-inch platform or belts up to Bulky despite its has a 1x2-inch MED
of the size of the gauze, Burn Jel pack- 2.5 inches, or vertically small size, limited (medical) patch for
slightly larger Standard ets, insect repellent to any belt up to 2.5 capacity easy identification.
Ruck ($80), which packets, Bacitracin inches. There’s also
is designed to hold packets, 4x4-inch two Tac Tie polymer Pros:
the contents of the gauze, ABD 5x8- mounting clips and a Size, retention
U.S. Army issue IFAK, inch dressing pads, 2-inch PVC medi- buckle, modularity,
while the even larger 2x4-inch Band-Aids, cal identifier patch solid construction
Plus variation ($90) is 1x3-inch Band-Aids, included. Tourniquet
designed to hold the triangular bandage, and tourniquet holder Cons:
contents of the USMC medical tape, iodine sold separately. This You need to add a
IFAK. wipes, alcohol wipes, IFAK, with optional tourniquet to make it
ibuprofen tablets, and tourniquet holder, a complete kit
Pros: a 12-hour glowstick. now lives on my rope
Duty-grade The pouch features a rescue harness.
construction, hook-and-loop first-aid
numerous mounting patch, high-quality Pros:
options, modularity, quick-release buckle, Convenient size and
fanny pack strap is and MOLLE attach- shape, excellent
standard ment system. closure, mounting
options
Cons: Pros:
Sold as an empty Contains a little of Cons:
bag with no medical everything, can Most expensive of
supplies available, effectively deal with the reviewed kits
most options are many minor issues
extra cost
Cons:
Big, bulky, better
suited to minor
injuries than major
trauma
1A/2A: OF RELIGION,
You Witness a Mass-Casualty Event?
By RECOIL OFFGRID Staff, Illustrations by Cassandra Dale
R
ecent headlines have
revealed a number of
mass-casualty events
involving vehicles. Notable
examples include the
2003 Santa Monica farmers market crash;
2017 attacks in Charlottesville, Stock-
holm, London, Barcelona, Jerusalem, and
Melbourne; the 2018 Toronto van attack;
and the attack last November in Wauke-
sha, Wisconsin. The Wikipedia page for
vehicle-ramming attacks lists more than
100 separate incidents in the last decade
alone, making it clear this type of event is
becoming an increasingly common threat
to pedestrians. Whether it’s accidental or
deliberate, the bottom line is, if you’re not
injured, how might you be able to attend
to those who are?
The Scenario:
SITUATION TYPE
You witness a mass-casualty
event
YOUR CREW
You and your spouse
LOCATION
Your hometown
SEASON
Spring
WEATHER
Normal
The Setup: Imagine you visit your
downtown area with your spouse on a
Saturday to attend a local farmer’s mar-
ket. In order to make room for vendors’
stands and the accompanying influx of
pedestrian traffic, two full blocks of the
street have recently been cordoned off
by city officials. The closed-off areas are
delineated by thin, waist-high plastic bar-
ricades to indicate to vehicles at nearby
intersections that this area is off-limits.
As is typical of a Saturday afternoon,
there are many shoppers and restaurant
patrons walking through the area, in ad-
dition to the farmers’ market attendees.
Small tables have been set up on the
sidewalk near some of the more popular
booths, so you and your wife take a seat
at one of them to eat a quick meal.
The Complication: After about five
minutes of enjoying your food, your day
seems to be going well. Without warning,
you hear the screeching of tires out of
sight from where you’re seated. Patrons
in the street begin to turn in the direction
of the commotion. The noise of an accel-
erating engine gets louder. Suddenly you
see a pickup truck barreling down the op-
posite side of the street. It plows through
one of the other seating areas, smashing
into at least three tables of diners. People
begin to scream and run frantically in ev-
ery direction. The driver reverses course
and takes down a mother and child trying
frantically to outrun it. The pickup starts
coming toward you and runs over an el-
derly couple before slamming into some
of the people on the sidewalk about 10
feet from you.
The vehicle then reverses a second
time, accelerates down the street, and
runs over at least two more people as it
speeds out of the cordoned-off area from
the same direction it entered. What do
you do? Are there steps you can take to
attend to the injured individuals? How do
you prioritize who to attend to and triage
appropriately? Should you try to enlist
others to help? Could a follow-up attack
be imminent as well?
 Search-and-Rescue Technician Andy Schrader’s Approach
What just happened? What’s going to hap-
pen next? Getting over the shock of a vehicle
plowing through a crowd, as with the shock
of any emergency, starts with controlling my
breathing and taking stock of the situation.
Next comes that first decision to act and
putting that foot forward. As the saying goes,
if you’re looking around and thinking to your-
self that someone should do something —
congratulations! You’ve just been nominated.
I’d start by assessing the scene and
confirming my own safety and that of my
immediate family. It’s so easy to get tunnel vi-
sion in a bad situation like this and lose focus
on your surroundings. This is where mental
awareness and breathing exercises make a
difference in how you’ll respond:
• Feel all the points of your body that are
making contact with the ground — if you’re
standing, it might just be your two feet.
• Breathe in through your nose and out
through your mouth. If you can get in two
or three good breaths and keep doing this,
you’ll have a much better chance of function-
ing effectively.
Train to Respond — Not React
For me, personally, I place a high value on
forcing my mind to keep running even while
my body is stressed. To train on this, I bring
logic or math puzzle books with me to the
gym, or sometimes actual physical puzzles
or little Tetris boards. During my rest periods
between sets, I work on basic math problems
or puzzles. This helps my body get used to
the idea that even when my cardiovascular
system is redlined, I still need to be able to
think, analyze, and make decisions.
If you’re going to try this out on your
own, you can’t necessarily expect to solve
complicated puzzles since your brain won’t
be functioning at its highest level. Normally,
I start with puzzles designed for kids ages 8
to 12 and work my way up from there. If the
puzzle thing sounds silly, ask yourself: How
are you training your body to respond when
you’re winded? By putting your hands on
your knees or blankly staring up at the ceiling
or sky? We don’t rise to the occasion — we
sink to the level of our training.
I remember one of my first times working
with my friends at Marion County (FL) Fire
Rescue, when we responded to a drug over-
dose victim quickly dying in front of us. One
of the medics asked me to grab him another
pair of gloves out of the rescue (ambulance)
— a fairly simple request. As I leapt up into the
rescue, I remember seeing the walls of the
vehicle spin around me, as I was still process-
ing the vision of the patient’s face contorting
as he went into seizures. I spun around prob-
ably three or four times, wasting precious
seconds, only having the vaguest idea of
what I was looking for. I simply couldn’t think
straight — my body was floundering around
like a hooked fish flopping on a dock, all
movement and no action. I’d become worse
than useless — the team actually would’ve
been more effective if I hadn’t been there at
all. That day taught me the lesson to slow
down. Breathe. Often, you’re better off walk-
ing instead of running, if it allows you to stay
in the proper gear and think on your feet.
So, think first, then act. Look around you,
all 360 degrees. Is the vehicle coming back
around for another pass? Or if the vehicle is
stopped because it rammed into something,
what’s happening there? It doesn’t even have
to be an intentional terrorist act for a vehicle
to kill or maim pedestrians. These events
can and often do occur as a result of sudden
medical events or operator error. An elderly
driver might mistake the gas pedal for the
brake (it happens all the time). An impatient
driver might drive up on the sidewalk to pass
by stopped vehicles in the road, as happened
last year in Florida where two kids were killed.
Or a driver could experience a stroke, heart
attack, or seizure. No matter the cause, the
results are the same, and it’s worthwhile to
consider this event as well within the realm of
possibility.
The First 10 Seconds
Is the scene safe? Take a second to look
around and understand what happened. Was
this just an accident, maybe from an elderly
driver? Or was this an intentional attack
that might involve a second phase? If it’s
the former and you’re removing the vehicle
occupants, be careful and make sure the
engine is off. Confirm that the parking brake
is engaged, and that the transmission isn’t in
gear. You don’t want the vehicle to roll away
and cause more casualties
Triage and Treatment
As Sean McKay of Element Rescue likes to
say, you’ll find three types of victims at scenes
like this. The first kind is going to die no matter
how good of a job you do. The second kind is
going to live no matter how much you screw
it up. The third kind may live or die depending
on your actions — it’s what you do right now
that makes a difference.
First, is anyone spouting blood from their
arms or legs? If so, that’s one of the simpler
and more impactful things for you to address.
When walking around, check first on people
who aren’t moving or are nonresponsive.
People may need to sit up to be able to
breathe properly — if that’s the case, gently
help them sit up. Sitting people up and/or
turning them onto their side can keep victims
from aspirating if they vomit. If a spinal injury
is suspected, keep movement to a minimum
to avoid exacerbating that injury.

If there’s an injury in “the box,” i.e. the victim’s
torso or abdomen, they need evacuation to a
hospital right away. There won’t be much that
you can do until you get a surgeon involved.
Even if someone looks good on the outside,
they may be suffering from internal bleeding
that you can’t see. If they’re conscious, ask
simple questions. See if they can remember
what their name is, what year it is, or who the
president is.
If you do find someone who clearly can’t
think straight, they may be suffering internal
bleeding or swelling of the brain. They need
help right now, in a hospital, and there’s not
much you or even the paramedics can do for
them in the field. Make sure the first respond-
ers know about these victims when they get
there or drive the person to the hospital if
that’s feasible.
For more information on field triage, check
out my past article on the SALT method here:
offgridweb.com/?p=19367.
B-Con Basics
When it comes to medical gear, I carry
the M-FAK Mini First-Aid Kit from North
American Rescue. It weighs only 13 ounces
and is about the size of a small 6-inch sub.
I’m not a medic and have zero advanced
medical training, but I do know the basics
of bleeding control (B-Con) and am com-
fortable using the tourniquet, hemostatic
gauze, and trauma dressing included in the
kit. Even if I’m not carrying a pistol I’ll have
the M-FAK with me, knowing that statisti-
cally it’s more likely that I’ll have to help
someone than shoot someone.
In my vehicle, I store a larger Public
Access Bleeding Control Twin Pack, also
from North American Rescue. It has two
sets of the basic B-Con supplies as well as
some additional goodies to help prevent
victims from going into shock. I never take
this out of my vehicle, and that way I know
it’ll be there when I need it. Because I live
in Florida and it gets hot in the vehicle in
summer, I store the medical supplies inside
of a small Yeti hard-sided cooler that I also
keep in my vehicle full-time. Even without
any ice inside, the temperature inside the
cooler stays better regulated during the day
so I worry less about the heat potentially
degrading items.
Realism vs. Escapism
There are lots of complex technical de-
tours we could take here, including consider-
ing whether or not you should enlist the help
of others, whether you should try to shoot
the driver or disable the vehicle, and other
potentially nitpicking questions. But the fact
is that during the event, there are too many
unknown variables, and those variables will be
changing in real-time under your feet. In this
case, those complex what-if questions become
a bit like teats on a bull. We’re fooling ourselves
if we think we can flawlessly predict the actions
of others. If we’re truly mentally prepared, then
we don’t have to worry about anticipating
events or what might happen. We’ll be ready
to trust our gut instincts and respond to what
we see in front of us when we see it.
The thing is, there’s more to preparedness
than just having the gear and a weekend class
under your belt. Most of us prefer to simply
buy new gear, instead of learning how to mas-
ter our existing gear or (better yet) get along
without any gear. Most of us would rather
materially gain than train, unfortunately.
If you haven’t been privileged to enjoy
realistic training that had a large stress inocula-
tion component, you may well spend the first
seconds or minutes after disaster hits just
staring wide-eyed, trying to comprehend what
you’re seeing. This isn’t an insult or a criticism,
and it doesn’t say anything bad about you if
that’s the case.
Keep in mind that there’s a difference
between being trained to perform a task and
actually being ready and primed to do it when
it counts. There’s a huge distance between
qualified and proficient. As the saying goes,
good decisions come from experience. And
experience usually comes from initially mak-
ing bad decisions. It may not be pretty or even
a linear progression, but you’ll get there if you
keep at it.
For example, when I was deployed
WHAT
IF?
for search-and-rescue operations at the
Champlain Towers (Surfside) condominium
collapse in Miami, I was fully qualified and
deserving to be on that scene. However,
mentally I wasn’t prepared to absorb the
complete picture of what an actual mass-ca-
sualty incident looked like. By contrast, most
of my training scenarios had been clean, ster-
ile, and progressed in a way that made sense.
This was messy and confusing, as if a smoke
or a haze were partially obscuring not only
what I was trying to see, but what I was try-
ing to think about. Take what I learned from
my experience to better prepare yourself for
when you get your shot at it.
Get Involved
Try to serve as a volunteer firefighter in
your town. This may provide you with good
training and valuable skillsets, besides valu-
able opportunities to see and help human
beings in distress. The more you’re able to
serve in stressful and chaotic situations,
the better you’ll get at cutting through the
noise and thinking clearly to accomplish
your mission — if you make the effort to
learn from your mistakes.
If you can’t serve as a volunteer firefight-
er, consider opportunities to volunteer with
your local police force, hospital, or Commu-
nity Emergency Response Team. See things
that make you uncomfortable so that you
can act right in the future on what may be
the worst day of your life.
For more information on protecting
against vehicular attacks in the future,
FEMA released a great guideline on pre-
venting terrorist attacks in general, which
includes specific sections on vehicular-
ramming attacks. Understanding this
document could help your town, city, or
event prepare for this possibility. Check
it out at www.fema.gov/pdf/plan/prevent/
rms/426/fema426.pdf.
The author would like to thank Sean
McKay of Element Rescue (www.element
rescue.com) and Scott Chappell of the
Florida State Fire Marshal’s office for their
assistance with this article.
 First-Aid Instructor Kerry Davis’ Approach
Preparation
Can anything really prepare you for
something like this? Unless you’ve seen
the types of injuries you’ll see here be-
fore, not really. Simply put, it’ll be a shock
to your system. Now let’s say you’ve
never seen these types of injuries in “real
life” before, but you’ve had some medical
training and saw them in slideshows or
even in moulage. Are you prepared? Ab-
solutely. Why? Because you’ve had some
experience with them through stress
inoculation and you know how to deal
with them through that training.
What if you don’t have any medical
training? Could you do more harm than
good? Possibly so. Without understand-
ing how the body works, you could actu-
ally make certain injuries worse. Also,
acting outside of your scope of training
can increase your liability in these types
of situations. However, you can always
show willingness to help out and can ren-
der aid when directed by other medical
personnel on scene. But, to be an even
greater asset, I can’t emphasize enough
how important it is to have medical train-
ing. There are a lot of different courses
the average citizen can take that’ll give
them a basic level of understanding on
not only how to treat a traumatic injury, but
why they’re doing what they’re doing.
The very basic American Red Cross
or American Heart Association First Aid/
AED/CPR courses are a great place to
start. For an added bit of information in
traumatic injury aid, add a Stop the Bleed
training course (www.stopthebleed.org).
It’s very basic at four hours but will cover
ways to stop the most prevalent killer of
humans, massive life-threatening hemor-
rhage. For those who want to learn more
and don’t need to be a medical profes-
sional, here are a couple of really great
options. First is our Dark Angel Medical
Direct Action Response Training (DART)
course. This 16-hour course covers
everything from minor boo-boos to en-
vironmental medicine to life-threatening
injuries. It culminates with hands-on
practical skills and trauma assessment
scenarios. It’s a lot of information but
equips the student to be better prepared
in the event of life-threatening emergen-
cies. This information is built upon in
our DART 2 course, which is a two-day
scenario-heavy course. We also offer
a one-day Basic Trauma Management
course for corporate settings, as well.
The second is Lone Star Medics’
Dynamic First Aid. This one-day class is
a great starting point, but their course
catalog is both extensive and impressive.
They have a wealth of knowledge and
can prepare everyday citizens for the
worst. All of these courses cover a great
deal of information while still staying at a
basic level of training.
As I have said many times, “Get the
training. Get the kit. Be the difference.”
So, you have the training. What now?
What kind of trauma kit or medical sup-
plies should I carry on my person to deal
with these types of injuries in this type
of situation? At a bare minimum, here
are what I like to call my “Top Five” items
to have in a trauma kit:
Tourniquet(s): multiple, scientifically
proven, i.e. C-A-T Gen 7 or SOF-T Gen 5
Gloves: nitrile, at least two pairs
Hemostatic gauze: QuikClot Combat
Gauze or ChitoGauze XR Pro
Compression bandage
Chest seals: HALO Vented IFAK or
HyFin Compact Vented
Having these few items in your on-
body med kit can literally make the dif-
ference between life and death. It’s not
a lot of weight, there are multiple ways
to carry it, and you’ll never miss it if you
don’t need it.
Now that medical is covered, what
about non-medical? Perhaps a good
handheld flashlight is a good thing to
have in the event the scene plays out
in low-light situations. Also, a good note
pad and pen to jot down pertinent info
like descriptions of subjects, vehicles,
etc., as well as interventions, vital signs,
allergies, meds, and last oral intake of
victims you may be assisting.
As I said earlier, preparation is key,
and part of that preparation is in mak-
ing these soft targets hard targets. To
do that, reach out to your local of ficials
and work with them and the emergency
planners to recognize any potential
chink in the armor. Harden access routes
to prevent any attacks while still being
able to have viable egress routes in the
case of an emergency. A solid concrete
barrier is much better than metal fenc-
ing in preventing an attack but can
become a hindrance when emergency
vehicles need access to or egress from
the protected area.
Prior to heading to an event like this
and recognizing the potential for some-
thing tragic to unfold, look into similar
events that occurred in the past. When
delving into those past events, look for
similarities/patterns of attack. Also, look
at it from a different perspective and see
if it was just an exploitation of an oppor-
tunity/vulnerability. This could help you
plan where you’ll go and where you and
your family will be staged during this
event, which makes you better prepared
than the average citizen.
In viewing footage of some of the
more recent vehicle attacks around the
world, one of the most common things
we’ve seen people do is to run away
from the vehicle in a straight line. This is
a primal self-preservation instinct — run
away from what’s trying to kill you. Un-
less the vehicle becomes inoperable via
being stuck or striking a large object, the
chances of outrunning a homicidal driver
are slim to none. What can you do? If you
recognize that you’re in the path of an
automobile, move laterally, very quickly.
In these types of situations, the body
alarm response is in overdrive for both
the victims and the driver. Use this
adrenaline-fueled situation to your advan-
tage and their disadvantage. The driver

is more than likely fixated on only what’s
in front of them and will continue on as
straight a line of attack as possible. In the
videos we’ve seen, the drivers may be
swerving a bit but not at any right angles.
Make your egress route at a right angle,
laterally, away from the line and into/behind
some solid cover, which would stop a ve-
hicle hell-bent on destruction and death.
On Site
Situational awareness seems to be at
an all-time low. Just take a look around
on a daily basis and see how people are
completely engrossed in their devices.
Pretend you’re the antelope at the water-
ing hole on the plains of the Serengeti
and you know the big, bad lion is lurking
around, just waiting for you to slip up
and have a momentary lapse in situ-
ational awareness. Give yourself the best
vantage point possible with multiple
routes of egress in case something goes
sideways. Keep your head on a swivel
and not in your social media apps. Look
for anything out of the ordinary and trust
your gut instincts. If the vehicle or behav-
ior of people don’t fit the scene, then find
WHAT
IF?
someone who can do something about
it and let them know. Posting it to your
social media doesn’t help anyone.
Crisis
As I recognize that an attack is occur-
ring, my first priority is my safety and the
safety of my loved ones. Two things give
us safety: time and distance. I want as
much distance between me and the “bad
thing” as possible and if the “bad thing” is
coming my way, I want it to take as long
as possible to get there. Once my per-
sonal safety has been established, I need
 WHAT
IF?

