CONTENTS

DEPARTMENTS FEATURES
06 On the Cover 40 The Art of Exploitation
All the Great Gear on the Ed Calderon’s Urban Movement
Cover Class Taught Us How to Defend
Against Hidden Predators in the 30
10 Editor’s Letter Concrete Jungle
What is Normal, Anyway? 40
48 C Note Shopping Spree
14 Gear Up Could You Last 72 Hours in an
The Latest and Greatest Unfamiliar Location on Just $100?
Products We Challenged Three People to
18 Pocket Preps See What They’d Spend Their
Gun Maintenance Multi- Money On
Tools 60 Lost and Found
22 What If? A Combat Veteran’s Journey and
You’re Stuck in a Country His Mission to Share Lessons
Consumed by Political Learned
Turmoil? 68 Could it Happen Here?
30 Survivalist Survivors Recount How Their 48
Spotlight Lives Were Affected by Civil War
Timothy Lacy

78 Health
A Guide to Hemostatic
Agents

86 Hands On
Pamax Tactical LION

92 Bag Drop
Scoped Carbine Bag

96 The Final Weapon 60

If it Bleeds, We Can Stop It
98 The Last Page
Review of The Anarchist
Cookbook
Product Disclaimer
Prices and details for products and services
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manufacturers, retailers, and agencies, and are
subject to change without notice.
Throughout this issue you will see
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is for the print edition of this issue. Because of
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and computers, we cannot always provide
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apologize if this causes any confusion and
thank you for your understanding.
Recoil OFFGRID (ISSN 2475-1952), December/
January 2022; Number 46, is published
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ISSUE 46

ON THE 1. Bino Case

Make: Kuiu
4. Sunglasses
Make: Gatorz
7. Water Filter
Make: Sawyer

COVER Model: Pro Bino Harness

MSRP: $99
URL: www.kuiu.com
Model: Delta Polarized
MSRP: $240
URL: www.gatorz.com
Model: Squeeze Water Filtration System
MSRP: $35
URL: sawyer.com

2. Binoculars 5. Hard Case 8. Gloves

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Model: BX-5 Santiam HD 12x50mm Model: G40 Personal Utility Go Case Model: Wartorn Vented Glove
MSRP: $1,200 MSRP: $40 MSRP: $38
URL: www.leupold.com URL: www.pelican.com URL: viktos.com

3. Watch 6. Portable Stove 9. Socks

Make: G-SHOCK Make: Jetboil Make: Viktos
Model: GSWH1000-1 Model: MiniMo Cooking System Model: Operatus Sock
MSRP: $699 MSRP: $150 MSRP: $13
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10. Pants
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Make: 5.11 Tactical Make: Scepter
Model: Norris Sneaker Model: 5.3 Gallon RV Gasoline Can /
MSRP: $110 5 Gallon Water Can 13
URL: 511tactical.com MSRP: $40 / $25
URL: www.scepter.com
12. Shirt
Make: Mystery Ranch 15. Rifle Case
Model: Logo Tee Make: Viktos
MSRP: $28 Model: Johnny Combat Rifle Bag
URL: www.mysteryranch.com MSRP: $180
URL: www.viktos.com
13. Backpack
Make: Mystery Ranch
Model: 2 Day Assault
MSRP: $199
URL: www.mysteryranch.com

14 12

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010
ISSUE 46
EDITOR’SLETTER
What is
Normal,
Anyway? By Tom Marshall
A
s you read this, we’re closing in quickly on the
tail end of 2021 — what we all hoped would be
“the year we go back to normal.” While there was
much discussion about the chaos of 2020 being
an anomaly of American life, the truth has proven
to be a little more disheartening. Large-scale civil unrest persists
in several major U.S. cities and the economic downturn resulting
from COVID-related shutdowns and payouts have only led to an
increased sense of dissatisfaction and restlessness throughout
our society. But we’re not the only ones. As I write this, there are
widespread demonstrations ongoing in the world, from France to
Cuba, about various sociopolitical issues. This got us thinking: What
lessons can we glean from other countries who have already expe-
rienced, or are also currently experiencing, the scale and severity
of cultural upheaval that we’ve seen right here at home?
So, we’re dedicating this issue to survival lessons learned abroad.
We’re fortunate to have accumulated a handful of subject matter
experts who have deployed and lived overseas, both in an offi-
cial government capacity and as civilians struck with wanderlust.
The problems we’re seeing here in America — economic turmoil,
large-scale destructive protests, increased street crime, decreased
availability of infrastructure and public safety services, and cyber-
privacy infringement — are not new, and not unique to us.
We have two “life lessons” pieces, one from RECOIL OFFGRID alum
Micah Dalton and another with newcomer Bucky Pratt. Both have
spent years traveling around the world alone, with only the clothes
on their back and a go-bag to live out of for weeks or months on end.
They’ve experienced a large array of the aforementioned street-level
problems that are becoming more and more familiar to suburban
Americans, and have taken some time out of their respective globe-
trotting to share their street smarts and survival lessons about look-
ing out for yourself in a world that’s getting … spicy.
The current trends in unrest and street crime have led many to
reflect on the possibility of what’s next. How bad will it get, and
when will we get there? The idle chitchat of “Civil War 2.0” refuses
to subside, and many are pointing to current events — both domes-
tic and international — as a precursor. Regardless of your thoughts
on the likelihood (or unlikelihood) of this scenario, research journal-
ist Hollie McKay produced a thoroughly informed discussion with
survivors of full-blown societal collapses and civil wars from around
the world. These people shed some light on the courses of events
which led to large-scale human disasters and deeply humanize the
“ground truth” of being caught in the middle.
As always, we hope to provide you with cutting-edge information
that’s relevant not just right now but whenever you need it — even
though we hope you never do. Stay tuned 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
Web Editor/ Forrest Cooper
Contributors/ Joe Alton, Cassandra Dale, Patrick Diedrich,
Kevin Estela, Hollie McKay, Chad McBroom, Boris Milinkovich,
Danny Pritbor, Miles Vining, Patrick Vuong
Special Thanks/ Nick Betts
Art Direction & Design.
Senior Art Director/ Gene Coo
Art Director/ Katia Sverdlova
Senior Designer/ Tris Mast
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with the understanding that the information
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which there can be no warranty or responsi-
bility by CMG West, LLC., or the publisher as
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Any submissions or contributions from read-
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BACK ISSUES To order back issues, visit
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Contribution must be accompanied by return
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014
1A/2A: CONGRESS SHALL
GEARUP
1 MAKE & MODEL
Leatherman
Bond
WEIGHT
5.8 ounces
MSRP
$50
URL
www.leatherman.com
NOTES
While the folding multi-
tool has existed for at
least 1,800 years — some
crafty tinkerer from the
Roman Empire invented
it sometime between A.D.
201 and 300 — in modern
times, it hasn’t changed too
much since Tim Leatherman
started selling the Pocket
Survival Tool (or PST) in
1983. To honor yet evolve
the PST, his eponymous
company has released the
Bond. It maintains a similar
minimalistic aesthetic, while
upgrading the functionality
with 14 tools, including a
blade, pliers, a can opener,
a bottle opener, and mul-
tiple screwdrivers. Plus, the
Bond’s closed length is 4
inches, so if you don’t want
to stow it in the included
nylon sheath, you can carry
it conveniently in a pocket.
2
2 MAKE & MODEL
The Ridge Companies
UTTy
WEIGHT
5.4 ounces
MSRP
$35
URL
theutty.com
NOTES
Whether it’s your hiking outfit, tactical kit,
or hockey equipment, your gear needs to
be aired out after a hard day’s work — lest
you want it smelling funky and possibly
deteriorating faster. That’s why we’re
impressed with the UTTy, an innovative
equipment hanger system. The UTTy is
designed to be hung vertically from a
door, rafter, or tree branch and comes
with four double-pronged hooks to hold
your gear. The hooks are adjustable and
can be placed anywhere along the 4-foot-
long strap to accommodate different sized
gear. The best part is that the UTTy can be
disassembled and placed into the included
portable pouch, so you can move it to
another part of your home or take it on
your next outdoor adventure.
1
3 MAKE & MODEL
Pyramex
Venture Gear Tensaw
COLORS
Various
MSRP
$29
URL
pyramexsafety.com
NOTES
Look up at the wrong angle and
you can get an eyeful of blinding
sunrays. That can be bad news
if you’re driving or trying to
shoot your next meal out of the
sky. The Venture Gear Tensaw
can block out 99 percent of
UVA, UVB, and UVC light thanks
to its antifog, scratch-resistant
polycarbonate lenses. They also
meet ANSI Z87+ standards for
high impact, so they can serve
as performance sunglasses while
doubling as eye protection on
the firing range, in the field, or in
the backcountry. The co-injected
temples provide a secure fit,
while the rubber nosepieces are
adjustable for increased comfort.
Available in 12 styles, including
clear lenses with a black-and-gray
frame and Ice Blue lenses with a
white-and-gray frame.
3
4 MAKE & MODEL
LifeHandle
Ultimate Leash Bundle
CONSISTS OF
Base sling, dog leash, and all-
purpose handle
MSRP
$95
URL
mylifehandle.com
NOTES
Unless it’s a $45,000 K9 trained
for war zones or police raids,
even the most well-behaved fam-
ily pet can become unpredict-
able during chaotic times. In a
crisis, the Ultimate Leash Bundle
can ensure your four-legged
friend doesn’t stray too far from
you. Just strap on the base sling
and attach the hands-free leash
to it. The quality sling features
neoprene padding, breathable
mesh, and multiple adjustment
points. Meanwhile, the ingenious
design allows its all-purpose
handle to be used for all sorts of
tasks. It can be a grab handle for
a small child or used to distrib-
ute the weight of a heavy load
by threading your hand through
the handle’s integrated neoprene
loop as you lift the item — just to
name two of several functions.
5 MAKE & MODEL
Bastinelli Knives
Binome
OAL
10.5 inches
MSRP
$400
URL
bastinelliknives.com
NOTES
As a friend said upon seeing
this bad boy, “That’s one
healthy-looking knife!” It’s
built to be not only gorgeous
metal art, but also a premium
survival blade. The Binome
features a 5.25-inch-long
blade made of M390, a
top-end steel that’s crazy
tough and beats back rust
and dullness like a champ.
Its modified clip-point profile
makes it versatile for all sorts
of missions — whether that’s
fighting or bushcrafting — and
its serrations are great for
sawing fibrous material. The
Micarta handle is ergonomic
and durable with just enough
“grippiness.” Made in col-
laboration with Volwest, the
Binome (which loosely trans-
lates from French as “the bro
who’s got your back”) comes
with a custom-made leather
sheath, as well as a zippered
pouch for storage.
6 MAKE & MODEL
Prometheus Design Werx
Ti-Line MFSS
DIMENSIONS
3x3.62-inch diameter
MSRP
$59
URL
prometheusdesignwerx.com
NOTES
Whether you’re backpacking or
bugging out, one general guideline
is to be well-supplied, but not
overstocked. The Ti-Line MFSS (or
Multi-Fuel Survival Stove) straddles
that line perfectly by providing
you with a heating apparatus that
doesn’t weigh a ton. In fact, at 4.3
ounces, it’s barely a quarter of a
pound. That’s because it’s made
of titanium, so it’s lightweight yet
incredibly strong and resistant to
corrosion. It’s designed to take
foraged fuel sources (e.g. wood and
pinecones) as well as solid fuel tabs
(e.g. Hexamine). It’s also compatible
with the Ti-Line Alcohol Burner Core
(sold separately) so you can use
denatured alcohol or Everclear. Plus,
the MFSS disassembles into five
parts and is easy to set up or take
down quickly.
7 MAKE & MODEL
Hults Bruk
Agdor 15 Hatchet
OAL
15 inches
MSRP
$109
URL
hultsbruk1697.se
NOTES
Hults Bruk dates back its
manufacturing lineage to 1697.
The Swedish company continues
its traditions by handcrafting
old-school axes of all kinds,
including the Agdor 15. This all-
purpose hatchet is designed to
be your jack-of-all-trades — use
it to clear camp, make kindling,
shave hot dog spears, drive tent
stakes, or even chop down small
trees. It comes razor-sharp with
a premium leather sheath. But,
it’s not perfect, mind you. The
wooden handle won’t last as
long as modern materials like
G-10. And the Agdor’s 2.2-pound
weight is about a half-pound
heavier than we’d like for
a one-hander. If you’re into
vintage-style tools forged by
quality workmanship, the Agdor
15 could be your camp hatchet
of choice.
8
8 MAKE & MODEL
Pocket Shot
3-Piece Take-Down Bow
Fishing Arrows
OAL
32 inches (each arrow)
MSRP
$29
URL
thepocketshot.com
NOTES
If you missed our previous reviews,
the Pocket Shot is a revolutionary
sling shot that uses a plastic ring
attached to an elastic pouch, which
allows you to launch all sorts of
projectiles up to 350 feet per second.
The company has evolved its lineup,
which is where this kit comes into
play. Designed to work with the
Pocket Shot Bow Fishing Kit, this
set comes with three arrows, each
of which can be screwed apart into
three pieces — with the longest sec-
tion just a foot long — for portability.
Combined with the Bow Fishing Kit,
these arrows give you a less cumber-
some (and less expensive) option than
conventional bow fishing. It’s ideal for
camping or post-SHTF scenarios.
7
ISSUE 46
OFFGRIDWEB.COM 015
016
1A/2A: MAKE NO LAW OFFGRIDWEB.COM
9 MAKE & MODEL
Nutrient Survival
Triple Cheese Mac
CONTAINER SIZE
1.4 pounds
MSRP
$55
URL
nutrientsurvival.com
NOTES
Who said survival food
has to taste like card-
board? MREs are nick-
named “meals rejected by
everyone.” Ration bars are
as hard as bricks. So, it’s
no wonder few preppers
look forward to eating
emergency provisions. But
Nutrient Survival is trying
to change that perception
with a lineup of meals and
snacks that aren’t just long
lasting, but also flavor-
ful. For example, its Triple
Cheese Mac is actually
yummy, creamy, and easy
to make — just add 1/3 cup
of boiling water to every
cup of mac. Plus, it comes
packed with 14 vitamins, 14
minerals, and 9 amino ac-
ids while having zero artifi-
cial colors or flavors. Each
container holds 10 servings
and, when unopened, has a
25-year shelf life.
10
10 MAKE & MODEL
Cyclops
Waterproof LED Spotlight
MAX OUTPUT
700 lumens
MSRP
$90
URL
cyclopssolutions.com
NOTES
While flashlights are commonplace,
how many people own a handheld
spotlight? These beasts are like mini
suns, allowing you to throw a tremen-
dous amount of light with accuracy.
The Waterproof LED Spotlight from
Cyclops can do just that, whether it’s
for a search-and-rescue mission on
a lake or clearing a fallen tree from
the road during a rainy night. Its high
mode puts out 700 lumens for up to 1.5
hours, while its low mode throws 350
lumens for up to four hours. It also has
a red SOS setting and a lantern mode.
Its IP67 waterproof rating means it can
be submerged up to 1 meter. The top
adjustable bracket allows you to hold it
like a lantern, use it as a kickstand, or
hang it from a tree branch.
9 on the strap isn't the most
11 MAKE & MODEL
Vertx
Essential Sling 2.0
COLORS
Various, including Black,
Heather Red, and OD Green
MSRP
$128
URL
vertx.com
NOTES
We’re fans of the discreet
Essential Sling 2.0. It has
a hidden compartment
that’s loop lined to accept
a concealed carry platform,
quickly accessible with a
Rapid Access Pull tab. But
even without that feature,
this 10-liter pack is great as
a commuter bag or carry-on
luggage. The main section
opens wide enough to ac-
cess a tablet sleeve, seven
admin slots, and a large zip-
pered pocket. It’s also wide
enough to fit small laptops
up to 11.5 inches. A stretchy
side pocket can house a
water bottle or other acces-
sories while a front zipper
pocket can hold smaller EDC
items. While the adjustment
intuitive, it’s a comfortable
sling to carry either cross-
body or over one shoulder.
11
12 MAKE & MODEL
Vanquest
FATPack-Pro Small
Medical Backpack
DIMENSIONS
13.5 by 9 by 4.75 inches
MSRP
Starting at $135
URL
vanquest.com
NOTES
The FATPack-Pro Small Medical
Backpack is smartly designed
to serve as a mass casu-
alty incident kit. It’s a slim,
overbuilt bag that opens up
clamshell-style so you can
get to every part in the main
compartment, which comes
with an elastic three-loop
panel and three vinyl mesh
pouches. On the outside,
there’s a zippered flat pocket,
two shear sheaths, and elastic
webbing to attach extra
pouches or tourniquets. Rear
PALS webbing allows you to
secure it to a plate carrier,
larger pack, or your vehicle.
Though medical supplies
aren’t included, this top-notch
pack is made from 500-denier
Cordura with durable water
repellent and YKK zippers. A
larger version is available for
$150.
12
018
PocketPREPS

GUN
MAINTENANCE
MULTI-TOOLS
By Chad McBroom
 5

Multitasker Gerber Emissary Development Fix It Sticks

4 Nano 5 Short Stack 6 R2-0 7 The Works
DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS DIMENSIONS
1.2 by 0.5 inches 3 by 1.25 by 5/8 inches 3.5 by 1 1/8 by 5/16 inches 7.25 by 3 by 4.25 inches
WEIGHT WEIGHT WEIGHT WEIGHT
0.1 ounce 2.8 ounces 0.5 ounce 26.2 ounces
MSRP MSRP MSRP MSRP
$13 $47 TBD $280
ISSUE 46

URL URL URL URL

www.multitaskertools.com www.gerbergear.com www.emissarydevelopment.com www.fixitsticks.com

OFFGRIDWEB.COM 019
020

Multitasker Real Avid Real Avid Multitasker Gerber Emissary Fix It Sticks
Twist AR15 Tool Gun Tool Amp – Nano Short Stack Development The Works
AR15 R2-0

