In the ever-evolving world of survival and preparedness, the wisdom of experience often provides the most valuable insights. For this reason, we've tapped into our community of avid readers as a resource for survival knowledge, and are sharing tips that stand out for their simplicity and effectiveness. This Readers' Survival Tip comes from the great state of Texas, and will help you get that friction fire roaring.
Readers' Bio
Name/Alias: The Bearded Burton
Location: Dallas, TX
Age: 37
The Bearded Burton's Survival Tip
Increasing Your Success with Friction Fire This tip/trick works for any method of fire, but it truly shines when your source of heat is small and fragile. We always want to stack the deck in our favor when it comes to fire. Fire is one of the most valuable tools we have in nature and truly separates us from the wild. When we are able to freely create it with instant flame methods like lighters and matches, we often are more careless. But when we have to sweat and work for a flame, we don’t want to waste all of our hard work!
While there are many friction fire methods and resources out there now to learn how to be successful with achieving flame, this trick is one I don’t see very often.
What we choose to use as a catchment for the ember is very crucial. The ember that comes from friction fire is fragile and we need everything to work a certain way for it to grow into flame. Grabbing a quick leaf or piece of bark is usually what I see done and there’s nothing wrong with that. But, why not add to our success by using something the ember can immediately start consuming as it grows? This is where using a piece of “punkwood” as your catchment under the hearth board takes your success up a notch!
Punkwood is rotted, spongy wood that one can find on dead and decaying trees. It’s lightweight and accepts sparks very easily. It can be placed in a metal tin and placed in a fire to be turned into charred material for flint and steel fire techniques. What we want though, is the raw piece that has not been charred.
By using it as the place mat for our ember to fall onto, it immediately allows the heat the ember creates to have fuel to grow on. The Punkwood will begin to smolder and even if the ember we worked hard for falls off or gets blown away in the wind, the Punkwood will stay burning. We have a longer window of time now to turn this smoldering material into flame by utilizing this trick and we essentially have an ember that’s doubled in size as well. Being able to move and transport the ember becomes much easier by using this method as opposed to just a leaf or piece of bark.
The pros definitely outweighs the cons here but we do need to be aware of a few things. The Punkwood we use MUST be dry. It cannot have any moisture lest it rob the ember of the precious heat it needs to continue burning. We also need a piece of Punkwood that is appropriately sized to fit under the board without creating a lot of movement and wiggle during the friction fire process. What is nice though is Punkwood squishes down to form fit into the notch of the hearth board.
I hope this trick helps with the success of your friction fire practices! There is always more to learn and fun things to keep the hands busy. Keeping rubbing sticks together and doing the things that connect us to nature! Get Outside and Enjoy the Woods!
Have recent weather events across the United States, and across the world, given you pause to contemplate preparedness? If you are like me, and find yourself constantly asking what if, then perhaps the idea of firearms operation in winter environments, or making a winter ready AR, has become a source of concern. This is certainly not a new topic.
Above: Simple tasks, such as aiming, become more difficult when wearing bulky winter clothing.
On the contrary, as long as firearms have been available, they have been used successfully in cold conditions. However, there are some major differences between filling a muzzleloader with a colonial powder horn, and cycling through a malfunction on 21st century AR.
After scouring through a multitude of online sources regarding operating an AR in the winter, and spending hours outside at a snow-covered range, I have collected a few key takeaways that may come in handy the next time you encounter a tactical or self-defense situation when the flakes are flying.
Dealing With Bulk
When the mercury drops, the first thing most sane people do before they venture into the cold, is cover exposed skin with bulky, insulative apparel. The more cold it gets, the more layers get added. This excess clothing bulk is the first friction point a cold weather AR user will encounter.
Hunters who spend time in higher elevations or in northern latitudes, typically find a suitable location to hunker down, get set up, and train their firearms where they believe a target will present itself. This extra time makes it easier for a cold-weather hunter to position the buttstock in a way that compensates for added clothing.
Unfortunately, in a tactical or defensive situation, this extra prep time will most likely not exist. Extra attention must be given to the way bulky winter gear changes the way an AR is slung and shouldered. It may mean giving the sling extra slack, or making shouldering movements more exaggerated so the firearm clears the extra girth of additional clothing.
Reducing bulkiness to the optimal level is an art in itself. In many cases, bulk can be reduced by investing in what is known in snow-sports as technical clothing. These are garments with synthetic or modern wool fibers that have been weaved and coated in such a way so as to minimize the risk of penetration from the elements, maximize heat retention, and afford greater maneuverability.
The layers of technical clothing can be added to or taken away depending on the level of activity. For still hunting, more layers at the expense of extra bulkiness will be preferred. But for activity that is physically intense, like trudging long distances through the snow, layers can be reduced to the point where it feels like nothing but a spring jacket is being worn.
Above: Manipulating small items, or trying to grab magazines can feel clumsy and awkward when wearing thick gloves. Adding things like paracord straps or rubber grips will aid in these endeavors.
Gloves, hats, boots and face masks have all experienced similar modernization and it is well worth upgrading those decades old items to something more efficient. Getting the right combination takes a little experimentation, but once it's dialed in, going out in the cold no longer seems formidable.
It seems like an overly simplistic step, but having modern cold weather clothing can drastically reduce the amount of added bulk that needs to be dealt with. As the old saying goes, “there is no bad weather, only unsuitable clothing.”
Keeping it Functional
Other than polymer grips and buttstocks, the AR is metal, which means it quickly mirrors the ambient temperature. Thin gloves will be a one-way ticket to frostbite, and no gloves could lead to contact freezing when bare skin contacts the hand guard or receiver. Thick gloves or finger mitts are a must, especially if the situation demands an extended time outside.
An ideal pair of winter gloves will have a thin liner, and an outer shell component This will keep your fingers toasty, but it will make manipulating the functioning elements of an AR a real challenge unless a few modifications are made to the platform.
Probably one of the most important modifications to an AR adapted to the cold, should be to widen the trigger guard. For a bare hand, or shooting gloves, the stock trigger guard is just fine. But try adding an extra inch of padded diameter to your trigger finger. Many people experience how gloves can get in the way of simple activities without even giving it a second thought.
Above: Taking your gloves off when temperatures are below freezing can cause bare skin to freeze to metal. Even “shooters gloves” can lead to cold injuries due to their lack of insulation.
Just put gloves on and try getting house keys out of a pocket while holding a grocery bag. A pocket that fits an ungloved hand with room to spare, suddenly becomes a warded lock and the source of much irritation. Before long, there is a glove being held between teeth, while one hand is blindly fumbling for the right key to use.
It's not an identical scenario to firing an AR, but it highlights the convenience of having extra room to access the trigger. Without this extra wiggle room, it becomes a recipe for negligent discharges, or preventing the shooter from being able to fire at all.
Firing the weapon is important, but other functions can be adapted for cold environments as well. When fingers are covered with extra padding, their dexterity is greatly reduced. Instead of the charging handle meeting the stiff resistance of skin tissue, it is met with the soft give of insulated fabric. Maybe you will assert enough pressure to compensate for this and chamber a round.
Or maybe the glove will slip, costing extra time that you may not have. Either way, why take an unnecessary chance? Things like the bolt lock, charging handle, safety and magazine release can be replaced with inexpensive upgrades that offer larger access points for gloved hands. These simple changes will make operation and manipulation much easier while still being able to keep your fingers and hands safe from cold weather injuries.
A Little Lube Goes a Long Way
There is a lot of conjecture about lube and its functionality in cold conditions. Thankfully, a lot of progress has been made over the past century in synthetic petroleum products. One of the most common gun lubricants available, CLP, can be used in temperatures ranging from -60° to 160°F. Many gun lubricants operate well within this temperature range, and it is difficult to find a better substitute.
Operating an AR at the coldest end of the spectrum, may result in the lube becoming more viscous, but unless you are located in Antarctica, Greenland or Siberia, it should not be too much of a concern.
Above: Utilizing magazines made from composite materials instead of the old-school aluminum mags, will prevent them from sticking due to condensation.
There is a lot of back and forth about using dry graphite lubricants in cold weather, which may work for some firearms, but it should be avoided with the AR due to the composition of its upper receiver. Turns out that graphite has a corrosive effect on aluminum if a little moisture is added. Which means if you are using graphite lube in the cold, and you fire a few rounds, the condensation created from the heat will create damage to the inside of the AR’s receiver.
A handy item to have in the cold is a cloth soaked in silicon spray, kept in a plastic bag, and stored in an inside pocket next to your body to keep it warm. This can be any silicone based lube, including the ultimate remedy for any stuck metal, WD-40. If the lube on the AR starts to get gummy because of the cold, or some mechanism seems to be sticking, the residual silicone on the cloth can be wiped on it to get it back up and running smoothly again.
Snow Hazards
As snow accumulates, it creates potential hazards. Anyone who has wandered too close to a snow-laden tree may have succumbed to the startling, and aptly named tree well. Tree wells occur when tree boughs capture large quantities of snow, while snow accumulates around the outer perimeter of the boughs. This creates a deep and hidden cavity that the unaware could fall into and become trapped.
They are more prevalent near evergreen trees. Snow piled up on the boughs can also drop to the ground due to wind, radiant heat from the sun, or bumping into them by accident.
Drifting occurs when the strong wind blows snow, piling it into powdery waves, concealing tripping and slipping hazards. Drifts conceal the topography of the land, making it difficult to determine the depth of the snow at any given point. When walking through an unknown area that has been drifted over, becoming mired in a snow depression could be a costly mistake.
Above: Moving with a firearm can present challenges in the best of conditions. Moving with a firearm in thick snow can be potentially fatal.
They may be fun to bust through with a car, or throw your neighbor’s misbehaving child into, but snow drifts may present an underestimated risk in a tactical situation.
Moving with an unprotected AR barrel through these obstacles will most likely result in frozen flakes or ice particles getting inside the barrel, maybe even plugging it. The last thing anyone needs is a critical barrel malfunction when firing.
