Articles by
Patrick Diedrich
Patrick Diedrich is the Editorial Content Director at Recoil Offgrid and a retired Army Sergeant First Class who spent over a decade in uniform as a Cavalry Scout and Recruiter, spending the better part of two years deployed to the Middle East. Since hanging up the uniform, he's earned two master's degrees, served as a Search and Rescue Training Officer in Michigan's Upper Peninsula, run a consulting forestry business, a custom knife shop, and earned certifications in everything from incident command and aviation safety, to hazmat awareness and fiber optics. He brings a practitioner's perspective to every piece he writes.
Preparation
Troysgate: Training for Real Life Encounters
There are training programs that improve skill and others that improve judgment. Then, there is Troysgate, which...
DIY
Tactical Shotgun: Upgrading Your Remington 1100
Few projects feel more personal than working on a firearm that has been around as long as...
Gear
Top Brass Debuts at SHOT Show 2026
The new RECOIL Group “Top Brass” award debuted at SHOT Show 2026, sending Senior Editors across the show floor to identify equipment with real operational value. RECOIL OFFGRID selected three winners: Dark Energy’s Poseidon XL power bank, Sunshine Safety First Aid’s BRIK Micro IFAK, and the Iron Ethos/Seamartec Orion Hatchet.
Survival
Maintaining Comms During Disaster
The Premise Emergency Communication 101 sets out to solve a simple problem that becomes massive in a disaster....
Preparation
FN Firearms: 2026 New Product Release
FN America brought a trio of new releases to SHOT Show 2026: the approachable and affordable FN 309 MRD pistol, a massive mechanical evolution for the SCAR rifle family featuring a new hydraulic buffer system, and a line of 3D-printed, flow-through Inconel suppressors.
Preparation
Offgrid Adventures: Montana to California
This edition of Offgrid Adventures heads first to Montana’s Jack Creek Preserve, a corridor of rugged alpine habitat shaped by both wildlife and conservation. Then the story moves to California’s Pinnacles National Park, where volcanic spires rise above talus caves and condor country. Both landscapes offer adventure with very different risks and rewards.
Preparation
High Frequency Radio Operations
Patrick Diedrich details his experiences in Wyoming Survival's High Frequency Radio Operations course, and gives tips on using HF Radio.
Preparation
How Training Recalibrates the Mind
At first glance, the training near Vero Beach, Florida, looked like a straightforward tactical course. It was...