The Twist is nothing This 37-in-1 tactical The Gun Tool AMP is The Multitasker Nano The Gerber Short The R2-0 (Return 2 This all-in-one gun
short of a pocket gun multi-tool on a a series of compact Tool is a tiny pocket Stack uses a revolu- Zero) is a lightweight maintenance kit con-
toolbox packed into folding X-frame plat- multi-tools that come tool intended for mak- tionary three-piece minimalist tool tains a variety of tools
the size and shape form has everything in three platform- ing optic adjustments. magnetic design designed through a that come in handy
of a large permanent necessary to remove specific versions, It’s about the size of to form a compact, collaborative effort at the range or work
marker. The rear carbon from bolt AR15, Pistol, and 1911. an aluminum can flip weapon-specific multi- between Emissary bench, including an A2
section of the double- surfaces, make field The AR15 version tab but packs a lot of tool. The Short Stack Development and front sight tool, castle
ended, threaded repairs, add or remove shown here contains practical utility despite has everything need- Unity Tactical. The nut wrench, bolt car-
housing holds a pick accessories, and com- a tanto-style knife its tiny footprint. ed to disassemble and R2-0 is designed to rier scraper, 1911 bush-
for scraping stubborn pletely disassemble blade, bolt override The Nano features a maintain the AR rifle interface with Geissele ing tool, Glock front
carbon deposits and and reassemble a tool, takedown punch, dedicated Aimpoint platform, including a Super Precision Scope sight bit, universal
pulling retainer pins, firearm. The AR15 Tool retaining pin puller, T1/T2 turret adjuster front sight tool, firing Mounts and snaps in choke tube wrench,
a 3⁄32-inch pin punch, contains needle-nose multi-surface bolt on one end and a pin scraper, bolt and place between the metal pin punch and
and a radial carbon pliers, carbide cutter, carrier group scraper, slotted screwdriver bolt carrier scraper, mounting screws us- a non-marring plastic
scraper. These three metal file, bolt carrier carrier scraper, firing with radiused edges cleaning cable ing a clamp/hook de- pin punch, bronze
tools attach to the carbon scraper, 8-32 pin scraper, and tap on the other. Although pull-through handle, sign. The tool houses scraper, steel pick, set
8-32 thread adapter threaded receiver hammer. All tools the Nano can be castle nut wrench, a T15 Torx bit that fits of brass 8-32 thread
located on the front and post to attach lock in place using conveniently carried 4mm wrench/bit into a ¼-inch socket cleaning rods, set of
cap. Underneath all standard cleaning a liner lock system. on a keychain using driver, 7mm wrench on the undercarriage. two 8-32 bit adapters,
the front cap is a attachments, 3⁄32-inch The holster has a the built-in lanyard (fits M-LOK fasten- An additional ½-inch cleaning brush, and
magnetic ¼-inch bit detachable pin punch, fold-out, locking hole, the Nano has ers), ½-inch wrench, socket fits standard mini pry bar. There
driver with an AR front 10-function bolt car- ¼-inch bit driver and a been specifically engi- ⅜-inch wrench, ¾-inch scope mount nuts are four torque
sight tool installed. rier group scraper, nine-function bit set. neered with winglets wrench, curved slot- and can be used to limiters (15, 25, 45, and
The Twist comes with cotter pin puller, Bits include hex, Torx, on each side, which ted driver, and two tighten loosening 65 inch-pounds), a
a few Phillips, slotted, serrated tanto blade, Phillips, flat, and A2 act as a dovetail for double-sided Hex bits mounts or make ½-inch socket, and 24
hex, and Torx bits, but detachable hook pick, Front Sight Adjuster. docking into the (#0 Cross Diver, T10, mounting adjust- assorted ¼-inch bits
any ¼ bit can be used three-position locking The folding driver SpaceFrame storage ⅛-inch Hex, 4mm ments. The lack of any for mounting scopes,
with the driver. The ¼-inch bit driver with arm locks into place slot found on the Hex). This tiny, self- torque limiter means tightening chassis, and
rear cap has a two- 12 bits, and a bolt over- with a quick release Gen3 MagPod. The contained multi-tool the R2-0 isn’t ideal zeroing optics. Every
prong Aimpoint micro ride tool. The MOLLE- lever. The holster has Nano is compatible can fit snugly into for use with precision tool pairs with the
sight turret adjuster compatible nylon a MOLLE-compatible, with a wide variety of Magpul MOE and weapons; however, it’s accompanying ¼-inch
on the end, making sheath has elastic bit metal belt clip for con- popular optics and MIAD pistol grips so a handy tool for tight- T-handle wrench. The
this tool invaluable to storage loops and an venient stowing and aiming lasers, includ- it’s always close by ening a loose scope entire kit packs inside
any Aimpoint shooter. A1 and A2 front sight transport. The AMP ing the Aimpoint M68 when the rifle is in mount on the range a compact, MOLLE-
When the rear cap is tool storage pouch is a specialized tool, CCO, EOTech EXPS-3, hand. or in the field. webbed soft case. A
removed, the pocket on the side. Although so the user needs Trijicon ACOG, Trijicon magnetic Velcro patch
clip becomes a field it’s designed as an AR to choose the right RMR, PEQ-15, and Pros: Pros: on the outside of the
expedient, lightweight tool, this beefy device platform. the B.E. Meyers & Co. Extremely light and Conveniently locks case helps keep track
flathead driver. works for pistols too. MAWL. compact into the Geissele of loose screws and
Pros: Can be stored inside Scope Mount for bits. The Works has
Pros: Pros: Case with driver Pros: the weapon convenient storage it all.
Marker-style housing Full-featured multi- and primary tool Tiny and easy to Cost effective
is easy to carry. tool has everything separate, allowing carry Cons: Pros:
Saves space and needed for field the user to work with Compatible with Cons: User must have Has virtually
weight while offering maintenance. each independently the Gen-3 MagPod Small size reduces the Geissele Scope everything a shooter
essential tools Convenient nylon Each AMP platform SpaceFrame storage leverage. Mount for the tool to needs for field
Can be used case has everything slot AR-platform specific interface. maintenance
in conjunction G-10 side-plates needed to perform Works with the most Doubles as a The lack of torque Multi-platform tools
with pull-through increase gripping field maintenance popular optics and brain puzzle when limiter makes it for a variety of
cleaning kits surface. and cleaning. lasers returning the impractical for firearms
Very cost-effective Functional sheath tool to its carry precision use. Standard ¼-inch bits
Cons: reduces waisted Cons: configuration and driver make
Small number of Cons: space. Functionality is this multi-tool highly
tools within the unit Heavy mostly limited to customizable and
Aluminum housing The overall size is a Cons: aiming devices. adaptable.
doesn’t allow the use bit bulky and makes Specialized platform Easy to misplace or
of a hammer when precise task work is weapon specific. lose due to its size Cons:
using the pin punch cumbersome. Weight Price
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1A/2A: OF RELIGION,
By RECOIL OFFGRID Staff, Illustrations by Cassandra Dale
I
t’s 2021 and many travel restrictions have
lifted, offering people the opportunity to
finally vacation internationally or visit oth-
er countries for business. Although it may
have seemed like COVID was the only big
concern when considering foreign travel, political
turmoil can be just as contagious, unpredictable,
and deadly as a conventional disease. Whether it’s
the 8888 Uprising in Burma, 2016 attempted coup
in Turkey, or recent presidential assassination in
Haiti, situations can often unfold with little to no
ability to estimate how it’ll impact national stability
or treatment of foreigners.
Despite whatever planning you may have
thought was adequate and thorough, your over-
seas travel may put you in the wrong place at
the wrong time with only local resources to assist
you in seeking safe haven. If you were stuck in a
country that was suddenly reduced to chaos and
the political rhetoric on the ground shifted blame
to people of your nationality, how would you deal
with potentially being labeled as a threat to the
local government? Risking capture could result in
interrogation, imprisonment, or even death.
The Scenario:
SITUATION TYPE
Traveling abroad
YOUR CREW
Yourself
LOCATION
Southeast Asia
SEASON
Autumn
WEATHER
Humid; high 88 degrees F; low 63 degrees F
The Setup: You take a trip to Southeast Asia, a
region you’ve traveled to many times in the past, to
visit a plant that manufactures goods for your com-
pany. You plan to spend a few days visiting with
your associates there, but you only have a marginal
understanding of the local language, culture, laws,
and key facilities, such as the American embassy.
Protests have been frequent in the area during the
last few weeks, and most have culminated in a few
arrests before crowds were dispersed by police.
This time feels different. Over the next few days,
you begin to worry as police presence and the size
of the protests seem to be escalating. The national
news is continually blaming Western influence
for the corruption and continued civil unrest. As if
the guilt by association couldn’t get much worse,
you’re also informed that all foreign diplomats are
in the process of being expelled, embassies are
being forced to close, and all foreigners — particu-
larly Americans — are being explicitly named as
subversives by the government.
The Complication: You wake up a couple days
before your flight home to the sound of gunshots
outside your hotel. Peeking out your window, you
can see a column of military vehicles moving
down the street, with uniformed troops marching
alongside. Citizens are fleeing in fear. You turn on
the TV, and the American news channel in your
hotel room is saying that protests have morphed
into an attempted coup that was crushed by the
government. In response, the government is now
detaining and questioning any foreigners.
After speaking with a few other Americans in
your hotel, you learn that the government is inter-
mittently shutting down internet access, similar to
what went on during the Arab Spring and more
recently in Myanmar. You’re also informed that
secret police are beginning to monitor hotels
for foreigners, and that access to the airport has
been compromised by a military blockade. As an
American, you fear your passport may put you in
jeopardy. The prison conditions are terrible, and
you’re aware that many people have been incar-
cerated in this country indefinitely without even
having a trial.
What do you do? Who can you call? Do you
have any rights whatsoever? The language barrier
proves an even greater obstacle to navigate. What
steps can you take to explain the situation believ-
ably and receive assistance from family, the State
Department, or anyone else who can help you
out? We’ve asked security expert Danny Pritbor as
well as international media correspondent Miles
Vining for their recommendations on how to deal
with the situation.
 Security Expert Danny Pritbor’s Approach
Years ago, a mentor and longtime friend
shared a quote that stuck with me through-
out my years of service: “Movement without
observation equals death.” At the time, the
context was in reference to a low-light fire-
arms course, where he was explaining the
constant need for situational awareness. To
be effective in the tactical environment, you
need to process and prioritize data rapidly
— in other words, stay “switched on.” As my
career progressed, and the areas of opera-
tions shifted from domestic to international,
I realized the saying couldn’t be truer. But
based on my experiences, I’m going to add
to the quote, “Movement without observa-
tion and preparation equals death.” I, along
with countless others serving in operational
roles, often in hostile environments, have
learned some hard lessons, usually after the
action takes place, and many times after
lives are lost.
Preparation
Prior to an overseas trip, I conduct a risk
assessment. Using open-source satellite
imagery, I get an overview of the area. First,
I locate my hotel, the airport, and worksite.
Secondly, I start to identify where my friendly
locations are, like the U.S. Embassy or allied
embassies. Other key locations are hospitals,
alternate airports, or maritime ports.
I identify my primary routes and second-
ary routes to frequently traveled locations.
I research information on activities such as
crime, terrorist actions, and government/
civil unrest. My focus is initially on the city
or town I’ll be traveling to, then working
outward to the provinces and country. I pay
close attention to the entire region as well;
neighboring countries may have turmoil
that can bleed over and affect the area
of travel. By taking these steps, I establish
where and when these significant acts are
taking place and pinpoint the highest risk.
Then, I can take steps to mitigate the risk.
For example, I advised a group of college-
aged individuals who would be traveling
through parts of North Africa. They wanted
to take the train, which was the common
mode of transportation. There was a low to
moderate threat of terrorist activity in the
region. After the group attended our travel
security course, they quickly understood
that the train would make them vulnerable
to “time and place predictability” as well as
place them in a crowded environment where
women are often sexually assaulted. Because
they understood the risk, they developed an
alternate plan which allowed for greater flex-
ibility in how and when they traveled.
Now that there’s an understanding of
the risks and situational awareness of the
environment, I develop what’s called a
“base monitored movement plan.” It’s pretty
simple: I have someone back home who
is my base monitor. I share my commu-
nications and travel plans with them. For
example, I’ll check in every 24 hours at 6
p.m. local time on primary communications,
which I’ll have listed as a text from my cell
phone (alternate is an email; contingency is
satellite text via Garmin inReach Explorer+).
For any missed check-ins, I establish a
shorter window. If I miss my 6 p.m. check-in,
I attempt again as soon as possible; but if it’s
midnight with no contact, my base moni-
tor will need to consider calling the listed
emergency contacts of the area I have listed
in the plan. When civil unrest takes place,
airports are the first to shut down. Haiti is
the prime example of this and Egypt during
the Arab Spring. I build options for alternate
means of departures from the country.
Along with my alternate communications
plan, I take into consideration establishing
evacuation plans which include air, land, and
sea (or other body of water) options.
What I typically do is have a pro word — a
shorthand procedure word representing a
predetermined meaning — designated for
each city and/or evacuation plan. Should I
need to affect a specific plan, I’ll send the
pro word to my base monitor, and they
know which plan is in effect. That way I
keep my travel plans off communications.
As a traveler, I carry two lines of gear. In
principle, each line consists of the follow-
ing categories: medical, communications,
and personal defense. I add to these, but
don’t omit any of the three. This system
has served me and others well by ensuring
an overlap of these critical items. If I were
considered a resident or living abroad, I’d
expand my lines of gear to a third (ve-
hicle) and even a fourth (residence) line.
Important note: the lines shouldn’t appear
military/tactical, so leave the MOLLE and
Velcro-covered bags at home.
The first line is carried on my body. For
medical, I carry a pressure bandage, usually
a 4-inch Israeli bandage, stripped out of
the package. I remove it from the primary
marked packaging to give it a sterile look

(no government markings) to avoid any
questioning should my bags get searched.
The bandage is packaged in a second, clear
unmarked wrapper to keep it clean. I also
carry a CAT Tourniquet in a non-tactical col-
or (i.e. orange). Both these items are carried
in an ankle med kit and/or cargo pockets.
My primary form of communication is my
cell phone. On it, I have my navigation and
various communication applications. These
apps require cell signal or Wi-Fi. Many of
the navigation apps can be used offline,
without cellular signal. (We could go down a
rabbit hole with digital security, so that’ll be
left for another time.)
Carrying weapons abroad is always tricky.
Personal defense gear will have to be a
personal decision; choose items that can
be explained and have a plan to do so. I try
to stay within the law of the land, making
every attempt to avoid scrutiny when cross-
ing the border. I carry a SureFire Tactician
flashlight and often opt to travel without
my name-brand fixed blades. Once on the
ground, I’ve been known to head over to
a night market or hardware store for items
such as a screwdriver or paring knife. I
make a sheath out of cardboard, duct tape,
and string (for a lanyard). These items can
be disposed of in a hurry, or if questioned,
I can provide a reasonable explanation as
to why I have the items. The bottom line is I
have a plan for personal defense.
It’s important to note, I discreetly stash
my passport in my first line. This is just in
case I get separated from my second line/
go-bag. During stressful situations people
have been known to leave go-bags behind. I
usually bring emergency cash ($2K to $5K)
and/or items that can be used to barter
with. Credit cards will not be useful during
lawlessness and disorder. These items are
hidden away in my first line.
My second line is a medium-sized
backpack or messenger. I carry additional
medical, communications, and items for
personal defense. For medical, a full-sized
individual first aid kit (IFAK) along with
a booboo kit (Band-Aids and over-the-
counter meds). Communications consists of
Garmin inReach Explorer+ (satellite texting
unit), spare batteries, charging cables, and
20,000 mAh (minimum) external battery
pack. Additionally, I have a couple of head-
lamps, a spare flashlight, batteries, snacks,
baby wipes, gloves, water purification
tablets, copies of my passport/documents,
compass, and rain gear.
An often-overlooked aspect of foreign
travel is “denying evidence.” Understand
that your social media footprint provides
a great deal of information about who you
are, what you do for a living, and where you
stand politically and religiously. If you’re
detained by the local authorities, and ques-
tioned about why you’re there and who you
work for, what will they find on your social
media feed? Many cultures operate on
what is called a “shame and honor” system.
Will your feed depict you as an honorable
person? I want my social media to support
my reasons for being there.
If questioned about who I am and what
I’m doing there, I should be able to provide
a short, legitimate statement (SLS). For
example, “I work in the textile industry, and I
am visiting companies A, B, C, regarding our
manufacturing needs.” If I’m in the textile
business, then my feed should reflect that.
No political statements, pictures of the wild
night of partying, provocative behavior, and
statements that would be considered disre-
spectful to the local religion. I’m mindful that
I’m in their country and U.S. civil rights no
longer apply. In other words, I have a solid
“backstop” and show that I’m honorable.
On Site
If my business requires multiple trips to a
location, I work toward improving my initial
plans. Once on the ground, I hone in on the
patterns of life: what government officials
dress like, what the checkpoints look like,
where the checkpoints are located, traffic
patterns, interactions between locals, just
the day-to-day routines. The purpose is to
determine what “right” looks like, so I know
what “wrong” looks like. I build my network
of strategic relationships, determining
which locals can be of assistance, especially
WHAT
IF?
should I need to implement an evacuation
plan or need a safe house.
Perhaps my contacts in shipping at the
textile factory can assist with a water evacu-
ation via the port if necessary or a trusted
official can help me lay low for bit. I work to
make sure the evacuation plans developed
back home are a reality on the ground.
This will require familiarization of routes
and scouting key areas. As my network of
strategic relationships expand, I work to
develop additional emergency communica-
tions plans and possibly implement a mesh
network such as GoTenna Pro or similar.
If I’m located near an embassy, I arrange
a meeting with the Regional Security Of-
ficer to introduce myself and explain my
travel and/or company’s purpose. Just as
with the local relationships I mentioned,
I work on building relationships with the
embassy staff to get invited to functions
and stay informed.
Don’t ignore the danger signs! There’s
usually a buildup to civil unrest and critical
incidents. If you have your head on right
and paying attention, you should be able to
make your exit prior to any major shut-
downs or disruptions. If you find yourself
pinned down in your hotel room or some-
where in the “open,” you need to determine
the best option based on the information on
the ground. Remember, movement without
observation and preparation equals death.
In the tactical community, there’s a great
deal of emphasis on the hard skills, like
various shooting and combative programs.
There’s nothing wrong with having these
skillsets, but keep in mind hard skills will
be used after the “bang” takes place. For
today’s world traveler, there should be an
equal amount of time dedicated to honing
soft skills, which focuses on mitigating risk
and avoidance. A few of the topics to study
are: Situational Awareness, Medical/TCCC,
Surveillance Detection, Active Shooter Re-
sponse, Security Driving, Actions on Contact,
Digital Security, Building Risk Assessments,
and Base Monitored Movement plans. Learn
more about how to train for these in my
author bio at the end of the article.
 International Media Correspondent Miles Vining’s Approach
Preparation
If knowledge is the lightest piece of gear
one could put in their travel bag, then
interpersonal communication skills has to
be the second lightest. The most impor-
tant point I’d like to stress is that the crisis
prompt is essentially a man-made problem
that requires human solutions. If you can’t
build tangible relationships and connect
with other people on a personal level, no
amount of survival gadgets are going to
get you out of a bind of this magnitude in a
foreign country.
One thing we shouldn’t fool ourselves
with is being some sort of Jason Bourne
or James Bond figure who sneaks through
the shadows of a foreign locale. Looking to
historical precedent, it needs to be pointed
out that for many of the great “Western”
explorers who have conquered Everest (Ed-
mond Hillary), crossed the Empty Quarter
of the Arabian Peninsula (Wilfred Thesiger),
or ran humanitarian missions into war-torn
Burma and Syria (David Eubank), there has
always been an equally competent or even
more ambitious local counterpart/guide
who has helped to navigate the human and
terrain environment. This is why every suc-
cessful news crew in the world has behind-
the-scenes “fixers” whenever they go into
foreign countries.
So, when it comes time to deal with a
crisis, don’t think for one second that you
won’t need the assistance of the local
populace. In fact, to not take local coopera-
tion into account is to doom yourself to
failure. Whether it’s an actual guide, a driver
getting you across the city, a shopkeeper
to provide you with food and water, or a
friendly translator, you’re going to have to
negotiate, barter, explain, and even beg
with people who don’t share your language,
nationality, religion, or values. How success-
ful you are at this process could mean the
difference between going to a foreign jail or
going home.
Gear
For communications, I usually want to
have several types of data and cellular
service. Ideally, I have a local SIM card, an
international SIM card, and preferably two
cell phones. One phone I like to call my
“dirty” phone, where I download and inter-
face with all the host countries’ applications
and registrations. The other one, my “clean”
one, I try to keep separate with my personal
information, my more confidential calls, etc.
Beyond cellular phones, some very good
devices that exist are satellite pagers where
I can get GPS coordinates, send SMS mes-
sages via satellite, and even push preset
emergency messages to designated recipi-
ents. Spot X is one such company that has
very economical packages. For a full com-
munications capability, I no longer need to
lug around a bulky Pelican case with the
ubiquitous folding antenna sat phones that
barely work half the time. SatSleeve from
Thuraya is a very compact clip-on device
that simply connects to my iPhone or An-
droid device via Bluetooth. But with these
two types of devices, I need to take into
account the fact that, if I’m held in a foreign
country already suspicious of my intentions,
finding unregistered satellite communica-
tions technology in my luggage is a solid
indication that I’m some sort of spy.
In regards to more gear, I like to be as
efficient and self-sufficient as possible. My
electronics need to be compatible with the
host country’s outlets and voltage; if I can
power them myself via solar chargers that’s
a plus. I like to bring a repair kit consisting
of Shoe-Goo, gaffer’s tape, and a sewing
kit to fix small tears and issues that might
come up. But much more important than
gear, I need to realize what I have, and be
able to replace these capabilities in-country
with local amenities. I should be browsing
local stores to see what might work better
or is equal in comparison to the kit I’m
bringing in. Amazon isn’t going to be there
for me when I need it the most. I don’t want
to be a hostage to my equipment, and I
need to adapt when items fail.
With communications, I have to assume
that everything I’m transmitting is being
bugged, censored, or recorded some way
or another. Applications such as Signal are
great, but it doesn’t make a difference if the
host country is able to covertly download
software to your phone that monitors your
keystrokes. Prearranged brevity codes are
good to develop with family members and
friends, but they have to be kept simple
and dummy proof. For example, one brev-
ity code I’ve used with my spouse is in
referencing the third floor of our apartment
if I were to get into a bind, but still have
communications. Of course, our apart-
ment doesn’t have a third floor, it only has
two, but that’s the point. I can call her and
say, “Would you mind looking through my
hockey sticks in the third-floor storage
room,” in response she could make up the
flow of the conversation, but instantly real-
ize that something is very wrong in my part
of the world.
On Site
Whenever I’m in a new location overseas,
I need to try and seek out whatever envi-
ronment I’m in, both the physical and the
human terrain map. For the human terrain,
I want to know who is in the area every day.
The security folks, restaurant employees,
gym employees, and receptionists. Can
I establish a rapport, even a friendship
that might be able to help me? Know-
ing my physical environment is critical as
well. What roads, pathways, buildings, and
structures show up on maps that don’t exist
anymore, and vice versa. Offline mapping
applications such as Maps.Me, or OsmAnd
are fantastic when the network is down, but
a thorough scouting should still be in order.
On one occasion when I was climbing a
hill in China, I came cross a patchwork of
small-gauge power lines anchored on steel
poles only knee-high. Sure, I could low crawl
underneath them, but that wouldn’t have
been an efficient route if I needed to get
over that hill in a hurry with gear. Satellite
images of the hill showed a bare surface.
When I’m staying in an unfamiliar sleep-
ing location, I want to consolidate my
belongings in a way that still allows me to
efficiently get to them and use them, but
also so that I can easily work from them. I
 WHAT
IF?