There are a variety of barrel covers and plugs that will easily prevent this, but even a simple layer of electric tape will do the trick in a pinch. It is crucial that, when traveling through the snow, extra caution and increased muzzle awareness be practiced.
Frosty Concerns
Keeping an AR lightly lubed and modified for easier access will keep it firing well for sentient snowmen. But for those of us who may have to come back inside, or transition from warm to cold or vice versa, there are a few additional measures that are worth taking. Moisture from breath, smoke, or making quick temperature transitions will cause the lenses from optics to fog up.
A simple step to mitigate this is to apply your favorite anti-fog product to the glass, ensuring a safe and effective aim.
Breath can fog an optic, but it can also stop your AR from firing in a bad way. Breathing in freezing air causes the sensitive lining of your nose and lungs to become irritated. To prevent this, your body will start secreting more mucus, the reason why freezing temps seem to make your nose run constantly.
Above: Smaller components used to manipulate the function of an AR should be replaced with larger versions.
This biological feature to prevent damage to your airways, could become a serious problem if you are not paying attention to where your nose is dripping. Be aware of where your AR is slung. If it is in the path of a drippy nose or beard stalactite, the mucus could be collecting and freezing, causing components to seize until they have been thawed out.
Many optics these days, especially popular red dots, have batteries. As the temperature drops, chemical reactions taking place within a battery slow down, producing less current. After becoming cold enough, there is no longer enough energy produced to power the device. One technique is to wear a tactical harness with an admin pouch close to your body, underneath your technical clothing layers.
The heat from your core will keep anything stored in the admin pouch warm, including extra batteries. Although there is not a great way to mitigate frozen batteries, it pays to be cognizant that, if there is a powered optic or light on your AR platform, your operating window to use those devices is limited in cold weather.
Spend Some Time in the Cold
A common adage in military circles is to train how you fight, and nothing will prepare you more for AR use in cold weather, than to go out in cold weather and practice operating it. It is easy to watch videos, read articles, and become lulled into a false sense of security by thinking this has made you prepared. Avoid this common mistake by being proactive, and going through the motions in as realistic of a setting as possible.
Above: Training with your gear in realistic conditions is the only way to know for sure what needs to be altered, replaced, or removed.
Even if there are no nearby outdoor ranges open in the winter, simply going outside wearing all of your winter gear and physically going through motions will give you a much better understanding. Start with it unloaded, or with dummy rounds, and practice shouldering, aiming, loading/unloading, swapping mags, charging, and correcting malfunctions.
By going through the motions, it will become quickly apparent where changes need to be made, and how to operate the AR more effectively. No two biomes are the same, even across relatively short distances, and the only way to find out what works in yours is to get out there and rehearse.
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Turn on your go-to news source, talk to your neighbor, or simply look outside, and you will discover that the weather is always an important topic most people have become concerned about. Extreme weather is quickly becoming normal weather, as old meteorological patterns and cycles seem to have become disrupted, and storms have become more intense. That's why training, such the winter survival training offered by Corvus Survival, is so important.
Recently in the United States, we have experienced numerous winter storms that stretch across the entire continent. Places that typically do not deal with frozen precipitation find its inhabitants shoveling gobs of white powder off of sidewalks and out of driveways.
All of this climate chaos is making many aware that they may lack the necessary skills to stay healthy and safe in environmental conditions they are not used to. Which is why people who live in the northern regions of North America have a lot they can share with our southern brethren.
Above: After introductions, students of discuss gear loadouts, and why normal mylar blankets won't cut it in the cold weather.
Beyond the common knowledge most northerners practice, such as dressing warm and sealing drafts in your window, there is a contingent of folks who know the techniques that will allow one to thrive in more remote wintery places. Jerry Saunders, founder of Corvus Survival is one of those people, and I was able to tag along during a training session he put together for Superior Search and Rescue (SAR) volunteers in Upper Michigan.
Our training location, the Lake Linden School Forest, is even further north than Toronto, and the 8am start time is still forty minutes until sunrise. Over one hundred inches of snow has fallen by this time in the year, the forest floor and surrounding trees are blanketed in sound deadening powder.
It is a brisk morning, close to zero degrees fahrenheit, and we emerge from the warmth of our vehicles to the greetings of grey wolves howling from the surrounding forest. The setting seems ominous, but this is a typical morning for the inhabitants of the U.P., and the SAR volunteers arriving to hone their winter survival skills are enthusiastic about getting started.
Introductions
Jerry starts the session by sharing with us his background and experience, and it is quite extensive. After spending over a decade in the Marine Corps, where he established their current winter survival program, he went on to train both law enforcement, and SAR teams in Yosemite National Park. After consulting for participants and crews on several survival shows, he decided to run his own business, training anyone willing to learn a wide array of survival skills.
The SAR crew is a mixed bag of age and experience. Some are in their early 20’s, students at their local universities. A few in their 50’s and 60’s, from all walks of life and backgrounds. We all have one thing in common though, we want to level up our survival skills so we can help keep missing persons, and ourselves, alive during a SAR operation in an unforgiving wilderness. With initial formalities out of the way, we begin by discussing some winter basics.
Above: Instructor Jerry Saunders discusses several effective ways of starting fire in winter conditions.
Dress to Stay Warm
Common sense like this may seem like a no brainer, but there is a lot more to it than most people realize. Before we dive into the nuances of clothing, we are reminded of a phrase uttered by many cold-weather outdoorsmen, cotton kills. Properties of cotton give any clothing made from it terrible insulative properties. Cotton traps moisture, and wet clothing has a profound cooling effect on the body in the form of conduction.
Most have probably experienced conduction on a hot day when we cool ourselves by standing in front of a fan. Sweat on our skin conducts heat away from the body, and the air forced past the moisture speeds up this heat transfer. When this happens outside in the winter, it cools the body too rapidly, which can lead to hypothermia and even death.
The solution to this dilemma is to adopt a strict no-cotton policy when dressing for the cold. Wool is often a reliable and inexpensive substitute, but there are a myriad of synthetic fibers out there, such as acrylic, that accomplish the same task. Sometimes referred to as technical clothing, they will trap heat and allow moisture to evaporate through, keeping the wearer dry and toasty.
There are still some folks who roll their eyes at the idea of wearing wool, but modern wool is light, affordable, and does not itch like its predecessors.
Dressing in layers is the next step to successfully staying warm, starting with a base layer, which should fit snugly against the skin, but not so much that it compresses. This base should cover the entire body from neck to ankles. Socks are a part of this as well, but we are reminded that if we decided to wear two pairs of socks, the outer sock should be a size bigger so as not to compress the fibers.
What makes a layer insulative is the amount of airspace between the skin and the next layer, and when you compress a layer of clothing, you are reducing those little pockets of air.
Depending on how cold it is, the next layer is typically just for insulative purposes. This could be loft jackets or pants, or just another looser fitting article of clothing as the base layer. Determining how many insulative layers to wear is a personal choice, which depends on an individual's metabolism and how much heat their body produces.
For example, my body tends to run on the warmer side, so my insulative layers are either thin, or non-existent. A final outer layer is added to break the wind, or prevent precipitation from soaking through. It is not uncommon on days above 20 fahrenheit for some outdoorsmen to wear only a base layer and outer layer. Especially if intense physical work is being done.
The idea behind all of this is to adjust the layers to suit the work you are doing, so that moisture from sweat or from the environment does not soak your clothes, preventing too much heat loss via conduction.
Boots are another topic of discussion, which catches many of us by surprise. We all think that we have footwear that is appropriate for our environment, but it seems the temperature ratings manufacturers claim can be misleading. It turns out that there is no regulatory policy that prohibits a company from stretching the truth about what their boots can stand up to.
Above: A method known as the “Finnish doughnut”, is a way to create liquid water from snow as long as it is close enough to a heat source.
A boot may say that it is rated to -20, but that does not mean that it is comfortable to the wearer, or a guarantee that your feet will stay warm. Other than testing a boot out in cold conditions, or doing research on product reviews, a good way to tell if a boot is suitable for extended durations in the cold is to find out if it comes with a liner. As with layering clothes on the body, a liner acts as an insulating layer between your sock and the outer layer of the boot.
To demonstrate the effects of heat loss through clothing, and perhaps point out where our clothing may be failing to keep us warm, Jerry pulls out a thermal camera. By using the camera, we are able to see hot zones on our body. These regions that are dramatically warmer than the ambient temperature indicate that what we are using as an insulative layer is either insufficient, or too compressed to be efficient at trapping heat.
Cold Considerations
Unless you hit the slopes on vacation, you may not be familiar with some tricks of the cold weather trade. One such tip that makes life easier is the use of a mat to stand on. Mats to stand on can be what you might put under a sleeping bag, a simple rug, or a chunk of a yoga mat. The idea here is utilizing something between your feet and the frozen ground that you can use to change clothes or socks, without worrying about frostbite on your toes.
An example of its use is when you get out of your car, throw the mat down before taking off your shoes and putting your cold weather boots on. It is meant to make life a little easier, more comfortable, and prevent cold weather injuries.
Remember the movie, “A Christmas Story”? Then you may also remember when Flick is triple-dog-dared into sticking his tongue to a frozen pole. This example highlights what contact freezing is all about. When metal items are cold enough, they will instantly freeze any water that touches it. Using a knife, multi-tool, or touching a metal zipper with bare skin can lead to potential cold weather injuries.
Sweaty fingers, moist skin, and tongues are susceptible to this. Also, beware of alcohol gels that are commonly used for sanitary purposes. Alcohol has a freezing threshold many times higher than water, so a bottle of hand sanitizer that has been left in freezing conditions could instantly freeze any skin that it touches.
Above: Fire starting principles are the same in the snow as they are in dry conditions; however, the base of the fire should be as close to the ground as possible and sheltered from the wind.
Frozen metal, as Jerry points out, is not the only thing to worry about. Many people carry lighters as a quick way to start a fire in an emergency. But when the temperature drops below freezing, the vaporization of butane can slow or stop all together, rendering it useless until it warms up. Similarly, any devices with batteries will rapidly lose their charge in the cold.