to ascertain if the scene is safe. If the
scene is safe and the threat is no longer
present or has been neutralized, I need
to observe for any casualties and help
those who I can help while maintaining
good situational awareness and ensur-
ing that emergency services are coming.
As I search for casualties, if I can
safely render aid right there at the point
of injury, I’ll do so. I’ll only attempt to
move them if the area that they’re in
is too dangerous for them and myself.
What am I looking for in triaging and
treating patients? We look for the “Big
Killers:” those casualties with massive
hemorrhage, airway problems, breathing
difficulty, weak or absent radial pulses,
and those with the inability to answer
questions or follow commands. These
are typically the easiest types of injuries
to find and fix and require less complex
solutions and less resources to help.
What if you run out of your own medi-
cal supplies and you have to improvise?
Know what works and what doesn’t.
Improvised tourniquets have a dismal
success rate unless you have some sort
of mechanical advantage (windlass),
and, even then, the success rate isn’t
great. This is why it’s critically important
to not only know how to do something,
but why you’re doing it. Now, to the
surrounding area and bystanders. If
you have someone walking around in
a daze, give them a simple and specific
task to complete. You’ll accomplish a few
things by doing this. One, you’ll tem-
porarily take their mind off the horror
they’ve just witnessed and, two, you’ll
make them feel useful. These folks are
your “force multipliers” and can give you
multiple sets of hands so that you can
successfully triage the casualties.
In the instance that you are front and
center when the attack is taking place
and you’re a concealed carrier, remem-
ber, this isn’t a movie. This is real life.
Shooting is more about thinking than
just pulling the trigger. Before you skin
that smoke wagon, perform a rapid risk-
benefit analysis. If you engage a mov-
ing vehicle, what are your chances of
disabling it or the driver? What are the
chances a well-intentioned round could
strike an innocent bystander? What are
the chances that any authorities there
could think that this is now a multi-
pronged attack conducted by multiple
attackers and engage you? I’m not tell-
ing you what to do, only to think before
you do anything.
Conclusion
Preparation is one of the cornerstones
of survival and is a key to being an asset
in a critical scenario rather than being
a liability. Do you want to be the one
holding a phone videoing the scene,
or do you want to be the one actually
working to solve the problem? Sadly, it
seems that many people out there are
in the former category rather than the
latter. But is that a conscious choice or is
it a decision borne of ignorance and not
knowing what to do? That emphasizes
the need to get educated and equipped
so that the response is one of action
rather than inaction.
We see quite a bit of info on these
types of attacks from the media, and
they all seem to focus on one thing —
soft targets. Evil is a coward, doesn’t
like a challenge, and looks for the easy
way. It’s our job to make it harder for
evil to win. At the end of the day, we
understand and recognize that we can’t
stop evil, but we can do a few things to
mitigate its effects on society. So, go
get that training, carry solid equipment,
and have the mindset and ability to help
when the time chooses you. It all takes
time and effort, but, when the situation
is dire and you’re ready, you’ll never re-
gret it. The return on that investment is
paid out in birthdays, graduation dates,
weddings, and grandchildren.
About
the Authors
Kerry Davis is a
30-year veteran
of the medical
field. His expe-
rience began
in the USAF as
a flight medic
and in the civilian sector as a para-
medic and a critical care/emergency
room RN. He has worked as instructor
with Magpul Dynamics and has been
an instructor at Sig Sauer Academy
since September of 2011. In addition
to that, he’s the owner and founder
of Dark Angel Medical, which was
started in August of 2011.
darkangelmedical.com
Andrew
Schrader is a
commercial
pilot and Urban
Search and
Rescue (US&R)
Structures
Specialist. He was deployed by the
State of Florida for rescue operations
following Hurricanes Hermine (2016),
Irma (2017), Michael (2018), and Dorian
(2020), in addition to the Champlain
Towers (Surfside) condominium
collapse in 2021. Reach out to him at
andy@reconresponse.com or on
social media at @reconresponse.
1A/2A: OR ABRIDGING
 A Survivor of Nuclear Meltdown and Government
Collapse Shares His Insight on Preparedness
By Tom Marshall, Photos by Cal Couthard
I
first met Greg Mihovich while training at Deep Woods
Ranch, home to former SEAL and firearms trainer Rich
Graham — owner of both Deep Woods Ranch and his
training company, Full Spectrum Warrior. Greg and Rich
are coauthors of some of FSW’s training material, includ-
ing their unique Combat Mobility Program, which we’ll showcase
in more depth in an upcoming issue.
During my time at the ranch, I had an opportunity to sit down
with Greg and discuss his background and the experiences that
brought him to partnering up with Full Spectrum Warrior. I was
quite surprised to learn about the landmark disasters that had
tested this soft-spoken man with a calmly commanding presence.
His story is not only a Cinderella-slipper fit for the guiding prin-
ciples of this brand but is also chock full of the realest of real-life
lessons about living preparedness as a lifestyle and the risks of
complacency.
RECOIL OFFGRID: Tell us a little bit about your background
and childhood growing up in the USSR.
Greg Mihovich: I was an early ’80s child, born in Minsk — the
capital of Belarus. My parents split early, and I was raised by
my mother, stepdad, and grandparents on my mom’s side.
My mother was the creator and director of the Center for
Esthetic Development, a project she built in 1984. The CED fo-
cused on preschool education in speech development, motor
learning development, music, drawing, and other age-specific
topics. It successfully operated about 12 schools with 400 kids
each, aged 4 to 6.
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With a keen
understanding
of both weapons
manipulation
and unarmed
fighting, Greg’s
approach to self
defense is holistic
in nature.
My stepdad was a police officer with 10 years spent in
narcotics, 10 years in homicide, and the last five years of his
career as a dean of the five-year police university program.
Many of the city’s cops were his alumni.
My granddad was a World War II distinguished veteran
with four combat crests. Among many other feats, he helped
liberate the Auschwitz concentration camp and participated
in capturing Berlin. During my childhood, he was retired from
the military and worked in the city’s council.
I lived right in the middle of the city and had a great child-
hood with lots of awesome adventures and a healthy dose
of mischief. Thankfully, my generation never knew about
cell phones and computers when we were kids. We had
lots of places to play and explore — the apartment build-
ing playground with tons of climbing and obstacle course
equipment; massive parks with plenty of trees and trails;
many amazing libraries, exhibits and museums; a huge
circus with new world-class shows every eight weeks right
across the street; vast underground networks of basements,
catacombs, bomb shelters, and subway tunnels; the roofs
of the high-rise buildings, and many other things that made
my childhood so memorable. There was almost no violent
crime. I could just hop on any public transport by myself, go
anywhere I wanted, and get back home with no problems.
I went to a specialized language school — most schools
at the time were specialized (math, chemistry,
sports, physics). My school’s specialty was lan-
guages, with 20 academic hours of languages
a week — English, German, Russian, and
Belarusian. The last two years of high school
counted for the first two years of college due
to the accelerated nature of the school’s pro-
gram, so we could go right to the third year of
a linguistic university once we were out.
Our school had a vast shooting range in the
basement. From fourth to ninth grade, twice
a week we had shooting classes where we
shot .22 rifles up to 50 meters, ran around in
gas masks doing pullovers on monkey bars,
and were timed to see how fast we could
take apart AK-47s. My school’s shooting team,
with me as team captain, won multiple cities’
school championships.
Cross-country skiing and biathlon were very
popular, and we would spend days on skis in
the field shooting targets. We also made our
own DIY pneumatic and muzzle-loader rifles
from pipes, and DIY wooden stocks, as well as
sheet metal ninja stars, climbing hooks, and
other gear. Plus, there was an abundance of
artifacts from WWII to dig up all over — from
munitions, helmets, and weapons to tanks and bunkers.
The boys’ culture was centered around manhood, and
the ability to fight was always valued in the area. Naturally,
I took up martial arts and physical training, and fell in love
with the training process. Sambo, wrestling, boxing, and
Muay Thai were hugely popular and many of my classmates
and friends were into fight training and conditioning. Every
school break, we would arm wrestle and many disputes
would be solved with a fistfight. So, martial arts and physical
training was sort of like a matter of fact for me early on.
There’s a huge culture of preparedness in the U.S. Was
it similar for you growing up in Belarus? Did people take
steps to be prepared for uncertainty, and how was this
perceived by the public?
GM: Belarus has been going through lots of hardships histori-
cally for a very long time. Just some of the relatively recent
examples are the First World War, the 1917 Revolution, Second
World War, Chernobyl catastrophe, breakup of the Soviet
Union, many financial and currency crashes, and so on.
During World War II, every third person native to that area
was killed via Nazi ethnic cleansing. Most of Belarus during
that time was a theater of ferocious guerrilla warfare that
made the Nazis’ life hell, even on supposedly captured ter-
ritories, and severely disrupted their supply chains.
 FROM BELARUS
WITH LOVE
Additionally, the summers are short, and winters are pretty GM: The Chernobyl catastrophe was a huge hit to Belarus,
severe. These and other challenges had shaped a certain as the radiation cloud primarily went over that territory. It
national mindset of survival to overcome all odds. was a huge tragedy where half a million people heroically
So, naturally, most people are preppers by default — most died as first responders attempting to shut down the fourth
have gardens, lots have some livestock and/or chickens. The reactor and to isolate it from the world in a protective
harvest is consumed and canned or preserved by other dome. The uncounted toll on the health of the entire region
means as food prep and kept in a cellar or a basement. in the aftermath of the event was also immense, with many
Food is seldom wasted. All the seasonal winter cold gear is people getting cancer or other types of diseases.
squared away. When it happened, I was 6 years old. There was a Labor
Many of these gardens have a stone or log dwelling with Day celebration parade, and the authorities were saying
a massive fire stove and lots of firewood prepped to survive “everything is fine and under control” and telling people to
the winter. Everyone has many canisters to store and trans- remain calm and stay on the streets. My parents felt that
port gasoline. The buildings are heavily reinforced against something was very wrong and pulled me off the street
the harsh climate. right as the clouds turned black as far as you could see,
Most importantly, people have basic survival skills, can and radioactive fallout started raining from the sky. I vividly
DIY pretty much anything, and are very robust. People remember being washed in the bathtub repeatedly and
hunt, camp, and backpack regularly. Before the Chernobyl all my clothing being thrown away. That day changed our
catastrophe, mushroom and berry gathering was immense daily life for a long time.
and very abundant. Everyone carried Geiger counters on them from then
on — we called them dosimeters — and they became the Greg is a passion-
Most Americans are not well-educated about what daily norm. You would measure food before buying it and walk ate educator and
teaches regularly
life was like behind the former Iron Curtain, but we hear away if the radiation was off the charts. You would measure
through both his
things in schools about bread lines and intermittent your clothing and wash it very frequently, especially pillows, own gym and
availability of basic goods and services. Can you speak which had to be changed almost daily as they absorb a ton partnerships with
a little about what your experience was, and if supply of radiation. other instructors.
shortages were a common occurrence?
GM: The supply chain disruptions were very real during the
’80s and early ’90s. My family always had plenty of food,
plus the grandparents had their garden that had a vast
abundance of every berry and vegetable that could possibly
grow either outside or in a greenhouse. But the options in
the stores for many items were limited and — although I’ve
never seen bread lines — there would definitely be long lines
to get some high-demand and short-supplied items like elec-
tronics, clothes, medicine, and some food items. However,
like everywhere else in life, focused and determined people
can find better options for themselves. My parents were go-
getters, so I had plenty as a child, thanks to them. That was
not easy for them, but they are people made of steel.
We had lots of hot water service disruptions due to the
central nature of water lines in the city and the constant
need to maintain the pipes. In the early ’90s, there was
lots of looting of electrical wire and other scrap-metal-rich
equipment, so periodic disruptions of certain electrical
services would arise from time to time, as the wiring would
be stripped bare.

You mentioned that you were a child when the Chernob-

yl nuclear accident happened. What do you remember
ISSUE 49

about it, and how did it affect daily life for people in the
region?

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Wild mushroom and berry picking, which was so abun-
dant before, stopped completely. I remember my family and
I bringing back from a forest a dozen 5-gallon buckets of
berries and mushrooms regularly in pre-Chernobyl days. You
had to be very careful about sourcing your food and double
check the radiation levels on everything.
What lessons from this disaster do you still carry with
you today?
GM: Many lessons of that catastrophe became monumen-
tal in forming my current preparedness process. I’ve seen
firsthand what life-ending and life-altering consequences are
caused by lack of awareness and preparation, so I spend sig-
nificant time researching and fine-tuning my nuclear disaster
Technical
safety protocols when moving into new area. Being trained
grappling or
ground work is in many aspects of it as a child makes many of these things
a fundamental second nature.
building block In most disasters, the authorities will downplay the risk
to full-spectrum
combatives in order to keep people from panicking, covering up their
training. tracks and possibly thinking that it will just blow over. So,
have a plan of your own and be ready to make your own
decisions to move off the X, stay sheltered in place if appro-
priate, or evacuate as the situation unfolds.
You need to know the location of the local nuclear reac-
tors in your area (within at least 300 miles), what lines of
wind — and therefore most likely fallout avenues — are ex-
pected there, what kind of refuge drift lines will be natural to
that area and how it will affect your location. Does your loca-
tion have a proper amount of cover in place and an ability to
filter air to act as a fallout shelter, or is there a shelter like that
nearby? Do you have access to it? What is your emergency
communication plan with your family and mutual assistance
group in case the cell phones are down?
Have the proper radiation detection equipment on hand,
charged up, and ready to use and know how to use it. There
are plenty of early warning devices that are small and can go
in your EDC and be staged in your vehicle, house, and work
locations. Have some Potassium Iodate tablets on hand and
ready to go to fill up your thyroid. Have your PPE and decon-
tamination equipment ready to deploy nearby and know
and practice your decontamination protocols. If you can limit
or eliminate your skin exposure and avoid inhaling radioac-
tive materials by protecting your airways, that is huge. It’s
good to have pressurized water equipment cable of working
even in off-the-grid conditions in order to wash off the gear
and body for decontamination.
Understand the basic concept of civil defense as it comes
to radiation and what you can do to limit your exposure. Get
to your designated proper shelter as early as possible, be it
your house or another predesignated location. Have some
supplies ready on hand to sustain your basic necessities
and sanitation needs, as well as emergency communica-
tion methods to stay informed and connected with your
networks.
If you are going to need to leave, you will need to leave
quickly and leave most stuff behind. Most likely, you will nev-
er be able to come back to it, or at least for a very long time.
The perimeters of the affected areas will be cordoned-off,
secured, and quarantined. Your stuff will become contami-
nated and possibly destroyed later in the decontamination

Greg is able to
progress his
students from
hand-to-hand to
weapons-based
tactics.

Greg with process. So, have your bug-out bags ready to go and your
business partner personal documents in hard and electronic copies ready to
Rich Graham of go. Have a rehearsed rally-up protocol with your family at a
Full Spectrum
Warrior at Deep predetermined location so you can get together at any time
Woods Ranch in of the day.
Florida. Know where you are going and plan it through and
through. Yes, it’s best to stay in your location where you
have the majority of your supplies and connections instead
of becoming a refugee in most cases. However, a nuclear
disaster can be very different, depending on your proximity
to the event and whether your living structure can serve as
a proper fallout shelter. If it’s time to move, do it now and
don’t wait! Plan your routes, have your vehicles fueled up
and ready to go, know the backroads and have your printed
maps on hand. Above all, keep your head on a swivel and be
aware of what’s happening.
The other major event you lived through was the fall of
the Berlin Wall and subsequent collapse of the Soviet
Union. What kinds of obstacles did this create for you
and your family?
GM: The Soviet collapse on the ground resulted in a turbu-
lent period of time filled with high uncertainty about the
future, huge inflation that destroyed many people’s savings
and pensions, many economic troubles, supply chain issues,
diminished or vanished social services, erosion of youth
culture, and increased crime rate.
Security measures went from almost open doors to
double metal doors with cameras and a quick-reaction
police force with AKs on a standby. In many areas, ruthless
violent gangs competed for territories and resources that
they would “protect” from other gangs, although Belarus was
relatively quiet in that regard.
Inflation was crazy and many folks’ savings and pensions
became nothing, sometimes in a matter of days. People kept
gold, foreign currencies, real estate, cars, and goods for bar-
FROM BELARUS
WITH LOVE
ter as ways to negate that. As a result, there was a vast black
market for all kinds of things, from medicine to currencies.
My family was resourceful and witty, had jobs, a garden,
and various businesses and was able to secure a fairly stable
situation throughout the entire transition, although with
plenty of bumps along the way.
I was very entrepreneurial early on as well and was always
running some sort of business since I was 12 years old, sell-
ing books to bookstores around the city, getting gasoline
shipments for gas stations when it was not freely available,
doing some in-demand imports from countries nearby, and
so I was making some good money even by adult standards
as a teenager.
Were there any preparedness steps you saw people take
beforehand, or immediately after, that helped them get
through the difficulty of post-Soviet transition?
GM: Like I said before, people are very rugged and most
have been in the culture of preparedness for a long time
there. Things had been escalating and ramping up for some
time, so only the willfully blind did not see that troubled
times were coming. Unfortunately, some people still stayed
in denial of what was happening for a long time and didn’t
react quickly enough to adjust to the new situation. So
gardening, communities, hard work, and perseverance got
people through. I’d put the community as number one and
the ability to produce your own food as number two.
What were the biggest cultural shifts you remember as
the Soviet Union was approaching its collapse?
GM: Less and less people worked productively in the collec-
tive economy and colossal bureaucracy. It was enough to
just make some motions, making it look like you were work-
ing and shifting responsibility on the “next guy.”
ISSUE 49
The collapse was set up by a very small group of cor-
rupt politicians, and it was sudden and shocking for the
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vast majority of people. Once it happened and people were
looking to adjust to the new reality, many really believed for
a while that good will and peace would prevail and there
would be no more conflict. The song “Wind of Change” by
Scorpions was very symbolic of that era. The ex-Soviets
believed that now that they had let go of communism they
would be integrated into the rest of the world. Unfortunately,
fate had other plans.
There are some Americans who believe that capitalism
is oppressive, and argue that a communist/socialist
system is the solution. What would you say to those who
support those types of systems taking root in the U.S. or
anywhere else?
GM: The free market system is superior to a centrally run
one, and it makes for a much happier place. People have
a natural drive to excel and thrive when a free choice is
present. People need to be able to make their own deci-
sions regarding personal health choices, what they want to
do, and what they want to believe. We need to be left alone
without bother.
Socialism is a slippery slope that might seem good on
paper, but historically has failed again and again. The reality
is, however, that some things here are already socialistic
in nature, like medical mandates and property taxes, for
example. Do you own your body and your land or are you
effectively leasing from the state for the time being?
Why do you think these kinds of movements gain mo-
mentum with certain people, and where do you think
that influence is coming from?
GM: I think most young people are idealistic and romantic
due to their age’s dynamics, but often don’t have enough
hard life experience. They can fall easily into socialistic ideol-
ogy due to these ideas often masquerading as humanistic
ideas. That is fueled by lack of proper education and, as a
matter of fact, the prevalence of socialistic way of thinking
in the educational system, mass media, academia, and the
entertainment industry. The better educated people are, and
the more responsibility and initiative they are willing to take
upon themselves, the more they lean toward traditional free
market values.
What do you feel can be done to bridge the gap between
the idealized view of a communist utopia and the harsh
realities you experienced?
GM: I think people need to travel to centrally controlled so-
cialistic countries and see for themselves. Nothing replaces
real-life experience.
At what point did you decide to emigrate to the U.S.?
What was that experience like for you?
GM: When I was going through college I wanted to travel
and to find my own way as a man. Initially, I came to the
U.S. in 1999 to study and work and fell in love with the
idea of the Constitution, First and Second Amendments,
as well as how easy it was to set up a private enterprise
and start doing what you love to do. So eventually, via
a lengthy emigration process, I first got my green card
then became a citizen a few years later. The experience