can’t live in a state of hyper-preparedness, Our second time slot is going to be that Crisis
but I also don’t want to get caught with all several-minute window where we can get When I’m in a foreign country that might
my overseas worldly belongings littered our go-bag, throw a couple extra neces- be third-world, totalitarian governed, and
across a hotel room. What I try to do is mini- sities in, and scram out the door. Now, we even at peace, I’m working with the notion
mize the number of places where I keep my have a more nuanced approach to how we that everyone I meet already assumes I’m a
belongings. I pick three or four locations in can live out of that bag for a limited period spy, an agent, or some kind of intelligence
a room and stick to them — the closet, the of time. officer for the United States. I’ll actually
bathroom, my bedside table, and maybe a Our third time slot will be half an hour to never be able to rid myself of this assump-
desk. I use my existing bags as organizers perhaps an hour. You know a crisis is ongo- tion. But I do have the ability to either
and wardrobes for my belongings. ing and you have to leave. If we can leave lessen the spy bias or increase it. By owning
Having a designated go-bag is definitely with all our belongings, let’s try for that. If or carrying tactical items — even something
nice, but let’s keep things in perspective we’re limited to our go-bag and maybe a as innocent as a C-A-T tourniquet, for ex-
here. I’m in a foreign country, I need all my secondary small bag, that works too. Now ample — the assumption of being an agent
belongings. I don’t want to just survive; I we can prioritize what we can jettison or has been heightened. If I try not to lie and
want to thrive with all my equip-
ment. Maybe I bounce out of that
hotel room with my sweet go-bag
and end up having to hunker
down somewhere in-country
for weeks at a time because the
borders are closed due to the
volatile political situation. If I have
the liberty of 20 to 30 minutes in
my room, wouldn’t I have wanted
to at least attempt to gather the
rest of my belongings, which
should’ve only been in several
locations to begin with?
That being said, I need to come
up with a realistic evasion logisti-
cal plan. If I’m starting with no
time at all, I can only leave with
what I have on my person. That
should be my passport (and a
small laminated copy thereof in
another location on my body),
shoes, what I’m wearing, an abil-
ity to see at night, whether that’s
a headlamp or a handheld light (which also keep when it comes to space. This would try to be honest with authorities, the spy
works nicely as a blunt force weapon), my also be a good time to organize bags on assumption might be relaxed. How I present
mobile device and a way to charge it, and a priority, starting with what’s on your person myself through my physical belongings,
jacket (which can double as a blanket). This first. If you have to jettison all your bags, demeanor, attitude, and actions will bear a
sounds simple, but let us imagine a sce- what do you need to ensure stays with you? tremendous amount of weight in the minds
nario where you’re in your hotel or around If you have to jettison one or two, which of those whose authority will determine
the corner from it, and you cannot access ones are they going to be, based on prior- whether I can get on a plane back home
your room due to a hostile takeover, a po- ity? We probably don’t want to chuck our or rot in an overcrowded jail. Now isn’t the
lice barricade, or an angry mob rampaging laptop, power banks, and hard drives, but time to be coming up with a cover identity
and looking for foreigners (CWO Bryan Ellis that suitcase with souvenirs, extra clothes, or a supposed origin story.
was killed in this manner during the 1979 or items we can probably get locally any- When I’m questioned, I want to stick to
U.S. embassy riots in Islamabad). way could probably go. the facts. I don’t need to be opining about

which side I support in the country,
what I think about the deteriorating
situation, or the United States’ role in
the mix. What’s my business, what I
am doing, what items I’m carrying,
where I want to go, and how I want
to leave.
Bribes are an incredibly tough
subject overseas. They’re just as
likely to get me in trouble as they’re
able to get me out of trouble. Espe-
cially with bribing official authorities,
because that adds more fuel to my
case of being a no-good foreigner in
someone else’s country. If I were to
attempt a bribe, I’d try to relegate it
to small, tangible actions that can be
completed soon and in my vicinity
— bribing a guard to open a gate, a
ticket manager to change a ticket. I’m
in no position to make open-ended,
complicated, behind-the-scenes
negotiated agreements that’ll lead
to my release. This isn’t my turf, and
I don’t know the human terrain with
the right relationships in positions of
power. What kind of language I use is
especially key as well. Many au-
thorities who take in bribes regularly
don’t like to refer to it in such crass
terms. Instead of saying, “Can I pay
you to open this gate,” maybe try, “I
would like to give you a bonus for
your hard work,” or “If you can help
me with something, I can monetarily
return the favor.” An outright bribe
of “I’ll pay you a certain amount to
do this for me” might end up insult-
ing someone severely. Put on your
best thinking shoes and work some
diplomacy.
When looking at international
organizations for help or escaping to
neighboring countries, I’ll have to tap
into pre-existing networks somehow.
There are numerous emergency
travel insurance companies out there
that work in ways that can be very
beneficial. This doesn’t mean they’ll
be fast-roping into your compound
with an armed extraction team, but
it does mean they might be able
to arrange plane tickets with travel
agencies they’re friendly with, or
have folks in those countries come
and provide places to stay or advice.
Global Rescue and Ripcord are two
such companies, but there are sev-
eral out there.
Conclusion
The key to any of these situations
is going to be your intuition and
people skills. Work through some of
these scenarios with an assumption
of being stripped of everything you
know apart from your clothes, then
revisit how you would handle that
situation. The gear is great, but your
interpersonal skills need to be one
step ahead. Stay cool, calm, and col-
lected, build up your sources, verify
your news, act with confidence, and
go with your intuition.
Pay attention to escalating prob-
lems in any area you plan to visit. A
population’s confusion and overall
disposition about a situation can be
easily exacerbated by mass media
and sudden turmoil. Check the U.S.
State Department website for travel
advisories prior to venturing abroad.
Having redundant forms of com-
munication to relay information to
anyone back home, multiple escape
routes, and friendly local contacts
are just a few necessities that could
mean the difference between sur-
vival and incarceration.
No one needs to know anything
about you other than what you look
like to form inaccurate and danger-
ous assessments that could put
your life in danger. Although the
reality may be that regional unrest
has nothing to do with you person-
ally, the perception on the ground
may be that it does. Don’t assume
this situation is only specific to other
countries. You may have to apply
these lessons to a domestic situation
if civil stability continues to decline.
WHAT
IF?
About
the Authors
Danny Pritbor, director and
owner of Firebase Combat
Studies Group, currently
serves as a Department of
Defense contractor. Danny’s
career spans over 29 years
with service as a U.S. Marine,
law enforcement SWAT
officer, Department of Energy and Department of
State contractor, federal agent, and private security
consultant. He’s served worldwide in various war
zones and high-threat areas. His company part-
nered with Panoplia to develop a nine-hour, online
training program called Soft Skills and Tactics. It
consists of three parts, nine lessons with 45 topics
covered. In conjunction with the online course,
Firebase offers a two-day security training program
that consists of lecture, hands-on, and a field train-
ing exercise with stations that push participants
to take charge, make decisions, and problem solve.
For more information on the online SST program,
please visit to panoplia.org. You can also reach
Danny at firebasecsg.com.
Miles Vining spent his child-
hood and teenage years
growing up in Thailand,
Burma, and Malaysia, return-
ing to the region after his ser-
vice in the Marines to work
with an international relief
group that works in conflict
zones in Iraq, Syria, and Sudan. He also worked
in digital media with a local Afghan company in
Kabul. Beyond RECOIL, his work has appeared in
Small Arms Review, The Firearm Blog, the TFB TV
YouTube channel, and Strife Blog. Currently, he’s
the editor of Silah Report, an online resource group
focused on researching historical and contempo-
rary small arms and light weapons from the Middle
East and Central Asian regions. Learn more at
www.silahreport.com.
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1A/2A: OR ABRIDGING
THE
GUERRILLA
MENTOR
Timothy Lacy Discusses Applying Skills from the Military, Security Contracting,
and Law Enforcement to Help Every American Prepare for Conflict
By Patrick McCarthy
Photos by Patrick McCarthy, Tom Marshall, and Courtesy of Timothy Lacy
G
uerrilla is a Spanish word that roughly translates
to “little war.” Its indication of diminutive scale
doesn’t apply to the size of the battle, but rather
to the size of the fighting force — a small unit up
against a large opposition. In modern context,
this type of imbalance is often referred to as asymmetric warfare,
and its significance has been proven in countless conflicts
throughout history, from the Global War on Terror to the Ameri-
can Civil War. Each instance has reinforced a single lesson: never
underestimate the effectiveness of a small, highly motivated
group of fighters.
Timothy Lacy has accrued a wealth of experience in the field
of small-unit tactics. While enlisted in the U.S. Army, he served in
a Scout Platoon and frequently led reconnaissance missions into
enemy-controlled terrain. Later, he switched to a role in law en-
forcement, where he surveilled gang members and drug dealers.
Lacy also spent 13 years working as a private security contractor,
protecting VIPs in warzones and training indigenous militia and
police forces to defend against insurgents.
Rather than settle quietly into retirement, Lacy eventually re-
turned to his home state of Arizona and applied his skills to a new
mission. In 2014, he founded Guerrilla Mentor to teach ordinary
Americans about the value of small-unit tactics. Members of our
staff have already attended two of his courses, Rural Recon-
naissance (featured in Issue 41) and Hostile Encounters (review
coming soon). Each class reinforced individual survival skills,
including shooting, movement, navigation, observation, and
planning. The curriculum also demonstrated the challenges of
delegating tasks, communicating, and accomplishing objectives
with a tight-knit group.
Despite his imposing resume, Lacy doesn’t fit the gruff soldier
stereotype. He’s a soft-spoken family man whose kids showed
up to play after class, and whose wife cooked a tasty meal for
students at the campsite. His scholarly gray beard and friendly
demeanor might even lead you to believe he’s a schoolteacher.
In a manner of speaking, that’s exactly what he is — a mentor and
educator for the underdog.
RECOIL OFFGRID: Tell us a little about your upbringing. Were
survival lessons or outdoorsmanship part of your child-
hood?
Timothy Lacy: I was an Air Force brat until my father retired
and moved us from the Phoenix area up to Show Low, Arizona.
My dad was an avid outdoorsman, and we always spent our
family vacations camping or hunting. After moving to the White
Mountains, my brothers and I were in the forest almost every
day, exploring and hunting. I spent a great deal of time with my
dad stalking game and learning survival lessons.
OFFGRIDWEB.COM
 Tim believes
preparedness
is a task for the
whole family. His
wife, Cecilia, and
their children
often appear at
Guerrilla Mentor
classes to lend a
hand.

What led you to join the military? What was your job
while you were in?
TL: I had always dreamed of being a soldier and serving
my country. My family has always been very patriotic, and
believed it was our duty to serve. All of my brothers and I
served in the U.S. military.
I enlisted in the Army as an 11B, Infantry Rifleman. I loved
being a grunt — the lifestyle suited me. I discovered I had
Right: Showing a knack for being stealthy, and so did my squad leaders.
students how to I soon found myself in the point element along with my
forcefully move
friend Hector on nearly every patrol.
a VIP out of a
disabled vehicle This led me to eventually join an Infantry Scout Platoon,
at a Hostile and I felt like I was truly in my element there.
Encounters class.

You mentioned previously that, after the military, you
went into law enforcement and then private military
contracting. What did you do in law enforcement and
how did your military experience shape your work
there?
TL: After the Army, I attended the police academy and
worked for two different law enforcement agencies — mu-
nicipal and county. I spent the majority of my career with
the Sheriff ’s office where I became a Patrol Sergeant. I was
on the Gang Task Force, Counter Narcotics Team as well as
a law enforcement sniper. My military experience greatly
shaped my work there. The discipline carried over and fit
well. My squad members probably tired of my weapon and
uniform inspections, but they were, in my opinion, the best
deputies in the state. The infantry, scouting, and recon-
naissance skills I learned were a huge asset in assisting me
throughout this time.
When did you make the transition into security con-
tracting? What regions and roles did you work in?
TL: I made the transition from LEO to security contracting
in 2006. I worked with a small European group in parts of
Europe. I then went to work for DynCorp as a Police Men-
tor/Advisor in Afghanistan. After a year with Dyn, I got hired
by Xe/USTC/ Blackwater and worked on the Afghan Border
Patrol (ABP) Program. I later worked for another small com-

pany training and living with Afghan Militia/Guard Force
personnel. Afterward, I was a Protective Security Specialist
for IDS (a Constellis subsidiary) doing high threat protection
for U.S. Department of State folks. I left Afghanistan in 2015,
and continued doing short-term contracts both stateside
and internationally until 2019.
Explain the origin of Guerrilla Mentor, and the reason-
ing behind the name.
TL: I started Guerrilla Mentor around 2014 as a small train-
ing company. I felt the need to pass on some of the knowl-
edge and experience I had gained over the years. Guerrilla
Mentor became an LLC in 2017. I chose the name based
on my wartime experiences training indigenous personnel
who were paramilitary.
President Biden recently said, “If you wanted to think
you need weapons to take on the government, you
need F-15s and maybe some nuclear weapons.” Based
on your experience with asymmetric warfare, what’s
your response to this statement?
TL: I would have him study any counter-insurgency that the
United States has been involved in. While we have some of
the best military technology and weaponry on the planet,
it isn’t getting the job done. We can see it in the resurgence
of hostilities in Iraq, Afghanistan, and all over the world.
F-15s and nuclear weapons are no match for weak rules of
engagement and a determined opponent.
We’ve seen some heated debates on social media
about civilians practicing military-style tactics and
wearing military-style gear. Some say it’s beneficial
preparedness, and others say it’s unrealistic role-
playing. What’s your take?
TL: I believe that every able-bodied American man and
woman should not only learn these things, but I see it as
their duty. It’s our duty to preserve our Republic. There are
many skills that help us — not only martial skills. Gardening,
medical, and the like are all very valuable. As for military-
style gear, I tell prospective students that they don’t need
any cool-guy gear or clothing. If you want to wear military-
style gear, go for it.
What can the average American do to prepare for the
kind of widespread violent conflict we’ve seen in cer-
tain cities around the country?
TL: People need to train for it, both physically and mentally.
If they have no experience, then they should seek out
competent teachers. We have a large number of combat
veterans with a lot of knowledge to share — you just need
to find one who is willing to help. And you need to be will-
THE GUERRILLA
MENTOR
Demonstrating
how to shoot
while seated in a
vehicle during a
Hostile Encoun-
ters class
ing to pay for good teaching.
It’s also essential to prepare mentally for violent con-
frontation. There are too many people who still have the
mindset of “it’s not happening here in my front yard, so it’ll
never happen here.” It’s past time to wake up and realize
that violence can occur anywhere.
There’s a common misconception that survival is a soli-
tary activity. How do you dispel the lone-wolf mental-
ity and teach students to work together?
TL: If you’re going to attempt to be a “lone wolf,” I believe
you will soon discover it’s nearly impossible to survive for
long. I try to illustrate the need for a team or tribe to my
students. After conducting some drills during a class, they
catch on quickly that doing it alone is pretty much a myth.
Tell us about the importance of radio, spoken, and non-
verbal communication for small unit tactics.
TL: Communication is key when working with one or more
teammates. In all of my Small-Unit Tactics and Reconnais-
sance classes, silent hand and arm signals are taught and
utilized extensively. If verbal communication is used, it’s
very hushed. The ability to move and communicate silently
is invaluable, as stealth is one of your greatest assets. If a
team has electronic means of communication, then we
combine these with other methods. In the Advanced Re-
connaissance course, a field antenna is put up and regular
commo checks are conducted.
Explain the difference between a reconnaissance
 patrol and a combat patrol. How should gear and tac-
tics differ for each type?
TL: Reconnaissance patrols are there to obtain information
concerning the terrain, enemy, resources, and so on, and
to accomplish that mission without being compromised.
The standard reconnaissance team (RT) doesn’t carry
enough ordinance to execute a prolonged fight, so they
must rely on stealth. The equipment varies depending on
the mission. For reconnaissance, you generally have tools
Right: “I’m the tall for enhanced observation, such as spotting scopes and
guy on the left.”
binoculars. You may or may not be wearing armor or any
Wardak Province,
Afghanistan, ballistic protection.
2009 On a combat patrol, you are looking for a fight. You carry
more ammunition, wear ballistic protection, and may carry
a small patrol or combat pack as opposed to the larger
rucksacks carried by reconnaissance patrols.
What would you say to folks who feel like patrolling
skills don’t apply to urban or suburban environments?
Are any of the methods or techniques adaptable for
prepared city-dwellers?
TL: I adhere to the philosophy that if you don’t patrol it, you
don’t own it. In other words, if you don’t know what threats
are in your area, it’s difficult to prepare for those threats.
Whether you’re in an urban, suburban, or rural environ-
ment, it doesn’t matter.

Of course, there are differences in patrolling styles. In a

city, you don’t want to walk around clothed in full camou-
flage wearing field gear, just as you wouldn’t conduct rural
reconnaissance dressed in bright clothing. The methods of
surveillance and counter-surveillance differ as well. But the
core principles of patrolling and reconnaissance remain
the same.
Above: Riding
shotgun in
a Humvee, Are there “non-combat” mental or emotional skills that
Afghanistan, you think contribute to making a good scout?
circa 2008
TL: Absolutely. I think a good scout needs to be physically
strong, but even more importantly, they should be emo-
tionally and spiritually grounded — not given to outbursts
of anger or short-fused. Scouting requires patience and a
keen eye for attention to detail. When a scout starts slack-
ing off, the consequences can be fatal, not only for the
scout, but for their teammates as well.

Let’s talk about rucksacks/bug-out bags/72-hour bags.

What items should always be carried, and what items
should be left at home? How much gear is too much?
TL: As far as bug-out bags are concerned, I keep mine
Working in
packed in a smaller bag like a sling bag. I also mimic as
Tora Bora,
Afghanistan, closely as possible the loadout I carried in my go-bag while
circa 2012 doing high-threat protection overseas. I cover the basics:

Pointing out Extra ammunition in magazines, usually three rifle
unexploded
mags and two pistol mags
ordnance, 2010
A good knife, fixed blade or folder, and a multi-tool
At least one civilian smoke grenade
Trauma kit
Signals kit containing a section of VS-17 [high-visibility]
panel, Rite in the Rain notepad and pen, infrared strobe,
In uniform
with the Navajo signal mirror, and permanent marker
County Sheriff ’s At least one bottle of water, plus some food (usually Clif
Office bars or something similar)
An emergency Mylar blanket for
shelter
My 72-hour pack alternates de-
pending on what I’m doing. In town,
it’s a civilian backpack that blends in
well; in the woods, it’s a medium AL-
ICE pack or a Crossfire DG3. I carry
the essentials for security, shelter,
medical, signals, food, and water.
I try to keep it as light as possible,
depending on the season.
I just finished an Advanced Recon-
naissance Course that ran from
Friday to Sunday where I carried a
three-liter CamelBak, poncho liner,
Gore-Tex bivvy bag, Therma-Rest
THE GUERRILLA
MENTOR
Training
Afghan militia
as a private
security con-
tractor, circa
2011
sleeping pad, extra socks, underwear and T-shirts, grid
fleece top, fleece cap, binoculars, night vision scope, four
stripped-down MREs, cordage, small spade, hygiene kit,
and a field antenna.
All of this was packed inside of a USGI large ALICE pack.
At the Rural Recon class we covered in Issue 41, you
reinforced the importance of effective camouflage.
What tips do you have for camouflaging skin, clothing,
and other gear?
TL: Camouflage is extremely important to the success of
your mission. I prefer using camouflage face paint as it
covers well and doesn’t interfere with breathing like some
of the spandex face coverings do. As a young Infantryman,
I learned to put insect repellent on my face prior to the face
paint as it helped it go on much easier. I always camouflage
any exposed skin and wear gloves.
I rattle-can spray paint items to break up their outline
and shape and to subdue snaps or buckles that may have
become worn and shiny. I also paint my weapons to blend
in as well.
As for clothing, I generally wear military pattern camou-
flage such as Tiger Stripe and MultiCam. Sometimes, I just
wear commercial hiking clothes in earth tones like browns
and greens. I often have students ask what to wear — I
always tell them to get earth-toned or camouflage clothing,
no black. You don’t need the latest Gucci-flage to blend in.
I also carry and very often wear a ghillie cape and
boonie hat with jute attached.
What’s one common challenge you’ve seen students
experience during classes, and how have you helped
them overcome it?
ISSUE 46
TL: There’s a belief or misconception that you need to
have a ton of gear, or the latest fad in tacti-cool clothing
035
 and equipment. I demonstrate that as a “guerrilla,” you Next is medical skills, from treating major trauma to the
really don’t need it. If a guy shows up with a piece of common cold. It should be on everyone’s list.
equipment that doesn’t match the other “cool-guy” gear,
I let him run that gear — if it functions, it ain’t wrong. The evacuation of Kabul airport in Afghanistan is on-
Guerrilla fighters have been spanking standing armies going as we speak. What’s your reaction to the situa-
for many years, carrying little more than the clothes on tion over there, and what can the average American
their backs, a rusted old rifle with little ammunition, and learn from it?
maybe a meal. TL: As far as the evacuation is concerned, this could have
The other challenge is teaching them to work together been avoided by keeping Bagram Air Base open and
as a team. Students are always surprised at how quickly secured. The place is massive, and the military along with
they can learn to work together, even while conducting civilian air assets could move far more people rapidly
some of the more complex live-fire drills. than the Kabul Airport can handle. And it’s far more stra-
tegically located.
How can preparedness duties be shared within the Having spent seven years in Afghanistan, I have mixed
family? What are three survival skills you’ve learned feelings about what is happening. Pretty much anyone
that you think every family should be proficient in?
Helping a student
plan his approach TL: Every member of the family needs to be a participant,
to a linear danger regardless of age, or physical ability. There is always
area during a something they can help with, be it training others,
Rural Reconnais-
gardening, handling livestock, mechanical skills, medical
sance class
care, or communications/radio skills.
I put martial skills at the top of my priority list. The
ability to protect myself and my loved ones is essential to
securing all other skills.
Next is the procurement and treatment of water and
food. Knowing how to process wild game, grow your own
food, and purify water is very important.

Reviewing notes
taken while sur-
veilling an objec-
tive during a Rural
Reconnaissance
class
 THE GUERRILLA
MENTOR
TIM’S GEAR
LOADOUT:
- Mayflower SCARAB
plate carrier with a Para-
clete dual M4 magazine
pouch, TYR Tactical
triple M4/pistol magazine
pouch, and SureFire
flashlight in a HSGI utility
pouch
- VTAC Cobra under-
belt with a LBT MOLLE
padded belt, two TYR
Tactical pistol magazine
pouches, TYR Tactical
M4 magazine pouch, LBT
IFAK pouch containing
Dark Angel Medical
trauma kit and shears,
HSGI utility pouch with
multi-tool, issued Uncle
Mike’s Kydex holster, and
a tourniquet
- Glock 19X
- 10.5-inch AR
pistol with DPMS lower
receiver, LMT upper re-
ceiver, SB Tactical SBA3
pistol brace, Knight’s
Armament Picatinny rail,
Magpul Angled Fore Grip,
SureFire Warcomp and
Warden blast diffuser,
SureFire M3 weapon
light, EOTech 552 optic,
MaTech backup iron sight
- Baofeng UV-5R radio

involved in the training and mentoring of the Afghan

National Army (ANA), Afghan National Police (ANP), or
Afghan Border Patrol (ABP) knew this was most likely
TIMOTHY
going to occur. Precious few Afghans had any concept LACY
of Afghanistan as a nation. To them, it’s all very tribal- AGE: 58
oriented — it’s what they know. The lack of discipline and HOMETOWN: Show Low, Arizona
loyalty amongst the Afghan forces is also no secret, so it FAMILY STATUS: Married with four
comes as no surprise at all to see them fold and crumble. children
I do hope that many of the interpreters I worked with MILITARY EXPERIENCE: 8 years
U.S. Army 11B Infantryman
can make it to safety. But as I told several of them, I don’t
LAW ENFORCEMENT
want them to be my neighbor; I want them to stay and EXPERIENCE: 16 years
fight to make Afghanistan a better place. CHILDHOOD IDOLS: My dad
For the average American, I would tell them to always FAVORITE DRINK: Water
have a plan to escape. Have contacts in place to assist
FAVORITE QUOTE: Actually, it’s
you with the successful implementation of your plan. a Bible verse. “And I looked, and
Always have the mindset that no one is coming to save arose and said to the nobles, to
the leaders, and to the rest of
you — you have to be responsible for your training and the people, ‘Do not be afraid of
skill set. them. Remember the Lord, great
and awesome, and fight for your
brethren, your sons, your daughters,
What does the future hold for Guerrilla Mentor? your wives, and your houses.’” –
TL: We shall see. I’d like to continue teaching and training. I Nehemiah 4:14 (NKJV)

truly hope that what I teach will enable students to success- URL: facebook.com/guerillamentor
Instagram: @guerrilla.mentor
fully deal with whatever life throws at them.
1A/2A: OR THE RIGHT 040 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
 WARNING!
The exercises described in
this article were conducted
in a public setting with direct
supervision from trained
instructors. Do not attempt
them on your own. Follow
your local laws and practice
survival skills responsibly.