To prevent these problems, it is advised to keep important or sensitive items as close to the body as possible. If the pocket space of a jacket is insufficient, wearing a tactical harness with an admin pouch over your base layer and under the jacket, is a useful way to keep those items nearly as toasty as your core temperature. It is also recommended to keep those items essential to survival as close to your person as possible.
This could include your compass, knife, fire starting kit. If these items are kept in an outside pocket or kept on a pack, it increases the chances that they may fall out undetected, or detach moving through thick brush.
Snow and ice over the landscape could make slips and falls inevitable, and unless your items are para-corded to a tactical harness or backpack, those items could disappear in the powder forever. This scenario suggests it is always important to consider implementing some form of redundancy. For example, instead of relying on the only lighter you have to start a fire, pack a ferro rod, some waterproof matches, or both.
Keep a few utility knives in different places instead of counting on that one singular multitool. Having backup tools is also useful when something breaks or fails. A tip Jerry shares with us is to buy two of an item we bring regularly to the field. One to test out and use, and another kept back in case it needs to be replaced. This will ensure that the items used most will always be available when it is needed.
We are reminded that it is important to test our gear before heading out on any type of operation or excursion. Getting a new piece of gear or equipment is exciting, and it is easy to simply toss it in a pack and head out the door without giving it a second thought. But using the item or gear first allows the user to catch issues that may arise in a low-stakes environment versus on an operation when every second counts.
To highlight this point, we are asked about the emergency thermal blankets we carry to treat hypothermia. These are common items found in most camping sections, and many look like aluminum foil blankets. The problem is, since we do not unfold them until there is an emergency, we are completely oblivious to the fact that freezing temperatures cause the blankets to become extremely brittle.
Above: A thermal cloak is an insulated tarp used by Scandinavian military units to sleep in and stay warm in the snow.
Hypothermia blankets designed for cold weather do exist, but we most likely would have never looked into it if it was not for this important learning lesson.
As SAR volunteers, we can spend many hours at a time in the field during operations, and Jerry asks us how many calories we could potentially burn doing so in the cold. One volunteer suggests that it could be as many as 3,000. Jerry points a finger to the sky indicating it was higher. The next volunteer suggests 5,000, and is answered with another finger to the sky. 6,000? No, the correct answer is north of 9,000 calories.
This is because, not only are we burning hundreds of additional calories because of the additional activity, our bodies are also burning hundreds of more calories staying warm enough to maintain its core temperature. It is not uncommon in cultures in cold climates to maintain a diet that is high in fats and sugars to keep up with the additional calorie needs of the body, and Jerry states that nothing hits the spot quite like buttered hot chocolate when it's cold outside.
Shelter from the Storm
Snow has many forms, ranging from wet and heavy, to soft and powdery. Surrounded by the latter, Jerry talks about how it can be manipulated into building one of the most iconic winter shelters, the Quinzee hut. When liquid precipitation freezes, it takes on the crystalline structures we call snowflakes. By applying pressure to break these structures into smaller pieces, a small amount of heat is temporarily released.
This heat melts a small amount of the crystal into water before refreezing again. The result is a harder, more dense snowpack, more similar to solid ice than of powdery snow. It's the reason why, when the snow plow pushes a berm of white stuff into the end of your driveway, it feels like you are shoveling concrete when an attempt is made to clear it. We will use this property to create our shelter.
Two items exist that everyone who operates in the snow should bring with incase of an emergency, one is an avalanche probe, and the other is a collapsible snow shovel. Both are typically carried by alpine and backcountry recreationalists, but they are an important addition to any cold weather kit. Jerry uses the avalanche probe to circumscribe a circle on the ground. This outline will be the circumference of our Quinzee Hut.
Next, half of our group is instructed to shovel snow into the circle, while the other half steps on it to break down the structure of the snowflakes and create a more dense product. This process continues until we have a circular mound of compressed snow approximately five feet in height. The work is tough with a group, and we talk about how much longer and how much more effort would be required to build a Quinzee Hut alone.
Above: Piling snow into a large mound is the first step to building a successful quinzee hut, and goes a lot faster when there are many people helping.
The next stage of the building process is to let the snow sit for a few hours so the compressed snow has time to freeze and solidify.
Since the Quinzee Hut is more of a long term solution to shelter, we are shown a type of shelter that can be put in place immediately. A hasty shelter can be made using a 10×10 tarp, insulated tarp, or better yet a thermal cloak. By folding the tarp into a taco shape and stringing it up between two trees so the bottom of the “taco” is resting on the ground, it becomes a windbreak style of tent that can be used by climbing inside.
This method keeps the inside surprisingly warm, and allows moisture to escape through the top. Making a shelter such as this, is preferable to finding something natural like a cave, due to the fact that wild mammals, including bats, overwinter in caves. Living and sleeping in areas that have accumulated animal waste will eventually make most humans sick.
Staying warm in a hasty or long term shelter can be made easier by sleeping with gear. Extra clothes, boot liners, socks, hats and gloves, can all add to the insulative properties of a sleeping arrangement. Another factor involved with staying warm while one sleeps, is the choice to get out of the relative comfort of a shelter and relieve oneself.
The human body has to work extra hard to keep a full bladder warm, and emptying it is a way to stay warmer for longer. It may seem unsavory, but if a bladder is relieved into a spare water bottle, the heat from the liquid through the bottle can be tucked nearby as an additional item to help stay warm through the night.
Fire and Signaling for Help
Preventing exposure and shielding the body from the negative effects of the elements is the first step to success in any survival situation. The next step is staying warm, and attracting the attention of search parties. Starting a fire is a skill that predates human history, and up until modern times, it was a task most were proficient in. Now it is less common, but it is fairly simple to pick up. To sustain a fire, three things are required: fuel, heat and oxygen.
Above: Improvised gear, such as these Canadian snowshoes, can make traveling over deep powder much easier.
Before we start looking for fuel, we need to prepare a place to start a fire. Using a collapsible snow shovel is the easy way to clear a space that accommodates a person and room for a fire, but anything with a long flat surface can be used, including the face of a backpack pocket. Jerry emphasizes the importance of improvisation if the perfect tool is missing.
By clearing the snow as close to ground level as we are capable of, we are also making a depression that shields the fire from the wind and reflects heat back to the person within. Fire site established, we head out looking for fuel.
Tinder is the finest combustible material we need to look for. It needs to be dry and as close to the consistency of wood. There are a myriad of commercial tinders that can be purchased like fire plugs or cubes, but a homemade tinder can be made by mixing petroleum jelly with cotton balls. If comercial products are unavailable, chances are nature can provide what is necessary.
Here in the U.P., we have one of the best natural tinders around, Paper Birch bark. The bark of Paper Birch is resinous, can light even if it is wet, and is easily identifiable by its white paper-like appearance. Having one full handful of tinder is the recommended amount before starting a fire.
As tempting as it is to put the tinder to light, we also need two full handfuls of kindling. Kindling is dry combustible material roughly between the diameter of a toothpick and a pencil. It is important to note that kindling must be dry. An easy way to tell if kindling is dry or not is simply to bend the twig, stick or branch that has kindling potential. If it is dry, it will crack and break off easily.
If not, it will bend without breaking, in which case it should be left alone. Both the tinder and the kindling should be kept dry and placed close together so that the fire starting process will be more efficient.
One last element is needed to get a fire going, and that is fuel wood, this is anything than a pencil in diameter. Enough fuel wood should be gathered to keep the fire going for as long as required. The amount of wood required varies by need. Much less wood is required to stay warm, and much more wood is required if there is any cooking going on.
But a safe place to start is to gather enough fuel wood to fill a space five feet wide by four feet high for a night's worth of warmth. When gathering fuel wood in the winter, only saws should be used for cutting. When moisture in the wood freezes, it can send the axe of an inexperienced wielder flying dangerously in random directions.
Above: It takes a lot more wood to stay warm through the night than most people realize. Preparing an ample supply before its need is crucial.
Not only does this put the axeman at risk, it will most likely be an inefficient waste of energy, as the wood is likely to remain uncut. Using a portable saw, like a Silky folding saw, is a much safer and more effective option.
With all the tinder, kindling and fuel wood carefully prepared, it is now time to start the fire. Instead of easy to use fire starting tools like lighters or fire cubes, we are given ferro rods. If we can start a fire with a spark, anything else will be that much easier in the future. Our ferro rods are given to us with a warning, do not drop them in the fire, as this will cause the entire rod to ignite and become useless.
Using a sharp 90 degree edge of a knife or other piece of metal, we send sparks into our tinder, which has been crushed between our hands to be as fibrous as possible. Once the spark ignites the tinder, we place our two handfuls of dry kindling loosely over the top, and it does not take long before the flames are hot enough to get our fuel wood burning.
Flames in the snow keep us warm, but it is also a great contrast for searchers to locate or position, especially at night. In fact, three fires in a row is a signal for help that aerial SAR personnel are trained to identify. Outside of fires, signal mirrors can be a useful tool during the day. Light from the sun can be reflected and aimed at passing aircraft to catch their attention.
Araning logs or stones in the shape of an “X” is also a distress signal, but in a heavily wooded area, X-shaped placements can become difficult to distinguish from other items that have fallen over naturally in the shape of an X. Jerry explains that other useful items to use for signaling during the day can include anything that contrasts with the white of snow, like kool aid powder, mounding snow to create deep shadows, or colored smoke flares.
Quinzee Hut Part II
Several hours have passed since we compressed our dome of snow, and it is now time to hollow it out. Before we dig in Jerry asks each of us to grab a handful of sticks about a foot long, and stick them into the sides of the Hut. By doing so, we will have an idea of where to stop digging out the inside of the shelter.
Instead of boring a small entrance and trying to remove all of the inner snow through a small point, Jerry shows us a more simplistic method. By using our snow shovels to remove cubes from one side of the shelter, we can open a broader space to carve out the rest of the inside.