has been great so far, I have met many amazing people
who have helped me along the way.
What’s your favorite experience you only had after com-
ing to America? What’s one thing you miss from your
home country?
GM: At the time I came to the U.S., it would have been very
difficult for me to fulfill my dream of working as a fitness and
martial arts coach professionally in Belarus while making
enough income to maintain good living conditions. I know
with my drive I would have acquired a good living, but I
would’ve ended up working in a different field. In the U.S., I
was able to focus full-time on what I enjoyed doing the most
— training myself and others in getting healthier, moving bet-
ter, practicing martial arts, and using firearms while making a
good living for my family.
I miss my immediate family and original Muay Thai coach
Dimitri Piasetsky the most, but I see them regularly on an-
nual trips to Belarus.
What made you get into fitness and training as a profes-
sion?
GM: My granddad was the first person to get me into train-
ing, then later I had many influences that motivated me to
become a pro in that field. Like I said earlier, the culture of
manhood, strength, and fistfighting growing up was strong,
so training in martial arts was natural. Living across the
street from the circus and seeing some incredible displays of
human abilities was a huge factor as well.
My first martial art was Sambo at 11 years old, but it was
Muay Thai, which I started at 16 years old, that I consider
to be my first love in martial arts. That’s when I knew that I
would be doing this forever. I always liked working on the
technical aspect and enjoyed the process.
Initially, I started training professionally in 2001, teach-
ing kettlebell and bodyweight strength and conditioning
methods, along with Muay Thai at a local gym and Renzo
Gracie’s affiliate MMA school. Over the years, I’ve kept adding
skill sets, such as jiujitsu, boxing, submission grappling, catch,
judo, Systema, Kali, Panantukan, and firearms. I opened my
own facility, Underground Gym, in 2003 and have been do-
ing training full-time ever since.
I sold the gym in 2018 and began another project, Max Ca-
pable, where I teach people how to move better, be strong,
to be able to fight in all ranges, and to survive against all
odds, utilizing my integrated system of mobility and strength
development, martial arts, firearm, and survival training.
We know you work a lot with Full Spectrum Warrior,
where you assist in firearms and tactical training as
well. What was your journey like to become proficient in
WITH LOVE
Preparedness these particular skillsets?
is a lifestyle, not GM: Yes, I’m proud to be a part of the Full Spectrum Warrior
an end-state. project. I met Rich Graham, the FSW founder, in a Muay Thai
Incorporating
medical, training camp in New Jersey way back in 1999, and we have
sustainment, been training and hanging out together ever since. Later, he
and self-defense left for the Navy and became a SEAL, was medically retired
capabilities
after seven years of service, came back, and started a tacti-
into your daily
use bags could cal training company.
pay invaluable We reconnected, cross-trained a lot, and helped each
dividends. other as much as we could to get as strong and capable as
we could in each other’s areas of expertise. I’ve taken many
of his training courses and have learned a lot over the years.
Rich is an excellent instructor who always pushes you just
outside of your comfort zone and helps you to see the big
picture.
Through his training, I got connected to many interesting
people in the industry, was blessed to train alongside some
outstanding professionals, and have taken many of their
courses. I also went to some really interesting schools, as
well as practiced a lot on my own and with my students.
Eventually, I started assisting Rich with his courses — first
just setting up the range and helping out logistically, and
then eventually teaching my side of the range. In 2016, we
came up with a Combat Mobility System collaboration proj-
ect that breaks down efficient movement with firearms.
I appreciate the patience he and many of my other teach-
ers had with me over the years. I try to learn every time I
step on the range just like I do on the mats — I’m forever a
student, and constantly working to improve my skills as a
shooter and as an instructor.
Currently, I run some training courses for Full Spectrum
Warrior, teach out of my academy in Tinton Falls, New Jersey,
ISSUE 49
and instruct some firearms courses for Condition Gray in
the Northeast. I’ve been fortunate to work with hundreds of
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GREG’S EDC GEAR
- AMTAC Northman blade
- Shadow Systems
MR920 Combat pistol
- Modlite PLH V2
- Keys
- Cell phone
- Polarized safety glasses

everyday citizens, as well as many police departments locally lockdown and has been mandate-free from wearing masks
and across different states. and/or medical interventions this entire time. Their mortality
numbers are the same as almost everyone else’s.
How does the American perspective on firearms and I don’t like increased censorship and control, even if it’s
the Second Amendment differ from your experience in “for our health and safety.” A medically induced dictatorship
Belarus? Were civilians able to own firearms for hunting is still a dictatorship. People need to be able to make their
or recreation there? own decisions and risk assessments based on their individu-
GM: Civilians can still own limited-capacity hunting rifles and al health and other circumstances.
shotguns in Belarus, but the conditions are nuts, and you
have to be ready for your weapon to be inspected for proper
storage requirements anytime, day or night.
The Second Amendment is huge to me, as I enjoy shoot-
GREG
ing a lot, but it’s so much more than just that. To me, it is an MIHOVICH
extension of my martial arts and makes the modern mixed AGE: 42
martial arts regimen complete. I see it as a fundamental right CURRENT HOMETOWN:
that cannot be infringed upon. Shrewsbury, NJ
FAVORITE QUOTE:
What advice do you have for our readers about pre- “What cannot kill me makes me
stronger”
paredness based on your childhood experiences?
FAVORITE FOOD: Bison or elk steaks
GM: Know the area you are in, identify your primary threats, with wild rice
and prepare accordingly. Build a strong and capable com- RECOMMENDED READING LIST:
munity. Be ready to adapt to any circumstances and always Nuclear War Survival Skills by Cresson
keep learning. Kearny
The Secure Home by Andrew L.
There has been a lot of talk in the last several years Skousen & Joel M. Skousen
Why We Sleep by Matthew Walker
about increasing government control over people’s Mastering Jujitsu by Renzo Gracie &
John Danaher WHAT DO YOU WANT ON YOUR TOMBSTONE?
daily lives, some coinciding with the COVID-19 crisis.
How to Eat, Move and Be Healthy by My name and a picture for starters, with “lived to the
What are your thoughts on this compared to your expe- Paul Chek fullest of his potential with integrity and respect” written
riences growing up in an authoritarian Soviet state? below.
The Oxygen Advantage by Patrick
GM: It’s funny that modern Belarus never went into a McKeown URL: MaxCapable.com
EDITOR’S NOTE :
Welcome to part two of our three-part
Tailor-Made ARs series, a concep-
tual approach to building task-focused,
performance-driven rifles for emergency
preparedness. Several RECOIL OFFGRID
writers will each take a unique path to
designing an idealized AR for survival and
crisis response. We’ ll examine how each
weapon is tailored to the user, and how it
can be creatively adapted to a multitude of
dicey situations. We hope these builds re-
inforce the importance of choosing every
component wisely with versatility in mind.
 Tailor-Made
ARs: Part II
B
eing ready for unforeseen circumstances is
more challenging than it may seem at first
glance. A deep dive down the rabbit hole
of survival situations could very well lead
to staying down said hole for some time.
Trying to decide which firearm is the most versatile in a
survival situation is no different, and it sparks a lot of inter-
esting debate. Misconceptions and inaccurate information
from social media confuses and confounds. With seem-
ingly endless varieties to choose from, making a decision
can quickly become overwhelming.
Being a combat veteran, I thought I could avoid most
of this confusion when first starting out on my journey to
build the ultimate survival AR. Apparently, I was wrong!
Roughly six years have passed since I was last in uniform,
The Jack-Of-All-Trades
“General Purpose AR”
By Patrick Diedrich
and I found the pace of advancing firearms technology
to be staggering. Concepts that I once considered high-
speed-low-drag have gone the way of the dinosaur. Thank-
fully, there are plenty of resources available to get caught
up, and after much sifting through information and playing
around with different configurations, I was able to come to
a satisfying conclusion. I call this my General Purpose AR
(GPAR).
Why I Went With an AR
Considering potential survival scenarios, such as need-
ing to hunt for food, defense, or maintaining security while
on the move, a firearm that’s light, fast, and lethal is a must.
Running an off-the-shelf AR with a fully loaded 30-round
magazine weighs approximately 6 pounds, half the weight
 Initial GPAR confi guration,
with holographic sight, offset
irons, and light mounted to
the bottom. This was quickly
changed to the setup seen
elsewhere in this article.
of a battery-powered weed wacker. For the average adult,
holding an AR at the ready shouldn’t result in fatigue as
quickly as a heavier firearm would. This is important for
several reasons: keeping your rifle trained on a dangerous
intruder will not induce immediate arm quivering, carry-
ing the rifle long distances will not turn into an agonizing
death march, and it helps reduce the weight when adding
other components.
Having a sidearm is also a lightweight option, but hand-
guns can’t compare to the long-range effectiveness of a
carbine, and most standard pistol mags are roughly half
the capacity of a standard-capacity AR mag. Being able to
accurately hit targets potentially farther than 300 meters
with reliable lethality, while also having to reload less often
is a huge win in the AR’s favor.
Built for reliability in punishing conditions, the AR makes
operation simple, and troubleshooting easy to perform.
With simplicity also comes a higher degree of safety.
The less thought that has to go into operation, the more
attention can be paid to the surrounding environment.
Reloading an AR is quick after adequate practice and can
be done single-handedly. Each magazine holds enough
Light, agile, rounds to outlast most engagements, whether that’s
and versatile,
harvesting game, stopping an intruder, or keeping heads
the AR can
quickly adapt to down in a hostile environment. Many large-caliber hunting
a multitude of rifles have magazines with low capacities, making it neces-
scenarios. sary to pause and reload. Shotguns have even less capac-
ity, and depending on the model, could be more complex
to operate. For sustaining prolonged target engagement,
all while maintaining the most situational awareness, the
AR is a great way to go.
When it comes to felt recoil, an AR is light enough for this
to be practically non-existent. Anyone who is a part of my
survival crew, whether a man, woman, or child, can pick up
the AR and fire without worrying about controlling the rifle
or getting bruised shoulders. This also means that going
to a range to train will be more enjoyable, especially when
everyone can participate comfortably. Longer days at the
range will further increase collective firearms proficiency.
My wallet is happy as well, since I don’t need to purchase
numerous firearms to meet everyone's recoil sensitivities.
ARs are easy to break down for cleaning and mainte-
nance, requiring minimal tools for simple upkeep. That
being said, as long as the rifle isn’t being used to paddle
through mud, it’ll withstand some pretty harsh environ-
ments without issue. As long as the bolt and firing pin are
well lubricated and you’re using decent ammo, a high-qual-
 TAILOR-MADE
ARS: PART II

"Successful survival depends on the

ability to adapt, and the AR can adapt
like a Terminator"

This confi guration reflects "old-school"

lines of thinking. Best practices have
changed significantly in recent years.

ity AR can fire thousands of rounds without a single
malfunction. And this goes for pretty much every
environment on planet Earth.
An AR right out of the box will get the job done
in a pinch, but one of the most amazing features
of a modern AR is how endlessly customizable
they can be. There are innumerable upgrades Taking
and add-ons to accommodate any style of shoot- a knee
provides
ing, in any environment. Looking to hunt mule deer on
more stability
the open range? Throw a scope on the top rail and zoom when looking
in from afar. Need self-defense in an urban setting? Put a through a tele-
holographic or red-dot sight on it instead. Want both op- scopic optic.
tions? Build two upper receivers and swap between them.
Successful survival depends on the ability to adapt, and
the AR can adapt like a Terminator T-1000.
6.5 Grendel or .300 BLK sitting
around available for pur-
chase, since ammo manu-
facturers focused on meeting
demand for the most popular calibers.
When choosing an upper receiver, it’s important to
think about the subtle differences between 5.56 and
.223, and whether or not you want to shoot just one or
both of those calibers. Being able to shoot both makes
more ammunition available to utilize, but the barrel must
be rated for both calibers. If the barrel is stamped and
rated for 5.56 NATO or .223 Wylde, then it can shoot

How I Built a GPAR

Having been out of the shooting loop for a few years,
something that came as a huge surprise to me was how
many calibers of ammunition an AR platform can accom-
modate. If I put my bifocals on and talk about how things
were way back in the day (six years ago), there were only
two major calibers available to the public: 5.56/.223 and
7.62x51/.308. Flash forward to today, and things have
changed substantially. An AR’s upper receiver can now
accommodate heavier calibers like 6.5 Grendel, 6.8 SPC,
.300BLK, 7.62x39, and a myriad of others. As anything
else, there are pros and cons to each; however, I went with
the original 5.56 simply because it performs well and is
relatively easy to come by. Even with ammo shortages
plaguing the past several years, I could still find 5.56 or
.223 on the shelves. I don’t remember seeing very much

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both 5.56 and .223 ammunition without incident. If the bar-
rel is only rated for .223 Rem, attempting to fire 5.56 NATO
could create problems down the line, although finding
such a barrel in an AR built in the last 15 years is unlikely.
Pressure created when the AR fires a round forces
gas through a tube above the barrel that cycles the bolt,
ejecting the spent casing and reloading the new round.
Chances are, choosing the proper gas system will not be
too much of a concern unless you’re making a substantial
change to barrel length or adding a suppressor (more on
that later). For my build, I went with a mid-length gas sys-
tem, which offers an excellent balance between reliability
and low recoil.
Pistol and carbine-length systems can create over-
gassing, a problem that accelerates the wear and tear on
internal parts. There are intermediate and rifle-lengths
available, but these can sometimes lead to under-gassing
(the opposite of over-gassing), or force you into barrel
lengths too long to maneuver in tight quarters. Mid-length
is, in my opinion, the Goldilocks Zone of AR barrel and gas-
system lengths.
When it comes to the length of a rifle, federal law
mandates a barrel of at least 16 inches in length. Anything
shorter requires some paperwork, another background
check, and several hundred dollars to the ATF. These are
more reasons to stick with the Goldilocks of AR lengths,
and why I went with a 16-inch barrel. Using this length, I
can also swap out different muzzle devices without having
to worry about whether or not I’m going to find myself in
legal trouble.
Longer barrels used to mean more weight, espe-
cially if each side was covered with a bulky
Picatinny rail
system. This is no longer the case thanks to M-LOK, which
holds accessories like lights and foregrips close to the
handguard with much less mass on the forend. Ideally,
the handguard should cover almost the entire length
of the barrel; this offers more space to customize the
placement and number of different accessories. In
other words, it makes the AR more adaptable to a
multitude of circumstances. For my GPAR, I used
Observing
minimalism, a pre-assembled upper half from Midwest Indus-
such as with this tries, featuring the 14-inch Combat Rail handguard. The
BMSMIL stock, Combat Rail is a no-frills handguard with seven sides of
reduces weight M-LOK slots and a full-length Picatinny top rail for optics,
and keeps as well as built-in QD sockets for sling attachment.
things simple.
I mated this upper half to a standard Aero Precision
AR-15 lower. Aero, like Midwest, has a long reputation for
good quality at affordable prices. This no-frills design was
exactly what I was used to in the military, without excess
cuts or exotic materials. It may not be high fashion, but it is
high function.
Replacing the Essential Accessories
holographic After putting together the meat and potatoes of the AR,
sight with an op-
I wanted to optimize it for a multitude of survival situations.
tic from Primary
Arms enhanced Sifting through the possible accessories and prioritizing
my ability at what is most important, especially when on a budget,
distance. can be agonizing. Many upgrades that look cool or seem
useful can easily detract from what’s truly important. But
when functionality is boiled down, there are three simple
things that every AR build should focus on first: a sling,
optics, and illumination.

048 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
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Easily overlooked, finding the right sling is probably one
of the most crucial elements to a survival AR. In normal
circumstances, such as hunting, being able to sling your
rifle will allow you to field dress an animal or set up a blind
without having to worry about where to set it. Other situ-
ations, such as home defense or getting away from civil
unrest, will undoubtedly require the use of your hand for
other tasks, and a sling will make this possible. A func-
tion for which I have always used a sling is as a stabilizing
mechanism by wrapping the sling close to my support-
ing arm. Slings have gone through several stages over
the years, transforming from a two-point sling (a “point”
being where the sling connects along the length of a rifle),
to a one-point, to a three-point, and back to a two-point.
Each had their uses, but the two-point sling has stood
the test of time and seems to be the most versatile of the
styles. Since versatility and adaptability are the name of
the game, I went with Haley Strategic’s D3 Sling, which
features a low-profile shoulder pad for all-day comfort and
can quickly transition between two-point and one-point
configuration.
When it comes to aiming, there’s nothing wrong with
iron sights. With practice, iron sights can be used to hit
targets much farther than 300 meters. But if the budget
allows and a sling is attached, the next upgrade should
be a more advanced optic. Using an appropriate optic is a
game changer for hitting targets with accuracy and preci-
sion, especially when time is of the essence. When
TAILOR-MADE
ARS: PART II
After learning considering which optic solution to add to my GPAR, I
about sev- went back and forth between the speed of a reflex sight
eral grip styles, and the precision of a magnified optic. In the end, I de-
adjusting my
cided that I’d choose both. In an ideal scenario, I’d want to
light setup to
identify potential threats and targets as far out as possible,
accommodate
the C-clamp grip thus necessitating the use of a telescopic optic. Primary
places the tape Arms offers a Low-Power Variable Optic (LPVO) with a first-
switch and light focal-plane reticle that’s true-to-scale, regardless of what
in an ideal posi- level of magnification is being used. For faster engage-
tion.
ment of up-close targets, an Arisaka Defense offset mount
with a Bushnell RX250 red dot was added to handle any
close-quarters situations.
My initial thoughts on sights in a survival situation
revolved around having backup irons as my “fail safe”
The fi nal sights, in case the lens of my primary optic broke, or if the
confi guration battery of a red-dot sight failed. I even threw some angled
of my GPAR irons on the top rail to experiment with. Over time, my
includes more opinion about that changed as I did more research into
versatile optics,
the durability and battery life of modern red dots. Also, if
optimized light
placement my red dot fails, I can dial my LPVO down to 1x and use
and simplified it almost as quickly. Glass-etched reticles don’t run out of
forward grip ar- battery and, short of taking a direct hard blow to the optic
rangement. or mount, well-made scopes rarely fail to the point where
you cannot see through them to put rounds down range.
The final essential is illumination, which is
A RM AS IG H T.C O M

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crucial for defensive situations, espe-
cially at night. A general rule of thumb,
especially for carbine lights, is that more
lumens are better. With current advances
in light technology, 1,000 lumens should
be considered the standard for duty or
survival use. This will effectively keep a
human aggressor blinded and maximize
your ability to fully identify a target at
the greatest distance in the dark (assum-
ing the light uses an appropriate beam
pattern). When I was still in the military,
we placed lights directly underneath the
barrel and close to a foregrip so we could
easily reach the button to turn them off
and on. But there was a fundamental
flaw with this setup: The light would cast
a shadow of the barrel almost directly
where a human head would be, shield-
ing an aggressor from the most effective
blinding properties of the light. With
The dual-optic modern pressure switches, a weapon light can be placed
setup offers im- above and to the sides, ensuring that as much of the
mense capability light as possible will reach a target’s eyes. To cover all of
while still being
these features, I mounted a Streamlight ProTac HL-X as far
streamlined.
forward on my handguard as possible, and added a tape
TAILOR-MADE
ARS: PART II
switch to the top rail so my thumb can activate the light
while holding it in a C-clamp grip.
Something I learned while experimenting with several
light setups was how to appropriately manage the space
they take up on the handguard. Generally, the more
powerful a light is, or the more features it has, the larger
and heavier it’s going to be. Finding the right balance
of brightness, features, size, and weight may take a little
experimenting before it feels right.
Endless Options
Having the core GPAR necessities covered, I began to
think about other factors that could play a vital role in
survival situations. One of the first scenarios that came to
mind was the signature of the rifle when firing. Explosive
noise and muzzle flash aren’t ideal for keeping healthy
eardrums or for remaining concealed. Yes, there are plenty
of hearing protection options available, but many of them
diminish the ability to maintain situational awareness, and
donning ear pro may not be a top priority in a life-and-
death scenario. Using a suppressor is an effective way to
reduce the risks of ear-drum damage or giving away a
firing position.
There are basically two legal options available. The first
is the traditional method of purchasing a suppressor. This
is a great option if you can afford the suppressor as well
 SHOOT TOGETHER™