The Art of
Exploitation
Ed Calderon’s Urban Movement Class Taught Us How to
Defend Against Hidden Predators in the Concrete Jungle
By Patrick McCarthy, Photos by Niccole Marshall, Patrick McCarthy, and courtesy of Class Participants

E
xploitation is a word that carries a negative
connotation — to take unfair advantage of
circumstances, using every available resource
for selfish gain. But when it comes to survival,
there’s no denying the effectiveness of this
ruthless approach. Those who lie, cheat, and steal sometimes
come out on top, at least in the short term. This is the dark
side to survival, and it’s one we sincerely hope you never
have to experience.
Anywhere humans gather, you’ll find masters of exploita-
tion. They’re skilled manipulators who can blend seamlessly
into polite society. One might be wearing a suit and tie as he
approaches with a charming smile and friendly demeanor.
Another might be clad in filthy rags, begging for a moment
of your time and an ounce of charity. Either way, they’re not
what they appear to be. They’re deliberately playing a char-
acter to achieve a desired result. If you fail to recognize these
wolves in sheep’s clothing and understand their tactics, you’ll
be easy prey.
As with many of the skills discussed in this magazine, the
your loved ones against it. Use your knowledge responsibly.
Urban Movement
In order to learn the challenges of countering predators in
an urban environment, we attended Ed Calderon’s two-day
Urban Movement class. It covered the following objectives:
Increased awareness
Recognition of criminal indicators
Urban resource identification and exploitation
Modern fieldcraft (i.e. building tools and manipulating your
surroundings)
Calderon based the curriculum on lessons he learned
firsthand while growing up and working in one of the world’s
most dangerous cities: Tijuana, Mexico. He explained that
by practicing these skills in a realistic manner, students will
walk away with a type of “scammer sixth sense” that lasts a
lifetime. It’s an invaluable early warning system for impend-
ing danger, whether you’re in your own hometown, a major
city, or a foreign country.
Scenario & Objectives
ISSUE 46

purpose of learning the art of exploitation isn’t to equip you

to victimize others — it’s to equip you to defend yourself and The Urban Movement class began with a discussion

OFFGRIDWEB.COM 041
042
1A/2A: OF THE PEOPLE

breeze. The angler fish displays what appears to be a

tasty morsel ready to be eaten. Each of these is a decep-
tive behavior used to misdirect other predators and lull
prey into a false sense of security. But this same tactic
can also be used in potentially dangerous situations to
avoid confrontations altogether. Passing through a part
of the city with ongoing protests about wealth disparity?
If you’re armed with a “little white lie” (cover story) about
visiting your elderly grandmother at her nursing home,
as opposed to going to your job at a big investment firm,
that could be enough to completely avoid harassment (or
worse) without having to actively defend yourself.
Creating an effective cover story requires creativity,
confidence, and acting skills. You’ll need a thorough

of theory, but that’s not the focus of this class — the real
learning happens in the world outside the classroom.
In our case, we’d be practicing exploitation skills in and
around a large shopping mall.
The class was split into teams, with each consisting
of approximately five students. Our objectives were as
follows:
1. Find and retrieve 12 pink padlocks hidden throughout
the environment. Locks that were removed without dam-
age (picked or shimmed) were worth two points; locks
that were broken were worth one point. All locks were
purchased and placed by the instructors, and spray-
painted pink so that we didn’t inadvertently pick a lock
that belonged to someone else.
2. Collect as much cash as possible through panhan-
dling. At the end of the class, all money students ob-
tained was donated to charity. Top: On the first knowledge of your environment, because offering a
3. Convince a stranger to allow you to use their cell day, we discreetly cigarette is a great way to start a conversation in some
assessed risk
phone. Each call our instructors received from a new places, but it’s completely ineffective in others.
factors in the
number earned our team an additional point. Emotional manipulation is a key factor that can be
environment, in-
4. Stick a Loteria playing card to a stranger while remain- cluding cameras, used to draw in bystanders and break down their de-
ing unnoticed. This wouldn’t be as simple as placing a security person- fenses. This is why so many panhandlers appear with
card on someone’s back in a crowd — students were also nel, and any- children, dogs, crutches or wheelchairs, religious phrases,
required to obtain the name of each “carded” stranger, thing that might and patriotic imagery — whether they’re genuinely in
obstruct entry/
and provide video or photographic proof of the card be- need of help or simply pretending, these elements play
escape routes.
ing attached. Teamwork was necessary. on our emotional heartstrings and drown out logical
Although we were careful not to break any laws, these Above: Instruc- concerns. If you find yourself in need of assistance, hav-
activities could still lead to some real-world consequenc- tors attached a ing a bit of emotional intelligence and understanding the
es from mall security or bystanders. The stakes were dozen pink locks cues and dynamics that make people sympathize could
high, and none of us wanted to find out what would hap- throughout the decide whether you get help or a cold shoulder.
mall. Students
pen if we got caught red-handed. On the flip side, aversion or disgust can be used to
had to remove
them without repel bystanders and avoid unwanted attention. Calderon
Cover Story arousing suspi- said that when he was surveilling cartels on the streets
“Always have a cover story,” Calderon says. In nature, cion, which posed of Tijuana, he would dress in shabby clothes, wear no
the rattlesnake’s skin matches the dry brush that sur- a challenge in the deodorant, and avoid bathing for several days. Once
rounds it. The praying mantis sways like a leaf in the crowded space. passersby could smell him before they saw him, they’d
 THE ART OF
EXPLOITATION
so far as drawing a map and noting which routes in and Left: Students used
out of the area would be our primary, secondary, and social engineering
tertiary options. Calderon discussed using “the way of the skills to ask for cash
donations from
rat” and “the way of the bear” — the former might involve
strangers. All funds
stealthily picking locks, while the latter might mean were donated to
throwing a chair through a window. There are scenarios charity at the end
where each may be necessary. of the class.
Some casing can be done remotely. Check a venue’s
website for maps and information about security — both
Below left: Calde-
were readily available on the mall’s site. Look at social
ron says a Polaroid
media pages for busy days/times, upcoming events,
camera is like a
and recent photos tagged in the target location. Google money printer in
Street View is another excellent tool for remote casing, some urban areas.
but keep in mind that its images may be several years Offer to take photos
out of date, or not representative of the time you’ll be of strangers, then
ask for a small fee
automatically avoid him — it was as if he had become in-
in exchange for the
visible. Many survival and self-defense instructors preach printout.
about being a “hard target” — looking like you’ll put up
too much fight to be worth a bad guy’s effort. Calderon’s Below: Cultivating
aversion philosophy turns this paradigm on its head. In- a nonthreatening
stead of looking like a hard target, how about looking like appearance is
not-a-target? Why bother trying to rob a guy who clearly beneficial. Wear
layers of clothing
has nothing to take?
so you can quickly
change your ap-
Day One: pearance if anyone
Target Acquisition & Surveillance comes looking for
In order to exploit an environment, you must know it you.
inside and out. As Calderon put it, “Having a gun doesn’t
make you armed and dangerous, just like having a plane
doesn’t make you a pilot.” Preparation is essential — from
a criminal perspective, this is often referred to as casing
a target.

Case the Joint

If the thought of “casing” a place feels off-putting, con-
sider that all you’re doing is establishing a local baseline
— a topic we’ve discussed repeatedly in the context of
situational awareness. Take note of all the typical activity
during normal circumstances. In the context of an up-
scale shopping mall, this could include the type of shops
in the area, cars on the street, pedestrian traffic, typical
attire, and so on. Identify the eyes in the environment
— security personnel, CCTV cameras, and observant
bystanders. Pay special attention to anyone who appears
hyperaware of their surroundings. These individuals are
likely to be either protectors (law enforcement, security,
and prepared citizens) or predators. Context will help you
separate the two groups and ascertain who to avoid and
who you can turn to for help.
It’s also important to take note of entry and exit points,
as well as the locks attached to them. In class, we went

043
044
1A/2A: PEACEABLY

moving through the environment. For the most accurate
information, you’ll need boots on the ground.
Each five-person team spent about two hours system-
atically walking through the mall and recording valuable
information via mental notes, text messages, photos,
and videos. This included good hiding places where our
target locks might appear, high-value spots for panhan-
dling, uniformed and plainclothes security guards who
might interrupt us, and choke points where we could
“card” someone and walk away without being noticed.
We returned to the classroom to share our findings and
build a “mosaic” of all the data we collected.
the man happily provided his name and Instagram
handle, which served as a gateway into his personal life.
We learned the part of the city he lives in, where he went
to school, how long he had been working this job, his
favorite sports team, the type of car he drives, and even
found a few rap tracks he posted on SoundCloud. While
we want to stress strongly that absolutely nothing was
done with the information we found, the exercise was
a somewhat unsettling demonstration of how easy it is
to collect large amounts of personal data with very little
to start with, and just how vulnerable the digital age has
made us to human predators.

Follow the Rabbit Day Two:

One additional objective during the surveillance stage The Operation
was to find a “rabbit,” a nickname derived from the skit- After a good night’s rest, we returned to the classroom
tish character in Alice in Wonderland. This was a specific prepared for our operation. Students dressed to match
individual — a complete stranger, chosen at random — their teams’ plans. Some went for a nonthreatening
who could be “researched” via open-source intelligence church group appearance — clean-shaven, with neatly
(OSINT) techniques, based on information provided in combed hair, khakis, and pastel-colored button-down
idle chitchat. This is a technique commonly used by all shirts. Others looked disheveled, with wrinkled clothing
sorts of people for a laundry list of nefarious purposes.
Below: One team
Criminals use it to assess your material value or net
of students
proved the worth for robbery or kidnapping. Aggressive social media
effectiveness “activists” use it to “dox” people who oppose their cause.
of a brazen “act At the time this article is being written, during the rapid
like you belong” fall of Afghanistan, the Taliban are using these methods
strategy by to locate and hunt down fellow countrymen who sup-
pretending to be
ported U.S. and NATO efforts against them.
a maintenance
crew as they In our case, one member of our class found a young
removed locks man working at a kiosk in the center of the mall and
with bolt-cutters. started up a conversation with him. After a few minutes,
 THE ART OF
EXPLOITATION
and messy hair suggesting homelessness. A few dis-
guised themselves in high-visibility vests and hard hats
to imply that they were working on a construction crew.
Props were also incorporated — smashed cell phones,
cameras, donation jars, and official-looking clipboards
with sign-up sheets.
Our team decided to primarily focus on fundraising,
assigning three individuals to this task. Two members
staked out the top of an escalator, looking for targets
who might be easily persuaded to part with a few dollars.
These well-dressed members politely approached strang-
ers and asked for donations for a charitable cause, while
a third student in plainclothes scanned the area for mall
cops and anyone else who might tell us to get lost.

Students cau-
tiously placed looked for individuals who might be willing to allow her to
cards on a vari- borrow a cell phone.
ety of people at After spending about an hour and a half on these
the mall, includ-
Meanwhile, one of our team members with lockpicking tasks, we all reported back to the food court to collabo-
ing shoppers,
experience walked the perimeter searching for hidden employees, and rate on the final phase: carding. We picked a sales associ-
pink locks. Awareness was critical, both to find the locks even two oblivi- ate in a department store as our mark. One member of
ISSUE 46

and to keep an eye out for anyone who might be watch- ous security the group approached to ask innocuous questions about
ing us remove them. The final member, a young woman, guards. products, while another brushed by behind the associate

045
 THE ART OF
EXPLOITATION
price — he got spit on by a pedestrian who told him to go
get a job.
As for the pink locks, our team didn’t see a single one.
It turns out one of the other teams (the aforementioned
hard-hat and high-vis-vest-wearers) immediately did a lap
of the mall with a large pair of bolt cutters and cut off most
of the locks. Plenty of people saw them, but thanks to their
uniforms, nobody questioned their behavior. The remain-
der were found and picked or shimmed by other teams.
A few students were even helped by total strangers who
wanted to join in the fun.

It Takes One to Know One

“Black magic is weaponized psychology,” says Calderon.
An expert manipulator is as clever and convincing as a
magician, but leaves a wake of victims who couldn’t figure
out his trickery. These criminals don’t receive training from
the CIA, graduate from SERE school, or take classes from
well-known instructors. They hone their craft through drug
deals, gang connections, prison time, and a hard life on the
street. For them, exploitation is a fact of life.
Although you can’t (and would never want to) directly
replicate that experience, the best way to understand it is
to get a small taste of it. Back in 1643, Japanese swordsman
Miyamoto Musashi wrote this:
to place the card on his back. A third person discreetly “Do not sleep under a roof. Carry no money or food. Go
took photos from a nearby aisle, while the remaining two alone to places frightening to the common brand of men.
acted as lookouts. After the card was placed, the point Become a criminal of purpose. Be put in jail, and extricate
man said, “I’ll come back later. What’s your name so I can yourself by your own wisdom.”
give you credit for the sale?” Immediately after this, we Calderon believes that the best warriors possess some
all split in different directions before anyone could notice characteristics common to liars, cheaters, and thieves but
what happened. choose to use those skills for good. Although this class cer-
tainly pushed us out of our comfort zone, it also helped us
The Results develop a heightened sense of awareness and threat iden-
Our team was able to successfully place one Loteria tification in urban areas. After all, it’s hard to scam
card, but an attempt to place a second proved unsuc- someone who knows the playbook.
cessful, since the next store was too busy and we couldn’t
isolate an employee.
After returning to the classroom, we determined that we
had made three phone calls — our female teammate
was able to elicit sympathy to accomplish this task.
Right: At the
Aside from that, our results weren’t so good. Despite
completion of
the class, each our best efforts, mall patrons proved to be reluctant
student re- to donate any money, and our fundraising efforts only
ceived a patch brought in a few dollars. Even for extroverts, it’s uncom-
depicting a wolf fortable to ask strangers for cash, especially after several
in sheep’s cloth-
rejections. If you’re not experienced in face-to-face social
ing — a lasting
engineering skills, don’t expect to be successful.
reminder of the
adaptability of The most efficient panhandler gathered more than $30
urban preda- by setting up on a street corner with a cardboard sign that
tors. said “27 days homeless, please help.” However, it came at a
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048 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
1A/2A: AND TO PETITION

C NOTE
SHOPPING
SPREE
Could You Last 72 Hours in an Unfamiliar
Location on Just $100? We Challenged
Three People to See What They’d Spend
Their Money On
By RECOIL OFFGRID Staff
 ISSUE 46

OFFGRIDWEB.COM 049
050 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
1A/2A: THE GOVERNMENT

Morgan Rogue’s Approach

Being in an urban setting can be limiting, but also has
many advantages. In this instance, I’m thinking of my par-
ticular urban setting, which would be in Alaska where water
is mostly abundant, but our big cities are still pretty typical
urban environments. The time of year is summer, so it’ll
probably rain, but at least it won’t be in negative temps with
snow covering the ground.
One of the many benefits of an urban setting is the
scavenging. There’s a lot of trash that could be repurposed. If
you have the time, there’s also dumpster diving, which could
result in a few goodies. Be sure to carefully inspect any food
items you may come across to prevent getting sick. Illness or
injury aren’t your friends in any scenario, but especially not
a survival scenario. Here’s the gear I chose to purchase with
$100 and why.
Ax ($12.48): An ax is pretty versatile. It can be used to
chop down limbs from trees, cut up paracord, dig, and even
serve as a defensive item. This will hang out on my belt;
though I’d try to conceal as best as I could, I would want this

I
as easily accessible as possible.
Money easily s survival cost prohibitive? We asked ourselves that Sillcock key ($11.02): Since I’ll be in an urban area, there’ll
circumvents very same thing and decided to challenge a few of be an opportunity to get water from spigots attached to the
problems, so
our regular contributors to see how far they could outside of buildings. I’d only be doing this in a survival situa-
this challenge
forced our stretch 100 bucks. We asked them to envision what tion; a sillcock key should not be used for everyday reasons.
contributors to they’d need in an unfamiliar urban setting with mild Tarp ($4.42): I didn’t originally want a tarp, because they
think creatively
weather (60 to 80 degrees F) with the following parameters: can be bulky and heavy, but my local stores were out of
and spend their
limited budget 72-hour time frame: The resources you buy will need to almost all emergency sleep systems, so I got creative. This
wisely. get you through the next three days relatively unharmed. tarp is fairly light. I wouldn’t only be using it as shelter, it’d
Consider protection from the elements, self-defense, and any also be used as a backpack to carry my stuff when I’m on
other tools you might need for this urban setting. the move. Plus, tarps are a common sight in urban areas.
No escape: We want you to consider how you’d manage
your limited cash and prioritize supplies, so you can’t simply
call a cab and buy a ride to a safer location.
No assistance: You’re in this alone, so you can’t just find a
phone and ask for help from law enforcement or flag down
a passerby.
No shelter: You’ll be stuck sleeping on the streets and
cannot buy a room at a hotel.
No food: You can probably find water to drink from a tap
somewhere in the city, but won’t have any way to carry it.
And unless you’re going to dig through dumpsters for food
or live with the discomfort of hunger pains, you should con-
sider including a source of calories in your $100 budget.
Scavenging is OK: It’s permissible to gather additional
resources from your environment, but you should only do
so legally. For example, using public water fountains and
electrical outlets is allowed, but shoplifting is not.
See what everyone’s procurements consisted of to further
understand what your options are if you can only survive
with what you can purchase and find.
 C NOTE
SHOPPING SPREE
ticular headlamp came with batteries, so that was a win-win, Left: Using
the tarp as a
I didn’t have to spend extra money on batteries. I also prefer
backpack.
being hands-free as much as possible.
Toilet paper ($1.68): Still gotta go, even in a survival situ- Bottom left: Have
ation! the ax handy for
whatever I may
Tent pegs ($2.98): Since I have a tarp, I’d most likely want need it for.
to set it up as a shelter and these lightweight tent pegs will
certainly help. We have pretty soft ground so these will do
just fine. If I were in an area with a lot of rock or clay, these

This would help me blend in.

Food ($20.86): This scenario reminded me of how I’d
pack my go-bag. I don’t want to hassle with boiling water for
freeze-dried foods. I wanted ready-to-eat foods that I could
eat on the go and of course, wouldn’t require any refrigera-
tion. I chose a variety pack of Nature Valley bars, three-pack
of tuna salad kits, and 12-pack of fruit pouches. These foods
won’t fulfill my total nutritional or caloric needs, but they'll
certainly help keep me motivated for 72 hours. Any food will
be better than no food, and I may be able to scavenge food
or wild edibles around the city or the outskirts.
Water filter ($22.97): Though I’d be getting a majority of
water from the spigots using the sillcock key, I wanted the
option to purify that as well. In addition to purifying water
from a wild source if needed, this particular filter comes with
a bag to fill with water. I’d normally want to carry more water
or water bags, but since I’m in an area with an abundance of
water sources, I wasn’t too concerned with being able to refill
my bottle easily. I may also be able to scavenge additional
plastic bottles. With a little rinse and some soap from a
nearby park bathroom, they’d be good to use.
Emergency blanket ($1.98): In this scenario, the temps
would be between 60 to 80 degrees F, so an emergency
blanket would be nice for a quick layer, or to lay on top of. I
could also scavenge some newspapers as additional layers
ISSUE 46

on top or bottom for sleeping purposes.