Above: Using teamwork, snow being removed from the inside of the quinzee hut, can be shoveled further away by others who are outside completing other survival tasks.
Moisture from our breath quickly creates a humid environment inside the dome, and Jerry recommends keeping a hood up, and removing any insulative layers we are wearing. Wearing only a base layer and waterproof outer layer is the most effective way of staying dry while finishing the last of our shelter. With the inside cleared out, Jerry takes the blade of the shovel and smooths the inner wall.
The smoother the inside of the shelter is, the more evenly breath moisture will freeze to ice, preventing water drips from falling on any inhabitants.
To complete the Quinzee Hut, we replace the cubes we cut out from the side, and fill any cracks with powder to create a finished wall. A small door, only large enough for one individual to squeeze through, and small enough to plug with a backpack, is cut into the side facing away from prevailing winds. The final part is to create a small ventilation hole to allow excess moisture and carbon dioxide to escape.
We are warned not to light any fires on the inside of the Hut, as this will cause the inside of the dome to melt precipitously and ultimately destroy it.
The Journey Comes to an End
Winter, by its nature, is cold and dark. To those who have not had to experience a trek through a frozen wilderness, or be subjected to the wrath of a blizzard, be aware that surviving these things is not an insurmountable task. In fact, with a little practice, living in the cold can be a comfortable and enjoyable experience.
Above: After a long day of learning to build a winter shelter, signal for help, and stay warm in extreme cold, the quinzee hut is finally complete.
Spending over seven hours with Jerry, our group of SAR volunteers was inundated with tips and advice that could fill a small book. Things like keeping your water bottle upside down so the tip doesn’t freeze first, melting water via Finnish doughnut, how to make Canadian snowshoes, or using a sock to make an improvised sling. Having a true cold weather legend to learn from was truly an honor.
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From classics like Survivorman to long-running series like Alone, we've enjoyed many TV shows in the broader survival genre. Whether they lean more toward hard-core realism or entertainment value, there's almost always something valuable we can glean from the comfort of our couch — even if it's just “I'm never going to make the same dumb mistake that person did.” The latest addition to this genre, Netflix's Outlast, incorporates a competitive group dynamic that's reminiscent of Lord of the Flies. The series' tagline, “the enemy isn't Mother Nature, it's human nature,” attests to this fact.
We spoke with series Executive Producer Grant Kahler regarding the intricacies of planning Outlast, keeping the contestants and crew safe, and what it takes to survive in the Alaskan wilderness. If you're not already familiar with the show, you can watch it on Netflix now. Otherwise, read on for our exclusive Q&A with Kahler. And for those who haven't finished the series, don't worry, it doesn't contain any spoilers.
Above: The rugged Alaskan wilderness served as the setting for this eight-episode series.
Behind the Scenes of Outlast
RECOIL OFFGRID: Tell us a little bit about yourself and how you got into TV/movie production.
Grant Kahler: Being in TV production is simply something I always wanted to do. After college I moved to New York, and my first job was in TV production on a television show called Ed for NBC. I worked in every aspect of production, from directing to accounting, on projects from Bruckheimer films to independent music videos, and eventually landed in documentary and unscripted TV production.
What exactly does an executive producer do?
There’s a huge range of responsibilities that an executive producer might be responsible for — from simply helping with the development of a show to physically being in the field and making the show. My role on Outlast was a little of both. I created the format as well as oversaw production from creative to logistics.
Above: Executive Producer Grant Kahler said capturing all the action in such a remote setting was both challenging and rewarding.
How did you get into survival reality shows, and what do you think the draw is for the audience in this kind of program?
I was originally drawn to this type of programming because I simply loved the environments we would shoot them in. I loved being deep in the jungles of Southeast Asia or up in the mountains of Alaska. I have lived in big cities most of my life, so the opportunity to get to go to these far-out places has always been a very special perk of the job for me.
And I think that is also part of the answer to the second part of the question — I believe that’s partly why people like to watch these shows. It’s in these beautiful places where we get to watch people as we take them back to the basics of human survival. Our society and technology has evolved so incredibly rapidly that I think it’s nice to see what life is like when we strip ourselves of those things — both physically and socially.
And there is always that question that a viewer asks themselves, “Could I do it?”
Logistically, what kind of hurdles do you face putting a show like this together?
I make these shows incredibly difficult on myself and my crew because location is always so important to me. With these extremely remote locations, often comes massive logistical challenges. But in the end, I think it’s worth it. It makes the experience more real for the cast, which often translates into a better show.
I’d say the number-one logistical challenge is transportation. I can’t count the number of times we have had to dig trucks out of ditches, race a rising tide to get to a destination, hike around washed-out roads, dig vehicles out of snow, or drag beached boats back to the water. We tend to film these shows in pretty extreme environments with little to no infrastructure, so transportation must be reimagined every time in order to move crew and allow for emergency access and evacuation.
What kind of off-set or behind-the-scenes safety precautions are there for the contestants?
For Outlast, we always had medics and bear guards on standby in the event of an emergency. We had to constantly be aware that hypothermia or a bear mauling, among many other things, were very real possibilities. So, we employed people to be able to handle those situations.
What kind of support do you utilize, in terms of real-world survival experts, to conceptualize or guide the show through production?
I always bring in experts to help figure out the details of a show. On this one, for example, we hired an ex SBS operative (UK Special Forces) who has special jungle warfare, SERE and combat medicine training, among many other things. He’s an expert in all things survival, from both his military experience to personal interest, so I leaned on him a lot to help with the logistics and some creative decisions.
On Outlast, we were lucky to have a Native American village by the name of Hoonah about 30 miles from our location. We employed them to help with safety consultation, plant and animal questions, logistical support and just about everything else you can imagine. We couldn’t have pulled this off without the people of Hoonah.
What do you look for in an Outlast contestant, and how do you find them?
This is hard to answer because it’s never one specific thing. Some people might have a unique skillset while others might simply have an interesting backstory. For shows like this, the only real requirement is that they have some sort of extensive outdoor experience. These are hard-core environments we’re putting people into, so for the sake of safety, they need to at the very least know what they might be getting themselves into.
We typically find cast through online forums, social media, or even outdoor gatherings. Oftentimes, it’s word of mouth that ends up getting the application to the right people.
Above: As a result of the show's positive reception, Netflix has confirmed that it will be coming back for season two in the future.
Based on your experience/observation, what qualities does a successful contestant have?
At the end of the day, no matter what the format is, a successful contestant is going to be incredibly skilled in all things outdoors. All of the psychological, sociological, and strategic advantages go out the window if someone doesn’t have basic skills. Beyond that, they must be patient. People often don’t understand how difficult these shows can be to get through. Patience can be everything — something most people just don’t have anymore.
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In the ever-evolving world of survival and preparedness, the wisdom of experience often provides the most valuable insights. For this reason, we've tapped into our community of avid readers as a resource for survival knowledge, and are sharing tips that stand out for their simplicity and effectiveness. This Readers' Survival Tip comes from the east coast of the United States, and discusses escaping restraints.
Readers' Bio
Name/Alias: Superesse
Location: North Carolina
Age: 18+
Superesse's Survival Tip
Hip Pocket Brief: Escape Common Restraints
BLUF: Defeat most duct tape (DT), ziptie (ZT), and rope-tied (RT) restraints using simple techniques and no special tools.
PREPPING TO INCREASE ESCAPE ABILITY Positioning while being restrained – If being DT or ZT, lean forward, tuck elbows and forearms together, and present closed fists. If being RT, keep wrists as far apart as allowable, spread elbows out, palms open and parallel to the ground, in an upside V shape or together. For DT/ZT you want the restraint tight, for RT you want it loose.
ESCAPING TECHNIQUES & PROCEDURES Defeating restraint – When the opportunity presents itself, attempt escape. For DT/ZT raise your hands above your head then in a swift/forceful motion, drive your arms down and to the side past your hips (in a motion such as elbowing someone behind you). The motion must carry through as far behind you as you can. For DT, each subsequent attempt may make the break more difficult as DT will fold/lip and increase durability. For ZT, before attempting break, rotate the lock square to where your palms meet. For RT, put your forearms/palms together and forward in front slightly tilted down, alternatively shimmy arms back and forth until rope slides off (such as the friction motion made with hands when you're cold).
This is an excerpt from the Hip Pocket Brief Vol 2. The book is available in digital and hardcopy formats at hip2.graymanbriefing.com
Submit Your Own Tip
Want to see your own survival tip featured in our publications? Simply fill out the form here: Share Your Survival Tips
We are looking for your best tips, tactics and techniques to share with our audience!
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In this issue, we’re breaking a tradition. Typically, this column focuses on knives or pocket tools that are carried in the pocket and are photographed at a 1:1 ratio so they appear life-sized. While that’s great for most typical EDC gear, it shortchanges the reader on some knives or tools that are larger than the height of the magazine. So be forewarned, the camp and field knives seen here are larger in reality than they appear on this page.
While knife steels and knife designs have improved by leaps and bounds over the past 50 years, so much that a typical pocketknife can perform most daily tasks, there are times when you really need a bigger blade. These are the knives we want to reach for when we’re truly off the grid.
Your typical EDC knife from CRKT, Spyderco, or WE Knife might be wonderful for cutting paracord, slicing open delivery boxes, or pinch-hitting for a steak knife. However, if you need to baton wood, make fire, butcher game, or perform real survival chores, you’ll most likely need a bigger blade.
True survival knives kind of caught a bad rap back in the ’80s and ’90s. The theme was “bigger is better,” and we saw designs with 14-inch blades, hollow handles to hold mostly useless survival kits, and gaudy serrations. As a Marine Infantryman and knife-aholic, I quickly learned that many of these knives were simply too heavy, and a canteen of water or extra magazines would be more useful.
The problem was worsened by cheap knock-offs that’d fail when put to real-world use. Yet, as knives have improved in the years since, there are many designs that have absolute real-world potential. They might not fit in your pocket, but you’ll certainly want one on your belt when you’re out in the wilderness.