CHASSIS SYSTEMS BUTTSTOCKS MAGAZINES ACCESSORIES BIPODS


052 OFFG
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1A/2A: FOR A REDRESS
as the tax stamp and are willing to wait eight to 12 months
(at time of writing) for the ATF to process the Form 4. The
second option is to purchase a solvent trap, and modify it
yourself to build a suppressor. This is also perfectly legal (at
time of writing) if you file the required ATF Form 1 before-
hand. The Form 1 will require the same background check
and $200 fee as a Form 4, but Form 1s can be filed elec-
tronically from home and the processing time is around
one month, as opposed to one year. Also, most solvent
traps are much more affordable than retail suppressors.
It’s important to note that not all solvent traps are cre-
ated equal, and it’s necessary to do a little research before
making a purchase. To satisfy my suppression require-
ments, I went with JK Armament’s Rifle Caliber Kit Modular
Solvent Trap (MST), which came with everything I needed
to create a suppressor. (Side note: If you don’t have the
approved tax stamp from the ATF before making modifica-
tions to an MST, you will be committing a felony. So, make
sure you have everything squared away before you start
drilling holes.) One great thing about an MST kit is that you
can add or remove individual modules from the finished
suppressor, making it more versatile.
Let’s circle back briefly to the discussion of over- and
under-gassing from earlier. Using a suppressor will abso-
lutely affect the behavior of your AR’s gas system — some-
times dramatically. Adding too many modules to an MST
suppressor can result in double feeds and overall poor
cycling, sometimes requiring changes be made to the
buffer and buffer spring. Taking the time to correct these
issues is a critical part of tuning an AR. Buffers and buffer
springs come in a variety of weights and tensions, and
finding the right combination will go a long way to improv-
ing or perfecting your AR’s performance with or without a
suppressor. Felt recoil, reliability, and service life can all be
improved by a well-informed choice of buffer and spring.
Another important upgrade to a GPAR is the trigger.
Mil-spec trigger pull weight is almost 7 pounds, and other
stock models can range anywhere between 5 and almost
10 pounds. The higher the pull weight, the more likely
the AR will be jerked slightly off-target when
the trigger is engaged. Also, swift
TAILOR-MADE
ARS: PART II
A match-grade
trigger and en-
hanced controls
can help speed
up or streamline
manipulations
like reloads and
malfunction
clearance.
and accurate follow-up shots are more difficult, and overall
proficiency requires additional training. I added the RISE
Armament RA-242 trigger to this build, which was a drop-in
cartridge that was very simple to install. The result reduced
my pull weight to 3.5 pounds with no excess movement
before or after the break.
How an AR is handled is a personal choice, but for the
sake of precision and grip stamina, I included a Magpul
vertical foregrip and a Strike Industries LINK handstop
on the bottom front of the handguard. Having a vertical
foregrip gives my supporting hand an immovable index
point that I don’t have to worry about slipping over due to
its length. It also gives me another gripping option if for
whatever reason I wouldn’t want to maintain a C-clamp
grip. The LINK hand stop at the very front gives me an
edge to brace the rifle into a doorway, windowsill, or any
other barricade that’d come in handy for a support. I
rounded out the furniture setup with a Battlelink Minimalist
Stock (BMSMIL) from Mission First Tactical.
Finally, I wanted my GPAR to be functional in
as many situations as possible,

JK Armament's
muzzle device
functions as
both a stand-
alone comp and
a mount for their
MST.
ALWAYS BE READY

511TACTICAL.COM/OFFGRID FIND YOUR STORE

© 2022 5.11, INC.


054 OFFG
GRIDWEB.COM
GRID
1A/2A: OF GRIEVANCES.
SOURCES
Aero Precision > aeroprecisionusa.com
Rise Armament > risearmament.com
Strike Industries > strikeindustries.com
Mission First Tactical > missionfirsttactical.com
Midwest Industries > midwestindustriesinc.com
Primary Arms > primaryarms.com
Bushnell > bushnell.com
Arisaka Defense > arisakadefense.com
Streamlight > streamlight.com
JK Armament > jkarmament.com
Magpul > magpul.com
Haley Strategic > haleystrategic.com
including if one of my hands was unable to perform its typi-
cal functional roles. To ensure I could operate the AR with
either of my hands, I replaced the charging handle, bolt
catch and safety with ambidextrous controls from Strike
Industries. Ambidextrous controls allow me to engage a
target, swap a mag, or perform malfunction clearance even
if I became injured or had to engage in other tasks.
TAILOR-MADE
ARS: PART II
Even during
the day, a high-
output weapon
light can come
in handy, Mixed
lighting envi-
ronments are
everywhere.
A well-thought-
out GPAR should
be the pièce de
résistance of
your prepared-
ness kit, capable Parting Shots
of excelling in a Deciding to build a GPAR, to me, was all about getting
myriad of situa- the most out of what an AR had to offer. And even though
tions. I had assumed I knew enough, almost everything I had un-
derstood about an AR’s functionality and capabilities had
changed in only a handful of years. What I started out with
was based on an old way of thinking. What I ended up with
was a vastly superior and more adaptable setup. If you’re
like me and aren’t fully immersed in the world of firearms
on a regular basis, you may come to find that many old-
doctrine methods and setups have become irrelevant. It
can be frustrating to grapple with at first, but improving
and building off of lessons learned from the past is impor-
tant. To make things less overwhelming when setting up a
survival AR or GPAR, start with the base platform and then
go one step at a time. Find that perfect sling, optic, and
light. Experiment with the setup and test it out, tweaking
and readjusting as you go. The more you fine-tune this
basic setup, the better you will understand what additional
components you could add to make the platform perfect.
The truth of the matter is, a survival AR is highly person-
alized and dependent on what you’re intending to survive.
Sometimes it’s prudent to tune out the social media
personalities and listen to what your rifle is telling you. If it
feels uncomfortable or awkward, then your setup needs
adjusting. One of the best things you can do for yourself
is to find people with experience, take their advice — not
as gospel, but as guidance — and use what works best for
you. Try out different components, and if it works, keep it.
If not, send it back. Building the perfect GPAR isn’t an en-
deavor that can be accomplished overnight. And above all
else, once it’s configured, go to the range and train. A lot.
Consider enrolling in classes and competitions to pressure-
test your gear and skills. All the latest and greatest equip-
ment in the world means nothing unless you have taken
the time to build the chops to use it when it counts.
 Black Triangle
URL: blktriangle.com / Instagram: @BlackTriangleGroup

Tell us a little about your background and interest in

survival skills.
My interest in survival skills peaked while working close
protection. Most of the work was done in major metro-
politan areas and because of many of the locations,
I found myself poorly armed due to local law or
company policy. Being a good driver and having
soft skills such as interpersonal communica-
The MK1 Mod2 tion ended up being more valuable than
and its sheath the equipment I was carrying. I did,
are both fully however, spend much of my downtime
nonmetallic
for enhanced scheming how to carry items to save
concealability. myself or the client while not drawing
unwanted attention. These ideas ended
up becoming the foundation for my
brand, Black Triangle.

What’s your knife of choice?

Five years and multiple modifications later, and we have
the Black Triangle Midnight Creeper MK1 Mod2, my favorite
knife to carry. It is a 7-inch-long fixed nonmetallic knife
made from G-10. The handle is wrapped in gutted, epoxied
paracord for a confident grip. The knife, sheath, and hard-
ware are all 100-percent metal-free. G-10 knives do have
their limitations compared to steel, but this is a fighting
knife that has been proven in both controlled testing and
out in the real world. It can simply go a lot of places where
steel knives cannot.

Blade
Four Knife Designers Share
Insight into the Origins
and Evolutions of Their
Edged Weapon Designs
EDITOR’S NOTE: The following write-ups were submitted
by contributors who work full-time in the self-defense and
survival industry. Rather than simply explaining the physical
characteristics of their knife designs, we asked each of them
to give some background on why they devised them in the
first place, as well as how they’ve changed over time.
What led you to choose this knife?
I chose the MK1 Mod2 for both practicality and sentimental
reasons. This was our first knife so it holds a special place
among the other models. It’s also the knife that has been
tested the most. It has withstood extreme low tempera-
tures (-44 degrees F), been submerged in seawater with
no adverse results, and performed exceptionally when
tested on organic mediums. It can go many more places
than just past a metal detector. You can take this knife into
virtually any environment, and it will perform its duties as a
defensive tool.
Is there anything you’d change about it?
One thing I would like to change about the MK1M2 is
something that we are actually in the process of develop-
ing — adding an index point to the pommel. That variant is
coming soon. For those end users who feel the MK1 is too
large, or those who want further reduction in signature,
MK2M2 and MK2M3 are the smaller siblings to the MK1M2.
Corvus Survival (Jerry Saunders)
URL: corvussurvival.com / Instagram: @corvus_survival
Tell us a little about your background and interest in
survival skills.
I’m a Marine Corps veteran, Scout Sniper, and former chief
instructor of survival for the United States Marine Corps,
Mountain Warfare Training Center. I’m an internationally
recognized survival instructor for work in cold weather sur-
vival, and also a former Park Ranger, federal LEO, firefighter,
EMT, and SAR Tech. I currently hunt, fish, farm, and forage
while operating a small homestead in the upper peninsula of
Michigan, and I make knives in my home workshop.
What’s your knife of choice?
I call it the Corvus Carrion. It’s a tool I carry every day
regardless of whatever else I am carrying. For example,
right now, I’m running a really cool prototype Sgian Dubh
I’ve been working on, and my Carrion is still clipped down
on the right leg pocket of my pants. I still grab it first. It not
only performs great, it has a primitive look and feel that
undeniably hardwires you to the past. The Carrion is a
6-inch knife with a 2.6-inch Scandi grind edge and 90-
degree spine. The materials are 80CrV2, commonly nick-
named “Swedish saw steel,” and thin hemp cord coated in
a custom epoxy blend that provides a dry texture. Every
Carrion comes with an ambidextrous deep-carry Kydex
sheath.
What led you to choose this knife?
“Make a knife that complements a primitive scavenger
mindset” — that was the thought that started the journey
that is now the Carrion. I have always lived in very rural
areas, about an hour from any town, and it’s not uncom-
mon to reach for a knife 10 to 20 times a day for various
tasks and chores. These include making fire, foraging,
and cutting meat. I wanted a knife that wasn’t so big that
it gets left on the nightstand but was robust enough that
it would not break a sweat if asked to punch outside its
weight class.
Is there anything you’d change about it?
Since its conception, there have actually been seven
structural changes. Many are evidence of my growth as a
knife maker, but others are just refinements from my own
use and feedback from customers. One prime example: The Corvus
The original intent with Mod 0 was to be able to unravel Carrion is a
compact blade
a paracord-wrapped handle and fashion a spear out of it.
that caters to
I did it once, just to say I did it, and then I axed that idea. a variety of
Today, my signature version Carrion now sports the iconic everyday and
burnt hemp wrap, giving the knife a primitive look and feel. survival tasks.
Over the past couple of years, there have been different For more about
one-off versions — double edge, custom handles, trainers, Jerry Saunders
hammered finishes, and even a few flat ground Carrions. and his knife
designs, refer
After the latest addition of the ambi Kydex sheath, I don’t
to our Spotlight
foresee any changes in the immediate future, however I’m interview in
always on the lookout for opportunities. Issue 47.
 Delta2Alpha
URL: delta2alpha.com / Instagram: @delta2alphadesign
With a leather
sheath, Tell us a little about your background and interest in
hardwood survival skills.
handle, and I have always enjoyed the outdoors. From playing down
sturdy carbon
steel blade,
at the creek as a kid — building traps, forts/shelters, and
the Bravo 1 is makeshift tools — to spending a weekend outdoors with
intended to be a only what I can fit into a 30L bag for gear testing. Getting
timeless design.
out into nature and away from civilization makes me feel at
peace.
What’s your knife of choice?
I chose the Bravo 1 field knife, which I call “something your
granddad would’ve bet his life on.” It has that timeless feel,
with 12-inch full-tang construction from 1095 carbon steel,
a hardwood handle, sturdy metal guards (your choice of
brass or steel), and a well-thought-out leather sheath. I’m
especially happy with how the handle ergonomics turned
out, since I believe a great knife should feel like a perfect
extension of the wielder’s hand. You should be able to
focus fully on the task at hand, rather than the tool you’re
using to accomplish it.
What led you to choose this knife?
The 1095 steel is a classic choice; it’s very durable and
easy to sharpen in the field. This blade design is great for
general use in a variety of situations — big enough for real
work, but light enough to carry on a belt all day. The handle
is thick and easy to hang onto, reducing the chance for
injury during chopping and other hard-use tasks. There’s
also a lanyard hole, because dropping your knife into water
(or worse yet, onto your foot) can be disastrous.
Is there anything you’d change about it?
In the future, we may offer a different handle material, such
as Micarta or stacked leather, as well as a different blade
finish. Admittedly, these changes would be more about
fashion than function, but I do think it’s nice to have tools
that look good.

FLDWRX (Ryan Atkinson)
Instagram: @fldwrx
Tell us a little about your background and interest in
survival skills.
Raised in Los Angeles County, I played sports from age
5 to 22. High school coaches noticed me for my size and
strength. I ended up earning a football scholarship to the
University of Kansas. After playing college ball and graduat-
ing in 2002, I started working for a security firm out of
Kansas City at age 22. Rock bands and pop stars on world
tours were the specialties. After some short work exposure
with The Eagles, Blink-182, and Korn, my first full-time gig
was venue security director for the band Pearl Jam on their
2003 Riot Act tour. I learned the job from the inside out
and had no prior relevant experience to pull from. Since
then, I have worked for clients such as Good Charlotte,
Linkin Park, Dashboard Confessional, Hilary Duff, Red Hot
Chili Peppers, Motley Crüe, Dave Gahan of Depeche Mode,
and KISS.
Survival is relative to an individual’s environment. My
workspace is international, urban, fast-paced, chaotic, and
almost entirely under the spotlight. A good security person
learns to protect themselves first. Interpersonal and organi-
zational skills, plus being relatable, keep us afloat.
What’s your knife of choice?
Picking just one is impossible, so I’ll pick two designs I’ve
recently put out in collaboration with great makers. First is the
MF Bladeworks Vandal, a 6.5-inch stonewashed S35VN steel
knife with 2.5-inch blade. Second is the Variant One Wraith,
made from 3V steel, with a 6.5-inch OAL and 3-inch blade. It
has a black Cerakote finish by @candbqualitycoatings. Both
blades are “backward knives,” aka Pikal-style — they’re meant
for tip-down, edge-in use, and they’re purpose-driven.
BEHIND THE
BLADE
The handle of each knife fits entirely in my hand, with the The Variant One
angled punyo resting comfortably on the thumb for added Wraith (left) and
MF Bladeworks
grip strength. I like a 2.5- to 3-inch blade length, following Vandal (right)
“the rule of thumb;” if it’s as long as an outstretched thumb, bear some clear
it’s long enough to dig into a chest and touch the heart. similarities
to each other,
Both knives have a dark finish to cut down visibility and are
since both are
completely sterile with no maker’s markings. Knives are intended to be
meant to be felt, not seen. used in a Pikal
grip.
What led you to choose these knives? For more
When I say they’re “my design,” I mean “built on the on Ryan's
shoulders of giants.” There’s nothing new under the sun background and
lessons learned
— I didn’t come up with the ideas, I just put the things
while protecting
I’ve learned to be true into a cohesive package. I’ve done celebrities, refer
some intense training with Scott Babb of Libre Fighting, to our Spotlight
Ed Calderon of Ed’s Manifesto, Doc Callidus of Callidus interview in
Issue 48.
Collective, Johnny Primo of Courses of Action, and Bill
Rapier of Amtac Blades. These men showed me their
take on blade work, and I pulled from their knowledge
and experience, as well as what makes the most sense
to me.
Is there anything you’d change about them?
I like scales made from Sure Touch, a rubberized G-10 mate-
rial that’s not too sticky. I want to offer those on the Wraith
in the future, and chamfer them a bit. I also like to have fun
with colors and create a different narrative. So maybe in
the future, I’ll add some misleading goofy words like “for
kitchen use” or “fruits and veggies only!”
One major thing I’ve noticed about knife design is
that I always want to scale down a percentage. If it feels
excellent in hand, I make it slightly smaller. Make sure
the handle feels great in all grip angles. You never know
how the knife will end up in your hand during a dynamic
situation.
FUN-
SIZED
GUN BAGS
I
t’s often said that good things come in small pack-
ages, and when it comes to guns, we’re inclined
to agree. Ever since firearms first appeared on the
battlefield, there has been a gradual trend toward
shorter and lighter fighting weapons. The American
long rifles of the Revolutionary War era often had barrels
that exceeded 40 inches; standing upright, they were nearly
as tall as the men who carried them. The famous Sharps
rifles, used extensively by “sharpshooter” marksmen in the
American Civil War, were typically equipped with 30-inch
barrels. By the turn of the 20th century, the M1903 Spring-
field had a 24-inch barrel, a length that would carry over to
the M1 Garand. Although the standard-issue M16 still has a
20-inch barrel today, carbines with 16-inch, 14.5-inch, and
shorter barrels have become increasingly popular for ma-
neuverability in confined urban areas. Thanks to dramatic
improvements in barrel and ammunition manufacturing, it’s
possible to achieve excellent accuracy and effective range
from these compact weapons, whether they’re configured
as short-barreled rifles (SBRs) or braced AR pistols.
Finding the Perfect Fit
Although the weapons we use have shrunk, it often feels
like the cases we carry them in have remained the same
size. If you walk into an average sporting goods store, you’re
likely to see a wide array of cases
designed for handguns and cases
designed for rifles with 16-inch
barrels, but not much in between.
Sure, you can carry your 14.5-, 12.5-,
or 10-inch AR in a standard rifle
case, but you’ll be left with excess
space for the gun to slide around,
and excess fabric that folds and flops
awkwardly. Why spend the time and
money shaving inches off your gun if
you’re going to carry it everywhere in an
oversized case? Sure, you could take apart
your upper and lower to fit your gun into a
smaller pack, but that creates an opening for dirt
and foreign objects to get into the inner workings,
and it slows down your ability to use the weapon.
With this dilemma in mind, we sought out four rifle
bags that were purpose-built for carrying short weapons.
One is a relatively basic clamshell case design, while another
is a full-fledged backpack with weapon-retention features.
The remaining two split the difference, incorporating both
case-style carry handles and backpack-style shoulder
straps. Read on to see if one of these packs might be just
right for your compact gun of choice.
062 OFFG
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GRID
1A/2A: THE SECURITY OF

Laser-cut hook fabric inside the front

pocket allows for the attachment of
MOLLE or Velcro-backed pouches and
accessories.
5.11 Tactical LV M4 Shorty
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 29 by 1 2 by 2.5 inches The combination of a 1.93-
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 1 8. 3 liter s
inch red-dot mount and
33-round Glock mag on our
WEIGHT: 3.4 pounds
Aero Precision EPC-9 pistol
COLORS: Black , Night Watch, Tarmac (pic tured) created a wide profile. It
MSRP: $1 20 fit inside the bag, but just
barely.
URL: 51 1tac tical.com
NOTES
As the most diminutive of the four packs we tested, the LV M4 Shor ty
is per fect for slim guns with sub-10-inch barrels. It fit our Aero Preci-
sion EPC-9 AR pistol with 8.3-inch barrel like a glove, even with the SB
Tactical brace fully ex tended (a 2 7-inch OAL). Any thing much longer
or thicker will be a tight squeeze. Our 1 1.5-inch SBR almost fit with the
buttstock collapsed (29-inch OAL), but the chunky Cloud Defensive REIN
flashlight bezel near the muzzle prevented the zippers from closing the
last few inches. Some side-folding guns fit, but it’s not optimal — a PSA
GF-3 AK-47 side-folder with 16-inch barrel (28-inch OAL, 5 inches wide)
did fit, but caused the case to appear somewhat round and overstuf fed.
The main compar tment is lined with slick 8 40D nylon, so it’s easy to
shake out and keep clean. We also appreciate its light gray color, which
makes it simple to find small items like sight adjustment tools and loose
hardware. A 5x 12-inch field of webbing provides attachment points for
a hook-and-loop cuf f to secure your weapon inside the bag. However,
the compar tment is small enough that we didn’t really need it.
On the front of the case, there are two zippered compar tments. The
smaller one contains a sof t lining that’s ideal for shooting glasses and
other fragile gear. The larger compar tment has laser-cut MOLLE-com-
patible webbing for attaching tools, mag pouches, or a small trauma kit;
the opposite side has a zippered mesh pocket for other loose items. We
found this half-zip front pocket to be the ideal size for storing a mini-
malist chest rig pre-loaded with three 30-round mags.
On the back of the case, you’ll find two low-profile grab handles as well
as a pair of padded shoulder straps with sternum buckle. The padded
por tion of the shoulder straps can be removed via G-hooks and buckles,
but this leaves a pair of foot-long dangling nylon straps. They’re sewn
directly to the bag and can’t be tucked any where, so it’s best to leave
the shoulder straps on the case.
PROS
• Simple and ef fec tive, not loaded-down with excess pockets or fea-
tures we don’t need

• Discreet appearance without any ex ternal MOLLE webbing or patch

fields. Even the 5. 1 1 logos are stitched onto tags that can be tucked
away for a sterile look .
CONS
• It’s a tight squeeze for any thing longer than 28 inches or wider than
3 inches. Many SBRs won’t fit.