Headlamp ($8): Light is helpful, that’s for sure. This par-

051
 C NOTE
SHOPPING SPREE
may not work out so well. Knowing your area will be key to would even be possible.
picking out proper tent spikes. I wrapped it all up in the tarp, tied some cordage around it,
Cordage ($3.43): Again, if I want to make a shelter, some and slung it over my shoulders to use as a backpack. I left the
cordage will be useful. This cordage also came in handy headlamp around my neck and ax on my belt, both for easy
when I wanted to make the tarp into a backpack. The cord- access. Water would come out and stay out after the first use,
age isn’t comfortable, that’s for sure, but if it became a really for easy access.
bad, unbearably uncomfortable issue, I can always pad with The purpose is to survive. With these items, as well as the
moss or something else that I scavenge. clothes on my back and some scavenging, I believe I’d be
Spork ($2.27): After purchasing this I realized I had no fine for 72 hours. It wouldn’t be a walk in the park, but it would
need for it. Not even the tuna packs would need this, as they keep me alive for the next phase, which would hopefully be
come with their own mini utensils. I had originally picked this getting my booty out of the city.
up because my first thought was to purchase freeze-dried The one thing I didn’t get but wanted? A first-aid kit. I looked
meals. But once I nixed the freeze-dried meals, I didn’t put pretty hard, actually. Many, many items were out of stock in
Right: You can't the spork away, so I suppose now I’m stuck with a nice spork. the store I purchased from. Being creative is what really made
always buy the Total spent: $94.12 this all come together. I also had to purchase the sillcock key
best quality on
Since I had a little leftover, I could purchase a couple in a separate store.
short notice,
but duct tape small things around the city such as bottles of water, a Everyone will choose different items based on skill set and
saves the day. sandwich, or other necessities. It's good to have a little region and that’s what makes this exercise unique. Though
Reinforcing the
cash on you. It really depends on the situation if this it’s not perfect, I’d highly recommend everyone do this if you
corners of cheap
shower curtains have a disposable $100. After spending that money, you’d
makes for a have $100 worth of gear you can now test out and enjoy, or
sturdier shelter. realize you hate it and never buy it again. Either way, you’ll be
a little better prepared.
Below: Anyone
who has spent
time outdoors Alexander Crown’s Approach
knows that
An urban setting with only $100 and we must survive 72
establishing
a routine hours? In this scenario, there’s no civil unrest, no natural/man-
and having made disaster; we’re basically homeless for three days. $100
entertainment is generous considering what your basic needs for this time
can go a long
way to staying
period are.
mentally intact. I am opting for the stealth camper approach and plan to
set up shop for three days in a wood line along a hiking/bik-
ing trail in town. Parts of this area can span 50 to 75 yards of
thick brush and woods, giving an ideal spot to make a small,
camouflaged dwelling to hunker down in. In my urban area,
this trail parallels the river, which is going to provide me with
the valuable resource of water and entertainment. My goal is
to hunker down and maintain noise and light discipline — so
no fires and no unnecessary movement. Water resupply will
be performed in the early morning and evening. I want to
look like any other person out on the trail for a nice walk.
To keep a somewhat realistic setting, I chose two stores
within walking distance of each other and about 2 miles from
the walking path area. The first store where I hoped to meet
most of my basic needs was the Dollar Tree. At this first stop I
was able to purchase the following items:
Leopard print scarf: “Camouflage” and acts as a bandana,
which has countless uses.
Cotton T-shirt: The shirt is brown and will add to blend-
ing in and can also be used for initial water filtration, stuff
sack and most importantly a pillow when shoved with
 C NOTE
SHOPPING SPREE
allowing socks and feet to dry out will keep your dogs from
barking, so an extra pair of socks seemed ideal. These are
women’s, but fortunately for me I have smaller feet.
(2) Pencils: These are mostly for the Sudoku book, but
some of the pages could also act as a journal for intel collec-
tion or random important thoughts.
(2) Shower curtains: The main portion of the small lean to
shelter. These are dark in color and relatively thin, so I opted
for two of them in case of rips. If only one is needed to get a
roof over my head, the other will act as a stuff sack for leaves
and grass to create a small, insulated sleep cushion.
BIC lighter: A mainstay of survival. Although I don’t have
the intention of creating a fire, I want the option and with the
large candle I can have a small light at night and maybe bring
my temperature inside the shelter up if insulated well enough.
Candle (not charged): While being rung up with the items,
the cashier mistakenly missed this. I do feel bad, however,
in this instance it’s a bonus item and didn’t take away from
my funds. I’d want to half bury this candle to ensure it isn’t
Making sure leaves and grasses. knocked over and would only use it sparingly to maintain light
everything fit Small backpack: I bought this not knowing if I would be discipline.
in a discreet
able to find a better bag within my price later. I was, so this is Total Spent: $22.26
package was my
overall goal, and now for organizing within the larger bag. The next store I went to was Fred Meyer, a large chain gro-
this bag was the 72-count baby wipes: These are for toilet paper replace- cery store that has the usual camping section. I was unable
best I could find.
ment and other personal hygiene. to find a suitable blade at the dollar store, or at least one I felt
While the small
camp hatchet is a Sudoku book: This will be a long 72 hours, so keeping comfortable using for general field work so my goal at this
diverse tool, from some form of entertainment felt necessary. store was water and cutting. I think I was able to accomplish
shelter building Drink mix: This has a very high amount of vitamin C and this relatively well.
to defense, the
will break up the water monotony. Backpack: During the time of this writing, it was back-to-
downside of
something this Instant coffee: This will help give a little jolt of caffeine school time so many stores had school supplies. This back-
cheap was the when needed and will make the water less boring. pack was on sale from $10 to $8 and appeared large enough
edge left a lot
X2 Sardines: Sardines are excellent survival food with to fit everything I needed and looked like a regular backpack. I
to be desired.
Keeping it in the high amounts of protein and omega-3’s. These two cans don’t expect it to last forever, but it’ll get the job done.
bag didn't lend have 300 calories total, and I plan to eat one on the first day Camp ax: No decent fixed blades were available at the
itself well to and one on the second day.
quick use when
moving, but it
(1) bottle Tylenol: I expect some aches and pain from
fit the price and sleeping on the ground and, in general, poor sleep, so these
should last much will help with headaches and body aches.
longer than 72
420 feet cotton twine: This will be the main cordage for
hours.
my small shelter combined with the shower curtains.
(2) Snickers bars: High carbohydrate and sugar food for
quick energy, and I really like Snickers bars. Allocation is one
per day for two of the days. Each bar is 250 calories.
Baby Ruth bar: High carbohydrate and sugar for quick
energy and to change it up from the previous Snickers. This
bar is 260 calories.
(2) Peanut butter: Peanut butter is high in fat, carbohy-
drates, and has some protein, making it a great survival food
that is high in calories. These two small tubs equal 3,600
calories and will be a bulk of the calorie intake.
Pair of extra socks: Foot care is extremely important and
 C NOTE
1A/2A: WELL REGULATED SHOPPING SPREE
store so the next best option for accomplishing my goal of 01

a hidden campsite would be the hatchet/ax. It can clear a

small area and help me cut down trees for making the blind
and, if needed, can perform smaller tasks, like sharpening
my sudoku pencil.
Gatorade: Hydration is important, and I wanted a contain-
er to hold water from the river located nearby. These bottles
are made with thick plastic and should survive being filled
and tossed around. The other consideration was the size of
the opening being able to fit the water purification device.
Duct tape: My fear of the backpack breaking fueled this
purchase, but also with the construction of the shelter I
wanted to be able to reinforce the corners of the shower
curtain for tying the cotton twine.
Life Straw: This was on sale and came to $13.96, it was a
simple choice over water purification tabs or lugging around
a gallon jug.
Headlamp: I don’t plan on using the light but want one
available in the event I must get out of Dodge in the middle
of the night due to a curious critter or a two-legged foe. 02 03 01: An impressive
array of gear can
Total spent $71.18.
be had for only
I wanted to go cheap at first to satisfy my most basic $100. Each item
needs and then be able to buy better tools like a knife or ax. here was found
With the extra money I’d most likely purchase more food but at our local dollar
store and they
given my plan to mostly lay around, I didn’t plan to exhaust cost, you guessed
too many calories. The takeaway for me was that $100 can it, a dollar each.
actually get you a decent amount of stuff if you’re only focus-
02: There was
ing on a short time and have a little ingenuity.
a host of things
with the gear you’ll find. Keeping our six parameters in mind, to be used to
Ryan Lee Price’s Approach we scoured the shelves for items that could be used in an tie down other
With inflation through the roof, limited supplies on the emergency situation. things, such as
duct tape, twine,
shelves, and many things backordered until 2022, $100 Food/water: The shelves of the dollar stores are littered zip-ties, nylon
won’t get you very far these days — a couple of family-of-four with a wide variety of food stuffs, from bags of chips, sodas, rope, and bungee
trips to a fast-food joint and you’ll likely just have pennies boxes of pasta to spices, nuts, and canned soup. Look for cords.
remaining, if that. This goes double, if not quadruple, for small cans of high-protein meats like tuna and beef. It’s
03: The biggest
survival gear. You can get a couple of emergency blankets, helpful if the cans have pop-tops so you don’t have to worry catch at the dollar
a portable stove, and maybe a water filter, but that’s about about opening them. There isn’t much in the way of water, stores is first aid
it. However, $100 can’t be stretched very thin, especially if but instead lots of choices for water bottles. Find the sturdi- gear. Cold and
hot chemical
you’re outfitting a no-frills, fly-by-night go-bag for a one- est one with a tight seal. If it has a ring, it can be clipped to compresses that
time-use trip out of town in an emergency. Do you need the your pack as you are travelling. are activated by
top-of-the-line gear? Do you need the name brands? Does a Shelter: Nope, no tents at the dollar store, but they do squeezing them
were a great find,
knife used to punch open a can of soup need to be designed have painter tarps — those low-end extremely thin plastic
as was a variety
by a celebrity and cost a small fortune? Of course not. covers you use when painting your walls. They rip easily of ointments and
The parameters for most any survival kit can be summed and probably won’t make for a good emergency tent, but balms. Gauze,
up a few categories: food/water, shelter, fire, first aid, signal- will keep the rain off of you and your gear in a pinch. Plus, tape, anti-bacterial
gel, and anti-
ing, and safety/light. To my surprise, under those categories they can be used for capturing rainwater or in making a inflammatory
sits an enormous array of gear readily available at the local water distiller. pain medicine
economy stores. Fire: There was a wide variety of fire-making items avail- were included.
Having said that, don’t expect too much. Though there are able. From a box of wooden matches and lighters (two-pack)
a host of gems on the shelves of your local dollar store, don’t to candles and a cans of chafing fuel. We even found a
go in with the idea that you’re going to climb Mount Everest magnifying glass that you could use to start a fire.

1A/2A: MILITIA, BEING
01
02
04
01. Keeping clean is
an important part of
survival. Small wounds
can lead to big infections,
if not properly cleaned.
The pink grooming kit
was a little girlish, but
it went nicely with our
pink sewing kit (so we
combined them). Three-
pack bar of soap, three-
pack of tissues and a roll
of toilet paper will keep
everything shipshape.
Though the toilet paper is
bulky and can be replaced
by the pack of tissue, if
there’s a need for toilet
paper, you’ll be glad you
had it.
02. Canvas gloves as well
as latex gloves will keep
your hands safe when
you need them to be. The
0.7-mil plastic drop cloth
will be nearly useless
when the going gets rough,
03
05
but it’ll come in handy to
shelter under if it rains.
The pack of 28 plastic bags
has a multitude of uses.
03. We packed the tea
candles and about 50
matches in one of the two
small containers, and
we cut the handle off the
magnifying glass so it
would stow in a smaller
space. Take care with the
chafing fuel, as it burns at a
low temperature and takes
longer to cook food with.
04. A host of lighting
tools were found, from
chemical sticks and an
AAA LED flashlight to a
hand-powered flashlight,
a bicycle strobe light and a
two-pack of high-visibility
reflectors that can be
wrapped around your
arm or hung off your pack.
05. We wrapped the five
extra blades of the utility
knife around the outside
of it with a little duct tape.
The cans of sausage and
tuna will help stave off
hunger, and the hard
candy (25 to a pack) is a
refreshing treat to a dry
mouth
06. Without its packaging
and placed into groups,
the items don’t take up
much space, so you can
choose a relatively small
bag … which is one thing
the dollar stores don’t
offer — something to carry
all of this in. However,
everything that could be
ruined if wet was placed
in sealable plastic bags.
Find yourself a sturdy
backpack and you’ll be set
for a couple of days.
C NOTE
SHOPPING SPREE
First aid: One thing the dollar store has in spades is first-
aid gear, so we put together a mini first-aid kit for only a few
dollars. Is it high-quality stuff ? Of course not, but a cheap
Band-Aid that you have to replace every couple of hours
because it won’t stick to sweaty skin is better than no Band-
Aid, right?
Safety/light: There’s no gun aisle or rack of hunting
knives available at the dollar store, but that doesn’t mean
there isn’t a host of things that can be used as protection
(including the utility knife). A large chef’s knife can not only
be used around the campfire, but also to fend off attackers,
and a large two-tined roasting fork can be lashed to a stick
and made into a fishing spear. We found several methods of
light, including one that's powered by a ratchet mechanism
and required no batteries.
Miscellaneous: Canvas gloves, bungee cords, twine, and
nylon rope are staples of the dollar store. The pretty pink
sewing kit for girls contained a dozen needles and thread.
Anti-bacterial wipes, a bag of hard candy, and a couple of
small boxes to seal in small gear are essential items to keep
you clean, organized, and sane. Speaking of sane, a deck of
cards goes a long way in keeping you mentally awake.
In the end, I purchased 68 items at $1 each (plus tax).
Total spent: $73.27
Go Quality or Go Crap?
Handing over $100 at the check-out stand, we wondered
if going cheap (and getting a ton of stuff ) is better or worse
than paying two or three times more and getting higher
quality gear. How many squeezes will this ratchet flashlight
take before it breaks? Can this very thin aluminum foil wrap
a fish without tearing? How long before the bungee cords
snap or the gloves wear through or the twine unravels? Is
paying a dollar for 100 Band-Aids better than paying $50 for
a fully packed first-aid kit? It depends on what you can afford,
as money is a concern to a lot of people.
In a pinch, especially for short-duration scenarios, cheap
gear beats no gear.
06
1A/2A: NECESSARY TO 060 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
F
ew people ever experience actual combat in a
war. And of those who do, fewer still turn that
experience into something positive. Bucky
Pratt is one of these rare individuals who has
faced and grappled with his inner demons
instead of avoiding them or letting them consume his life.
After much introspection, he has turned his passion for trav-
eling and exploration into an example of how others may
learn from his hardships.
From a young age, Bucky had a yearning to explore.
Growing up in rural Oregon provided ample opportunities
to roam the wilderness that he found undeniably enticing. It
was a thrill to jump on a bike and pedal over the horizon to
a friend’s house or grab his trusty BB gun and wander the
edges of farm fields.
Early in his teens, his church provided an opportunity
to go on several mission trips. Compelled to see places he
had never seen, Bucky was exposed to experiences that
changed the trajectory of his life forever. While traveling by
bus down the West Coast of the United States to Mexico
and witnessing the rich diversity of cultures along the way,
Bucky became hooked.
We sat down with Bucky to ask him about what kind of
lessons he’s learned about preparation and daily carry after
visiting more than 20 countries around the world in less
than two years.

RECOIL OFFGRID: What was the catalyst that made you

start thinking about traveling the world?
Bucky Pratt: The desire to travel the world has been there
since I was a small boy. I was always wondering what was
over the next hill or around the bend. It’s what I wanted to
do when I got out of the military, but I was not in the right
headspace. Going through counseling helped me finally
unload some of the burdens of repeated trauma that had
been holding me hostage from pursuing what I wanted.
For many of us, we have lost so many close friends, people
we love. We’ve seen death. We’ve seen the worst of the
world. And death is always looming. She’s patiently waiting
in the corner.
During my first deployment, my brothers and I always
said, if any of us ever passed, we would live our lives in the
best way we could to honor each other. I’m living this life
for my brothers and knowing they would be happy to know
that I’m pursuing my passion. But it just all kind of came to a
point and I was like, it’s time to stop waiting. It’s time to stop
putting things off. I just need to f***ing go for it. Take that
leap of faith, because what’s the worst that happens? You’ve
got to pick yourself up and start over. And even that is great.
Why were you drawn to overseas travel instead of just
exploring or living a minimalist lifestyle in the United
States?
BP: The way I see it, I’m in my 30s, I can backpack around
Above: Enjoying
the world now and probably do it for several years. But a break on the
at some point, I’m going to be that weird old guy who’s Koh Nang Yuan
backpacking and staying in hostels. At that point, then I can view point
after kayaking
go back to the U.S. and explore there. I’ll be older and you
from Koh Tao,
know, maybe my knees won’t be up to the task anymore. Thailand.
Maybe my back won’t be up to it. The chance to live this
way abroad may never happen again, and I had to take it. Left: Wandering
the deep blue
of Chumphon
You must have made many preparations before em- Pinnacle
barking on your journey. Can you tell us what some of near Koh Tao,
Thailand.
them were?
BP: I did a lot of route planning because originally my goal
was to visit 55 countries in a year. I planned numerous
routes, looking at maps, flight paths, difficulty of border
crossings. Once I had a rough route, I dove into visa require-
ments — what countries I had to apply ahead of time or
ISSUE 46

That was one of the best parts about the military — you’re didn’t need a visa to enter. I was also trying to follow the sea-
always challenged in some way. sons and prep for what I thought I would need. I took into

061
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1A/2A: THE SECURITY OF
consideration a reasonable budget. I’ve spent enough time
in adverse conditions, so a slightly more forgiving budget
was important.
The importance of gear I picked up in the military always
carried on with me. There was a lot of time spent pick-
ing gear for this trip. I wanted to pack light, which meant
everything needed to be dual-purpose. I would go to differ-
ent outdoor gear stores on the weekends. Trying on every
40- to 65-liter backpack there was, loaded with 30 pounds
of weight and walk around to get a feel. If you are going
Above: Taking a to spend much time wearing gear, you want stuff that’s
longboat across comfortable.
Inle Lake from
Kalaw, Myanmar.
How many countries have you visited?
BP: Twenty-three during this trip, not even half of what I
set out to accomplish. After the first 14 countries there was
the turning point when I said, f**k this. I was in Europe and
got to the point where if I saw another castle, cathedral, or
cobblestone street, I was going to lose it. And maybe that
sounds pretentious to say, but Europe wasn’t the excitement
I was craving. After being in a combat theatre, going to the
Christmas market in Germany doesn’t sound super exciting
to me.
What is your traveler’s everyday carry?
BP: Most days I bring my day pack with me. I’m using a
Gregory Miwok 18-liter. It has plenty of mileage on it and
looks a little beat up. The important items — passport, first-
aid kit, cash (local and USD), paracord, multi-tool, headlamp,
power bank, pen, notepad, LifeStraw bottle, candy for kids,
Left: Heading spirits for adults, tin cup, eating utensil, bottle opener, and a
toward the train camera. There are other items that come and go depending
tunnel to the Nine
Arches Bridge in on my location and what the day holds.
Ella, Sri Lanka. On my person, wallet, cash (local and USD), cell phone,
 LOST AND
FOUND
knife, flashlight, and ear buds. The knife varies depending
on location. In places that knives are frowned upon, I carry
a small paring knife. If needed for defense, it’ll do the trick,
but I can also ditch it at a moment’s notice due to security
checkpoints or police.

How do you keep your first-aid kit easy to bring along?

BP: Typically, just Band-Aids, sterilizing pads, gauze, gloves,
pressure dressing, super glue, duct tape, and a tourniquet.
Also, some antibacterial or antiseptic cream and eye drops.
That’s about it. I keep it fairly basic. I figure if something’s
worse than that, it’s a sh*tty day, and I’ll need to seek proper
medical services.

Do you find it useful to bring currency?

BP: That generally depends on the country I’m in and
how far the money goes. Typically, I like to keep $50 to
$90 worth of the local currency. I also keep a $100 in U.S.
currency, because if I get in a sticky situation with the cops,
$100 is a small price to pay to not end up in a jail. Some-
Above: Staying
times slipping someone a $20 bill can get you into places light on your feet
that would otherwise be off-limits. while spending
the day exploring
a foreign country
It looks like most of your backpacks and clothing are
is an art. A tried-
darker colors. Is there any particular reason for this? and-true 18-liter
BP: Yeah, I don’t like gear that is high-visibility. I like my gear day pack holds
dark and a little beat up. Makes me stand out a little less the essentials
that come in
— anything to draw less attention is important to me. My handy while
Caucasian complexion already draws enough attention in reducing the bulk
some places. The last thing I need is a ridiculously bright of larger bags.
bag that peacocks.
Left: Size matters!
Small is great for
What type of gear do you keep back wherever you are was to have everything fit in the 65. That would include my a day pack but
resting your head? day pack. Well, I overpacked. When you have more space, a 65-liter main
pack will hold
BP: My main pack is a 65-liter Gregory Baltoro. I originally you add more stuff. I’ve gotten rid of a lot of unneeded the gear and
had bought a 55-liter bag and I was like, wow, I don’t have clothing along the way. I typically go layout everything clothing needed
enough space. When I upgraded to the larger size, my goal every three months and assess what I’ve been using or not for extended
durations.
using. My rule is, if I haven’t used it in 60 to 90 days, I toss it.
Most simple items can be bought wherever you’re at. Left: Layout
S-Biners are great to have. You hang them on your back- of the main
pack. They don’t take up much space, they’re lightweight pack contents,
which includes
and make it easy to hang your bag when you need to. everything
They’re so small and convenient. necessary to
Packing cubes have been a game changer. They’re fabric reset at the end
of the day and
cubes that keep everything in place. I wish I would have had
sustain months
them in the military for my rucksack and sea bags. I recall of adventure.
numerous times going through my rucksack looking to the A detailed
bottom right corner where I always kept extra whatever, breakdown of
all the contents
but for some reason the item wasn’t in that spot. You think can be found at:
ISSUE 46

you know where it’s at because you always pack your grmlnglobal.com.
bag the same. Then, you tear your bag apart. I don’t know

063
064
1A/2A: A FREE STATE,
about you, but I hated that in the military. Packing cubes
are especially nice if you are staying in hostels, if you’re in a
dark room, and you don’t want to use a light because you’re
trying to be courteous.
The bag I have is a top, front, and bottom load. A little bit
more vulnerable in some ways, but the convenience of it is
important to me. I also pack braided steel cable with me. A
lot of times if I’m staying in a hostel where they don’t have
lockers, or I’m on a train, I’ll take that and I’ll loop it through
my backpack to avoid anyone easily snagging my bag
when I’m out or asleep.
Before arriving in a new country, what are the steps you
take?
Below: Diving
BP: I do preparation ahead of time before I arrive to a new
in the Gulf of
Thailand. place. I always look up the location of the embassy or
consulate. Get a local SIM card. Make a reservation at an ac-
Bottom: commodation, even if it’s just for one night. I’d rather know
Exploring the
depths of the where I’m going for one night than show up and have no
Andaman Sea. clue. I use an offline GPS map app to mark locations — that
way if I can’t get a SIM card, at least I have the locations
marked and I can just look at the map and figure out my
route to get there. Figure out where the closest medical
facility is. Look up local news, crime rates, etc. When I arrive
to an accommodation, I assess the area. That includes en-
try/exit points of the building, security cameras, fire exits, is
there staff on duty 24/7, etc. After checking in, I try to make
a habit of conducting an expanding square around the ac-
commodation.
Have you ever changed your mind about staying at a
shady place?
BP: Yeah. There’s been times I’ve rolled up and checked
around and decided it wasn’t for me. But also, when I’m do-
ing preparation, like the cost of a place will say a lot. Now it’s
not always this way, but if it’s a $3/night hostel, the chances
of it being a shady place with easy access goes up. If there
is a place with a higher price, I’ll pay a couple extra bucks
to stay somewhere nice. But yeah, I’ll move out of area that
rubs me the wrong way. Location is a big thing — if it’s off
the beaten path or it’s in a spot that’s weird to get to, those
are things that will make me find a different location. The
area has a lot to do with it.
Another thing is the staff. If something about the staff
seems off, I might change my mind about where I am stay-
ing. There have been places with signs of forced entry into
the room. I stayed at this hotel in Cairo, and the door to my
room looked like it had been broken into more than a few
times. That place made me a little uncomfortable, but my
friends picked it and I was not about to ask them to rebook.
I just made sure to not leave anything of value in my room
while I was gone. I usually used steel cable to secure my big
bag inside of a wall cabinet. Was it super secure? No, but a
slight deterrent.
After spending over a year abroad living out of your
backpack, what items will you change or add on your
next trip?
BP: I will add a couple more items to my medical kit, such
as QuikClot, a quality poncho, lock pick set, counter-custody
items, and a high-viz panel. You just never know when you’ll
need something to get out of a sticky situation. I will also
pack less overall. It’s pretty easy to get stuff anywhere in the
world. It might not be the highest quality, but it’ll do the trick
in a pinch.
Looking back, is there anything you think you should
have added to your planning process?
BP: I would have planned to do less. After the first 14 coun-
tries, I was really burned out, moving too fast. Feeling rushed
is not fun and you miss out on the good stuff. By slowing
066
1A/2A: THE RIGHT