CRKT
Clever Girl Kukri
The Clever Girl Kukri is Austin McGlaun’s take on the classic Kukri-style blade made famous by the Gurkha troops of Nepal. While a bit scaled down from the size of a traditional Kukri, it’s still big enough to prevent a true-to-size photograph for our usual columns, or else we would’ve featured it long ago. The good news is that it has allowed us to get a lot more use out of this knife than we normally would have under a tight deadline. McGlaun designed this one for CRKT as part of the company’s Forged by War program. This program allows veterans to design knives and tools for CRKT and direct a portion of the proceeds toward a charity of the maker’s choice. McGlaun’s choice is the Green Beret Foundation.
Overall length: 13.3 inches
Blade Length: 7.8 inches
Weight: 14.2 ounces
Blade Steel: SK-5
Price: $88
Pros:
Very sharp out of the box with a nice thin edge for slicing.
SK-5 is an excellent knife steel with superb edge retention and a reputation for toughness.
The handle has a very positive feel to it with no hot spots.
Cons:
As good a steel as SK-5 is, it can be difficult to sharpen due to its toughness.
Cold Steel has been producing this design for at least 30 years, and it still holds up today. This is a very minimalist survival type knife that’s at home in the woods, the desert, or the jungle for a wide variety of tasks. It has a hollow handle that allows the knife to be affixed to a shaft for use as a spear or harpoon. A honing steel is included in the sheath so you can touch up the blade if necessary. It may not give you a shaving sharp edge, but you can fix any nicks without having to regrind it. The Bushman has an almost cultlike following among its users, and some of the mods they make to this knife make it a real standout. Whether it’s a regrind or special handle treatment, you can really make this your own.
Overall length: 12.23 inches
Blade Length: 7 inches
Weight: 9.8 ounces
Blade Steel: SK-5
Price: $25
Pros:
A lot of usable blade for your money
You can easily affix it to a handle to fashion a spear for hunting or fishing.
The included honing steel can be used to straighten out any burrs or nicks.
Cons:
While it’s a bare-bones blade, you might want to wrap the handle in paracord or rubber for better grip.
When most of us hear, “Glock,” we think of the polymer-framed, striker-fired pistol. Yet, before they made their world-famous pistols, Glock produced knives, bayonets, and entrenching tools for the Austrian army. Glock still produces these knives, and the price doesn’t seem to have changed in the past 25 years or so. The quality is still there, and, in many ways, it represents one of our favorite field knives. The sheath is amazing, the serrations are well thought out, and the guard incorporates a bottle opener, but it’s not shipped incredibly sharp and has a relatively thick edge. Glock doesn’t usually list the M81 on their website, but it’s available through retailers such as Midway USA.
Overall length: 11.4 inches
Blade Length: 6.5 inches
Weight: 7.13 ounces
Blade Steel: 1095
Price: $30
Pros:
Once the blade has been reprofiled and sharpened, these knives are absolute workhorses.
Amazing serrations.
The sheath looks flimsy but is extremely effective.
Cons:
They ship dull and with a rather thick edge. Being 1095 steel, it takes a while to turn it into a decent working blade.
Be sure to maintain the blade after a regrind; 1095 is prone to rusting.
While the traditional KaBar is a favorite and iconic knife, sometimes even a classic can be improved, particularly with regard to blade steel and handle treatment. About 30 years ago, KaBar upgraded their classic military knife into a version using D2 tool steel, and variants were made with serrations. The Extreme Straight Edge model has more of the classic look of the iconic KaBar without these serrations. It comes with a rugged thermoplastic sheath that can be worn on a belt or lashed to a pack or load-bearing equipment. If you love your KaBar but want a more rugged and weather-resistant version, this may be ideal.
Overall length: 12 inches
Blade Length: 7 inches
Weight: 12 ounces
Blade Steel: D2
Price: $206
Pros:
D2 steel is a working-class tool steel that’s unbelievably tough.
Razor sharp out of the box, the way all knives should ship.
The handle is comfortable and follows the contour of the traditional leather stacked washer pattern.
Cons:
D2 steel is great, but the uncoated edge can rust if not maintained. It can also be tough to sharpen.
Skallywag Tactical produces great designs, and the Gunners Mate is a bit of a legend in that lineup. It was designed to “remove limbs,” be they trees or other types. There’s a lot to love about an 8.5-inch blade of D2 that’s razor sharp when you take it out of the box. It has more of the heft and feel of a boarding cutlass as opposed to a knife. The blade coating is nicely done, and it really holds up even if you put a lot of use into your knives. It makes for a great camp knife without encroaching into machete territory. It’d make for an impressive fighting blade as well.
Overall length: 14.5 inches
Blade Length: 8.5 inches
Weight: 16 ounces
Blade Steel: D2
Price: $190
Pros:
The blade is generously sized and can tackle just about any task you have in store for it.
Handle is extremely comfortable.
The D2 steel blade is sharp from the box and incredibly tough.
Cons:
A bit on the large side as a daily carry blade, but completely at home in the wild.
Even though the steel is coated, keep the exposed edge well-oiled if you’re in a humid or wet environment.
Oliver Hannan of Slysteel designed this model for a CIA operative who wanted a large knife for fieldcraft and self-defense. Hannan’s designs have been featured on several TV shows about wilderness survival and often include design details for tasks beyond cutting. This isn’t just another big chopper; it’s surprisingly light and balanced. The hole in the blade works as a bullet puller so you can use the powder as a fire-starting aid. The spine of the knife can be held comfortably as a draw knife because of the forward tumbled edge. The section of 90-degree spine can be used as a scraper to remove bark from branches or as a ferro rod striker. The more rounded, tumbled edge of the spine prolongs the life of your baton when using it for splitting. The Micarta handle incorporates a spindle divot for fire-starting.
Overall length: 15.5 inches
Blade Length: 9.3 inches
Weight: 23 ounces
Blade Steel: 1095
Price: $370
Pros:
Very handy and light for a large knife.
Versatile handle.
Both sheath options are ingenious; the MOLLE sheath is perfect to strap to a pack or belt and can hold extra gear.
The Tracker was designed by survivalist guru Tom Brown, and it’s one of the most popular and controversial knives made by TOPS. This is a special-purpose survival knife that can help you perform numerous tasks using one tool instead of five different ones. You have a draw blade, a filet-style blade, and a thicker chopping or batoning section, as well as serrations on the spine. The sheath sports two spring clips so it can be secured to the belt, a pack, or even mounted inside the door pocket of a truck. TOPS offers several scaled-down versions of this knife, but this one seems to be the best survival tool of the bunch.
Overall length: 11.9 inches
Blade Length: 6.4 inches
Weight: 21 ounces
Blade Steel: 1095
Price: $320
Pros:
The forward grind is a powerful chopper; the rear grind is angled perfectly for drawing and slicing.
This gives you a chopper, skinner, baton, filet, and a saw all in one package without hauling an entire toolbox around.
The Kydex sheath is outstanding.
Cons:
At 21 ounces, it’s not exactly light.
It lacks a stabby tip. If you need to dress game, you may need to carry a second knife.
As we look towards the future of automotive technology, Tesla's Cybertruck emerges as a potential game-changer, or perhaps, an ambitious experiment. This futuristic electric pickup has generated considerable buzz, but as it finally steps on to the market, questions arise about its role in the evolving landscape of off-road vehicles.
Design and Development
Unveiled in November 2019 by Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the Cybertruck's design was unlike anything seen before in the pickup truck market. Its sharp, angular lines and a stainless-steel exterior promised a revolution in vehicle design. Musk initially promised deliveries by 2021, yet the timeline for the Cybertruck has seen multiple delays, with its first production shift set for 2022, and then to 2023.
Pricing: A Spectrum of Options
The Cybertruck offers a range of models with varying capabilities and prices. The base model, a rear-wheel-drive with a single electric motor, carries a price tag of $60,990. For those seeking more power and versatility, the dual and three electric motor models, both featuring all-wheel drive, are priced at $79,990 and $99,900, respectively. This pricing strategy places the Cybertruck out of reach for some consumers, and more into the hands of hardcore off-road enthusiasts.
Production Challenges and Technological Advancements
Despite its innovative design, the Cybertruck's journey to production has not been without its challenges. Musk has openly discussed the difficulties in ramping up production, attributing some delays to the development of Tesla's new 4680 battery cell. This battery technology is crucial for the Cybertruck, as it aims to support the production of over 1,000 vehicles per week. These production challenges raise questions about the feasibility and readiness of such a groundbreaking vehicle.
Off-Road Marvel or Questionable Experiment?
The Cybertruck finally hit the pavement November 30, 2023, and it stands at a crossroads. On one hand, it represents a bold step into the future, potentially redefining the off-road vehicle segment with its electric powertrain and unique design. On the other hand, the delays and production challenges hint at the complexities and uncertainties involved in bringing such a novel concept to market.
The Cybertruck's impact on the electric vehicle market and its suitability as an off-road vehicle remain to be seen. Will it be a marvel that sets new standards for electric off-road vehicles, or will it be remembered as an ambitious but ill-fated experiment? The answer lies in its performance, public reception, and the ability of Tesla to overcome the production hurdles it currently faces. Whether it will revolutionize the market or serve as a cautionary tale of over-ambition, the Tesla Cybertruck is undoubtedly one of the most intriguing automotive developments of our time.
Q: Will the Cybertruck have autopilot? A: Every model will feature Tesla's self-driving autopilot feature, and the company says it will offer Full Self-Driving as an option (source).
Q: How long is the wait for Cybertruck? A: At planned production rates, and the number of pre-orders accrued to date, it may take more than four or five years to receive one (source).
Q: Will Cybertruck have a steering wheel? A:The design is a fusion of yoke and round wheel styles, featuring touch-sensitive buttons (source).
Q: How many people are on the Cybertruck waitlist? A:As of September, 2023, according to one user-managed tally, the Cybertruck has topped two million reservations ahead of its official launch (source).