• Shoulder straps aren’t fully removable or tuckable

A small zippered pocket up top fits anything from eye protection
to this JK Armament Form 1 suppressor.
 FUN-SIZED
GUN BAGS

Our AK was too wide to fit in the bag with a Grey Ghost Gear Apparition SBR Bag
magazine in the gun, but that’s not a problem. EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 28 by 1 3 by 4 inches (expands to 34 inches long)
Two pouches inside the main compartment MAXIMUM CAPACITY: 19.6 liter s
offer quick access to magazines.
WEIGHT: 4.0 pounds
COLORS: Black & Cyan, Black & Red, Brown & Black , Grey & Black , Tan & OD
Although the bag expands to Green (pic tured)
fit longer barrels, doing so MSRP: $1 80
eliminates any sense of
URL: greyghostgear.com
concealment and makes it
obvious you’re carrying NOTES
On the product description page, Grey Ghost Gear says, “This pack can easily
a rifle. exist among all the other travel backpacks that are filled with flannel, yoga
pants, beef jerky, and granola.” From the outside, it really does look like a run-
of-the-mill light hiking pack, although this disguise would be more convincing
in a high-vis pastel color way. Regardless, unlike traditional rifle cases, you
probably won’t raise eyebrows if you carr y this in public.
The Apparition is adver tised for SBRs with 10.5-inch or shor ter barrels. With
its brace ex tended, our 8.3-inch 9mm AR pistol (2 7-inch OAL) fit with about
an inch to spare; our 1 1.5-inch SBR (29-inch OAL) wasn’t even close to fitting
unless we unzipped the expansion pocket at the base of the pack. With that
pocket ex tended, the Apparition can fit guns up to 33 inches long. However,
we weren’t wild about how tight the expansion pocket is — it accepts a naked
barrel or the end of a suppressor fine, but good luck tr ying to cram a full-
length handguard with flashlight into it. Our folded 16-inch AK fit with the
expansion pocket open but wasn’t easily removable, since the front sight post
got snagged inside the pocket.
As a full-fledged backpack, the Apparition has many additional features. The
cof fin-shaped main compar tment is lined with black loop fabric and has three
retention loops to hold your gun in place. The inside of the flap features sev-
eral pockets, including a zippered pouch and two magazine pockets with ad-
justable bungees. Moving toward the front of the pack, there’s another large
zippered compar tment lined with loop fabric — GGG says you can put a spare
upper in here — plus a few more admin pockets and a zippered mesh pocket.
A pass-through slit at the top of this compar tment allows for a hydration tube
or communications wires to be routed outside. One more zippered pocket on
the front face of the pack of fers storage for quick-access items.
The base of the pack features two elastic water bottle carriers, two ver tical-
zip compar tments that seem ideal for gloves, and two bottom zippers. One of
these reveals a rain fly that can be placed over the pack; the other conceals
the aforementioned barrel expansion pocket. On the back side of the Appari-
tion, there are mesh lumbar pads, a removable mesh waist belt, and a mesh
shoulder strap yoke that of fers height adjustability and load lif ter straps. All
these touches make it clear that the Apparition was purpose-built as a back-
pack that can carr y a gun, not a gun case that happens to come with backpack
straps.
PROS
• It has the features we’d expec t in a hiking pack , like load lif ter s, a comf y
waist belt, and tor so length adjustment. Even if you’re not carr ying a gun,
it’s a good backpack .
• Main compar tment has plent y of width for side-folder s
• Tons of organized storage for tools and sustainment gear
CONS
The Apparition is more backpack than rifle bag, and that may • Don’t rely on the expansion pocket. It’s a tight fit for any thing bigger than
a barrel or suppressor, and it makes it fairly obvious what you’re carr ying.
be a good thing depending on your needs. The adjustable • Cof fin-shaped compar tments feel inef ficient — the bot tom is always
ISSUE 49

yoke, load lifters, and ample padding make it comfortable for crowded and the top is always loose.
long-distance carry.

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 FUN-SIZED
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GRID
1A/2A: A FREE STATE, GUN BAGS

Haley Strategic INCOG Rifle Bag Carbine

The INCOG fit our 11.5-inch SBR
EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 30 by 1 2 by 4 inches like a glove, and its full-clamshell
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: Not adver tised opening made it easy to pack and
WEIGHT: 3.0 pounds stow the rifle at the range.
COLOR: Disruptive Grey (pic tured)
MSRP: $195
URL: haleystrategic.com
NOTES
Despite its incognito name, the Haley Strategic INCOG bears the clos-
est resemblance to a traditional rifle case in this lineup. It features a
rectangular footprint with three-sided zipper and clamshell opening.
There’s no backpack harness, only a rubberized carr y handle and an
over-the-shoulder carr y strap; the latter item can be concealed behind
a hook-and-loop flap on the back of the case when it’s not needed.
This bag is only available in one color way — Disruptive Grey with black
accents. If you look closely at the diagonal hook fabric strip across the
front pocket, you’ll see Haley’s signature dragonfly logo stitched in
black thread. Although nobody is going to see this and think it’s not a
rifle case, the subdued branding keeps it looking relatively generic.
If you need to access its contents quickly, the INCOG has a cool trick up
its sleeve. Pulling the small nylon loop on one end of the bag tears two
zippers open, creating an opening to retrieve the weapon within. This For fast access, yank this handle
flap is held in place by a strip of hook-and-loop fabric. to quickly unzip one end of the
This bag doesn’t look much bigger than the competition, but it proved bag. The rifle can be removed
to be the per fect fit for our larger weapons. The 29-inch OAL SBR fit like
it was built for this case, and so did the folded AK . The added width of without opening the bag fully,
a folding stock was no problem, since the INCOG’s box y main compar t- as long as you didn’t use the
ment of fers plenty of depth — you might even be able to fit two slim internal retention straps.
guns side-by-side, but there’s no divider to keep them from knocking
against each other.
The interior of the main compar tment is lined on both sides with web-
bing made from loop fabric, and four retention straps are included.
These could be used to secure any thing from a full-length disas-
sembled upper and lower to a pair of ver y shor t AR pistols. There’s only
one other zippered compar tment to speak of, a 14x9-inch mesh pocket
that’s only accessible from the inside of the case. The ex ternal zipper
around this section doesn’t open it; instead, it allows it to expand out
accordion-style to of fer increased capacity. A small, sof t pistol case or
chest rig can fit into this space once it’s expanded.
PROS
• Easily fits a variet y of weapons up to 30 inches long, even those with
bulk y accessories
• Four retention straps provide a way to securely carr y a full-length
upper and lower, or an SBR with t wo upper s
CONS
• Traditional rifle case shape isn’t as INCOG as the name implies
• Single accessor y pocket doesn’t provide organization for small tools
and accessories
• Only one color way
 FUN-SIZED
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GRID
1A/2A: THE RIGHT GUN BAGS
Our 11.5-inch SBR was just barely short enough to fit in
this bag with the barrel “bucket” removed. And although
it’s advertised as a single rifle case, we found that the
Specialist 30 can easily fit a second weapon.

Savior Equipment Specialist Covert 30

EXTERIOR DIMENSIONS: 30 by 1 3.5 by 5 inches
MAXIMUM CAPACITY: Not adver tised
WEIGHT: 7.4 pounds
COLORS: Dark FDE (pic tured), Obsidian Black , OD Green
MSRP: $80 A large
front
URL: saviorequipment.com
pocket offers
NOTES attachment points for
We’ve learned to be skeptical about buying any thing gun-related on Amazon,
since that online marketplace is inundated with cheap of f-brand products and MOLLE pouches, plus two
counter feit items. But ever y once in a while, we find something that of fers zippered pockets for small
impressive quality at a surprisingly af fordable price — such was the case with
Savior Equipment gun cases. We bought one of these cases a few years ago on tools and accessories.
a whim, and were surprised by how sturdy and well-built it was. We’ve acquired
a few more since then, and even though they’re not per fect, they’re worlds bet-
ter than we expected at this price point. The stitching is neat, the zippers are
smooth, and the 600D ripstop polyester fabric is tough and thoroughly padded.
The Specialist Cover t 30 is adver tised as a single rifle case, but it’s clearly
capable of hauling two sub-30-inch SBRs thanks to the center divider. This
removable, padded panel is secured by two buckles on one side, and by a strip of
hook-and-loop fabric on the other. The bag’s primar y half contains two adjust-
able retention straps and a hard foam “bucket” to hold a weapon’s muzzle in
place. Behind the divider, the other half features a complete field of laser-cut
loop material with two more retention straps. Although you can easily stash a
second rifle in here, it would also be a good fit for an ex tra upper plus MOLLE
pouches full of medical gear, tools, and spare par ts. We were able to pack either
the folding AK or 1 1.5 SBR into the case alongside our Aero EPC-9 AR pistol, but
couldn’t squeeze both the AK and SBR in at the same time due to their combined
width. Savior Equipment of fers a 34-inch version of this bag if you need to carr y
longer weapons.
This bag features three ex ternal pockets. The smaller zippered pocket contains
elastic loops that are ideal for retaining suppressors or multi-tools; the larger
full-zip pocket features webbing for MOLLE pouches on one side and two large
mesh pockets on the other. The final pocket is hidden — pull the loop behind the The top pocket is just the right size for this Gemtech
top of the large pocket to rip open its hook-and-loop seal. It’s lined with more
hook-and-loop fabric, providing an attachment point for a Velcro-backed pistol Shield suppressor, and even includes an elastic band to
holster or sandwiched Velcro mag pouches. Three sturdy grab handles and a hold it in place. Additional elastic slots fit pens, flashlights,
pair of tuckable, padded shoulder straps make it easy to carr y this bag down-
range.
or screwdrivers.
Unfor tunately, there’s one glaring downside to this pack: weight. It’s inexpen-
sive, durable, and feature-rich, but weighs nearly twice as much as the nex t
heaviest bag we tested. If you’re only planning to carr y it a few yards from your
car to the range bench, the ex tra pounds won’t matter, but it’s definitely wor th
considering if you plan to hike substantial distances with it on a regular basis.
PROS
• Surprisingly well-designed and sturdy given its sub-$100 price point
• Capable of hauling t wo compac t weapons with a divider in bet ween, plus
supplementar y gear
• Easy to carr y thank s to three grab handles and fully stowable shoulder
straps
CONS
• All the ex tra features and durable materials add pounds — this bag is notice-
ably heavier than the competition.
1A/2A: OF THE PEOPLE

CYBER
THREAT
AWARENESS
Recent Cyberattacks to Critical Infrastructure, and
how to Prepare Personal Countermeasures
By David Roy
A
lan Turing, the legendary World War II
cryptographer, creator of the conceptual
computer, and codebreaker of the infamous
Enigma cryptography machine once said,
“Those who can imagine anything can cre-
ate the impossible.” While it may not have been in the same
light then as it’s taken now, he was absolutely correct. In fact,
this statement, when being applied to quantum computing,
mathematics, cryptography, and technology becomes a little
terrifying when applied to the current state of cyber and
information security. Now more than ever, we have nefarious
actors thinking outside the box, and acting on what used to
be known as the impossible. Around each corner is a new risk
to be managed, and even more malicious “black hats” willing
to come up with an exploit.
With new developments every day in the cyber arena,
whether positive or negative, your information alone is no
longer the highest-value chip on the table. Breaches happen
every single day in the thousands. There are amateurs steal-
ing information over Wi-Fi, skimming credit cards at the pump,
and utilizing social engineering to collect personally identifi-
able information (PII). Ransomware, identity theft, data leaks,
and "script kiddie" DDoS (distributed-denial-of-service) attacks
all suck, sure, but what about the things that could really affect
our day-to-day life? Picking up groceries, paying your bills,
keeping the lights on, potable water, and functioning hospitals
are all critical parts of society and all vulnerable points in the
threat landscape. Even worse, the likelihood of a threat acting
upon these vulnerabilities is higher than ever.
But before we start talking about the future and how at-
tacks impact the physical world, let’s take a brief look into the
past. It’s a quiet Sunday in March 2007 in Idaho Falls, Idaho,
and a 2.25-megawatt green maritime generator sits on a ce-
ment pad at the U.S Department of Energy’s Idaho National
Lab. The DOE, at the time, partnered with other government
agencies to explore possible exploits for the modbus commu-
nications protocol, widely (still, even) used in industrial control
systems. Ahead of the curve for the time
period, DOE had the wherewithal to know
that backup genera- tors, largely used for
telecommunications and the electrical grid,
were very susceptible to cyberattack.
ISSUE 49
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1A/2A: TO KEEP
With these ideas in mind, a few crafty computer sci-
entists discovered that, if on the same network as an
industrial piece of equipment, the modbus protocol and its
vulnerabilities could be exploited through programmable
interfaces on the equipment. A few scripts later, they tar-
geted relays meant to protect breakers on the equipment,
and the generator began bucking like a bronco, spewing
smoke, and shaking violently. Less than a minute later,
shrapnel was shooting from the generator, some pieces
landing as far as 30 yards away — then all of a sudden, it
was over. What the researchers understood after that day
was that systems could now be hacked to cause physical
damage, not just to compromise information. If the target
has any communications protocols connected, such as
those in supervisory control and data acquisition (SCADA)
systems or programmable logic controllers (PLCs), they
can be exploited, controlled, and ultimately, destroyed from
anywhere in the world.
Taking the Aurora test into consideration, we’ll explore
more recent, real-life examples throughout this article with
the goal to demonstrate why it’s imperative to plan and
prepare countermeasures against scenarios that leave your
household vulnerable to the outcome of infrastructure
attacks. Of course, there’s no foolproof way to stand up
against someone bringing down the entire electrical grid,
but just like anything else, you can certainly soften the blow
of the immediate impact while things recover.
The 2015 The Electrical Grid
Ukrainian
What we’ve already seen: Roughly eight years after
grid hack
demonstrated the Aurora test, another first-of-its-kind attack was carried
that, with the out, but this time, it wasn’t a test. On that very cold day in
click of a mouse,
Western Ukraine, the Prykarpattyaoblenergo power and
all power can
be knocked out, control station was hacked by a group of Russian state-
leaving even sponsored hackers. The threat actors targeted breakers
governments on power substations, opening the circuits and shutting
helpless.
the power off, bringing a quarter-million citizens into the
dark. After discovering the problem at the various substa-
tions, power companies and government officials traveled
site-to-site closing the breakers and restoring most of the
power in roughly three to five hours. While no long-term
damage was done, after-action summaries determined that
Hackers
the actors could’ve done much worse due to the degree
become more
persistent of control they achieved. This cyberattack foreshadowed
and more Russia's move to occupy power stations, such as the Kyiv
sophisticated hydroelectric plant and Zaporizhzhia nuclear plant, during
every day,
their 2022 invasion of Ukraine.
threatening the
lives of nations Threat Likelihood: As recently as in 2020, U.S. officials
and individual have publicly stated that nefarious actors have already
citizens.
gained access to the national power grid via the private
companies that manage various segments of that spider-
web. However, the U.S government has reinforced that
material attacks on the grid would be seen as an act of
war, if carried out by another nation (assuming that could
be proven). Still, this doesn’t rule out a nation-state attack,
with full resources behind their power — this is our biggest
threat.
Foreign state-sponsored hackers aren’t the only individu-
als motivated to shut the lights off. Radical groups within
the U.S. have also expressed interest in attacks against
parts of the grid. However, their resources aren’t as rich, so
the likelihood of a long-lasting attack from a rogue group is
fairly low.
Threat Likelihood Score: 4

Vulnerability Impact: Much of the power grid runs
on outdated infrastructure, which is easily exploited.
However, more and more providers are learning to “air
gap” systems — in other words, they intend to make sure
that they aren’t connected to the internet. Believe it or
not, firewalls barely matter anymore if a threat actor is
motivated enough.
While the systems might be old, that sometimes tends
to be a countermeasure of its own. Exploits for legacy
outdated systems require tailored approaches and
specific exploits that take time and are one-offs. But with
that said, if actioned, usually these systems are toast if
the hacker wants to cause permanent damage. All in all,
vulnerabilities here are endless.
Vulnerability Impact Score: 5
Overall Risk Score: 4x5= 20
Taking all of the above into consideration, the likeli-
hood of a cyberattack on the power grid and the overall
impact based on threats and vulnerabilities is moderate.
While the grid and its supporting systems are largely old,
the sheer consequence of bringing down a significant
portion is enough to scare even the likes of North Korea
and China away. The more brazen Russian hackers lurking
in the systems, however, may be conducting long-term
reconnaissance for the “big bang,” or for leverage against
CYBER THREAT
AWARENESS
the U.S. at a later date. But for now, we haven’t seen too
much in the wild, outside of the Ukraine attacks.
Countermeasures: So, what can you do about it?
Well, given what we know above, if you’re impacted by
a “grid-down” type of attack, it’s going to be either long
term or short term. In the short term, the no-brainer is
to have a backup power source. Generators work great,
but they’re pricey, require diesel or natural gas, and may
not be an option for folks living in apartments. If you’re
strapped for cash or restricted for space, an alternative
power option is a good stock of backup batteries or
power banks.
Additionally, power tool batteries and inverters are a
smart choice, as they offer long-term, low-voltage power for
simple devices like household medical equipment, lights,
and heated blankets. Lastly, marine and car batteries are a
solid choice that can be recharged with solar panels in the
long term, and offer a decent amount of power if you hap-
pen to run out of gas in your vehicle to charge them. Solar
panels for residential homes are becoming more inexpen-
sive every year, and can supply a refreshing amount of
electricity if the energy can be stored in moderately sized
battery banks. Of course, the best option is all of the above,
but given that most people won’t take these steps to pre-
pare, long-term power outages would drive many urbanites
into a state of utter chaos.
Power stations
have always
been vulnerable,
but the risk of a
sophisticated,
state-sponsored
attack is
beginning to
reveal just how
fragile the grid
might be.
1A/2A: AND BEAR ARMS,

The Water Supply
What we’ve already seen: As if 2020 wasn’t enough
with the COVID-19 pandemic, it did bring something
startling a few months after the year closed. In early 2021,
rogue actors were able to gain access to the internal
network and management systems of a water treatment
plant in Oldsmar, Florida. Through a very simple and
amateur exploit of remote desktop protocol, the bad folks
were about to completely take over a workstation, almost
as if a ghost was controlling the mouse and keyboard.
Due to basic reconnaissance conducted by the actors
ahead of the exploit, they were able to easily navigate
the SCADA system and begin manipulating chemical mix
levels in the water treatment cycles. They raised sodium
hydroxide content from 100 ppm to 11,100 ppm — essen-
tially turning the drinking water into poison. Luckily, an
observant employee reverted the setting before anyone
was harmed.
Threat Likelihood: Similar to the electrical grid, this area
of critical infrastructure is a major target for nefarious ac-
tors. Water is a precious resource, and one that needs to be
kept reasonably clean when it comes to potable sources.
Aside from drinking water, sewer systems and “city water”
for other community supporting functions (such as build-
ing HVAC) also require high availability to keep our offices,
hospitals, and telecommunications hubs up and running.
Another important note is that these threats are not
new and come from various sources. In 2016, an Aus-
tralian wastewater treatment plant was hacked, but not
from the outside. The threat actor, a disgruntled former
employee, took action on the SCADA system via pirated
software that matched that of the building management

Attacks to water
treatment can
not only impact
the supply itself,
but also render
thousands of
people sick
from possible
contamination.
Some attacks
would’ve led to
loss of innocent
lives if they
hadn’t been
stopped early on.