BP: I would tell people, just be open minded and be willing

to try new things. I have to say this quote. It’s by Pico Iyer:
“We travel, initially, to lose ourselves; and we travel, next, to
find ourselves. We travel to open our hearts and eyes and
learn more about the world than our newspapers will ac-
commodate. We travel to bring what little we can, in our ig-
norance and knowledge, to those parts of the globe whose
riches are differently dispersed. And we travel, in essence,
to become young fools again — to slow time down and get
taken in, and fall in love once more.”
I feel like we need to try slowing down. Life does not
need to be as busy and hectic as it’s made out to be. Screw
the rat race, man. Travel should be a thing where you slow
down smell the roses. And I don’t know, I feel like it’s just so
built into our DNA to move around. The instinct to explore
and see what’s over the next hill. I just tell people, you know,
Above: Bucky down you get to see more of the country you’re in. It also find something, and go for it. Don’t be scared of the un-
stands with
brings down costs a little due to less transportation cost. known, instead embrace the fear of the unknown and dive
friends next to a
retired scientist in in. Growth is found in the uncomfortable situations.
Vattakanal, India. You’re out there in the great wide world roughing it.
The gentleman What are your thoughts about how average people Final Thoughts
kindly invited
Bucky and his might react taking on this kind of challenge? Selling off the majority of your worldly possessions to
companions BP: What a lot of people in society lack is challenge. Travel- backpack the globe may or may not be for you. But the
into his home ing like this, for me, is the kind of challenge that is mean- lessons learned are applicable to almost anyone, almost
for coffee and
ingful. I like living out of a backpack and having very little. anywhere. They’re tried, tested, and confirmed across geo-
conversation.
I enjoy exploring new places. I may be slightly uncomfort- graphic, cultural, and socioeconomic borders. Bucky can be
able, or in an adverse location, but it also makes me feel found on Instagram under the handle @grmln_global for
Right: Watching more alive than ever. It’s the closest I’m getting to having more advice and introspection from around the world.
the ground the adrenaline and the joys of past experiences, and I have
get further
away while
made it a part of my road to recovery. After all my planning,
crossing the it all comes together. It’s inspiring me to open more doors,
Goteik viaduct you know, I don’t want to be held back. I want the rest of my
while en route
life to be a better story than what preceded it.
to Mandalay
from Hsipaw,
Myanmar. Have you made any meaningful connections during
your travels?
BP: That’s the interesting thing about traveling. You make
connections quickly. It’s very reminiscent of being in the
military in that way, because you’re able to make these
strong connections in a short time. Not that I still stay in
touch with a lot of people, but there are a few people that I
have and will continue to stay in touch with. And sometimes
as much as I like to say I would rather avoid people, life re-
ally does come down to connections. Companionship, not
in an intimate way, just companionship. What I’ve learned
and experienced is so valuable and mind-opening. Espe-
cially today where people aren’t communicating as freely as
previous years.

Is there anything else you would like to pass along to

anyone reading this?
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68
1A/2A: OF THE PEOPLE OFFGRIDWEB.COM
Survivors Recount How Their Lives
Were Affected by Civil War
By Hollie McKay
O
ver my years as a war reporter and war
crimes investigator, I am often left in awe of
the individuals I meet who have survived the
most unfathomable things humans do to
each other. I’ve sat with people who’ve had
their body parts surgically removed by aggressors, women
who have been raped until they can no longer move, and
children whose tiny bones have been cracked and crushed
without mercy.
But for those who survive, the silver lining that shines
through them is as miraculous as it is tragic. I’ve often been
struck by how these ordinary people, with no formal training
or skills, are forced to become extraordinary at the drop of a
hat — or a bomb. The resilience to withstand the pain (both
physical and psychological), to push through the darkness,
and to find the thread of hope in the bundle of misery has
left me both perplexed and inspired.
In documenting the lives of a few of these individuals, I
hope to shine a light on just how strong the human mind
can be when it comes to holding on. I hope to illuminate our
ability to prepare for and push through a crisis as it dawns.
And above all, I hope to instill what it means to rise above be-
ing a victim and into the terrain of survivor, and to seek inner
peace long after the torment and war has subsided.
Syria
One moment, Samer Scher was one of the multitude of
passionate political college students flooding the wide and
dusty streets of Modamiyeh, Syria, chanting for free and fair
and elections. The next moment, gunfire from forces loyal to
the Bashar al-Assad regime ripped through the open air and
those he knew and loved fell to the ground.
As panic and lawlessness erupted in the cool spring after-
noon, just like that, Samer knew that their peaceful revolution
had fallen down the rabbit hole of a violent war — a war from
which he and his country would never return.
“All we wanted was a future. Back then, if you didn’t have
a link to the regime, you couldn’t get a good job; you had no
future,” Scher, now 29, lamented from the safety of his small
home on the outskirts of Berlin, Germany. “Animals had a
better life than we did. We did not just want to receive deci-
sions. We wanted to be part of the decision-making process.”
But from that very first barrage of bullets on the first
day of their peaceful protests, the bloodshed and distrust
only deepened. At any moment, anyone suspected of
being part of the cadre opposing the Damascus overlords
70
1A/2A: TO KEEP

Left: Rebels in
the fight against
ISIS and the
Syrian regime.
Photo courtesy
Rojava Informa-
tion Center.

Below: Samer
Scher

could be ripped from their homes and never seen again.

Scores would be thrown into jails in the bowels of the earth,
where they were subject to rape and torture. Many would
be burned and blown apart, as bombs slammed into their
bedrooms while they slept.
Samer, who was working as a volunteer medic at a local
clinic, anxiously accepted that it was only a matter of time
before the brutal enforcers came for him too. He had already
seen bullets wedged into the eyes of screaming children
and shrapnel searing the flesh of babies as they breathed
their last breaths. He was left with the memory of a quiet
conversation with a close friend, only to see that very friend
shredded into pieces the very next day as a result of a shell
slicing his body.
After three terrifying days of heavy fighting on the edge of
his besieged hometown between the Free Syrian Army (FSA)
rebels and Assad’s Army — a conscripted military — Assad’s
forces breached the blockade and stormed in. It was August
22, 2012.
“I stayed in my home; there was nowhere to go,” Samer,
who speaks softly with glazed eyes, continued. “It was a
matter of chance — maybe the regime would come for your
home, or maybe they would go for the home next door.”
Yet after nights of sleeplessness, Samer’s fogged eyes
made out the shadows of soldiers peeking through the
holes of his thin walls. Then, the soundtrack: gunshots crack-
ing, footsteps, and the sounds of his front door crashing to
 COULD IT
HAPPEN HERE?

the ground. He felt boots pelting

against his limp body, splintering
his bloody mouth, and then the
chilling threats that they were go-
ing to shoot him.
“They were humiliating me, call-
ing me a dog, a terrorist, insulting
my family. Every one of those men
— about 25 of them — were all tak-
ing a hit,” Samer said as if sifting
through a graveyard of memories.
“It was an unimaginable fear; I
thought they would arrest me and
take me to an intelligence branch.”
First, the soldiers carted Samer
around the apartment building
like a human shield — holding him
up in case anyone opened fire as
they knocked down a door. At one
point, they propelled him into a
bathroom, and when he turned
around, he was staring down the
barrel of an AK-47 at close range.
“I begged them to spare my
soul, that I was just a college stu-
dent,” Samer recalled.
But a bullet catapulted through
his rib, another into the bottom of his arm, then another strained face thawing into a wistful smile. “That’s the best I Above: A pro-
cleaved below his shoulder. Samer said the only pain he can do to protect my future family.” democracy pro-
tester is pushed
felt was the pain of fear. Facedown in a pool of crimson, he
to his knees by
counted three more bullets entering his body and a seventh China riot police near
shattering the wall right by his head. He remained motion- Jennifer Zeng’s crumble into suffocating oppression occupied area
less for what felt like an eternity until the laughter and chimes under the fist of China’s Communist Party (CCP) was belea- in Mongkok dis-
of “he’s dead” faded out. guered from the beginning. She entered the world in the trict in October
2014.
Samer managed to drag himself down a flight of crooked Sichuan province in 1966, the year that the Mao Zedong’s
stairs and phone a friend for help. However, his miraculous Cultural Revolution — the great sociopolitical purge to ce-
tale of survival would only become dizzying as the war inten- ment communism — began.
sified into chemical attacks and mortar showers — until one Since her father was part of a secret “intellectual” crowd,
day in 2015. He was given passage to flee into neighboring he was always on the oust of Beijing’s militant leadership and
Turkey, an opportunity he felt would be his last chance at life. subsequently ostracized. This meant that Jennifer was born
From there, he boarded a rickety boat to Greece and then in a clinic where her parents couldn’t afford to pay bribes for
moved through to Germany. Today, he’s trying to move on the best medical care. As a result, a blood transfusion gone
with life and studies, yet not leave behind the Syrian war that wrong in her first few days of life left her with hepatitis C.
protracts into its eleventh year. Ironically, it was that liver-ravishing condition that
“I don’t know why I survived. I would say it is God’s will. I would, decades later, save her life. Her early life was
ask myself why me, and still, I have no answer,” Samer said. plagued with mandatory “re-education” classes on the
Physically, he’s no longer able to lift his right arm. Psycho- fringes of an isolated town, forcibly separated from her
logically, Samer is awash with an unrelenting desire to keep mother. Any minor change her father wanted to make,
fighting for his country — this time with his voice. from work to moving to a different house, couldn’t be
ISSUE 46

“I’m going to run for parliament in Germany,” he noted, his done without government approval.

71
72
1A/2A: AND BEAR ARMS,
Right: M Tu
Aung outside
the Chinese
Embassy in DC
in April 2021,
protesting the
military take-
over in Burma.
“My childhood was very lonely. And because my family
was looked down on by society, I was discriminated against
— even the school would not let me play with other kids,” she
said wistfully, her eyes darting off into another world. “We
had to be very careful, and life was very hard.”
She didn’t know then just how much harder it would
become.
It wasn’t until 1997, when Jennifer was in her early 30s
and working in Beijing, that she stumbled upon furtively
distributed books about an emerging spiritual adherence
called Falun Gong. It was a belief system outside the purview
of the authoritarian leadership. For two years, she’d meet
other practitioners to pray and meditate under the shroud of
secrecy.
Then, in the summer of 1999 — after hearing that other
Falun Gong believers were being apprehended — Jennifer
went to the State Appeals Office to plead
their case. But authorities abruptly rounded
her up too. She was stuffed into a detention
center for 48 hours, and her name etched
into a black book that would haunt her for
many more years.
Inside the labor camps, time was double-
edged. The seconds of torture were elastic
— stretching on, with one always waiting for
the tenuous band to snap. But the longer
she could keep propelling through, the
closer she felt to making it to the other side.
Jennifer was arrested for the second
time in February 2000. This time, she was
dragged out from her workplace — an
investment consultant company — and
viciously interrogated at a labor camp in
China’s Da Xing County. Before officials
drew her blood, she informed them that she
had hepatitis C. While she was left to starve
over the coming weeks, many around her
— including her cellmate — dropped dead
from forced feeding.
That’s when Jennifer realized that the organs of Falun
Gong practitioners were being nightmarishly harvested to
meet the demands of a government-run for-profit organ
industry. She was eventually released from this torturous
captivity, but not for long. That April, heavy-handed police of-
ficers plucked Jennifer from her sleep just after the witching
hour with no explanation.
It was only days later that she learned authorities had inter-
cepted an email she had written to her parents, explaining
her zest for the Falun Gong faith despite it being outlawed by
the CCP. While some criticize it as being something of a cult,
Jennifer maintains that her Falun Gong practice is rooted in
meditation and compassion.
But for weeks that swelled into months, Jennifer’s life in yet
another labor camp would fall to the hands of that faith.
“Every day was a struggle between life and death. Most
days, we were forced to squat for 16 hours, with our hands
behind our heads like dogs. Police would immediately apply
electric batons to anyone who fainted to wake them up,” she
said. “On the other days, we were made to stand motionless
in our cell for those 16 hours.”
When Jennifer refused to renounce her religion as “evil,”
prison guards lugged her into a filthy courtyard and whipped
her raw with electric rods until she lost consciousness. Yet,
the worst pain wasn’t physical. It was watching once bright-
eyed humans descend behind the curtain of madness.
“At night, you would hear the screams of those being
 COULD IT
HAPPEN HERE?

tortured. Sometimes, I felt that I would collapse and lose my

sanity. That was the most terrible fear for me,” Jennifer con-
tinued. “You could see the moment when someone would
lose their sanity — when they couldn’t handle the mental
torture anymore. Their eyes changed. Their minds went
somewhere else.”
As soon as she was set free months later, Jennifer knew
that China was no longer home. The only way she would
survive was to be somewhere safe enough to tell the world
what was happening to the Falun Gong practitioners. She
had to make the excruciating decision to leave her 10-year-
old daughter and husband behind and flee first to Australia
as an asylum seeker in 2001. Years later, Jennifer relocated to
the United States, where she has continued her advocacy as
an independent writer.
For now, watching China continue to assault minorities
from the Muslim Uighurs to the Buddhist Tibetans from afar
is like observing a slow-burning home from behind a frosted Above: Church- in fear. We worried, day and night, they would come.”
glass window. The nightmares haven’t stopped, but Jennifer es and activ- Even if there were peaceful moments inside the threads
ists preparing
leans on meditation and deep breathing until the fear fades of the jungle, idyllic in their stillness, they were beset by bit-
supplies in case
away. It’s those pillars of benevolence toward all forms of life ing anxiety. There were no warning signs, Aung said, just a
of a Burmese
that pull her through the darkest of days. Army invasion. crackle of gunfire and howls of panic whenever the troops
“That is the greatest gift, the best skill that I can give my- Photos by Hollie would force their way in.
self,” she says with a smile. McKay. “What I remember most about my childhood is how the
soldiers would just come into our villages and take anything
Burma they wanted. And they would take the people — sometimes
For M Tu Aung, 46, life has always existed as an endless 15 or 16 years old,” he whispered.
cycle of running — running from danger, running into the un- Like many from the region, the more painful the topic,
known, running to lands far away and then running in circles the more the survivor laughs — an uncomfortable defense
in the hopes someone might hear his cries and prayers. mechanism to mask the invisible wounds nested into
“We had to run whenever the military would come in. memory.
They would try to kill all the people, they would set fire to “The Burmese Army would kill and torture — and they
the villages and burn down the churches,” recalled Aung. He would rape,” he said slowly. “I remembered the faces of the
was raised in the predominantly Christian Kachin State of young girls and women who they would take away to rape.
Burma — also known by its 1989 regime re-title Myanmar — We didn’t know exactly where they were taking them, but
during a time of socialist military governance. “If you could the ladies — most of them — never came back.”
not run, if you were not fast enough, you would be taken by
the Burmese Army. Many times, people were killed, and yet
we could not stop to bury the bodies — if they caught you,
they would kill you. Some of my family members who were
running beside me were caught.”
Burma has been burned alive by endless conflicts and
persecution since the British handed the country back its
independence in 1948. Given the endless wars, Aung never
knew his biological parents and was adopted as an infant. He
also never knew a life not beset by killing fields.
“They (Armed Forces) wanted all the property for
themselves. We always had to run and leave our village and
property behind. Everything would be ruined; the Army has
ISSUE 46

no regard for human life,” he continued. “Every day, we lived

73
74
1A/2A: SHALL NOT

Aung believes he only survived a tumultuous upbringing feels the urge to keep running. He’s calling for the interna-
because his adoptive parents moved him to Rakhine State tional community to step in and support a transitional gov-
when he was 15, a state that — back then — was somewhat ernment in that illustrious chase for a free and fair election,
less butchered. calling for the people of Burma to decide their fate.
A decade ago, Aung was granted asylum in the United And despite 10 years in the United States, Aung clings to
States with the wild hope for a better life. He studied for an a life of trauma that reminds him he may never truly know
MBA and opened a small business in Maryland. He fell in what it is to be safe and secure. He leads a minimalist life
love with another refugee from Burma, married and had with no stockpiling — when all one knows is to run, less is
three children, and is heavily involved in the local community more — and his body is engulfed by chills at the mere sight
of Baptists churches. of any uniformed soldier.
But it’s the place he left behind that occupies his mind “Even here in the U.S., I just don’t want to see a soldier. It
during most waking hours. He exhibits a dogged devotion scares me,” he notes with a nervous giggle. “All that is really
in reaching out to the powers of Washington as an active left, all we can do, is pray for protection. That helps us a lot.”
leader in the Nationalities Alliance of Burma, a network of
ethnic nationalities organizations based in the United States. Egypt
“It has always been about a ‘burmainization’ of the coun- Then, there’s the case of Mohammed Soltan, 33, in which
try, of everyone else not in the military circle being treated as the torture of the unknown still visits him at night. His father
second class,” Aung lamented. “The Burmese military wants “disappeared” months ago into the depths of an Egyptian
us out to protect themselves. It is why they are killing protes- prison. Last year, intelligence officials informed him that
tors and civilians every day.” prison guards broke his dad’s jaw and his teeth, yelling that it
Some of Aung’s frustrations have stemmed from the was his son’s “treachery” for which he must pay the price.
notion that little has been conveyed to the public about the Yet Mohammed, a former Egyptian political prisoner
suffering of Christians in Burma. Most of the world is painfully himself, refuses to be silenced. He also refuses to wear the
aware of the persecution that the Muslim Rohingyas have weight of guilt that his dad is suffering because of his vocal
endured in recent years in the Rakhine State he settled in as activism against the military leadership in Cairo.
a teen, with many forced to flee into bordering Bangladesh. “I won’t take that on,” Mohammed said defiantly. “That is
Mohammed Aung said Christians have also been slaughtered and have on them.”
Soltan had their houses of worship razed into nothingness, but His father and five cousins are being housed in the
have been “weak” recesses of the very same underground prison Mohammed
at conveying the was thrown into in August 2013.
situation on social But his journey of political activism was one of default. He
media. grew up in what he describes as simple, rural American life
“The ethnic in the Midwest — white picket fences, sprinkler summers,
cleansing has and frosty winters. But when the 2011 Arab Spring erupted in
been happen- Egypt, the place of his heritage, Mohammed wanted to expe-
ing since long rience what he hoped would be real change in the region.
before that of the “I remember watching the protests in my history class at
Rohingya people,” Ohio State University and just knowing that I needed to be
Aung stressed. there,” Mohammed recollects. “I left the airport and went
Watching his straight to Tahir Square. It was February 11, and longtime
homeland once President Hosni Mubarak stepped down. It felt like the whole
again be dipped in trajectory of my life had changed. It seemed like a dream.
chaos and blood The young people of Egypt had spoken, and we had taken
following the our country back.”
coup in February Only his dream of freedom fast descended into a night-
2021, in which the mare. After completing his studies in the U.S., Mohammed
military wrestled moved with his father to Egypt in March 2013 to build a life
power back from working with the newly elected Mohamed Morsi leader-
the first civilian ship. However, just a few months later, Egyptians poured
government, Aung into the streets to showcase their displeasure at Morsi,

setting up a succession of clashes.
After a few days of demonstrations, the country’s former
defense minister Gen. Abdel Fattah el-Sisi oversaw a contro-
versial takeover of power. That part of it had been relatively
sudden, Mohammed said. There had been no warning signs
to get out early. It seemed that the transition would be one
decided by the people ... until it was not.
“I was very scared that the military was coming back and
interrupting a democratic space. We had hoped there might
be a referendum,” Mohammed continued.
The summer flared with the heat of protests and confu-
sion swarming the streets, both in support and in objection
to the Army’s government overhaul. Mohammed had been
live-tweeting about the chaos erupting around him at Rabaa
Square when a bullet zipped past his head. But before he
could breathe relief at the near miss, another bullet tore
through his arm.
While attempting to tend to his wound without access
to proper medical care, Egyptian authorities burst through
his home. They were initially looking for his dad, who wasn’t
there. So instead, Mohammed was taken away in what would
amount to months of beatings, cigarette burns melting his
unwashed flesh, the cracks of his bones breaking and the
gut-wrenching feeling of his left shoulder dislocating from his
deltoid muscle.
He remembers nails being pressed into his wasting frame
during regular torture sessions, and the way his angst would
spew into anger every time authorities attempted to force-
feed him. Each time, he’d immediately tear the IV drip out of
his weakening body.
While behind bars, Mohammed launched a hunger strike
that stretched from months into more than a year.
As an American, Mohammed had a robust government
on his side that was able to demand his release. After 22
months — including 489 days on a hunger strike, wrapped in
despair — he was set free into the sunshine on May 31, 2015.
But as any torture survivor will tell you, there’s never really a
place one can call home. After that, authorities retaliated by
arresting five of his cousins and his father.
Along with the deep pangs of knowing that his dad is
still out there in the darkness of the dungeons, alone and
in misery, Mohammed still frantically jumps at the sound
of keys shaking or doors slamming — sounds that signified
the guards coming into his cell for another round of caustic
games. His stomach violently rejects heavy meals, and being
alone comes with a bundle of distressing solitary confine-
ment reminders.
“I have to keep speaking to myself,” he said. “It’s how I can
assure myself that I am still alive.”
The work is far from over. Mohammed’s life now is stuffed
COULD IT
HAPPEN HERE?
Above: A Syrian with pushing for the release of other political prisoners
National Army around the planet, in what he characterizes as “paying it
tank near the forward.”
combat zone “I didn’t think that I ever would get out of prison, and I
in Damascus,
know that any of us can die at any minute,” he conjectured.
September 2013.
“But I have this second lease on my life to fight for others,
and that’s the lens through which I view everything. That is
why I will be forever grateful.”
Uganda
The upheaval of one’s life isn’t always at the behest of one’s
own government. Sometimes, the lack of stability and internal
corruption of leadership lays the groundwork for external
influences to swoop in and unleash havoc on an innocent
populace.
That’s an eerie narrative that Victoria Nyanjura knows all
too well. She was just 14 years old when insurgents, under
the canopy of Joseph Kony’s Lord’s
Resistance Army (LRA), stole her and
some 138 other girls from their Catho-
lic boarding school in the Kole district
of northern Uganda. These events
unfolded in the dead of the night on
October 9, 1996.
Only Cry for
the Living
Memos from Inside the ISIS Battlefield
Get your copy of Hollie McKay’s latest book
by going to gundigeststore.com/living.
IS
SSUE 46
75
 COULD IT
1A/2A: BE INFRINGED. HAPPEN HERE?

