preppers & the military

Hi people,

I don't feel so alone anymore. I have always had a need to be,' good to go',light, and fast. Being alone that was easy, but now I have a wife and three kids. I have had an epiphany of a kind. A paradigm shift is needed and Asap. I needed to dig-in, get some OHP and in-depth coverage. This coverage has to come to a large degree from other people who have as much to lose or gain as everybody else.

The techno stuff is easy. The people stuff is hard. The concept, ' that not just your survival but your doing well has to be vitally important to me, because my doing well, my well-being and survival depends on you,' is not understood by many in our western selfish and self-centered society. Positive cohesion depends on the ability of the members of a community to put the collective good above their own. The success of the whole is the success of the individual parts.

As a community development planner I have studied every kind of intentional community there is and have learned one important fact. All successful, intentional communities are based on some kind of spiritual belief system. This is true all over the world. Members of these kinds of communities see their role as serving the community, not the community serving them.

Success here means 'existing past the first or second generation from the original seeds.'

I am not proposing anything here. I thought it important to point out the fact.

Survival needs no other impetus than the need to survive.

You have heard the saying, 'we have won the war and lost the peace'. After you have survived then what? The world may be in such a state you may wish that you hadn't. If, however, you have planned for the possibility of your survival and have looked way beyond then you may have purpose to continue. I read one blogger talking about looking seven generations beyond. I have read people talking about rebuilding society. The question that begs to be asked is this: what would you go forward with? The only examples you have are those that have brought the world to its knees, or have been complete failures.
I come from a First Nations community. There is a lot that can be gained from Native peoples histories and present realities. I have seen the gains achieved for myself and for many others individually in learning where they come from. However, I believe that going backwards is not a way for the collective to go forwards, that historic tribal cultures can not be resurrected to meet the needs of the present or the future.

The answer to this riddle is both simple as it is daunting. Like the individual drops of water that makes up the puddles, pools, ponds, lakes, rivers and oceans, you too, can contribute to a great effect. Imagine your heart as a mirror. It reflects only what you point it at. You have the choice to reflect a healing light into the world OR You can focus your heart on things like wealth, power, fame and possessions that have and are draining the earth of its health and of its future. If you survive what will you bring forward?

I ask the question of you as I have asked it of myself many years ago when I survived ... when many others didn't. The burden of life can be very heavy. I carry it for those that can't and I hope I earn their forgiveness.

This perspective needs more emphasis if considering preparation beyond ones' own preservation proficiency. At some point, we all have to learn what it takes to really live generatively with more than our "blood" families. This is the ultimate potential achievement, and though there are many societal stumbling blocks present, we still have a range of privileged choice of association in order to re-cognize and re-member the character bonds of our yet-to-see "tribe". Its emergence and cohesion is not achieved by militaristic MO, but can be equally effective while assimilating those acquired/developed traits... so much so that it need not "stand out" as an intimidating, preemptive being, but discovers the organic appropriateness of the momentary path of many steps.
This can be as resolute as any mission.

I noticed there seems to be quite a few ex military are preppers, especially in the USA. I think there are 3 main reasons for this (not the only reasons, but the 3 main reasons). Reason # 1 is that most preppers are hunters/firearm shooters with firearm experience...obviously ex military people have a high interest in firearms because if they did not join the military because they like shooting, then they like shooting from military experience and now own several guns & hunting/shooting is a hobby for them now.
Reason# 2 is that many ex military have been to a Country that shtf in, or learned from other military personel what it is like when shtf. Ex military with experience in a war torn Country see what is needed if shtf to them, and want to be sure if shtf to them, they would be better prepared compared to people in a war torn Country.
Reason #3 is that the military trains you and when preparing for a mission they have a plan b & plan c, incase something unexpected occurs. After seeing why back up plans are important, they start thinking of bsck up plans for themselves after leaving the military....There is a 4th reason, which could apply to any prepper which is there lives are dull or they want to see shtf because they want there lives to change because perhaps they hate there jobs, hate to see themselves as a person being broke or nearly poor, while others live life rich and happy which could be frusterating for a hard working person barely getting by, and a rich guy breezesbthrough life strrss free. If shtf, the preppers will be rich and not a CEO, and preppers get to see thebtidebturn and get satisfaction from seeing the tide turned.

ex military and fire fighter, also have PTSD.