Water supply
sources are
a target for
hackers.
Whether it’s
contaminating
water or stopping
it entirely,
both have dire
consequences.
 CYBER THREAT
AWARENESS
system. Additionally, even though the hacker wasn’t
inside the building, he had been changing pump and
equipment settings via the wireless network — not ex-
actly a sophisticated technique. All in all, what’s known as
the Maroochy Incident brought light to malicious actors
otherwise known as “Insider Threat.” For the most part,
How to
these are lone-wolf current or former employees who still
want to do damage to critical parts of everyday life, but
Calculate Risk
may not necessarily bring the entire Eastern Seaboard
down with them.
Like the Pros
Threat Likelihood Score: 3 You’ll notice that we’ve used a 1-5 scale on each threat
and vulnerability in order to assess two things: 1. The
Vulnerability Impact: It’s fairly clear to see from the impact of the vulnerability itself, if actioned, and 2. The like-
water treatment plant hack that the extent of vulnerabilities lihood of the threat to be exploited. These values are then
is vast. Critical infrastructure for the target was running multiplied to determine overall risk.
on outdated, unpatched Windows 7 with remote desktop Using this simple formula, and the below 5x5 risk matrix,
protocols enabled, and Teamviewer (screen sharing soft- one can quickly determine what the overall risk of the
ware) right in front of the actors for use. Unfortunately, with scenario might be. This semi-quantitative risk score is
SCADA systems being exposed to the internet, coupled ubiquitous in information security and business continuity
with aged and unprotected software, it’s a target-rich circles throughout both the private sector and public sector,
environment for those wishing to exploit a vulnerability. “Air including three-letter and other government agencies. If the
gapping” the systems, in this case, is one of the only ways simple 1-5 scale doesn’t tickle your fancy and guessing isn’t
to protect outdated, unpatched software, and is the best good enough, both NIST and ISO have methods of deter-
practice nowadays regardless. mining what exactly makes a 1 as opposed to a 4 or 5.
To compound the aforementioned issues, unfortunately,
it’s easy to conclude that the local municipalities that man-
age water and wastewater treatment plants don’t have the
budget for systems hardening that electricity providers
boast. This tight budget renders much of their information
security investment useless against threat actors. If you
thought attacking the power grid was like shooting fish in
a barrel with a .22, attacking water infrastructure is akin to
using a 12 gauge.
Vulnerability Impact Score: 3
Overall Risk: 4x3= 9

Countermeasures: With regard to water, it might seem Storing water

simple. If the water doesn’t turn on, then have some stored, on your own
right? Not so fast. Certainly, rain capture (where permit- is sometimes
legally
ted), water storage, and water purification systems are all challenging,
solutions. The real dependency and danger here lives with but does yield a
waste and hygiene. Anyone can store extra water for drink- safety net if the
water supply is
ing, but it’s important to highlight the reality of not having
compromised.
a flushing toilet. If possible, having a portable or “bug-out”
toilet is a wise move, best incorporated with a reasonably
sanitary way to dispose of the waste. Simple measures
such as this, coupled with potable drinking water, and purifi-
cation methods such as bleach, iodine tablets, or boiling,
will surely prepare the average person, or small family for
an uncomfortable, but survivable period without running
water from the utility.
1A/2A: SHALL NOT
Internet and Telecommunications
What we’ve already seen: Although (to the public’s
knowledge) hackers haven’t performed a large-scale disrup-
tion to traditional POTS (plain old telephone system) lines
that allow for landline phone comms, it’s certain that many
telecommunications providers are attractive targets. They
control other communications methods that the public and
private industry rely on each day. Most recently, the SUN-
BURST vulnerability that utilized network monitoring giant
Solarwinds as the attack surface provided nefarious actors
— allegedly sponsored by the Russian government — with
a stepladder to the network of many other large tech firms,
government agencies, and telco/managed service providers.
What the Solarwinds hack taught us was that there’s a
huge risk involved with many of the third-party contracted
firms who partner with large corporations. Even though
many of the impacted organizations may have had their
shops in order, someone was coming straight through the
back door with contractors. With that said, telecommuni-
cations providers that supply industry and citizens with
internet access, phone coverage, and GPS capability are
big red targets. So far, ransomware and data theft (leaks)
have been the biggest interruptions for telco firms, but this
certainly doesn’t discount the bigger risk of taking down a
giant. Most recently, we have seen DDoS attacks flooding
ISPs (internet service providers) and slowing things down
to a snail’s pace, which almost serves as a warning of things
that could come.
Telecommunication hubs and
communications towers are key physical
pieces of infrastructure that allow our
virtual world to operate, making both
cybersecurity and physical security
of telecommunications infrastructure
incredibly important.
Threat Likelihood: Taking the internet down may seem
like an attractive option for amateur hackers or “hacktivist”
groups, but in reality, the large-scale impact is incredibly
complicated to quantify. That may be why professionals
have stayed away from toying with worldwide telecom. This
may very well be due to the interconnected nature of infra-
structure that has been built out to house the worldwide
web since the early ’90s by companies that are now data
and telco giants. Though ISPs can ultimately be hacked, the
interconnect paths are so widely distributed that routing
and failovers can naturally handle massive outages, since
carriers can also rely on other carriers. Overall, the world-
wide web is pretty robust.
For telecommunications and the internet, stepping away
from the cyber world and into the physical world actually
isn’t that out of scope, or not as much as it might seem.
Ultimately, our lines of communication — similar to the early
AT&T Mid-Atlantic carrier network, if you want some neat
legacy telco reading material — and “the cloud” physically
live somewhere, despite popular opinion. Credible threats
to this landscape exist and have been actioned. In fact, De-
cember 2020 brought us one of the most brazen attacks on
telecommunications infrastructure when a lone-wolf suicide
bomber detonated his RV outside of an AT&T telco and data
carrier hotel in Nashville, Tennessee. This particular attack
took down large parts of the Southeastern U.S.’s telephone
network, as well as local 9-1-1 services, and internet access for
many surrounding states. It just goes to show that even if re-
 CYBER THREAT
AWARENESS
mote cyberattacks aren’t possible, low-tech physical attacks
on infrastructure can be extremely damaging.
Threat Likelihood Score: 4

Vulnerabilities: Telecommunications providers are cer-

tainly in the tech business, but don’t let that fool you about
their information security posture. While not everyone has
great IT security hygiene, the industry is taking steps to
be more secure and more responsible when it comes to
protecting the integrity of their systems and functions. With
all of that said, the largest vulnerability that was exploited
in recent years has focused on vendors and suppliers. Why
hack a robust, mature organization when a weaker, more
vulnerable one is a large supplier of theirs? This is your
answer, and it’s more ubiquitous now than ever.
Vulnerability Impact Score: 3
Overall Risk: 4x3= 12

Countermeasures: Our reliance as a society on internet

and telecommunications is impossible to deny. A never-
ending thirst for instant gratification, as well as instant
communication, has been the impetus for much of the in-
frastructure reliability that telecommunications carriers are
building out nowadays. So, naturally, the first countermea-
sure would be not relying on the internet for everything.
There are many best practices for this, including turning
to good old radio for your news and weather. A fantastic
(and interesting) way to get local weather is by tuning into
local NOAA frequencies on a shortwave receiver — this
will yield things such as storm warnings, weather reports,
forecasts, as well as emergency information during less
than favorable events. Additionally, shortwave listening (aka
SWL’ing) can warrant some pretty great local, national, and
world news no matter your location. Investing in a single

Ham radio
is becoming
increasingly
popular amongst
the survival
and prepping
community due
to the ease of use
when traditional
comms are
down.
1A/2A: BE INFRINGED.
sideband (SSB) shortwave receiver can bring you the
likes of Voice of America, BBC News, other national news
broadcasts, emergency communications traffic, and even
interesting broadcasts like Voice of Russia, and Voice of
North Korea. All you need is a simple wire antenna to start
hearing signals way outside of your location, or QTH.
To piggyback on radio, receiving is great, but what
about talking? What if it’s an emergency and you need to
get information into the airwaves? A great first start is a
Items to Stock
for Servicing
Your Gear
16AWG Wire and Soldering Equipment:
You can never have enough wire. Additionally, knowing how to solder and
diagnose basic electrical circuits can go a long way if you have electronics
that need repair during a supply chain disruption. Other components such
as diodes, transistors, resistors, capacitors, and LEDs are also handy to keep
around.
Lumber, PVC/Copper Pipe, and Building Supplies:
In the event of a natural disaster stemming from an infrastructure attack,
whether energy-impacting or not, the ability to capture rainwater and re-
pair your home is an advantage. Stocking up on general building supplies
can mean the difference between a critical repair and a negatively impact-
ing survival situation.
Batteries and Inverters:
Having a car is great in the event of a power outage, but if you don’t have
an inverter of some type, utilizing its 12V power for other things may be
a challenge, whether it’s charging a power tool or using a soldering iron.
Inverters and battery power sources are critical for providing AC and DC
power to make things easier when you’re aiming to repair things in a grid-
down or disaster situation.
Spare Parts/Supplies for Your Vehicle:
Now, we don’t mean having every part in the Chilton manual. Have the
most commonly failing parts handy — regardless of a disaster, they may
come in handy. Stocking up on things like thermostats, sensors, belts, and
other parts is a best practice that should be more common since the sup-
ply chain mainly comes from outside of the U.S. for all manufacturers. Ad-
ditionally, it should go without saying that servicing your vehicle requires
oil, coolant, and transmission fluid — small items like these can go a long
way if you’re in an extended period of chaos.
basic ham radio handheld and a technician’s license (for
folks in the U.S.). However, during an actual emergency,
no license would be required. Anyone whose life, wellbe-
ing, or property is in danger can reach out for help on
the amateur radio bands. If you’re not keen on the radio
comms, there’s always the option of a satellite phone.
Brands such as Iridium and Inmarsat have great options
for phones with plans for text messaging, calls, and basic
internet, which will serve nicely in a pinch, but radio is
almost always a reliable means of communications during
an emergency. Just be aware that in the unlikely event of
some sort of electromagnetic pulse, your comms will be
severely compromised due to the impact on all signals
traversing the lower atmospheric layers.
Global Supply Chain
What we’ve already seen: Global supply chain is pretty
broad; of course, this can apply to manufacturing, the ser-
vice industry, or even the logistics that work behind the
scenes to deliver … well, everything. Due to circumstances
unrelated to malice, we’ve seen massive shipping routes
blocked, like in 2021 with the Suez Canal. This incident
alone provided a look into the physical logistics that
can quite literally jam up the international supply chain.
Further, the COVID-19 pandemic has certainly flexed its
muscles with regard to supply chain disruption, halting
food production, electronics manufacturing, and even raw
materials, steel, and wood production.
Threat Likelihood: The most interesting perspective
regarding supply chain risk may in fact be the threats.
Variations of cyberattacks have rattled cages in the last
few years. The most brazen and successful attack was
the propagation of a cyber weapon called NotPetya, an
eraserware distribution disguised as ransomware. This
attack impacted Maersk, the global shipping giant, and
took them down for days until a mistakenly out-of-band
database copy was located in South Africa, allowing them
to slowly rebuild their systems infrastructure. This attack
interrupted information required at ports for coordinat-
ing pickups and shipment drop-offs, as well as seafaring
information for ships coming into port.
Ultimately, Maersk had to do its best to run operations
manually for the time being, as their systems were being
brought back up to speed. Aside from the logistics side
of the house, supply chain of software has also been
damaged in the previously mentioned attack on network
monitoring software provider Solarwinds. This 2020/2021
attack proved that most of the Fortune 100, as well as the
U.S. government, put many of their eggs in one basket
that became heavily compromised. In the end, the ap-
plication was exploited to such a degree that all impacted

firms essentially gave up their most sensitive network and
traffic information and, even perhaps, backdoors into their
systems. The moral of the story here is that supply chain
can be disrupted in almost any imaginable way, so due
diligence on where your “stuff” is coming from should be
thorough.
Threat Likelihood Score: 5
Vulnerability Impact: Like any aspect of the broader
cybersecurity and risk domain, vulnerabilities here are end-
less, because truly anything can be exploited. Whether it’s
industrial control systems, logistics networks, or software
and applications, they’re all inherently vulnerable by nature.
And while vulnerability is mostly independent of being
influenced by threats, the vast number of threats here flips
the script a bit, making the vulnerability landscape virtually
endless.
Vulnerability Impact Score: 4
Overall Risk: 4x5= 20
CYBER THREAT
AWARENESS
Countermeasures: It seems a little quixotic to say, “Be Cyberattacks
more self-sufficient, and the supply chain won’t affect you.” can slow down
the web and the
The truth is, it’s both correct and incorrect — having a solid physical world
stock of items from the store is prudent, as demonstrated too. Logistics
earlier with water. Food stock such as canned goods, and shipping are
major victims
frozen foods, and other necessities for personal health,
of cyberattacks
such as medicine and hygiene products, are basic items and are targeted
to have around. The real question is, what else might you every minute of
need? Well, being self-sufficient goes a lot farther beyond the day.
keeping some cans of soup in a root cellar. Think about
some of the critical things you own and rely on. How about
spare parts for your vehicle? Are you able to repair things,
and are some of your most commonly used items service-
able? If so, it’s super important to stock up on these types
of supplies. Having not only the knowledge, but also the
equipment and parts necessary for keeping things running
goes a long way, especially when things aren’t as easy as
being able to run to the local big-box store or hit “Buy Now”
on Amazon.
078 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
ISSUE 49
CHILD
Abuse Myths and Realizations from a
Child Crime Investigator
By John Truman
F
irst off, I’d like to warn you that this
article may be hard to read; names have
been changed, sentences redacted, but
these are not fictional “stories.” What you
are about to read comes from the inves-
tigations in one of the largest cities in the country
and the lessons I’ve learned about the physical and
sexual abuse of children. This piece will focus mainly
on the sexual abuse of children, though I will make a
point or two on the physical abuse that often comes
along with it.
I recently read an article from the National Children’s
Advocacy Center (NCAC) talking about common myths
of child abuse — you can read it at bit.ly/2xajICT. This was
by far one of the better quick looks at the topic. One thing
was missing for me: It didn’t hit on the corresponding
facts that parents need to know. So, I’ve thought of some
lessons every parent should know. These may not have
statistics attached to them, but they’re based on firsthand
experience. My ears will never be able to unhear what
these kids have said, my eyes will never be able to unsee
the atrocities of child sex abuse material (CSAM), and I will
never look at a supposedly innocent “family friend” the
same.
Common Perpetrators
The first point I want to hit on is about the perpetrators
of child abuse. Contrary to popular belief, it’s not the trench
coat-wearing stranger at the store you need to worry
about — it’s your father, your brother, or your husband and/
or boyfriend. Out of my hundreds of cases investigated,
a small fraction have truly unknown suspects. The usual
culprits are the biological father, stepfather, or boyfriend in
the home. Mothers, if you get anything out of this article
let it be this: If your child — male or female — has an uneasy
feeling about or is spending an unusual amount of time
with your partner, dig deeper and keep an eye on them.
That said, remember that women can be perpetrators too,
as I’ll discuss later.
One thing I’d love to say is that biological fathers are
never the ones to sexually abuse their children. Unfortu-
nately, while they are perpetrators in only a small percent-
age of my cases, these are usually the most manipulative
and long-lasting abuse cases (keep this in mind when I
make my second point). Most of the time the stepfather or
live-in boyfriend takes advantage of the trust and isolation
of the victim. A case for this that comes to mind occurred
between a stepfather and stepdaughter while the mother
was away. After finally having groomed the stepdaughter
EDITOR’S NOTE
Due to the sensitive nature
of the subject matter and the
restrictions of this author’s job
in law enforcement, his article
has been published under
a pseudonym. All incidents
mentioned in this article have
been left anonymous to protect
the privacy of the victims.