There had been rumblings weeks earlier that the rebel outfit that she wouldn’t be shot at or re-captured, or step on a land
might invade, yet nothing had come of it. When it happened, mine embedded in the muddy tracks.
it came as a scalding shock — grenades detonated in the dark, Eventually, Victoria made it to a displacement camp, where
wild-eyed fighters rattled the gates until they broke, and then she was forced to confront the stigma of surviving sexual
there were the screams. The piercing screams that Victoria will violence and shielding her young from the origins of their
never forget as she glanced up into an abnormally bright sky. conception. Now 39, Victoria recently completed a master’s
“I tried to hide under the bed, but they found me and took degree in global affairs, focusing on international peace stud-
me. I didn’t know what was happening,” she observed, in a ies, at the University of Notre Dame.
small yet stern voice that signified her propensity to push Yet last year, she chose to return to Uganda not only
through. “I did not know whether they would let me live or die. to start explaining to her now-grown children what had
But that was the start of all my misery.” happened, but to support other women and survivors of
Kony’s name and his trail of terror didn’t become appar- traumas with her own non-governmental organization.
ent to most Americans until 2012, when the abuses of his Victoria admitted that she struggles to have any sense of
self-styled militias were brought to light in a viral video focused a typical romantic relationship and accepts that the heal-
on recruiting child soldiers. But for eight years, many moons ing process is jagged with steps forward and steps back.
earlier, it was all Victoria lived and breathed. Thirty of the 139 But her voice is resilient, with a fierce protectiveness
girls were handpicked and dragged away to be bush wives to of her children. She will never let happen to them what
the insurgents. Nyanjura was plucked and tied up with banana happened to her.
leaves so she couldn’t run, and immediately she knew with a “In captivity, I called my daughter Hope. There was no
sinking feeling her life would never be the same. other name I could give her because I just had to have
“Every night, they are having their way with you, and there hope that God would get us home,” Victoria added. “For
is nothing you can do. Everything about captivity is about anyone in a tough situation, I would say never give up on
survival. You either survive, or you perish; there is no in- life. Never give in, never give up. You have to have hope Below: Victoria
between,” Victoria said. “Often, you would see someone fall to for a better tomorrow.” Nyanjura
the ground and think they must be resting, but when you get
closer, you realize they are gone.”
Her years of survival were pockmarked by sucking
raindrops and dew for water, secretly gathering wild fruits
and hoping that they would not be poisonous, sitting in the
sunshine with a body so bruised and swollen, and sobbing to
live. Other times, she was sobbing to die.
Victoria’s “husband” was eventually killed in the fighting
against Ugandan forces, and for years more, she held her
two small children — a daughter and a son — tight and quietly
prayed and wept for the will to keep forging ahead. The LRA
distinguished itself by slicing off victims’ limbs, lips, and noses
— a symbol to instill terror in communities and scar survivors
for life, making them forever dependent on others to get by.
“There were times that I begged to God to let me die, that
things would be better if I were not there,” Victoria confessed.
“I begged if I died; I wanted my children to die too. I wanted us
all to perish together.”
One day, Victoria snapped. By that point, she was 22 years
old, and much of her life had existed in the confines of captiv-
ity, on the tightrope of death and destruction, in the shadow
of the grossest miscarriage of justice. She could not take it
for one moment longer. With that, Victoria swept up her two
children and set off a daring escape that entailed weeks of
weaving through a boundless maze of jungle and gray sheets
of tropical rain, over hills and into valleys of the dead — praying
078
ISSUE 46

A Guide to Using Hemostatic Agents

By Joe Alton, MD

O
ne of the most important skills for the rect pressure with both hands and your full weight on the Even the best-
family medic to master is the ability wound may be successful, but what if it isn’t? Elevation of equipped medic
can run out of
to rapidly stop bleeding (also known a bleeding extremity might help, but what if it doesn’t?
supplies off the
as “achieving hemostasis”). In survival The answer might be growing in your own backyard. grid.
scenarios, bleeding can occur from vari-
ous sources, from a fall on uneven terrain to a hostile
encounter with another group. Failure to properly treat
bleeding wounds can lead to unnecessary deaths among
survivors. A 2013 study reported in Military Times found
that close to 25 percent of the combat deaths in Iraq and
Afghanistan between 2001 and 2011 might have been
survivable with rapid and appropriate actions.
Certainly, the survival medic can save some lives with
the right knowledge, training, and equipment. For exam-
ple, a caregiver with a tourniquet will be more successful
than one without. In addition to tourniquets, there are
commercially available hemorrhage control (also known
as “hemostatic”) agents that are effective in stopping
even heavy bleeding.
The ideal hemostatic agent is one that works quickly,
is easily portable, has few complications, and doesn’t
interfere with tissue healing. Oh, one more thing: It must
be available at a reasonable price. Unfortunately, the
most effective dressings like QuikClot, Celox, and Chi-
toSam aren’t cheap; it may be difficult, financially, for the
average citizen to stockpile enough to deal with multiple
bleeding wounds.
It’s clear that a caregiver in austere settings must im-
provise once the commercial supplies are gone. What op-
tions are out there that could help stop the bleed besides
just applying direct pressure and hoping for the best? Di-
Certain plants are known for their blood-clotting abilities;
it’s important to either grow them in a medicinal garden
or know where they exist in the great outdoors. Some of
the items below may not yet have hard scientific proof
of effectiveness. Despite this, they might be all you have
when the commercial materials run out.
Yarrow
Yarrow (Achillea millefolium), was known in ancient
times as “herba militaris” for its use in staunching the flow
of blood from wounds. Indeed, the Greek hero Achilles
is said to have carried it during the Trojan War. It’s native
to temperate regions almost everywhere in the Northern
Hemisphere, from sea level to altitudes of 11,500 feet.
To stop bleeding, yarrow is normally used as a pow-
der made from grinding dried leaves and flowers, but
applying fresh plant material in a poultice is also accept-
able. Cover with gauze and apply pressure. Elevate if the
wound is in an extremity.
Cayenne Pepper
Cayenne pepper (Capsicum annuum) isn’t just meant
to spice up your meal — the capsaicin in it is thought to
have a coagulating effect on mild bleeding as well as
some antibacterial properties. To be effective, you have
to use a lot of the most potent cayenne you can find in What if direct
powder form. Pour it directly on the wound, cover with pressure isn’t
gauze or other cloth, and apply pressure for several min- enough?
utes. Multiple applications may be needed.
Won’t cayenne pepper powder burn when applied?
Having applied it on myself and seen it applied to bleed-
ing injuries in dogs without a pain response, the answer
is not much.
Tea
For dental bleeding after an extraction, black or green
tea (Camellia sinensis) may be used. Teas contain tannins,
which are thought to help blood to clot by making ves-
sels constrict. They may also have antiseptic properties.
Teas with caffeine are thought to be more effective.
Take a tea bag that’s been steeped and allowed to
cool, wrap in thin gauze, and place on the bleeding area
with pressure. For bleeding after a tooth extraction, have
the patient bite down on the tea bag gently but firmly in
the now-empty socket. If bleeding is from the inside of
the cheek or other area in the oral cavity, place against
the bleeding area and apply pressure on the area from
outside with the mouth closed.
ISSUE 46
Some believe that tea compresses may help with mild
external cuts on the skin. Press a dry green or black tea
079
080
ISSUE 46

Petroleum
jelly dressing
on simulated
wound

bag against the wound, cover with gauze or other cloth, witch hazel can be found at most drugstores.
and apply pressure. Other common plants that have an astringent effect
include plantain, rose, and horsetail. Be aware that people
Witch Hazel may sometimes be allergic to certain plants, so monitor
Witch hazel is a temperate North American shrub. closely for rashes, itching, or other signs of a reaction.
Dental bleeding “Witch” doesn’t refer to practitioners of magic, but the
after extraction
may be
Middle English word for “bendable.” Distilled witch hazel Non-Plant Blood Clotters
controlled with has an astringent effect that tightens skin, constricts While a number of plants are reputed to stop bleed-
tea bags and small blood vessels, and promotes clotting. Apply a small ing, you might be surprised to know that the two main
pressure. amount to a compress and press on the wound. Pure products used in expensive commercial blood-clotters
are actually: 1) a type of clay, and 2) the shells of shrimp
and other crustaceans.

Kaolin Clay
Kaolin clay is the main ingredient in the popular com-
mercial hemostatic agent QuikClot. It was once the main
ingredient in the anti-diarrheal drug Kaopectate (it’s now
Bismuth Subsalicylate, the same ingredient used in Pepto-
Bismol). Kaolin is scientifically proven to stop bleeding.
Contact between kaolin and blood immediately initiates
the clotting process by activating Factor XII, a major
player in the cascade of events that stops hemorrhage.
Kaolin is commercially available for purchase in pow-
der form. Apply the clay powder directly to a bleeding
wound or onto a dressing and then on the injury. Kaolin
dressings can be improvised by dipping cotton gauze or
cloth in water and allowing to dry. Like the commercial
version, firm direct pressure on the area for several min-
utes is required for full effect.
 STOP THE
BLEEDING
It should be noted that kaolin doesn’t cause burns answer to bleeding control in some cases, but certain other
when used. This is the reason that QuikClot switched to common items have the potential to staunch blood loss.
it years ago after bad experiences with the former main
ingredient known as zeolite. Ice
Like some astringent plants, applying ice to a wound will
Chitosan constrict small blood vessels. In minor bleeds, ice might
Chitosan is a naturally occurring part of the exoskel- allow a clot to form more quickly while reducing swell-
etons of crustaceans like shrimp. Processed in a way that ing. Wrap some ice in a clean, dry cloth and place on the
prevents reactions in those allergic to shellfish, it’s highly wound with gentle pressure to avoid traumatizing skin.
effective as a blood-clotting agent and can be found in
products like ChitoSam, Celox, and others. When chitosan Antiperspirants
products come into contact with blood, they bond with Some antiperspirants contain aluminum chloride, an-
it and form a gel plug that acts as a clot. Unlike kaolin, other astringent that might constrict small blood vessels.
Ice packs help
chitosan doesn’t use up the body’s clotting factors, some- Aluminum chloride as low as 5 percent concentration ex- constrict smaller
thing beneficial to those who may have a deficiency of erted a hemostatic effect through a chemical reaction and blood vessels.
these important substances.
Chitosan can be purchased as a powder. Use vinegar
to moisten gauze pads and dip both sides into a bowl of
the powder just like you would bread a piece of chicken.
Use a dehydrator or oven on low heat to make your own
hemostatic dressings. Alternatively, freeze and then use
dry ice in a covered container with holes to achieve a
similar effect.
Kaolin clay, animal, or botanical products may be the

Witch hazel and gauze squares

Yarrow on
gauze

ISSUE 46

081
082

was deemed effective in

How Blood Clots
Hemostasis is the control of bleeding. As soon as
a blood vessel wall is damaged, the body reacts
to close the breach:
Primary Hemostasis: Tiny particles in the blood
known as platelets start clumping together at
the breach in the vessel, attracting even more
platelets and forming a “plug.”
Secondary Hemostasis: Clotting factors in the
blood form strands of a material called fibrin,
which deposits around the injury and forms a
mesh with the platelet plug that seals the wound.
The whole thing dries and hardens, forming a
clot. Over time, the clot dissolves.
Mistakes When
Stopping the Bleed
Rapid action by those at the scene can save lives,
but some common mistakes can lead to tragic
outcomes:
Panic! The shock of seeing a major hemorrhage
can cause hesitation to act.
Being timid when applying pressure to the
wound (yes, it’s going to hurt).
Failing to pack dressings directly onto the
bleeding vessel.
Failing to apply pressure to a commercial he-
mostatic dressing for three full minutes or longer
for improvised dressings.
Hesitating to apply a tourniquet as a first course
of action in cases of heavy bleeding.
Failing to apply a compression bandage over
the hemostatic dressing.
Assuming a controlled hemorrhage doesn’t
require close monitoring for re-bleeds.
a 2015 study. Aluminum
sulfate, the ingredient in
styptic pencils to treat
bleeding from cuts in-
curred while shaving, is a
related product.
Petroleum Jelly
For shallow cuts, petro-
leum jelly may be an op-
tion to slow bleeding. You
may have been a specta-
tor at a boxing match
where the manager treats
his fighter’s injuries with it.
Apply a layer on a minor
bleed with direct pressure.
Once the bleeding has
stopped, blot the jelly off
and clean the wound.
Tactical
Tampons?
Another bleeding-
control improvisation you’ll
often hear about is the
“tactical tampon.” There’s a
persistent notion that this
feminine sanitary product
is an excellent addition to
your medical kit. There
are many, usually second-
hand, accounts that these
items saved the life of a
soldier because a savvy
medic made sure to have
some on hand.
The tampon would just conceal the bleeding, not stop
it … Just because you don’t see a hemorrhage doesn’t
mean it isn’t happening. A saturated tampon can only
hold about 20cc of blood.
Why wouldn’t a tampon work? After all, it might be the
right size to plug a bullet hole. When a projectile strikes
soft tissue at high speed, however, it creates a channel
through which the projectile travels. As a matter of fact,
it causes two channels — a permanent one caused by
the actual path and a larger, temporary one caused by
the energy wave released into the body by the round’s
impact. Vessels and organs affected by this secondary
shock wave might not be in the direct line of the perma-
nent cavity (and the subsequent tampon placement), but
can be damaged and easily bleed.
Bullets traveling at high speeds go deeper into the
body than a tampon can reach. Plugging a hole, even
one that looks like it could fit a tampon, doesn’t stop the
hemorrhage inside. It just pools internally or finds an exit
wound. The tampon would just conceal the bleeding,
not stop it. Even the most absorbent tampon can only
handle about 15 grams or so of blood. The rest has to go
somewhere. Just because you don’t see a hemorrhage
doesn’t mean it isn’t happening. “Successes” in the field

Damaged Blood Vessel Formation of Platelet Plug Development of Clot

Injury to vessel lining triggers Vasoconstriction limits blood flow Fibrin strands adhere to the plug
the release of clotting factors and platelets form a sticky plug to form an insoluble clot
084
ISSUE 46

Dip gauze in were, probably, nightmares for the surgical team after
water and coat evacuation.
with kaolin
powder.
Mix kaolin into
Closing Thoughts
a paste. Are the above strategies as good as having high-tech
Spread out wet commercially made hemostatic dressings? Unfortunately,
dressings onto a no. None of these improvisations would have the stan-
drying rack. dardized production process and assure sterility as well
Place wet kaolin
as a commercially manufactured dressing like QuikClot,
gauze into a
Celox, or ChitoSam. Since it’s likely that the infection rates
dehydrator at
105 degrees. off-the-grid would be higher than in normal times, it’s
These photos worth having some in your medical storage. But if the
show a few commercial items run out and the options we mention
fabrics used to here are all you have, they could still make the difference
improvise ka-
between life and death. As Teddy Roosevelt once said,
olin dressings.
“Do what you can, with what you have, where you are.”

About the Author

Joe Alton, MD, FACOG, FACS, is an actively licensed physician and sur-
geon, medical preparedness advocate, and New York Times/Amazon best-
selling author on medical topics related to austere settings. He’s a member
of the Wilderness Medical Society and a certified Advanced Wilderness
Expedition Provider. The third edition of his Survival Medicine Handbook
won first place in the 2017 Book Excellence Awards in medicine, and his
book Alton’s Antibiotics and Infectious Disease won the same award in
2020. His survival medicine website at doomandbloom.net has over 1,200
articles, podcasts, and videos, and has won the Reader’s Choice award on
Survivaltop50.com for several consecutive years. The fourth edition of
Survival Medicine Handbook is currently available online.
 DOWNLOAD
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HANDSON

HAND-
TOSSED
The PAMAX Tactical LION
Blank-Firing Device
By Tom Marshall

W
hen looking at the continuum of
force options available to civilians,
as opposed to those used by armed
professionals in law enforcement
and military service, there’s a small
but glaring gap in available technology. They’re known by a
slew of monikers like flash-bangs, NFDDs (Noise and Flash
Distraction Devices), concussion grenades, stun grenades,
crashers, or bangers. No matter what you call them, the
operating principle is the same: a hand-thrown “grenade”
type device with a short time-delay fuse that emits a loud
bang and blinding flash of light for the purpose of distracting
or disorienting anyone in the immediate vicinity. This allows
an attacker (or defender) to expand their OODA loop by
disrupting their opponent’s, buying valuable time to attack,
counterattack, or escape.
The first known example we could find of a device like
this is the military-issue Mark 3 (MK3) concussion/demolition
grenade. The design dates back to 1918 and was effective in
trench warfare. The original concept was that the MK3 could
injure or disorient personnel and destroy equipment without
endangering friendly forces with indiscriminate fragmenta-
tion. It was simply a lump of TNT housed in a cardboard
tube with a pull-ring fuse.
From there, the design was refined over time, with the next
major milestone coming out of the UK in the late 1970s, when
the so-called stun grenade first saw use by the Counterterror-
ist Wing of the British Special Air Service (SAS). Stun grenades
typically consist of a steel body with holes cut throughout,
which then has a more specialized charge of aluminum or
magnesium oxide blended with something like potassium per-
chlorate to achieve a high-flash detonation. Newer versions of
this design feature heavy-duty bodies that can be recovered
and reloaded with fresh charges for repeat use.
The issue that arises with all of these designs is that they
rely on high-explosives, which are highly regulated by the
BATFE. Civilian possession is extremely limited and comes
with a whole host of required boxes to check, including spe-
cialized transportation and storage requirements.
These regulations, coupled with a “civilians don’t need
this” perception of such devices, have made them essentially
impossible to possess for anyone without agency or unit
credentials. But a small company called Pamax Tactical has
come up with a solution that overcomes the legal hurdles,
and has allowed us to more deeply ponder the question of
“need” and application for lay persons in a defensive context.
They’ve named their solution the LION BFD – Low Impact
Ordnance Non-lethal, Blank Firing Device.
HOW IT WORKS
The LION consists of a two-part design with a body and
detachable base, of which there are two variants. The com-
mercially available version uses a machined aluminum body
and base. The body has a weighted, free-floating firing pin
and a pull-ring safety block. Inserting the pin physically blocks
the pin from impacting the blank. When the pin is pulled and
the device is thrown, the floating weight is jarred on impact,
causing the pin to punch the primer and detonate the device.
The screw-on base has a pocket and removable adapter. The
adapter has two different holes, one on each end, that can
accommodate either a .209 shotgun primer or a flat-face
9mm blank (crimp-nose blanks will not work). If you remove
the adapter entirely, the pocket in the base will accept a 1-inch
shotgun blank. The base also has vent holes at the bottom to
vent the flash and bang when the device goes off.
Building and labelling the LION as a dedicated blank-firing
device serves two purposes. First, it avoids any potential
legal and liability issues from ATF, as it’s not intended to be a
“grenade” of any kind. It also allows the end user a lot of flex-
ibility to scale the intensity of detonation up and down based
on use.
Pamax does have a second thread-on base module for
The LION Blank
Firing Device the LION body, which they call the V2. The V2 doesn’t have
consists of a any additional adapters but is made of stainless steel and
machined alumi- bored a little deeper to accommodate 2-inch shotgun blanks.
num body with
Neither base will accommodate full-length 2¾-inch shells to
two detachable
bases: aluminum eliminate the risk of inadvertently loading a buckshot round
for commercial into the LION, which could make everyone in the room have
use and a larger
a really bad day if thrown. But at time of writing, the V2 base
stainless steel one
for law enforce- is currently restricted as a law-enforcement-only item.
ment. Our biggest concern with the V2 base being a restricted
item, from a practical standpoint, is whether or not this will
neuter the LION’s capabilities for commercial consumers
and limit it to being a novelty item for paintball and airsoft
games. But Pamax tells us that they’re currently working
with an ammo manufacturer to produce blank cartridges
optimized for the LION that’ll feature charge levels and pow-
der mixtures calculated to wring every ounce of pyrotechnic
potential out of their product.
BANG-RINSE-REPEAT
We had the chance to spend two days with the owners of
Pamax Tactical at the Deep Woods Ranch in Florida. Deep
Woods is a private training facility run by former SEAL Rich
Graham of Full Spectrum Warrior. Full Spectrum offers a
variety of firearms training courses to civilians, law enforce-
ment, and allied partner nations. The ranch features several
shooting ranges and enclosed structures perfect for torture
testing the LION. We ran tests indoors and outdoors, in barn
stalls and shipping containers, with multiple different types
of primers and blanks, including black powder blanks. The
central Florida sugar sand was just what we needed to get
the LION moist, dirty, and crusty to test the firing mecha-
nism and safety features.
We started with .209 primers, which produced only a
token pop. Inflating a brown paper bag and popping it
is probably louder. Our initial reaction was somewhere in
this thing at me. Having said that, several of the 2-inch blanks
produced a flash bright enough to leave me seeing polka
dots, and one of the loads produced enough overpressure
that I definitely felt the “thump” of overpressure inside my
rib cage when the LION detonated. Does it match up to the
intensity of an actual flash-bang or stun grenade? No. But the
energy disparity between blanks and high explosive charges
is significant. We hope Pamax is able to close that gap with
some purpose-built loads made especially for their device.
In terms of deploying the device, the LION is as easy to use
as the oversized safety crayons we get at chain restaurants
with paper place mats, whenever we ask for chicken nuggets
and apple slices. Load your blank or primer of choice into
the base, screw the base onto the body, pull the safety pin,
and throw. We literally packed the vent holes with wet sand
before throwing and the LION never choked. We threw it on
concrete floors and against every part of a vehicle we could
hit: windows, windshields, hoods, wheels, and body panels.
We only found one issue and one idiosyncrasy with it.
Because the device requires a jolt to make the weighted
firing pin assembly wobble enough to punch the primer, if
the impact surface flexes or cushions the landing impact
it could result in a misfire. We noticed this primarily with
pockets of soft, dry sand and hoods or body panels of
vehicles, which will flex or dent when hit hard enough. In
these instances, giving the LION a hard overhand throw that
makes it tumble end-over-end added enough force to cause
detonation, even on softer surfaces. We could not, no matter
how hard we threw it, get the device to go off in our hand or
in mid-air by throwing it too hard. While a side-arm lob will
be plenty on a hard surface, throwing the LION end-over-
end seemed to give the best chance of successful firing on
the widest array of surfaces.