Wow, what a great thread. I was in back in the 70's but my trade was meathead,(I know, not the most popular). I never considered I might have PSD until reading some of the above comments. It was that "never turned off" one that hit most. If I feel threatened in any way, I'm always planning my moves of where to strike and where to go..even around friends and family. I always considered that just good instincts....whowouldaguessed! I still consider that an advantage though, not a disadvantage! Maybe I have just lived this way too long.

I also agree wholeheartedly with the comments of waystoprepare. I don't go for the lone wolf mentality and I live alot further out than most of you. I live and am friends with many 1st nation folk as they are abundant here. Many only come to town in the winter(on the ice roads) and though they have their own social issues(thanks to boarding schools), they still maintained that communal mindset and of that I am envious. If SHTF, they will fair better than most because their already isolated and working together is second nature.

On that note, why are so many, who can sense the impending crisis with today's current events enough to at least put forth an effort to preparing, not selling out and moving way up here where I live? I fear for my grown kids as they all returned to the city life. I live fairly simple and I think I'm alot less stressed now that I left the city.

Empty lots were cheap as $500 a few years back. $5000 will buy you waterfront property. There are gold mines, paper and sawmills to work at if you have a ticket of some kind. Tourism is also a major industry and more log cabins go up out in the boonies(Americans usually), so bush carpenters find work here too. As I pointed out in another thread, in bad times, smaller communities will not hold open doors to newbies either. Your plan is not complete until you plant yourself somewhere safe(or at least safer). You will have to get to know your neighbors enough to know you can trust them in a crunch. While this isn't prime gardening country, stuff still grows here. Ya , the snow gets deep here but we get used to it and have reason for that 4x4(or 2).

I stayed at some of the last real communes while biking in the 70's. They were likely the 1st to throw up food stands on the roadside for fresh vegetables. It's initial start was likely just some guy had an acreage that he could barely eek a living on, and no farm equipment. He opened his barn doors to few wandering hippies as a place to crash, and who later helped him with his garden and voila, communes popped up everywhere. I'd just stop at a food stand and within 1/2 hour, I'd have an invite to supper, do some work for a few days and ride on. The last one I was at was in Whitehorse in 79. Around 200 people hung out there at any given time, no violence(and many considered me a threat since I rode a Harley all the way up there). There was even a gov't sponsored one(run by 3 nuns) for awhile that allowed you to stay only 3 days. Lots of parties(life was good).

That mentality could come back again, but trust would have to be learned amongst many first. With todays events....you can imagine the transformation we'd need. That's why all would have to start now to be ready to work as a well oiled tool when required. Yet I can't imagine a bunch of ex-military & those PSD's(myself included) achieving this kind of Nirvana any time soon. Were wired to watch for the unexpected. Only time and getting to know each other well can overcome the built in guard systems. City living only keeps folks paranoid so that process is even more instilled. I found(from 20 years as a city dweller) that city living can both make you soft and hard at the same time, and not in a good way. Thus, prepping for an exit someday has issues many haven't likely considered so far...

May I ask, what kind of lessons should the rest of us be learning about decisions, attitude, self discipline and such that you got from your varying military positions ? What fortitude building experiences can you share for others to we learn from ?

May I ask, what kind of lessons should the rest of us be learning about decisions, attitude, self discipline and such that you got from your varying military positions ? What fortitude building experiences can you share for others to we learn from ?

Where does one draw the line between wisdom and paranoia? The military in the 70's convinced us that the safest place to be was amongst them. They recruit em young as were easier to mold into whatever form they see fit. And we accept this easily because everyone around us is also convinced to see it this way. It likely took a few years to turn most of it off again but I still remember what it was like 30 years later. I converted a bus because I was planning to disappear into the boonies and play with the animals....seems kinda messed now, eh! I can't ever remember considering running enjoyable, before or after, yet I ran for 9 years after because they taught me how (it had become a habit or routine I think). But I think once you finally realize that you were brainwashed, they'd have a harder time trying to do it to us again! Why? Because they made us more paranoid than we once were and now we pay more attention.