ISSUE 49

OFFGRIDWEB.COM 079
 disclosure or never disclose their abuse at all. Most of the
disclosures that I’ve had come from three catalysts: ac-
cidental outburst during an argument (usually with mom),
the partner finding evidence or walking in on the child
and parent engaging in sexual intercourse, or a purpose-
ful disclosure. Every single child I’ve spoken to who had a
delayed disclosure said they didn’t come forward sooner
because of not being believed. Every single child I’ve
spoken to who had a purposeful disclosure said they didn’t
think anyone would believe them.
Another portion of underreported or completely unre-
ported crimes by victims is male-on-male sexual violence.
One case in particular comes to mind, as I recently was in-
formed of the perpetrator taking a plea deal. In short, a fe-
male victim came forward to report being sexually abused
by a male family member. The female victim’s brother was
Above: to trust him, the stepfather got drunk and asked the step- brought in for a precautionary interview. During my inter-
Manipulation can daughter to sexually pleasure him with a sex toy. Let’s take view with the mother, she stated during the entire ordeal
take the form of
threats or bribery.
a break from that and go to my second point; I promise I’ll of police involvement, the brother was adamant nothing
come back to it. occurred between him and the male suspect. Sadly, dur-
Below: Spending ing my interview the male victim said he was scared and
an excessive
amount of time
Underreported Crimes ashamed of what occurred, which is why he waited until
together isn’t For this second point, I’ll take it from the NCAC’s article. his interview to disclose the fact that he was also abused
always innocent. Contrary to popular belief, most children either delay their by the suspect. Most of my male victim interviews had a

common theme: shame. This stigma causes a high per-
centage of male-on-male crimes to not be reported.
The Power of Manipulation
Now, let’s tie the previous two points together with one
of my cases. I spoke to a distraught mother who told me
her 16-year-old daughter disclosed being sexually abused
by her father. Just another case, I thought, but something
felt off. I had the mom bring in her two other daughters for
interviews. The interviews are called forensic interviews;
in short, they allow the interviewee to provide a narrative
instead of just short answers. It’s common for interviews
to go an hour or so. The 16-year-old’s interview lasted two-
and-a-half hours. She didn’t come forward for eight years
and her disclosure was purposeful.
So, you may ask why she waited so long. Wouldn’t she
want this to end? Trust me when I say this was the brav-
CHILD
ABUSE
est 16-year-old I’ve met. She waited in hope that it would While society
protect her younger siblings. The biological father told has a tendency
to depict males
her if she endured his abuse, her sisters would be spared. as the sole
She believed she was sacrificing herself for them, and only perpetrators of
spoke to authorities after she found out that her father’s abuse, female
perpetrators
promise had been a lie. While writing this I received an up-
often go
date on the case; the father pled guilty to multiple charges unreported.
as a plea deal and received multiple years in the Depart-
ment of Corrections for his actions.
This case hits both points above: The biological father
was constantly alone with the daughters, as he was the
only one with internet access for the children who were
doing online school, and he manipulated the victim to
believe if she did whatever he asked, her younger sisters
would be spared. Due to the new information on the
plea deal, I’d like to transition to a topic a bit earlier than
planned — sexual abuse suspects.

Allowing the Societal Norms
victim to go at his
You just read of a case where a male perpetrated mul-
or her own pace
is critical when tiple acts against female children; many wonder if females
talking about are ever suspects in these cases. The answer is a simple
abuse. Forcing a
disclosure may
yes, but the reason statistics show a low number may
cause even more surprise you. Let us examine two separate cases — I can’t
trauma. disclose the full details of either, but what I can disclose
still paints a grim picture. The first case is quite tragic. A
stepmother sexually groomed and abused her juvenile
stepson, got impregnated with his child (a girl), and the
juvenile male left the household prior to the child’s birth.
When was this reported? Multiple years later when the
mother was arrested for placing her own daughter into
the sex trade at only 8 years old; at the time of arrest, the
daughter was 14. This case does not fit a societal norm —
incest, whether perpetrated on a male or female, is still not
harshly prosecuted in many courts.
Let’s now look at how societal norms may have failed
another child. A 16-year-old male had a full sexual relation-
ship with a 32-year-old female. This relationship included
“sleepovers,” dates, and sexual intercourse. The pair were
caught in the act and the female arrested. That is normally
what I would call an “open-and-close case.” However, what
did the courts do? They dismissed the case on the basis
of “no likelihood of conviction.” That is legal jargon which
implies the prosecution doesn’t feel they’d win the case if
it went to trial.
These cases draw attention to the societal norms of
relationships. When you hear of a younger male dating or
engaging in promiscuous acts with an older female, the
general consensus is to “high-five” and congratulate the
male for some sort of accomplishment. However, when
the roles are reversed it’s usually described with words like
“disgusting” and “manipulative.” Ask yourself, especially the
male readers, what your initial thoughts were. Whether
you like to admit it or not, I would assume many blindly
fell into those societal norms of a large-age-gap female-to-
male relationship being generally accepted.
The Big Question
Up to this point, I’ve laid out the pathway for real-life ex-
amples of child sexual abuse, but how do you know if your
child is a victim? This is a question no parent ever wants to
hear an affirmative answer to. I have been the one to give
the news to multiple parents, and it’s truly heartbreaking.
So, how do you know if your child has suffered any type of
abuse? Ask them. It’s a simple answer for an extremely dif-
ficult task, one which must also be carefully and methodi-
cally asked. In the case that your child does say they have
been abused, I caution parents who may assume the child
is lying. Sadly, plenty of parents do. Below, I will expand
upon my top three “case killers” — factors that destroy a
victim’s trust and willingness to report a crime — in differ-
ent investigations.
Case Killer 1: Confronting the Accused
The most notoriously obvious thing a parent does when
they suspect a child to be lying is take the child to the ac-
cused and utter the following words, “Go ahead, tell him/
her what you told me.” The child, now in a worse position
than before, will recant their story and be labeled a liar
by the perpetrator. This occurs quite frequently after the
perpetrator tells the victim “no one will believe you.” Of my
cases where this occurred, the child always recanted, was
victimized again, then a second disclosure came out ac-
cidentally or they told a mandated reporter (nurse, teacher,
firefighter, cop, etc.). At this point it takes skill, compassion,
and time to build trust for the interviewer to get a full
disclosure from the victim.
Case Killer 2: Blaming the Victim
While similar to the first, this case killer comes at the
cost of the trust between the victim and who they disclose
the crime to. I’d like to say I’m a level-headed investigator;
 CHILD
ABUSE
I do my best to remove my emotions and focus on facts
and elements of the case. However, I know of one time
when I couldn’t believe the words I heard from the wife
of a suspect. She didn’t believe the victim, she believed
her husband. She tried every excuse in the book to blame
the victim for what occurred and why everything was a
misunderstanding.
Smartphone
The comment that pushed me to disclose more of the
case than I wanted to — I had evidence I hadn’t revealed Apps Parents
to the suspect yet — was regarding the victim and her
social media/outfit habits. The wife told me to look at how
the victim dressed, acted on social media, and “flirted
Should Know
with everyone.” Could all of that which she brought up The following graphic was created by the Sarasota County Sheriff’s
be labeled as attention-seeking behavior? Sure. However, Office in September 2019, and contains 21 apps that are popular among
I like to think of that as behavior similar to a defense at- minors, along with brief summaries of their capabilities. A full-size ver-
torney; I know their case is weak when I get personally sion can be viewed online at bit.ly/3IQ6nRa.
attacked during trial. It’s at that point in the trial that I know
the case against their client is a solid one. Attacking my
work ethic, appearance, and integrity (something that’s
always brought up) takes away from the lack of defensible
evidence they have. In the end of that case, the suspect
admitted to the acts. I’d go as far as to say the wife knew
and was trying to protect him.

Case Killer 3: Forcing the Disclosure

During interviews with victims, I ask some form of ques-
tion about how the disclosure occurred. I wanted to know
what prompted the conversation and why they decided to
disclose the crime now — what was different about now?
That question sometimes slowed the interview, as the
victim would break down emotionally and explain how
they were forced and emotionally pressured to the point
of disclosing.
Some may think the parent did a good job, doing
whatever was necessary to get the disclosure. Sure, the
case may go forward, but psychologically the victim will
have another traumatic experience added to the abuse
they already suffered. My suggestion is don’t force the
victim to talk. So much will be going on in their minds that
being “forced” to talk with a cop is the last thing the victim
wants to do (usually). What’s my suggestion if the victim
isn’t ready to talk? Make the police report immediately —
take the child to a safe place first if needed — and have
the investigation started. Most departments have adopted
the practice of having a victim advocacy center built into
their child-related crime bureaus. If a victim advocacy
center isn’t attached to the building or accessible, ask for
the nearest one or one the department commonly works
with. The victim advocates are a wealth of knowledge and
resources, and they can assist the victim without further
traumatizing or pressuring them.
084 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
ISSUE 49
Your Kids Know More than You
I’ve gone over how children are victimized, and what to
do if your child is a victim, but what about preventing these
crimes before they happen? Aside from investigations, I try
to stay up to date on technology, especially cellular technol-
ogy. This has helped my investigations not only in finding
key elements of crimes, but also helping inform parents of
what their kids are doing when using their cellphones. If
you have a child with access to a cellphone and an internet
connection, I can almost guarantee they have some form of
social media (often not under their real name), an applica-
tion to message friends (Snapchat, Instagram, TikTok), and
an application/folder that’s used to hide pictures or videos
Although
they don’t want you to see.
“stranger danger”
is still something It would be impossible to list all the applications that
to be wary of, provide these functions; however, a quick search of their
most suspects
downloaded applications (viewed from the downloads of
are well-known
by the child and/ the iPhone App Store or Google Play Store) will show you
or family. the app and the function of that application. An app that
hides photographs, videos, or GPS location is what I’d call
a “clue” in the situation of possible inappropriate behavior
from a child. This doesn’t mean they’re a victim of some-
thing, though I would say it’s cause for you (the parent) to
do some digging and see what’s going on in your child’s life.
Conclusion
I hope this information hasn’t scared you but has in-
stead made you eager to be more involved in your child’s
life or helped you to be more aware of what goes on in the
world. Above all, do your best to maintain open commu-
nication and trust with your child, your child’s friends, and
their parents. Be involved and attentive. If signs of abuse
— or red flags indicating the potential for abuse — appear,
you’ll have a much greater chance of hearing about it
and being able to respond appropriately. Links for articles
referenced can be found in the sidebar, as well as an
infographic from the Sarasota County Sheriff’s Office for 21
phone applications which parents should be aware of.
Important Resources
Sexual Abuse Hotline: 1-800-656-4673
www.rainn.org
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is available on:
086
ISSUE 49
Your
Med
Kit
Yes, Even
Medical
Supplies Have
a Shelf Life
By Dr. Dave Miller
is Outdated
I
f you put together a trauma medical kit or indi-
vidual first aid kit (IFAK) five to seven years ago,
you may need to update your gear. Whether you
started with a simple first aid kit or a full 5.11 ALS/
ELS medical bag, you should take the time now to
review its contents. This article will look at what contents
you should focus on and why you should replace each item.
Dressings
By now, your Band-Aid wrappers have fallen apart and,
the Band-Aids have attached themselves to everything else
in your IFAK. Any sense of sterility is gone and, these need
to be replaced. Take a look at the Band-Aid brand Infection
Defense impregnated with antibiotics (Neosporin) to re-
duce the risk of secondary wound infection. Band-Aid also
has the Water Block covering that is “100% waterproof.”
Suppose you had 4x4 gauze in individually wrapped
packages; these packages may have come apart as well
over the past five years. The sterility is compromised and
likely not a great option for wound cleaning or care. These
are relatively inexpensive, so do yourself a favor and
replace them now.
For those of you who carry Israeli dressings, or similar,
they should be fine. Inspect the outer packaging to en-
sure it hasn’t been compromised. The packaging is pretty
stout and can take a beating. If there’s any question as to
the integrity of the outer package, replace it and use the
old one for training purposes. Note that there have been
improvements to these dressings over the years. That
may be another reason to upgrade your stock.
We should include chest seals here. It used to be that
any chest seal would do. Now the recommendation
is to carry vented chest seals to use on all open chest
wounds. Check out SAM Medical’s version of their vented
chest seal, which has an upgrade over the Halo. The SAM
Medical True Flow Valve allows the vented portion to
breathe despite any pressure applied to the bandage. It’s
the only chest seal with this device included.
Tourniquets
Replace your favorite tourniquet if you have not done
so in the past five years. By now, you have carried it in
your pouch through every training session. You may have
taken it out to practice applying it a few times. The Velcro
can get mucked up, and the stitching can degrade over Prolonged
time. Most importantly, there have been newer genera- exposure to
heat, even if
tions of TQs since you bought your first one. Buy a new
it’s not direct
one and use the old one as a training device. Mark it so sunlight, can
it doesn’t get put into circulation with those you might render the
need to save a life with later. contents of
Also, since the C-A-T was introduced in 2005, North an unopened
American Rescue is now on the seventh generation of vehicle med kit
unusable.
this TQ. My other favorite is the SOF-TT Wide from Tac-
Med Solutions. I have carried that as well as the C-A-T in
my medical kits. It was developed around the same time
as the C-A-T and is now on its fifth generation. There
have been other iterations of the TQ worth a look. Try
This first aid
several out and find which one satisfies your needs. battle belts. Check out the Blue Force Gear Micro Trauma
kit below was
I’d only buy one recommended by the CoTCCC, which found in a 2001 Kit. It can be adapted to fit a tourniquet as well. Also, check
updated its list of recommendations in May 2019. See Lexus sedan, out the Dark Angel Medical ankle pouch for gunshot
offgridweb.com/?p=17625 for details. preserved like trauma. It’s compact, and I find it to be comfortable. I never
a time capsule. go anywhere without it when I have my firearm with me.
Med Pouches Although There are versions of med kits that can attach to your
most of the
Over time, we’ve gone from no kit to a first aid kit to a headrest or your visor in your car. I find these particularly
contents looked
full-blown med kit with everything in between. The odds surprisingly helpful and adjust the contents for auto accident scenarios.
are that your original IFAK is out of date. The kits have be- good at first Dark Angel Medical has both of those iterations available.
come more compact and fit a little more unobtrusively on glance, the For larger bags with which you’d stage your vehicle,
packaging check out 5.11 Tactical and their ALS Duffel 50L bag. You
on the once-
can modify this bag in any way you can think of to fit
sterile gauze
your needs. You can also look at the bags at Tasmanian
and Band-Aids
(made in 1998) Tiger. They have clear pouches to visualize gauze, meds,
had peeled and other items that’ll fit within your larger med kit.
apart, and the
alcohol wipes Medications
were bone dry.
Whether you’re carrying simple pain reliev-
Most of these
items should’ve ers, like acetaminophen or ibuprofen,
been replaced or anti-diarrheal medication,
ages ago. like Immodium, make

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UE 49

vide significant savings off the retail price. That website

will also give you an idea of where you can purchase it
cheaper in your area.

Other Items to Consider

Some people want to carry a decompression needle
for tension pneumothorax. I’m not a fan unless you’d bet
your life (or someone else’s) on the training you received
with it. In 20-plus years of medicine, I’ve only needed
it twice. You cannot make a mistake when you use it
without support personnel to fix your error. I hear people
Above, left: say they’ll carry it if someone on the scene knows how
Sterile products
to use it. My problem with that is that I don’t know what
are only sterile
sure these haven’t met their expiration dates. Over-the- if the packaging training that person has had and how competent they
counter medications are easy to replace and often cheap remains sealed. are in using the needle. Long story short: Don’t carry one
as well. The expiration date becomes more important The wrapper with you without the proper training.
if you carry medications like sublingual nitroglycerine, on this gauze How about a nasty fall on a camping trip, and you
pad peeled
inhalers, Epipens, glucagon pens, or naloxone. You need diagnose a fractured pelvis? Should you carry a pelvic
apart as soon
these to work when you need them. I have a rule that I sling? I guess it depends on how much room you have to
as we touched
discard medications after one year of acquiring them and it — that’s a clear carry your equipment. I’ve made them from tourniquets
replace them. Sure, they may work to some degree, but I sign it’s past its and SAM Splints that’ve worked just fine. I don’t carry one
want them to work in a situation where I need them. shelf life. in my med kit.
Prescription drugs are a little more work to replace, so Above right: Speaking of SAM Splints, I love them! They’re so ver-
ask your doctor for them. Explain why you carry them Unsuprisingly, satile and effective for treating musculoskeletal injuries.
and how you’ll use them. They may oblige by writing the this 24-year-old They’re lightweight and easy to use. Why wouldn’t you
prescription. Try to buy them without using your insur- alcohol wipe have one in your pack?
was completely
ance, as that’ll avoid any red flags your insurance carrier What about a pocket CPR mask? Check out the article
dry when we
may infer from ripped it open. I wrote in Issue 41 of RECOIL OFFGRID about various CPR
your purchase. We suspect it masks. The Red Cross now admits that hands-only CPR
Companies like has been that may be just as beneficial as doing mouth-to-mouth plus
GoodRx can pro- way for at least CPR. That being said, CPR masks are still an option for
two decades.
 YOUR MED KIT
IS OUTDATED

those wanting to provide that skill. Above: Note

Alcohol wipes are cheap and plentiful, but they dry out the yellowing
around the
over time. If you’ve had these in your kit, I’d recommend
edges of the
replacing them every year. clear divider
Trauma shears are also something to consider replac- windows. Even
ing. There may have been some wear on them from tot- if the supplies
look OK, the
ing them around in your bag. There are new and tacticool
kit itself can SOURCES
shears, like the Leatherman Raptor. They’re expensive and
also betray 5.11 Tactical > 511tactical.com
not something you’d throw away after use. The com-
advanced age. Blue Force Gear > blueforcegear.com
pany has no recommendations for autoclave or cleaning Dark Angel Medical > darkangelmedical.com
procedures once they’ve been exposed to bodily fluids. I GoodRx > goodrx.com

recommend sticking with the $5 shears, which are dispos- Leatherman > leatherman.com
North American Rescue > narescue.com
able and easy to use. You can also look at something like
SAM Medical > sammedical.com
the ResQ Me keychain. It’s meant to be a seatbelt cutter TacMed Solutions > tacmedsolutions.com
but works well for cutting through clothes too. Tasmanian Tiger > tasmaniantigerusa.com

In Summary
First off, atta boy for carrying a med kit in the first place.
Second, stay current on the latest iterations of gear that
you carry in your kit. Each generation may have signifi-
cant improvements to make things easier when Murphy
drops a trauma dump on you. Use old items as training
opportunities and have fun challenging friends to trauma
scenarios. Since you’re updating your gear, consider ex-
panding what you carry based on the additional training
since your first IFAK was packed. Lastly, get more medical
About the Author
David L. Miller, DO, FACOI is an internist in private practice for 20 years.
His experiences away from the office have included time as a fi ght
doctor in regional MMA events and as a team physician for 10 years at
a mid-major university in the Midwest. Currently, he serves as the lead
medical instructor for the Civilian Crisis Response team based out of
Indianapolis.
ISSUE 49

training. Medical skills are perishable too and need to be

reviewed to stay current.

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HANDSON

Testing the V-Sharp Classic II to

See If It Holds an Edge Against
Other Manual Sharpeners
By Patrick Vuong
A
s the saying goes, the most dangerous The blade is then pulled through the V opening, sharpening
knife is a dull one. Why? Because when the the cutting edge on both sides at the proper angle while
edge doesn’t do the cutting, most people allowing the user to keep the base stationary on a table or
try to muscle their way through a medium bench.
— which can lead to slippage and acciden-
tally driving the blade into your hand or other body parts. The How
With a razor-sharp blade, you’ll be able to slice or stab As mentioned, pull-throughs are pretty easy to use, and
through hide, meat, rope, or packages with ease. the V-Sharp Classic II is no exception.
That’s why we wanted to take a good look at the V-Sharp Simply place the base of your blade at the V-shaped open-
Classic II from Warthog Sharpeners. While it looks like some ing and push down as you pull the knife back toward you un-
elaborate equipment stand for a kid’s chemistry class, this is til the blade’s tip reaches the V. Then, rather than completely
actually a manual controlled-angle sharpening system. removing the knife, simply push the blade back up along the
It’s easy to use and helps return a mean cutting edge to same path until the base of the edge is back at the V.
almost any knife you throw at it — and quickly — but is the The Warthog sharpener uses calibrated spring tension
V-Sharp Classic II the right type of sharpener for a prepared- so that the 325-grit diamond-coated rods keep continuous
ness tool chest? pressure on the knife, ensuring symmetrical sharpening.
And so long as you keep your blade flat against the adjust-
The History able guide, the rods take the guesswork out of sharpening at
Before we can dive into whether the V-Sharp Classic II is the correct angle for a given edged tool.
ideal, we have to talk about what makes it unique. And we For example, if you set them to 30 degrees, you’ll produce
can’t talk about what makes it unique without first giving a
brief history lesson.
Humans have been sharpening edged tools since at least
75,000 years ago, according to a study led by the University WARTHOG
of Colorado Boulder. Of course, back then our prehistoric SHARPENERS
THE V-SHARP
forebearers were using rocks, bones, and wood to create
CLASSIC II
fine edges on stone tools. Weight:1.56 pounds
Fast-forward thousands of years and we get the grind- Dimensions: 9 by 8.25 by
stone, a huge stone disk that spun quickly (usually by crank, 2 inches
MSRP: $90
pedal, or water power) to sharpen blades. But those were URL: warthogusa.com
operated by trained tradesmen who often sat (or in some
cases laid) close to the giant disks as they sharpened tools.
(Hence the phrase “nose to the grindstone.”)
On the other hand, whetstones — which came and still
come in different shapes and sizes and are made from vari-
ous materials — were much smaller and lighter. So, anyone
could use them for a quick sharpening or overall mainte-
nance. Today, they generally look like slabs of gritty stone in
the shape of a thin brick.
Then, there’s the sharpening rod, which can be made of
steel or ceramic. Traditionally, these don’t sharpen as much
as they straighten out burrs or folded edges. Today, many of
them are made of a diamond-coated abrasive, so they can
also remove steel to both sharpen and straighten.
A more recent breakthrough in designs is the pull-
through sharpener. Certainly, there are other modern
types, but this one in particular has become popular
because of its convenience factor.
In pull-throughs like the V-Sharp Classic II, two inter-
secting sharpening rods (or crock sticks) are placed on
a metal, plastic, or wooden base so that they form a V.