The only mechanical issue we saw with the LION was the
pull-pin safety. We handled several different LION bodies
over the course of our testing and on all of them, the cross-
pin that actually inserts into the body fit incredibly tight. On
the sample LION we received for studio photos and personal
testing, the pin is so tight that it actually had to be tapped
in place with a hammer the first several times we removed
it. Pulling it free to arm the device is the closest we’ve ever
come to an active game of tug-of-war with ourselves. But
Pamax is aware of the issue and already looking at options
to make the safety pin more user-friendly. (Our demo unit
did eventually loosen up some.)
We expect production models will either have a different
pin or slightly larger hole machined into the body to make
this process easier. In the meantime, there’s an alternate way
to render the LION safe: Simply unscrew the base from the
body by one half-turn. This creates enough clearance that
the pin cannot make physical contact with the primer. In our
field testing, we eventually stopped using the safety pin and
simply left the base unscrewed by a half-turn. When ready
to deploy, just tighten the base down and throw. So, even
if your safety pin requires some break-in, you don’t have to
risk an AD with a blank-firing device.
As a side note, Pamax already has a couple of thoughtful
accessories for the LION as well. They have a purpose-built
Kydex holster available in MOLLE or belt-mount configura-
tions, as well as two lanyards (polymer and braided wire)
that can be looped through the safety pin and then attached
to a hard point on the holster. The idea is that when you
draw the LION out of the holster, the safety pin is pulled out
along the way. But with the too-tight fitment we experienced,
the pin (or pin hole) needs a little re-dimensioning for this to
work as intended.
CONCLUSION Left: With black
powder blanks,
The burning question we had about the Pamax Tactical
the LION creates
LION BFD going into this evaluation was: “Is this applicable both smoke and
to civilians as a legitimate defensive or escape tool?” sound diversion.
The best answer we can come up with at this point is a
hard, forehead-scrunching “maybe.”
Our experience with preproduction samples using current
commercially available blanks didn’t match anything we’ve
ever felt when using true explosive-cored flash-bang gre-
nades. That’s not to say it’s not capable of causing distrac-
tion or disorientation, but conditions will have to be ideal.
Power factor aside, is there even a scenario where this could
cause enough of a ruckus to allow you to escape or evade
a bad situation? We came up with a couple scenarios where
the LION could absolutely be useful, but also figured other
solutions to those same problems.
> In your vehicle, being trapped/surrounded by a growing
mob of agitated protestors. Could dropping a LION out your
window cause a big enough bang to disperse the crowd?
Possibly. But, if mistaken for a gunshot, it could also induce
armed parties in the crowd to draw their guns and return
Below: We were
fire, escalating the situation instead of breaking it up.
able to use the
> In an active-shooter scenario, could tossing a LION LION to shatter
opposite your planned escape route distract a shooter or this truck’s rear
draw everyone’s attention, giving you a time advantage to windshield but
found that on
make your escape? Possibly. If you have time to successfully
flexible surfaces
deploy it. like safety glass
> Something goes bump in the night in your living room. and auto body
panels, throwing
Could tossing a LION into the next room before making en-
technique was a
try to confront the threat buy you some tactical advantage? factor for reliable
Possibly. But we think you’d have to have received proper detonation.
090
ISSUE 46
HANDSON
The LION is designed such that even
dropping it right at your feet poses no
risk of frag or direct injury. Just make
sure you’ve got eyes and ears on.

training in the specific tactics of making a room entry in con-

junction with a distraction device. There’s also a possibility
of disorienting yourself in the process, depending on room
Even when we
size, layout, and acoustics. Stealth might be your biggest actively packed it
ally, versus a dynamic one-man room entry — an incredibly with wet Florida
“sugar sand,” the
dangerous prospect even for armed professionals. If you can
LION functioned
evade or barricade while contacting the police, that would with 100-percent
be the far more prudent option. reliability.
> Same scenario, in a setting where guns aren’t available, or
perhaps where a family member who is uncomfortable with
guns is alone. Could the LION scare off a potential home in-
vader? If it does, great. If it doesn’t, you just exposed yourself
while escalating the adrenaline level of everyone involved.
In the end, we’re a little hard-pressed to find a situation
where the LION, or anything like it, would be the tool for the
job in a self-defense context. But it’s a reasonable option
to have accessible in a number of different scenarios. The
proverbial “tool in the toolbox” to add one more capability
to your emergency response spectrum. In addition to the
reenactment/simulation value for those who want it, there’s
also an opportunity for professional trainers to have a low-
cost, low-risk way to introduce added stress to scenario-
based training.
Regardless of what you want it for, an MSRP of $249 for
body and base, plus the still-very-reasonable cost of blanks
SOURCES
and primers, makes the Pamax LION an affordable if not Pamax Tactical > www.pmtactical.com
niche addition to any training toolbox. Full Spectrum Warrior/Deep Woods Ranch > www.fullspectrumwarriors.com
THE ONLY U.S. MILITARY AND LAW
ENFORCEMENT VETERAN OWNED
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SEE THE DIFFERENCE

092
ISSUE 46
BAGDROP

A Perfect Pairing
of Firearm, Pack,
and Supplies
By Kevin Estela
Photos by George Franek Photography

T
he Scoped at the perfect time to help me level up my skills on a platform
Carbine that fits easily into a backpack.
Class at
Ridgeline The Bag
Defense in The 5.11 RUSH100 is a large internal-frame backpack. The
New Hampshire has been design is very straightforward with plenty of adjustment
on my to-do list for a long straps to keep the bag close to your body. The side pouches
time. A scoped carbine is the are removable, allowing the user to run the bag slicker, and
Goldilocks porridge of choice, so to they can be converted to a shoulder bag if necessary. A top
speak. Not dedicated for close-quarters pocket is fleece lined for eye pro, and the bottom pocket is
or true long-range use, the scoped carbine can do most compressible for a sleeping bag or, in my case, the forward
of it well, as long as you understand its realistic limitations. and rear shooting rests. The bag comes with attachment
Configured with a Low Variable Power Optic (LVPO) and straps at the bottom for a foam pad or sleeping bag. The
Ridgeline De-
the right balance of bolt-on parts, this style of AR is a great aluminum stays and semi-rigid frame held the bag in place
fense Instructor
Rudy Gonsior contender for the “if I can only grab one” scenario. and also could serve double duty as a rifle rest taller than my
demonstrating Shortly after I signed up for the class, COVID-19 hit, along bipod’s legs.
drills for
with ammo shortages and social unrest. This situation rein-
students at the
Scoped Carbine forced the value of a scoped carbine for protecting my family Contents
Course. or traveling discreetly to help someone else. The class came With a backpack this big, it’s easy to overpack. Extra room
means you can carry more, but that isn’t always positive. For
a two-day scoped carbine class, I knew I could pack light,
and I had plenty of room to spare. Ridgeline Defense sent
students a final packing list a few days before the course, and
the 5.11 RUSH100 could carry all that was required.

Clothing
Weather is always an uncertain variable. What you wear
should allow you to change your body temperature accord-
ingly — a notch up and a notch down. This shooting course
lined up perfectly with Tropical Storm Fay; the forecast pre-
dicted scattered thunderstorms, humidity, and a high chance
of rain on each day. Pair this with the state bird of New Hamp-
shire, the horse fly, and what that meant for me was packing
long-sleeve shirts and pants for protection. I also wanted to
leave room for a watch cap, gloves, neckerchief, and a spare
set of socks. Rounding out clothing is a set of dedicated rain
pants, gaiters, and rain jacket. Other considerations for the
environment include bug dope and sunblock.

Rifle
The most important consideration for this pack was the
scoped carbine it would contain. My rifle is a combination of
an older (pre-’94 since I live in Connecticut) Eagle Arms lower
with Geissele SSA-E trigger, Super 42 buffer, and a Bravo
Company Kyle Defoor Spec Upper. This upper features a
specific 1:7.7-inch twist barrel optimized for 77-grain Black Hills
Ammo. It’s a solid minute of angle rifle with that ammunition,
and other ammo in that ballpark does well too. Due to the
COVID crisis, I had a hard time acquiring enough Black Hills
ammo, so I packed 75-grain Hornady Black ammo instead.
The optic for this midrange class is the Trijicon 1-8 AccuPower
in a GDI P-ROM mount. The only other accessories added
to this rifle are a set of Troy BUIS, Streamlight TLR-1 HL, Blue The author (6
feet and 215
Force Gear Vickers sling, and a Harris Bipod. A scoped AR-15
pounds) wearing
carbine is easily broken down and carried inside this pack. A the RUSH100
makeshift divider can be fashioned from spare clothing, an pack for size
reference.
old camping pad, or in my case, a folded shooting pad from
Crosstac. With this rifle broken down and carried in the pack,
I easily walked right into the local hotel each night without
raising any concern.

Electronics
The benefit of using this particular pack for this course was
the ability to organize with the multitude of pockets it comes
with. I was able to separate my electronics, including a Kes-
trel, Leupold 650-yard rangefinder, and sensitive optics from
my heavy and clunky metal water bottle and other items that
could damage them. I also carried active ear pro. Electronics
were carried in water-resistant Ziploc plastic bags along with
a cotton rag to wipe any moisture from the optics.

Miscellaneous
Ridgeline’s packing list included a rifle, a minimum of four
30-round magazines, ammo, a shooting pad, and support
equipment. I also loaded my pack with basic daily use gear
— granola bars and water, a small possibles pouch with Torrential rain
and thunder-
emergency gear, a trauma kit, some firearms maintenance/
storms tested
cleaning equipment, flashlight, knife, and other kit. Each day, the willingness
spare ammo was carried in stripper clips with a StripLULA of the students
and the water
loader. Generally, as you tack on more miles, a pack feels
resistance of the
ISSUE 46

heavier, but when you burn through the ammo you carry, the gear the author
opposite is true. carried.

OFFGRIDWEB.COM 093
094 OFFGRIDWEB.COM
ISSUE 46
In the Field
In any martial arts or combatives training, you should
always seek a better weapon and better position. What’s bet-
ter than a pistol? A rifle. What’s better than a standing long-
range shot? A more stable shot from a supported position.
I used the RUSH100 backpack to carry all of my essentials
for approximately 20 hours over two days. I had a surplus
of room, and discovered I could remove the two outboard
pockets and use them as internal storage organizers instead.
For a course like this, that meant I could use them to sepa-
rate short-range ball ammo from my longer-range precision
ammo. As predicted, on day two, the skies opened up and
poured, with lightning halting our training temporarily. The
pack repelled water well, and the contents stayed dry. The
lower separated compartment worked great to stow wet rain
gear when the weather finally cleared in the final hours of
the class.
The pack served a secondary purpose: to create more
stability in the kneeling position behind barricades by strad-
dling it like a saddle. This tip was one of many offered by our
instructor from real-world experience using his ruck in the
same way while deployed overseas. Another tip Rudy offered
was using the pack, positioned straps-down with the opening
toward the shooter in a prone position, as a gradual ramp to
gain elevation and angle for shooting uphill. The training we
were given worked well too. Rapid engagement techniques
utilizing a 0.1 mil or 3 MOA hold at different ranges resulted
in easy hits out to 400 yards with simple holds. The rifle
worked extremely well with easy and fast controlled pairs
with careful manipulation of the Geissele SSA-E trigger at
close range and controlled careful shots at longer ranges.
During the culminating events involving unknown distance
target engagement from 15 yards out to 600, the pack car-
ried all I needed it to and the rifle responded as predicted
with the DOPE we applied. At the end of the course, the pack
easily swallowed up all my gear as it was policed and packed
away for the drive home.
The RUSH100
pack easily
carried spare
ammo, load-
ing equipment,
cleaning gear,
electronics, and
more during
the duration of
the Ridgeline
Scoped Carbine
course.
Of course, I didn’t like everything about the pack — most
of this came down to personal preference rather than design
flaw. The waist belt buckle is only 1-inch wide; I’d prefer a
more comfortable and secure 2-inch buckle. I also would've
liked to see a compression strap on the waistband to pull
the lower half of the bag closer to the body. The only other
issue I encountered was with the layout of the zippers. I'd like
to see an additional set on the main compartment to allow
access to the side of the bag without “running” the zipper all
the way around the track. Besides those little requests, I was
pleased with the way it carried, held up, and organized my
Most rucks are rifle gear.
shaped like a
“ramp” that can
be used to el- Final Word
evate your rifle. This bag and rifle are perfectly paired. From this point
forward, I won’t keep the bag loaded for a training course,
but rather for a modern minuteman scenario where I need
to travel discreetly to a family member’s aid. I can ditch the
spare clothing for just those environmental layers and have
spare room for warmer gear in cooler months. I can keep this
bag prepped near my gun safe, so all I’ll have to do is grab
the appropriate carbine for it. I never expected a global pan-
demic and civil unrest double whammy, but I can be better
prepared for the next time something of this scale hits again.
With the contents carried and skills learned, I can easily reach
targets up to the “rifleman’s half K” without issue.
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If It Bleeds, We Can Stop It
F
ans of ’80s action flicks should recognize
the title of this article as a twist on Arnold
Schwarzenegger’s classic line from Preda-
tor: “If it bleeds, we can kill it.” Many of you
reading this have spent years practicing
defensive shooting and hand-to-hand skills. In other words,
you know how to make a bad guy bleed if necessary. But
how much time have you spent learning how to do the op-
posite — to stop bleeding and save lives? Statistically, you’re
far more likely to use first-aid skills than fighting skills, so
allocate your time accordingly.
After recognizing room for improvement in my own medi-
cal skill set, I attended a two-day Direct Action Response
class from Dark Angel Medical. Our instructor, Ross Francis,
is a full-time paramedic and former U.S. Navy corpsman.
Francis backed many of the lessons covered in the class with
stories of firsthand experience in the field.
The class began with a discussion of priorities. After calling
911, your first priority is always to ensure the scene is safe
before administering self-aid or aid to others. Don’t rush in
and become another casualty. Next, we discussed how to
assess an injured person using AVPU — check if they’re Alert
and awake, only responsive to Verbal stimuli, only respon-
sive to Pain, or totally Unresponsive. If possible, explain that
you’re a trained first responder, ask for permission to help,
and inquire about what happened.
After initial assessment, you can proceed in order through
HABCDE areas of focus: hemorrhage, airway, breathing,
circulation, “da brain,” and expose/environment. In practice,
this might look like doing a blood sweep to search for bleed-
ing, confirming that the patient’s airway is unobstructed, and
checking if they’re breathing normally — if not, it’ll be hard
to overlook. For circulation, check pulse, skin temperature,
color, and capillary refill (pinch a fingernail). “Da Brain” means
neurologic function, commonly checked by examining
their pupils and asking simple questions like “what day is it?”
Expose means to fully scan the victim’s body, getting them
“trauma naked” if necessary; environment means to keep
them covered and warm.
Any injuries revealed during the HABCDE process should
be treated in that order. For hemorrhage, we practiced ap-
plying tourniquets, wound packing, and pressure dressings.
For airway injuries, we placed victims in the recovery posi-
tion; we also practiced inserting a nasopharyngeal airway
By Patrick McCarthy
(NPA) on a test dummy. Breathing usually means CPR, but
occlusive dressings (chest seals) may be necessary if the
chest cavity was punctured (sucking chest wound). For circu-
latory issues, stop external bleeding and watch for signs of
internal bleeding. If brain injuries are suspected, the best you
can do is stabilize the patient and reassure them that help is
on the way. Finally, keep them warm to prevent shock after
blood loss; a Mylar blanket is great for this task.
Diagnoses and treatments for specific injuries were
covered in detail, from gunshot wounds and eviscerations
to burns and snakebites. Med kit gear selection was also
covered. The class culminated in several practical exercises
— each time, half the students left the classroom, and the
other half were given a set of symptoms to act out. Students
returned to assess and treat injuries as efficiently as possible.
If you’re not entirely confident in your first-aid skills, I highly
recommend you take a class on the subject ASAP. This Direct
Action Response course provided a great overview of a
broad range of emergency medical topics. For more informa-
tion on future Dark Angel Medical classes throughout the
United States, go to darkangelmedical.com/training.
Every student
had the opportu-
nity for hands-on
practice applying
tourniquets, pack-
ing simulated
wounds with
hemostatic gauze,
and wrapping
compression ban-
dages — essential
techniques to
stop blood loss.
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098
ISSUE 46
THELASTPAGE
A Recipe for Controversy
Review of The Anarchist Cookbook
Disclaimer: This book contains techniques that may be
dangerous and/or illegal in some jurisdictions. Check your
local laws and do not attempt to replicate its contents
without proper training and safety precautions.
The Premise: The Anarchist Cookbook (TAC) was
promoted as a manual for guerrillas to overthrow a
tyrannical government. It includes recipes for all manner
of weapons, explosives, and drugs, and also directions
for sabotage, surveillance, and improvised weapon use.
Originally published in 1971, it was envisioned as a com-
pendium of knowledge to fight what the author consid-
ered to be an impending communist tide.
The 411: This book is truly infamous, and its “question-
able” contents tend to make some people uneasy. To that
end, I was interested to examine it from both a knowl-
edge perspective and a historical one.
The content of this book covers so much territory and,
on the surface, seems like a wet dream for a would-be
guerrilla. Sections detailing the manufacture of drugs,
weapons, explosives, electronic bugging devices, radios,
booby traps — and the employment methods for all —
are explained in great detail across the 160 pages of this
book. The first 20 text pages are the author’s “prefa-
tory note on anarchism today.” While someone coming
across this book for the first time might think that this
preface would hold some deep insight into the mind
of an anarchist or freedom fighter, they’d ultimately be
disappointed.
The language and references of the author’s mono-
logues and the “recipes” contained within are very much
a product of the era. It’s not, one would argue, cutting
edge, but does lend great insight into the mindset of that
period, as well as the mindset of someone who fervently
believes they were doing something for the right reasons.
I’m not here to judge either way, but there are realities
that time impacts.
To be clear, I didn’t attempt to make or procure any of
the items needed to produce any of the weapons, explo-
sives, or drugs discussed in TAC. I did, however, examine
the formulae with an eye to accuracy, viability, availability
of supplies, as well as risks to health and safety. I should
mention that trying almost anything in this book could
get you into legal trouble, if it doesn’t kill or maim you.
The technical instructions described for drugs and
By Boris Milinkovich
explosives aren’t “dumbed down.” If you don’t have a BOOK & AUTHOR
The Anarchist
background in chemistry — or at least a very good work- Cookbook
ing knowledge — you’d be putting yourself at grave risk By William
trying most of this stuff. Chapter 3, Natural, Nonlethal and Powell (with
Introduction by
Lethal Weapons, is somehow the most straightforward Peter Bergman)
chapter. Chapter 2, Electronics, Sabotage and Surveillance,
PUBLISHER
is woefully outdated for most developed nations, but may Medina University
Press International
be of interest for third- or fourth-world nation service. (2020)
The Verdict: Taken at face value, the book comes MSRP
across almost unhinged, with the author pontificating $35
about humanity approaching the eve of destruction. But a URL
Amazon.com
deeper examination of the document as a whole gives in-
PAGES
sight into what was going on in the counterculture scene 160
from 1966 to 1971. Discussions on anarchism are swapped RATING
out in favor of nihilism and “free love,” with long-winded
THRIVE
discussions about what anarchism is and is not.
The entire publication is out of date — not just in SURVIVE
context of the world today, but also in its specific recom- DIE
mendations. I’d challenge anyone to find me a Thomp-
son Submachinegun for $130 (page 96) or successfully
assemble the equipment described to tap a telephone for
the suggested $3 to $5. That’s right, a rotary telephone.
Nowadays, people can build highly effective and inex-
pensive electronic devices that far outclass anything this
book can fathom, with the same thing said for weapons
(thanks to 3D printers) and even drugs. Just ask someone
in a state with permissive firearm
laws. If it’s the Wacky Tobacky you’re
after, come to Canada or a state
where it’s legal.
Ultimately, I felt that TAC was use-
ful, not as a manual for the guerrilla,
but as a realistic historical perspec-
tive. The drug and explosive recipes
and instructions are potentially dan-
gerous, and could easily make you
a Darwin Award winner. If you have
a legitimate interest in the history
of guerilla tactics and philosophy,
sure, get a copy. Just understand
the complete context of what you’re
reading and all of its safety and legal
consequences. I’ll file this one under
“for entertainment purposes only.”