I was still in basic training(boot camp) when I witnessed the 1st blanket party. This is what is done when an individual doesn't pull his weight or isn't a "team player". The culprit will be walking back from the washroom or such and folks hiding around a corner drop a blanket on him and kick the crap out of him, often to the point they require hospitalization. Authorities do little about this usually as it teaches them and others how to be a team player. These events occur in many creative situations as most vets could tell you. As an MP, I attended many cleanups of this nature, as we often would receive an anonymous tip after the fact. During war games, MP's were to guard captured prisoners. Many had been held blindfolded and even tortured somewhat (sometimes for days) and the army turned a blind eye to many of these events too. This lesson taught you not to be caught! I guess they could be learning experiences...you'd have to ask those who received these lessons!

What I did learn was there was a dark side to people that many hide well. I was a slacker in school and yet I now read history, philosophy, psychology, and pay attention to much of the world's affairs. As a prepper I collect data on every subject I consider may be possibly needed. Why? Because knowledge will sharpen my judgement to make better determinations on what is being spoon fed to us. Because it beats just sitting on the fence undecided.

Have you heard the old sayin "How do you eat an elephant"?
Answer: "One bite at a time"!

I doubt I have any more money put away than many of you. But if you buy 1 item towards preparing a week, you have 4 more than you did last month! Stock up on prepper Items that cost little now as they will be valuable barter in bad times. Get out of debt ASAP (sell anything you don't really need) because when hyperinflation hits, your debtload will triple. I could go on and on cause I see bad $hit ahead... wisdom or just paranoia?

I've been avoiding this post since my original PTSD Posting. I was dealing with my own s#!t when posting...But, in retrospect,...I'm sure glad I did. It made people evaluate where they are at.
I've been meaning to discuss it for the sake of those living with it. I used to think of it as a person taking a bullet to the spine and having to adjust to the new reality. After a few years thinking about it, that's not quite right. Its more like a traumatic brain injury.

I'm still overly bright... but long and short term memory loss and attention problems...are something I'm... adapting to.

Once you got it...your done...you have to fill in the rest,

There was a paramedic, brother that was not getting great support by Workers Comp. "Best of the Best" guy. I'm not going to comment further on that corporate cluster F ( WCB, not my friend)
other than, If you are trying to heal...it's like a scab. It wants to heal if you protect it and...don't pick at it.

There is no easy way to look at it. The person you were has passed on. The new person you suddenly find is creeping around in your skin just takes a half dozen years to get used too. That's a Long six years.

Get used to it. Try to think of it as rebuilding soil in your new SHTF garden. You hope having a garden is enough... But the reality is that it takes several years to bring the soil back to fertile.

Prepping is beneficial. You are FORWARD focusing into the future instead of uncontrollably, unwelcomely thrown back into the original traumas . That's survival adaption right there. Re training the synaptic pathways in the brain that have shut down to fully concentrate on fight or flight.

That's the only first aid I got. Feed the soil and let it regenerate... or keep tilling the soil and watch every thing in it slowly get used up and die

I feel for your situation cernunnos5. What you describe is not how I consider myself in a any way. I maintain an active defensive posture( if folks invade my space) that they instilled. I figured that many folks likely do the same without ever signing up...who knows? But dwelling on the bad only leads you down a road that just gets darker as you go. And surrounding yourself with people who live there often adds to the dark.....look for the light and walk that way!

Those who walk with wise men cannot help but to become wiser........

Thanks for the support, dude. I just got back from a couple days hanging with my other prepper buddy with PTSD. We are going to do a much bigger post on this subject soon and bring in a couple other paramedics to discuss it. BTW, Im doing far better than I ever thought possible at the time. Been alittle over a year since the nightmares and flashbacks stopped. Halefrigginluja. That not quite right. The flashbacks are still there but they are easily manageable now. Now they are just memories and are easy to counter. They have now cycled into long term memory and there they can be managed. My point is that Cognitive behavior therapy doesn't work with PTSD. The flashbacks are involuntary and un controllable. That's the problems. At this point CBT will work just fine for me. Took a lot of time and work to get this far though. I gave up being a professional driver though. It was no longer safe to do that profession. PTSD and driving is bad news because its sort of like driving drunk or stoned. Im glad I can drive safely again but I will never go back to driving the big rigs, voluntarily, for safety sake...and my own sake.