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ISSUE 49
HANDSON
a wide durable bevel that’s most ideal for chopping — think
cleavers or machetes. If you set the V-Sharp Classic II to
25 degrees, you’ll create a balanced edge that offers cut-
ting power without folding easily — e.g., hunting blades or
everyday-carry pocketknives. And if you switch to 20 de-
grees, you’ll produce a narrow bevel that’s more susceptible
to folding but can slice with precision — imagine a box cutter
or certain chef’s knives.
Once you’ve achieved a cutting edge with the diamond-
coated abrasives, it’s time to steel the blade — aka honing (or
realigning) the edge with a steel to remove burrs and get a
smooth finish.
To do that with the V-Sharp Classic II, just unclip and flip
the rods to have the finishing steels facing upward in the V
The V-Sharp Clas- opening. Then, use the same sawing motion back and forth
sic II comes with
as you did when sharpening it.
a blade guide that
you can adjust to
accommodate for The Pros
a range of edged Why should you consider the V-Sharp Classic II? Because
tools.
it delivers the three Cs: convenience, consistency, and com-
pactness (sort of … but we’ll get to this topic later).
Convenience: There’s no doubt that today’s electric knife
grinders offer the quickest way to sharpen an edged tool.
But not everyone can afford a quality water-cooled sharpen-
ing system or has the workspace or garage to house it. On
the flipside, a decent bench whetstone can be had for less
than $20, but can be a pain to use because some require oil
or water and plenty of elbow grease.
The Warthog design is a happy medium.
For less than a C-note, it allows you to remove steel on
both sides of the blade during the downward and upward
strokes, doubling the amount of sharpening while shorten-
ing the number of strokes needed to get a razor’s edge. In
some cases, you’ll need only 10 to 15 strokes versus twice or
three times that amount with other pull-throughs.
The blade guide And because the sharpening rods are adjustable, you’re
shows you very essentially getting three sharpeners in one.
quickly if you’re Plus, the sharpening rods can slide out to swap in different
holding your
knife at the incor- grit levels or materials, such as ceramic.
rect angle. Consistency: Thanks to the blade guide and the labeled
angle slots at the bottom of the inner frame, you get repeat-
ability. There’s no second guessing whether you’re holding
the blade at just the right angle. This is a huge relief for folks
The blade guide makes it stupid-simple like us who didn’t fare so well in geometry class.
to keep your tool at the correct angle by Just set the rods to the proper angle for your tool, adjust
simply pressing your blade flat against the blade guide to the corresponding position, then simply
the guide.
push and pull along the same path.
Compactness: Sharpeners have shrunk quite a bit since
the era when knife grinders used disks the size of a big
rig tire. Compared to those giant grindstones, the V-Sharp
Classic II is downright petite. This Warthog device has a slim
 GLOSSARY
Here’s a helpful guide
to hone your under-
standing of sharpening
terms and grind out any
confusing misnomers
out there.

Bevel: This refers to

the angle/surface of a
blade that meets an-
other angle/surface to
form the cutting edge.

Grit: Just like with

sandpaper, this refers
to a sharpener’s abra-
sive particles. The lower
the grit, the coarser
it is. A 120 grit is
profile when compared to other pull-through sharpeners, reason: to keep the sharpener stationary so it doesn’t move
excellent for reforming
which are often a rectangular or cylindrical block about the when you slide the knife through. The stability prevents a cutting edge, while
size of a short length of 2x2 lumber. accidents and sloppy sharpening. 1,000 grit is more ideal
It stands approximately 9 by 8.25 by 2 inches (at its widest Unfortunately, the V-Sharp Classic II is both tall and light, for polishing an already
sharp blade.
points) and weighs about 1.5 pounds. This means it can be so it’s easy to knock over if don’t get a good hold of the
stowed on a shelf in between other gear or equipment quite thumb grip, which is just a 1.5-inch-wide tab on the top of Hone (Versus
easily. the frame. That’s room enough for only two or three fin- Sharpen): While today
people use these words
gers to keep the whole thing upright. Other pull-throughs
interchangeably, they
The Cons usually have a handle you firmly grasp with all five fingers. actually don’t mean the
Despite being slim and relatively lightweight, it’s not por- This Warthog doesn’t need a full-on handle, but more sur- same thing. Sharpen
table enough to jam into your bug-out bag (BOB). Obviously, face contact would be nice. means to remove
material from the blade
there are other sharpener options for preppers, hunters, and Moreover, while it has a grippy rubber bottom, if you to create a new cutting
minimalists who want the smallest and lightest tools in the remove the rubber, you’ll find that the base is hollow. We edge. Honing, on the
field. In fact, many popular companies already make pocket would’ve filled that empty space with more steel (like the hand, means to realign
the edge after it’s been
sharpeners that come in the form of a key chain. So, the V- rest of the frame) and perhaps added a bit of depth (maybe
bent or folded after
Sharp Classic II isn’t ideal for your BOB or if you have space fold-out extensions?) to the base to increase weight and hard or repeated use.
constraints. lateral stability.
Another pro that’s ironically enough also a con is its rela- Strop: A device, usu-
ally a cloth or leather
tive lightness. Conclusion strap, used to polish
Most pull-throughs are either blocky or hefty for good The V-Sharp Classic II is an innovative take on an already an already sharpened
innovative type of sharpener. This pull-through makes edge.
short work of almost any dull knife or tool thanks to a blade
Whetstone: The
guide and adjustable controlled angles, provid- term “whet” means
ing a consistent motion that even knife to sharpen and not
newbies can pick up quickly. “wet” as in liquid. To
add to the confusion,
However, we do see a few ways its though, there are some
design could be tweaked to increase whetstones that do
stability without increasing its bulk require water or oil. So,
while not all whetstones
too much.
are water stones, all
Still, if your intent is to keep a sharpen- water stones are indeed
er in your garage or kitchen, this Warthog whetstones.
sharpener could work wonders on your edged
tools. The V-Sharp Classic II combines convenience
with smart engineering and quality construction to
ISSUE 49

deliver an edge in the sharpening world.

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BAGDROP

Wilderness
Wonder
Deep Woods Survival Pack
By Patrick Diedrich

F
or some, a trek through the wilderness means
going to a nearby park within the range of cel-
lular data, groomed trails, and posted maps. For
others, it means quite the opposite. Venturing
across areas without trails for extended dura-
tions is tough on mind, body, and equipment, and it’s impor-
tant to take gear that can stand up to punishment. Working as
a forester, and volunteering for search-and-rescue incidents is
demanding, and the Mystery Ranch Shift Plus 900 is perfect
for those moments far from amenities. This pack has two
components: the Shift is composed of the harness, fiberglass
shelf system with easy access bottom compartments; the
Plus is a modular bag with several compartments, including
two easy-access, drawstring side pouches.

The Bag
Challenging terrain and the dense vegetation of remote
areas can tear up gear quicker than black bears tear through
lunchboxes. There are places where the forest floor is so
thick and tangled with undergrowth that a traveler may feel
like they’re swimming through finger-thick saplings rather
than walking. Tangled bush like this will destroy inferior
clothing and gear, but 1000D Teflon-coated material created
with wildland fire crews in mind keeps the pack safely intact.
Sturdy fiberglass internal framing lends the pack lightweight
strength, and a telescoping yoke helps maximize comfort.
These features optimize weight distribution and reduce
physical fatigue. Pack modularity allows for the removal of
unnecessary components as needed, and the fiberglass
shelf of the Shift system allows for placement of a variety of
chemical or water tanks.
Backpacks essentially all serve the same function, which
is holding things of varying sizes and shapes. Having a shelf
system and modular design is convenient for many reasons,
but some of this pack’s best features revolve around com-
fort and form factor. Its yoke, harness, and waist straps are
some of the most ergonomic I’ve ever worn, and the narrow
profile keeps the pack from getting snagged by vegetation. Final Thoughts
Using a waist strap to take the weight off shoulders and onto People who have occupations or roles that take them into
dedicated load-bearing joints is crucial to physical longevity, remote areas must stay maneuverable and be prepared to
and not all straps are created equal. With wide waist straps take care of themselves. Unexpected weather, challenging
and thick, breathable padding, the Shift holds the wearer from terrain, and unpredictable wildlife can spring up at any mo-
behind more comfortably than a worn-in Snuggie. The yoke ment. With the twist of an ankle, or sudden dip in tempera-
and shoulder straps have the same padding, further increas- ture, preventing exposure and dehydration become high on
ing the comfort. the list of priorities while waiting for help to arrive. Thought-
fully planning out what gear to carry and what to carry it in
In the Field can be a make the difference between surviving and thriving,
Although not ideal for extended backpacking or camping, but a pack intended for short-term use means that an extra
it has enough space for the essentials when a rotation or precaution needs to be taken.
resupply is expected. Firefighters use the bottom compart- Of all the gear and preparations made before going to
ment for easy access to rapid-deploy fire shelters. I use it for places where communications become difficult, the most
waterproof items like ponchos, rain gear, and boot gaiters. important prep of all is letting someone know where you’re
Packing it in this way allows it to be set down in potentially going and how long you plan to be there. Sometimes I’ll even
wet conditions without having to worry about wrecking leave a map of my location and a list of emergency numbers
gear. For SAR operations, the Plus component can be added, that my loved ones can call if they don’t hear from me before
which greatly increases carrying capacity. There’s plenty of the sun goes down. A successful remote operation is one in
space for items such as first aid supplies, signaling equip- which you return, never having used your emergency gear;
ment, a 3L Camelback, or tools for personnel recovery such however, knowing that my survival gear is stowed in a pack
as rope and emergency blankets. In addition to a water that's up to the task provides immeasurable peace of mind.
pouch, I always have a LifeStraw, and a high calorie survival
meal. Having a high-quality knife is a must, and a folding saw
has come in handy on several occasions when I find myself
far from a gas-powered chainsaw.
Eye injuries are easy to come by when the undergrowth
is thick, and my packing list includes several sets of eye-pro.
Clear ballistic safety glasses for low or no-light conditions,
yellow lens safety glasses for various inclement weather
conditions, and a shaded pair of Wiley X Rx glasses for bright
sunlight. Relying on technology, such as GPS/GIS or radio
communications, I need enough electricity for the duration
of the job. Using a waterproof Pelican case, I can safely store
backup power banks, charging cords, and extra batteries.
Light sources that I prepare include chemlights for trail or
tracking markers, a 5.11 high-lumen handheld, and a Fenix
Superraptor headlamp from Varusteleka.
Depending on the climate and weather conditions, the
load out is adjusted before any operations take place. When
the weather dips into freezing territory, some of the wet
weather gear gets removed and replaced with a Varusteleka
thermal cloak, and one of the side pouches is packed with a
Massif Strato Low Loft jacket. Black Diamond spike traction
devices have carried me across many icy situations. Depend-
ing on circumstances, such as working alone on a timber sale
or a SAR incident, I may add extra emergency blankets and
merino wool mittens to the main pouch of the Plus. For first
aid and trauma care, my trusty military IFAK is connected to
ISSUE 49

the MOLLE webbing of the waist strap, and a kit for abrasions
and lacerations is added to the Plus.

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THEFINALWEAPON
Precision Isn’t Easy
W
hat’s the difference between
long-range shooting and preci-
sion shooting? These terms are
often used interchangeably, but
there’s an important distinction.
Long-range shooting only means you need to hit a target
that’s far away. Precision shooting is the ability to put a
bullet exactly where you want it every time, regardless
of range, target size, or ambient conditions. For example,
consider law enforcement snipers. According to a study
by the American Sniper Association, the average LE sniper
engagement distance is only 51 yards. However, precision
is everything in this context. A tiny deviation in point of
impact could result in a dead hostage.
Precision shooting requires a solid understanding of ex-
ternal ballistics — in other words, how a bullet moves after
it leaves the gun. It also requires consistent ammo, a good
quality optic, and a thorough knowledge of how to use its
reticle and adjustments. In order to learn the basics of this
complex subject, I attended an External Ballistics and Rifle
Optics class from Independence Training in Arizona. This
took place entirely in a classroom, since it’s critical to under-
stand the theory before sending any rounds downrange.
Instructor Glen Stilson began by explaining the two
angular measurement systems — MOA (minute of angle)
and MIL (milliradians) — as well as how to convert between
the two. Optics with MIL reticle markings and MOA adjust-
ments should be avoided, since conversions in the field
will be a pain. Next, we discussed the four key factors for
external ballistics: temperature, elevation, relative humid-
ity, and barometric pressure. All four elements combine to
produce a value known as density altitude (DA) — you can
search online for the formula or use a ballistic calculator
phone app such as GeoBallistics. It’s essential to compare
the DA when you zeroed your rifle to current DA, because
large differences can noticeably affect point of impact.
Stilson recommends creating a few ballistic charts in 1,500-
foot increments spanning your local DA, such as 0-1,500,
1,500-3,000, and so on. These DOPE (aka Data on Personal
Equipment/Previous Engagements) charts should be
“trued” with experience and updated constantly, noting DA
every time.
Wind is another critical factor to note. There are “three
winds” to consider. The first is easily measured at point of
By Patrick McCarthy
origin with a handheld meter. The second is in the middle
of the bullet’s trajectory, difficult to observe and heavily
affected by terrain (e.g. canyons or lakes). The third is at the
target, relatively easy to observe through your optic but
more impactful since the bullet is traveling slower. Wind
direction is factored in using a wind drift value system — a
90-degree crosswind is full value (e.g. 10 mph), while a
shallower-angle wind might be treated as half (5 mph) or
quarter (2.5 mph) value. Since wind changes rapidly, use an
off-center hold rather than dialing in adjustments with the
turrets. Remember that the wind you measure may not be
the same all the way to the target; look carefully for signs of
wind further out, such as disturbances in mirage patterns.
Finally, we discussed optic choice. Stilson recommends
something that covers the 8x-12x sweet spot, with a
high-quality mount, durable lens caps, and a quick-adjust
Stilson explained
lever for magnification. Every reticle is made for a specific that wind value
purpose, so do your research before buying. Second focal (depicted via a
plane (SFP) optics with simple reticles work well for closer- clock diagram)
and terrain
range use — remember that SFP reticle marks are only
features can dra-
accurate at a predetermined magnification setting — but matically affect a
precision at long range is easier with a first focal plane bullet’s trajectory.
(FFP) optic and more detailed “Christmas tree” reticle. For example, hot
air rising out of
Precision shooting is an undeniably challenging subject canyons can
with lots of math, measurements, and patience involved. push bullets
Thankfully, I enjoy a challenge, so I’m looking forward to put- upward, while
cooler air over the
ting some of this knowledge into practice at a live-fire class in
surface of a lake
the future. For more information on future classes with Inde- can cause bullets
pendence Training, go to independencetraining.com. to drop.
 www.offgridweb.com
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THELASTPAGE

By Phillip Meeks

The Premise: If you camped out for a week in a book- within certain traditional fruit tree guilds and makes a case BOOK & AUTHOR:
Sustainable
store and read as much literature as possible about gar- for or against each of these, often with alternatives. As an Food Gardens:
dening, you’d end up with a lot of ideas — a fat percentage example, where resources have suggested Russian olive Myths &
Solutions
of which have no foundation in science. It’s the equivalent or Siberian pea shrub beneath fruit trees for their nitrogen- By Robert Kourik
to asking friends and neighbors for gardening tips. In fixing capabilities, he encourages readers to forgo those
PUBLISHER:
many circumstances, an idea works once or in a specific two invasives and instead go with a perennial clover. Metamorphic Press
situation, but it’s not necessarily a technique that’ll be ap- With a forest garden, the goal is to mimic the layers of a MSRP:
$45 (Amazon)
plicable across a broad set of variables and skill levels. The natural forest with upper canopy, mid-canopy, shrub, and
PAGES:
author of Sustainable Food Gardens: Myths & Solutions ground layers, as well as vines and root-bearing crops. 486
recognizes that much folklore is prevalent in home garden- So, one may have nut-bearing trees as the upper layer of
RATING
ing and makes an effort to examine sacred cows under the the “forest garden,” fruit-bearing trees and shrubs below,
light of research. strawberries and herbs on the ground, passionflower vines
THRIVE
The 411: Chances are you’ve picked up one or more sus- running here and there, and so forth. While it sounds like SURVIVE
tainable gardening techniques over time. It could’ve been a feasible and desirable system, Kourik argues that the DIE
from a YouTuber or blogger, from a back-to-the-land maga- ecosystems and communities behind forest gardens are
zine, or from a relative who always has a visually appealing more complex than some writings allow and presents
vegetable plot. And it’s possible that you’ve embraced alternatives.
some principles as gospel. In reading this book, stay A chapter on companion planting delves into not only
open-minded, as your foundations are about to be rattled. which plants have been shown through research to be
Author Robert Kourik explores practically every gardening effective companions, but how these function to the
concept that has been presented in popular literature over benefit of the target plant(s). Companion plants may serve
the last few decades, from no-till to raised beds to sheet as a trap crop; they may repel or
mulching, and examines them against formal wisdom block a specific pest; they may
gleaned in the fields of agriculture and natural resources. camouflage the crop plant, or
Beyond equipping his readers to nurture their soils, con- their purpose might be support
serve water, and invite beneficial insects, Kourik takes on of beneficial insects.
widely held gardening myths head-on. Some of these he The Verdict: Sustainable Food
dismisses, but he also tempers the conventional wisdom Gardens: Myths & Solutions is
with research-based facts where appropriate. akin to a textbook, rich with sci-
Many of the principles of modern permaculture (peren- entific nomenclature, graphs, and
nial agriculture that mimics natural systems as closely charts, but there’s no shortage of
as possible) are put to the test. The author questions the eye-catching illustrations. It isn’t
claims behind perennial forest gardens, hugelkultur, herb light reading, nor is it a warm and
spirals, and plant guilds, among other techniques. There fuzzy gardening tome you’d want
was a time when he himself had promulgated some widely to keep on the nightstand. But
held beliefs, such as dynamic accumulators, and in those for any who are serious about
cases he humbly breaks down areas in which he was producing a portion of their own
mistaken. food sustainably — and perhaps
Even techniques deemed to have merit are stripped who are thick-skinned enough to
down to their frames and rebuilt with a more scientific un- accept that garden knowhow is
derstanding. In the case of plant guilds, for instance, Kourik dynamic — this resource should
explores one by one the species considered major players be on your shelf.