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, deploying twice to Iraq. 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.
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...
Preparation
Editor’s Letter Issue 71
Holidays bring joy for some and heavy reflection for others. This issue looks at how to stay steady through a season that stirs up excitement, nostalgia, stress, and quiet moments that cut deep. Inside, you’ll find grounded advice from Tom Sarge, cold-weather tips from Nicholas Italiano, chocolate-based comfort from Christopher Nyerges, and a gear roundup built for dependable use. It’s a guide for moving through December with clarity, strength, and a little more peace.
Preparation
Book Review: 45 Miles of Hell
An EMP wipes out power and order in seconds. Stathis El Greco’s 45 Miles of Hell follows one man’s trek across a fractured city ruled by gangs and desperation. This review explores the tactics, tension, and emotional weight that fuel a story grounded in harsh realism.