Q: Will Cybertruck have outlets? A: The Tesla Cybertruck has three power outlets, two of which are 110 volt and one is a 220 volt output (source).
Q: Will Cybertruck fit in a normal garage? A:The length of a standard garage in North America is from 20 to 24 feet. According to Musk's comments during the Q2 call, Cybertruck will fit in a 20 feet garage. “This is the first truck that we're aware of that will have 4 doors, over a six-foot bed, and will fit into a 20-foot garage,” he said (source).
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Shooting and gunfighting are not the same thing — this is a statement we’ve made countless times in this column and elsewhere in our magazine, and it’s always worth reiterating. A strong grasp of technical shooting skills when exercising concealed carry rights, is essential if you expect to defend yourself with a firearm, but that alone doesn’t make you a gunfighter any more than owning a plane and knowing how to perform a basic takeoff makes you a fighter pilot.
Preparing for a gunfight involves maintaining situational awareness, developing a defensive mindset, a smooth and consistent draw, balancing speed and accuracy, footwork, transitioning between multiple targets, and the ability to manage stress. It may also involve skills that are rarely practiced in a typical “flat range” setting, such as one-handed shooting, shooting from retention, and clearing malfunctions.
Each of these important skills were addressed at a Core Pistol class I recently attended, taught by lead instructor Chris Vermeer of Core Dynamics Firearms Training.
The Core Pistol class began with a discussion of defensive mindset principles. In addition to reminders of Murphy’s law (if it can happen, it’ll happen) and the OODA loop (observe, orient, decide, act), Vermeer mentioned the less commonly known Hick’s law (the more choices you have, the longer it’ll take to make a decision).
Above: We were reminded that our ability to observe our surroundings before and after an incident can be just as important as our shooting skills.
From these three principles, students learned the importance of preparing for worst-case scenarios, continuously observing our surroundings, and “pre-gaming” situations mentally in order to streamline our heat-of-the-moment defensive decisions.
We were also reminded that violent criminals don’t think the same way we do; they may be desperate addicts, mentally unstable, or ruthlessly determined enough that the presence of a gun won’t phase them in the slightest. In those cases, lethal force may be the only way to stop an attack.
Stepping out onto the range, we practiced the classic five-step draw process from concealment: clear cover garment and establish a secure grip, draw the gun up out of the holster, rotate muzzle toward target, join with the support hand at sternum level, and finally extend to acquire the sights. Next, we worked from three ready positions: low ready (looking over the sights), temple index, and compressed.
Shooting drills started with slow and precise single shots to test our fundamentals, but quickly moved on to multi-shot strings with varying cadences based on target difficulty. We tested ourselves at distances from 5 to 25 yards, and even practiced no-shoot situations to simulate an opponent who surrendered before a shot was fired.
Malfunctions — which should be rare but are never impossible — were an important component of the class due to the aforementioned Murphy’s law. The classic tap-rack (smacking the magazine to ensure it’s seated, then racking the slide) is a technique Vermeer says most shooters don’t practice frequently enough. In order to make it a reflexive action, he recommended students integrate it into our daily dry-fire practice routine.
Above: Students drew from concealment, transitioned between multiple targets, and carefully balanced speed and accuracy.
As drills continued, students began sidestepping left or right while drawing, issuing verbal commands to the hypothetical assailant, and scanning a full 360-degree radius after firing. Obviously, we kept our weapons pointed downrange, but turned to look over each shoulder past the usual 180-degree “scan and assess” range.
To ensure the latter task wasn’t simply range theatrics, Vermeer quizzed us about what we observed once we had scanned our surroundings. In our final exercise, students paired up in front of two steel plates for a simulated fight. On the buzzer, each student quickly drew and shot the steel three times; whoever got three hits the fastest was the winner and advanced to the next round.
This induced stress, since each of us was aware of the consequences a fumbled draw or missed shots might have in a real gunfight.
I enjoyed my time at the Core Pistol class, and felt it was a nice refresher for critical skills related to self-defense with a concealed handgun. For more information on upcoming Core Dynamics pistol, carbine, and medical classes in Arizona, go to coredynamicsaz.com.
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We recently had the opportunity to attend a unique training event put on by a new start-up in the training space. It’s called The Solution, and it comes to us from BRVO Tactical – pronounced “Bravo Tactical.” The founder is an active-duty Special Forces Weapons Sergeant, a job that the Army codes in its database as “18B” or “18 Bravo” hence the name. He’s passionate about making Americans better prepared to deal with worst-case scenarios, saying: “I’ve spent my whole career in Special Forces going overseas and training foreign militaries so they can be better. I want to do the same for our own men and women here at home.” We believe that’s an admirable goal.
Photos by Patrick McCarthy
About “The Solution” from BRVO Tactical
First, let’s talk about what The Solution is not. It is not a carbine/pistol training course. In fact, we hesitate to call it a course at all. If you are looking to learn foundational weapons-handling skills like reloads, ready positions, safety manipulation, or fundamental marksmanship, begin your training path elsewhere before showing up to The Solution.
What this event will do is pressure-test your abilities as a shooter. Every problem you face will be complex, multi-faceted, and presented under physical and cognitive stress. In the first thirty minutes of the day, we were required to perform reloads, carbine-to-pistol transition drills, shoot on the move, transition on the move, and demonstrate the fundamentals of moving through a structure with a partner.
That first thirty minutes was the only time we spent on a line, shooting as a class. The remainder of our five-hour training day was a series of supervised drills, increasing in complexity, with an emphasis on working in two-person teams. This is not a Close Quarters Battle class, but the basics of traversing T-intersections and clearing corners were demonstrated by the instructor and rehearsed by each student team, including live-fire target engagement.
Above: The instructor demonstrated how to work around cover from both sides, kneeling or standing. Loading body weight onto the outside leg improves stability while keeping exposure to a minimum.
It Takes Two to Tango
One of the skills most heavily focused on was how to react when your partner experiences a weapon malfunction or reload in the middle of a fight. Being able to protect your partner through body positioning and cover fire, then communicate effectively to get both of you back into the fight, is something the military trains rigorously. But most prepared citizens get little to no opportunity to develop this skill, even though we live, travel, and socialize in pairs and small groups.
Above: When one student experienced a malfunction or needed to reload, he shouted to his partner and dropped to one knee. The partner immediately stepped forward to engage targets until the problem was solved. Each pair of students repeated this leapfrogging maneuver several times along a linear path flanked by paper targets.
Each drill was set up by the instructor, explained to the whole class, then run by one team at a time. Because of this format, every student got a significant amount of individual attention. Instead of simply standing on the sideline watching each team perform, the instructor moved with each and every team, remaining within arm’s length of the shooters for the duration of their run. Not only did this maintain a high level of safety during the most complex drills, but it also let the instructor observe every student directly and provide tailored personal feedback.
Again, viewed as an assessment or proofing opportunity, The Solution’s fast pace and unique format will quickly identify gaps or weaknesses in your capabilities.
Above: Pairs of students ran between points of cover and took turns firing at steel targets in the distance. Accurate hits were the top priority, but speed was also essential.
The final exercise of the day was a timed stress shoot that involved almost every individual shooting skill: movement, multiple targets, varied-distance targets, positional shooting, weapon transitions, and ammo management. There was also a physical fitness component involving several functional tasks — for example, weighted sleds to pull, a tractor tire to roll, and large sandbags to carry — scattered throughout the shooting stations.
The weight loads were not high, and you do not have to be an athlete to get through it. But it was more than enough to get our heart rate up, further complicating an already difficult set of tasks. Each team was timed, with harsh penalties for missed shots, and a handful of prizes for the winning team.
For a training brand that’s been in existence less than a year at time of writing, BRVO Tactical has come out the gate with an intensive training experience we’ve not seen anywhere else. Stay tuned to brvotactical.com and @brvo_tactical on Instagram for continued updates on new course offerings and upcoming dates.
Outrage culture is often perceived as a recent phenomenon, but it’s nothing new. Granted, the last few years have shown an uptick in keyboard warriors banding together on social media to berate, harass, and cancel anyone who draws their ire. But these so-called trials by hashtag are only the modern manifestation of a much older problem, the infamous witch hunt.
Law enforcement might call it mob justice; lawyers refer to it as a verdict from the court of public opinion; talent agents say it’s a public relations disaster. Either way, a subset of the population will always jump at the chance to grab their torches and pitchforks (figuratively, or sometimes literally).
For one example of this phenomenon, look at the story of Richard Jewell, an innocent security guard who was portrayed as a person of interest in the bombing attack on the 1996 Summer Olympics. This led to months of public harassment, 24-hour police surveillance, multiple searches of his home by the FBI, and a “trial by media” that forever changed his life.
As the populace’s rage snowballs out of control, the concept of innocent until proven guilty is quickly discarded, and one suggestion of a scapegoat might be all it takes to focus that rage on an innocent individual.
If you were unlucky enough to end up in the crosshairs of a modern-day witch hunt regarding a crime you didn’t commit, what could you do to turn the tide in the court of public opinion, or at least find some temporary solace? We asked former federal law enforcement officer Cody Martin and lawyer J.E. Conery to share their approaches to this complex and challenging scenario.
The Scenario
Situation Type
Implicated in a crime by false rumors.
Your Crew
Yourself, your spouse, and two children (ages 5 and 9).
Location
Tulsa, Oklahoma
Season
Late Summer
Weather
Clear; high 92 degrees F, low 70 degrees F
The Setup
You work as a field technician for a company that maintains and repairs machinery throughout the Tulsa area. This often involves driving your work truck to remote locations outside of normal business hours. One afternoon, you get a call for a repair at a construction site northeast of the city.
You’re met there by one of your coworkers, Jackie, who will be helping with the work. You and Jackie have never been on good terms; she’s frequently impatient and rude, but you always do your best to be professional. At 5 p.m., the rest of the workers pack up and head home, leaving you and Jackie alone to finish up the repair. Around 6:30, you finish the work, say goodbye, and drive home.
The next morning, you awake to a phone call from your boss. Apparently, Jackie never made it home last night and her family is frantically searching for her. Her work truck is still parked at the job site with her cell phone inside, and you were the last person to see her. Shortly after this call, the police come to your house and ask you some similar questions. It seems no one has any leads on her whereabouts.
The Complication
The next day, a friend texts you a screenshot of a social media post from one of Jackie’s family members. It mentions your name and strongly implies that you’re the one responsible for Jackie’s disappearance. Evidently, Jackie had previously told her family that you made all kinds of sexist, racist, and hateful comments to her in the past — things you’d never say in a million years.
It also notes that you were the last person to see her before her disappearance and calls for widespread community action because the police aren’t working fast enough. In a matter of days, the family is giving TV press conferences demanding your arrest, organizing protests, and mentioning your name and personal info in posts with the hashtag #JusticeforJackie. Nothing is specific enough to be defamation in the eyes of the law, but it’s certainly enough to lead to constant harassment.
To avoid getting wrapped up in the drama, your boss promptly fires you. Your wife’s employer seems to be considering doing the same to her. One of your kids was told “your dad is a murderer” by a classmate at school. News crews have started gathering outside your house, waiting to film and asking you leading questions. The police tell you they’re still conducting an investigation and don’t seem especially interested in intervening.
How should you go about dealing with all the rumors and accusations?
Should you attempt to address the situation head-on, holding your own press conferences and asking friends and family to spread the word about your innocence?
Is it wiser to avoid the spotlight and try to wait out the situation?
If the crime remains unsolved and harassment escalates into threats of violence against your family, would you ever consider relocating to a different state or even changing your name?
Former Federal Law Enforcement Officer Cody Martin’s Approach
Preparation
Like it or not, we now live in a world driven by the power and dangers of media sensationalism, both traditional and digital. As a result, we must be proactive in how our actions can either help or hinder professional and personal situations. Prior to any issues with my coworker Jackie, I need to take deliberate steps that go against the complacency most of us have when it comes to social media.
The first thing is to think before I post. I need to be mindful of not only what I post but also how I interact with other posts. Consideration must be made when it comes to how others will perceive my activity. I don’t want anything misunderstood or taken out of context.
In addition, I need to ensure my privacy settings are squared away to control who can see my posts, tag me in photos, and view my personal information. This includes taking precautions to not disclose personal information, such as my home address, phone number, email, or any details related to my daily routine.
Even sharing or being tagged in photos can provide metadata, identifiable landmarks, background details, etc. Someone can analyze background specifics, use Google’s Reverse Image Search, or even utilize harder-to-access machine learning algorithms to do the work for them. Using strong, unique passwords, and enabling two-factor authentication on each of my accounts adds extra security.
When I post, comment, or interact with any social media platform or forum online, I always assume that this can be not only traced back to me, but used against me, so I act accordingly.
Another safeguard is recording our conversations. I know that my coworker Jackie doesn’t like me, and based on her hostility, I’m going to make sure I have recordings of all our interactions since Oklahoma is a one-party state. I’m rarely alone with her on a job site but if I am, I’m going to make an audio recording of the entire duration of our time together, including my departure.
I’m not going to get fancy here. I’m going to use the Voice Memos App on my iPhone. I always carry my phone in the front of my work shirt anyways, since I don’t like to carry it in my pants pockets. This is easy to prep ahead of time to make sure I can hit record when the situation arises.
If I can’t make a recording, I need to make a written record of our interactions. Keeping things simple, I can make a voice memo or use the Notes app on my phone using voice-to-text to record the details of what transpired including specific comments, actions, and other relevant information.
And finally, I also want to make sure I have a digital record of my whereabouts during the day. Since Jackie has a history of making up stories and saying inflammatory things, I am going to use Google Maps Timeline to track when and where I have been.
With the right settings, Google Maps will keep a record of all the places I visit throughout the day, including the routes I take between locations. Another benefit is that it records the time I arrive and leave each location, as well as the route and time it took to get from one place to another. This can be invaluable when trying to prove when and where I have and haven’t been.
Combating accusations in a digital world requires us to use digital evidence to defend ourselves. Data, such as recordings, written records, and location tracking, can help provide evidence and establish a clear timeline of events. The balance is doing it in a way that is intentional and prioritizes privacy.
On-Site
Whenever there’s a full crew on site, Jackie’s not a problem; it’s the times we’re left alone that her true colors start to show. Today’s no different. We had little-to-no interaction during the workday, but when the rest of the crew left at 5 o’clock, she started acting hostile. She’s more aggressive than normal. Her comments are becoming more threatening, and her physical presence is growing more and more animated, so I’m glad I’m recording what she’s saying. As we finish up our work, Jackie finally ends her incoherent tirade by saying, “… I’m telling you, one of these days, you’re not going to leave this job site in one piece.”
As I’m heading out, I snap a few pictures of the job site before I head home. I do this as a hedge against someone complaining that work wasn’t completed, but it also gives me a record of when I left and at what time I finished up.
Based on the threatening statement Jackie made, and how “off” she seems to be acting, I’m making the decision to notify our boss. This isn’t anything formal, just a phone call to have a record of the incident. I’ll make sure to do this immediately upon my departure so that the details are still fresh in my mind. In addition, I plan on sending a follow-up email, just to have a digital record annotating my concerns.
I make it a habit to fill up the work truck on the way home, and I always thank myself the next morning. This helps create a digital trail of my post-work activity. These records serve as additional evidence of my whereabouts at specific times if it becomes necessary.
My concealed carry pistol is also worth addressing. I’ve made the decision not to disclose to my employer that I carry concealed at work. I carry within company policy and the laws of Oklahoma. However, if law enforcement becomes involved and I’m questioned about the events of the day, I’ll only disclose this information under the advice of an attorney. While I have nothing to hide, I know I’m well within the law and I want to make sure my rights are protected.
Crisis
Now is the time to go on the offensive, but I need to be strategic in my actions. Local law enforcement is “working” the case, but the wheels of justice are turning slowly. They offer for me to voluntarily come in for an interview, but I’m not doing that unless I have to and I’m accompanied by an attorney.
I haven’t been charged with a crime, so a court-appointed attorney is currently off the table. This leaves me spending my savings on hiring an attorney out of pocket. This is not a time to be cheap, but I do have limited cash available to put toward this effort. I might consider reaching out to organizations like the Innocence Project (innocenceproject.org), which could provide legal support, but it’s unlikely they’d be able to help since there are no concerns about due process and violations of civil liberties aren’t in play yet.
Another option is to try to find an attorney who will work on a contingency basis. Since I won’t have the money to pay a top-tier attorney upfront, a contingency attorney could offer me another alternative. If I can find one to work under this arrangement, they won’t collect any fees unless they win my case.
My last and final option will be to explore the crowdfunding route. While these platforms have helped other folks raise ridiculous amounts of money in their defense, I’m not confident they’ll work in my scenario. There’s a level of transparency that must be met, and I need to be careful how I navigate the scenario. Regardless of the option I go with, I’m going to have to spend my own money upfront for legal advice to make sure I’m not digging a hole I can’t get out of.
I also need to stay on top of everything that’s being posted, published, or aired. To do this, I need to take screenshots or video clips of all false posts, reports, or accusations. I will also start collecting all emails and other documentation that could help establish my innocence. I’ve done a bit of this work ahead of time, but now it’s time to start putting it all together.
Initially, I’m choosing to stay quiet to prevent any unnecessary attention. As the accusations and frenzy become more widespread, there will be a time I need to address things. When this happens, I will be open and honest about what’s going on and any potential “skeletons in the closet.” Transparency and proactivity can often help to mitigate the damage caused by exposure to these things. I’d also prepare responses to possible negative information that could surface. I’ll use my social media channels to refute pertinent allegations. I need to stay focused, explain the situation, and present any evidence I’ve gathered to counter the allegations in detail.
At the point allegations start turning into harassment, I have more decisions to make. One is whether I need to delete my online presence. I’ve decided against this because I believe it’ll only make it look like I have something to hide. Instead, I’ll continue to use them to address the situation and attempt to gather public sympathy and support.
As it relates to my job, and my unjustified firing, it’ll have to be a fight for another day. With everything else that’s going on, I don’t have the bandwidth to deal with that situation. Even though Oklahoma is an “At Will” state, there may be a chance I have a case for wrongful termination. However, the time will come to address this.
If things continue to escalate and we receive credible threats or if there’s an increased probability of violence, my number-one priority is ensuring the physical safety of my family. The first thing I will do is report this activity to the proper authorities. I’ll also coach and reemphasize what my family needs to be aware of and how they need to respond in various situations that may arise.
Some of my family members have brought up the idea of relocating, but I’m not sure there would be any benefit at this point. I also believe it will be easier to gather hometown support by staying in place.
We, unfortunately, live in a world where we need to operate in a constant state of preparedness for those unexpected “what if” scenarios. We need adequate preparation, prompt responses, and thorough recovery. This disaster management mindset transcends a lot of different situations that may occur in our lives. Whether it’s a man-made or natural disaster, personal crisis, or professional challenge, being prepared, responding promptly with solid information, and using what we’ve learned to improve is key. By maintaining this focus, we can better navigate through any difficult situation and increase our chances of successfully overcoming it.
Lawyer J.E. Conery’s Approach
This is a cautionary tale that should never have to be told, but one which is becoming more frequent in our anonymous social media landscape. How can we protect ourselves from mob rule and the modern-day witch hunt? Are there ways in which we can prepare ourselves or at least mitigate the damage?
It was the end of a scorching August. A customer needed some heavy equipment repaired, so I met Jackie at the work site. We both arrived around 5 p.m. The workers were leaving for the day, so it was just me and Jackie. We completed the repair around 6:30, I left the site … and Jackie was never heard from again. And that’s the end of it. Or so I thought.
Nothing is as simple as it seems, though, and if I could turn back the hands of time, I’d do many things differently. I would’ve done almost everything differently.
Jackie never liked me, and at times I thought she was setting me up for a discrimination lawsuit against the company. She’d often tell horrible lies, make claims that I was rude to her, and made sexist, as well as racist comments. My friends and family can attest that’s not my character. It’s quite the opposite, in fact. I have a great job, a loving family, loyal friends, and am genuinely a happy person.
Never in a million years did I think I’d ever have to defend myself against being accused of anything other than being the upstanding person I know I am. That’s not boasting — that’s a fact. Believing that everyone else shared my values was my first and biggest mistake.
Hindsight
Only with the benefit of hindsight can I clearly see the missteps I made. I hope that you’ll not only listen to my story, but also use it to protect yourself. In the blink of an eye, this could happen to you, and then it’s almost impossible to put the brakes on in time to protect your good name, your family’s safety, and get your life back on track.
Looking back, I recall that not only did Jackie not like me, but she also actually didn’t like most people. I decided early on to not give in to her negativity and kept the relationship professional. Jackie’s attitude toward me and the way she portrayed me to others often made it seem like I was a troublemaker.
But why? Did she have bad experiences with men? Was she jealous? How could that have been the case because we were on equal footing at work? Did she just not like me? At this point, it’s all irrelevant. Jackie was gone, the court of popular opinion was in session, and the jury was already rendering its verdict based on Jackie’s lies. I was guilty even before I could call my first witness.
If someone were to look at the facts, it indeed was possible for me to have harmed Jackie, or worse. The guilt or innocence of a person, even with only circumstantial information, is often based on three things: motive, means, and opportunity.
I had the means because I’m stronger than Jackie and could have easily overpowered her. I had the opportunity because we were alone at a remote work site. I did not, however, have the motive because I never thought twice about doing anything to Jackie even though she’d trashed my name. That’s the gray area, though, because I can now see how someone could think slander was motive enough for me to take action.
But to make a coworker disappear? That’s where the standard of “beyond a reasonable doubt” should ultimately clear me … at least from prison. I’m in a different kind of prison now, and I’d like to think that I could’ve better prepared myself to head this thing off at the pass and help find Jackie instead of allowing the world to think I caused her disappearance.
Aftermath
Oklahoma tornadoes begin with a few swirling winds, and my storm is no different. The morning after we were called to the work site, I woke to a ringing phone. It was my boss. She sounded panicked and told me that Jackie never made it home from the job site. Jackie’s truck was still there, and her mobile phone was found on the floorboard.
She ended the call by saying that I needed to stay home because the police wanted to talk with me, considering I was the last person who saw Jackie. The police came by, asked me a few questions, requested permission to search my truck (which I gave), and left. I expected that they’d have follow-up questions in a day or so but could never have imagined in my worst nightmare what was to come.
Later that morning, a friend text me a screenshot of a social media post from one of Jackie’s relatives that mentioned me by name and implied that I’m responsible for her disappearance. Apparently, Jackie also spread her lies about me to her friends and family. Shortly after I read that text, my phone rang.
It was my boss who called back to tell me that I was fired and that the company had no interest in being caught up in the drama. I spent 10 years with that company, and they fired me with a phone call over something I wasn’t even a part of? A few minutes later, my wife called to tell me that she was coming home. She hadn’t been fired, but her boss wanted her to stay away from the office “until things cooled down.” I was stunned.
Why would anyone at her office even know about the social media posts? I turned on the TV and got my answer — Jackie’s family had called a press conference to solicit help from the community. Initially, I thought that was appropriate and something I’d do. What I didn’t know was that earlier in the press conference I was mentioned by name and accused of being responsible for her disappearance.
I became lightheaded, weak, and nauseated. How could this be happening? Then, the kids returned home from school. One of them was crying because he was told that his daddy was a murderer. It was their first week. How would they get through the year without a constant barrage of insults and stares? At the end of the day, news crews gathered around my driveway.
Neighbors were in their front yards gawking, some being interviewed. Never had I felt so alone and ill-prepared to deal with something as serious as this. In a single day, I lost my job, my wife was on the verge of losing hers, my kids were harassed, and the entire greater Tulsa viewing area heard Jackie’s family call me out by name and now know where I live.
Over the next three months, our family endured threats and accusations from Jackie’s family, strangers, and an activist police department that was only looking at me. And to my horror, they succeeded. I’m sitting here in my 8×10 cell awaiting trial and can only dream about what might’ve been. My wife and kids ended up fleeing the state and are starting over somewhere in western Colorado. I was adamant that my wife not tell me where she’d gone. We keep in touch through pre-paid prison phone calls.
Preparedness Lessons
I’ve thought a lot about what I would’ve done differently to prepare and protect myself. For starters, I should’ve had better situational awareness at work and made sure I kept my distance from a woman who didn’t like me. I should’ve gone out of my way to be as nice to as many people as possible and, more importantly, made sure others witnessed me doing that, especially Jackie’s friends.
An email or text trail could’ve been helpful in building a credibility case in my favor, but one has to be extremely careful and always write with the knowledge that texts and emails might be shown to a jury in open court — no jokes, no political discussions, and for damn sure no disparaging remarks about coworkers nor the company.
It may seem over the top, but with someone like Jackie I might’ve even recorded our conversation at the work site. That’s allowed under Oklahoma law provided one party knows they are being recorded. Additionally, because I was going to a remote work site, I should’ve established a trail of digital breadcrumbs.
It could’ve been as easy as sending a quick text to tell someone where I was going and when I expected to finish. I could’ve taken a picture of the work site when I arrived and left so the date and location would be in the phone’s metadata. If during the job there were signs that something was off, I could’ve asked Jackie if anything was wrong. If she became aggressive, I would’ve excused myself, gotten in my truck, and called my supervisor.
If I couldn’t reach my supervisor, I would’ve called the police. That would’ve done two things: 1) It would demonstrate that I cared for the wellbeing of my coworker; and 2) It would create a record of the date, time, and location. One never knows what goes through a person’s head or if they are in the midst of a health crisis.
It was late August and any one of a number of things could’ve happened from heat exhaustion to a missed dose of medication that could result in delirium. On the way home, I could’ve left another digital breadcrumb and used my credit card to get gas in full view of security cameras.
I didn’t have one, but if there was a weapon in my vehicle, I could’ve immediately volunteered that information. Having a gun isn’t illegal in Oklahoma. If it later turned out that Jackie was shot, ballistics would’ve likely cleared me. The reality is that if the authorities questioned enough people, they would’ve discovered that I owned a gun anyway.
Would that have been risky? Absolutely, especially if your employer has a policy against weapons in company vehicles. Better to lose your job than your freedom.
The authorities weren’t on my side, so I was very guarded in my interactions with them. I was polite, but careful knowing that every single thing I said would be included in their case file. I could’ve contacted the Oklahoma Bar Association, which can help find legal services for low-income people. I wasn’t “low income,” but I could’ve lucked out and found a pro bono clinic. I wasn’t a part of a union, but if I was, the union might’ve provided advice at least for a wrongful dismissal claim against the company. The company might not like the negative press of firing someone who was accused for no reason, so they might’ve let me keep my job.
Help yourself. Don’t go through such a nightmare alone. In fact, never do anything alone in your personal life, especially if you’re adventurous and go camping, fishing, or off-roading. At a minimum, leave that digital trail to help others find you in case of an emergency.
If your smartphone’s battery is running low, quickly send a text message to several of your trusted contacts and state the date, time, place, and whatever information that could help someone find your location. Sending this information to multiple people creates redundancy, in case one doesn’t see the text. If you have data coverage, share a “pin” of your current location from your preferred map app, or check-in through a social media site like Truth Social, Facebook, or Instagram. Whatever you do, just be careful and don’t go it alone or your life could change in the blink of an eye.
Conclusion
In emotionally charged situations such as this one, simply reiterating your innocence won’t be enough. Any evidence you present may be written off as an attempted cover-up, and even if law enforcement and the legal system are on your side, trials are slow and arduous.
Looking back to the true story mentioned in our introduction, Richard Jewell endured 88 days of baseless rumors, accusations, and harassment after being named as a “person of interest.” Even after the true culprit was arrested and Jewell’s name was cleared, he lived with a sense of uncertainty for the rest of his life. In an interview with the New York Times, he said, “I’m a lot more cynical than I used to be. I’m not as trusting as I once was.”
To protect yourself against false accusations, you’ll need to think like an investigator. Be ready to build a portfolio of evidence that can be used in your defense and discuss your “what if” plans with trusted friends and family. Be proactive, not reactive. In a perfect world, you’d be considered innocent until proven guilty through hard evidence, and members of the public would treat you the same way they’d wish to be treated during the investigation — but we all know our current world is far from perfect. As with any survival situation, you shouldn’t be paranoid, but you should always be prepared.
Meet Our Panel
Cody Martin
Cody Martin has over 18 years of experience in federal law enforcement, physical security, and risk mitigation. As the founder of Risk Strategy Group, he leverages his expertise to provide comprehensive solutions to corporations, nonprofit organizations, schools, and civilians, helping them navigate security threats and achieve their goals. His achievements include contributing to the creation of a national course focused on Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Recognition and Response, serving as a subject matter expert in firearms and officer survival, and assisting with the physical security of politicians and ultra-high-net-worth individuals. Martin’s certifications, multi-agency cooperation, complex investigations, and training background underscore his commitment to safety and security. Learn more about his work at riskstrategygroup.com.
J.E. Conery
J.E. Conery has practiced law in the legal departments of some of the world’s largest oil and gas services companies for 30 years. His professional experiences provided a rich background for the development of the characters, plot lines, and writing style in his debut novel, Project Azalea, which can be found online at amazon.com. Conery attended Loyola University New Orleans, where he earned his B.A. in philosophy and his law degree. Though he lives in Houston, Texas, he’s a native son of Louisiana, a lifelong duck hunter and fisherman, and finds solace in its beautiful swamps. Disclaimer: Conery is a freelance writer, and the information contained in this story is a work of fiction, a reflection of his own thoughts and ideas, and in no way should be taken as legal advice. Any similarities to real people or places are purely coincidental.
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