When disaster strikes being ready to move quickly and efficiently with the equipment and supplies you need is essential to ensuring the safety of you and your loved ones. To accomplish this many novice preparedness enthusiasts look into building a Bug Out Bag, or B.O.B for short. The Bug Out Bag is a style of Go Bag that has become a mainstream term thanks to popular media – but understanding when it is appropriate to use a Bug Out Bag or when to utilize one of the lesser-known types of Go Bags can mean the difference between life and death in an emergency.  To help people become better equipped to understand exactly what they need in an emergency Recoil Offgrid has partnered with American Reconstruction Concepts to create a state-of-the-art tool to build your Ideal Go Bag system to ensure you are ready to not just survive but thrive in an uncertain world!

What is a Go Bag?

Before building a Go Bag it is important to understand exactly what a Go Bag is, the types of Go Bags, and what situations call for specific types of Go Bags. Simply stated a Go Bag is a survival kit that is designed to be taken with you while on the move containing all the things you need to survive in an emergency.

Common Go Bag Mistakes

While the concept seems simple, the reality is much more complex as many people do not truly know what they need in an emergency. Chances are if this is your first time thinking about this concept you will make one of the two major mistakes – under packing or over packing.

The Dangers of Under Packing  and Over Packing

Under packing leads to not having essential survival items. Often forgetting these essential items is an oversight as modern living has made things like the ability to obtain clean drinking water, healthy food, or light in the darkness a second thought. The fear of under packing can lead to over packing – while the better safe then sorry mentality may seem to make sense, adding weight and bulk can slow movement when every second counts. In addition to slowing movement, many people are not physically acclimated to having to carry a heavy bag on foot over long distances which can lead to discomfort and injury.

Choosing the Right Go Bag Setup

The first step in choosing the right Go Bag setup is understanding the 4 types of Go Bags and their unique applications. As we go through each time of bag you will see some example packs and gear that I rely on, while each Item is a great choice there are many reputable Items on the market to choose from!

WUSH Bags are built to maximize speed when seconds count. Compact bags like this GORUCK Bullet ruck are an Ideal choice for creating a quick grab and go pack that won’t slow you down.

WUSH Bag

• Application: Grab and Go
• Duration: Immediate
• Primary Benefit: Quick movement in an emergency
• Build Style: Minimalist

The WUSH (Wake up, Stuffs Happening) bag is designed as your grab and go solution. It is designed to be light and efficient to ensure you can move quickly in an emergency. WUSH bags are ideal for quick evacuations in situations like a building fire and can be easily kept on or near your person daily. While the WUSH will not sustain you over the long term it can provide supplies you need until support arrives.

Communications

• Phone
• Signaling Device: Whistle
• Back Up Power: Power Bank

Health

• Basic First Aid Supplies: For minor cuts and scrapes
• Over the Counter Preventative Medicines: Advil, Tylenol, Allergy

Protection

• Basic Weather Protection: Packable outerwear, sunblock
• Simple Shelter: Emergency blanket
• Personal Protection: ASP Defender Pepper Spray

Sustenance

• Food: snack. protein bars.
• Drinkable Water: Filled Water Bottle

Travel

• Mobile Device with navigation App

EDC Basics

• Pen
• Notebook
• Folding Knife
• Lighter
• Basic Vital Documents (Wallet)

The VERTX Gamut is a versatile pack that maximizes organization with a slim profile and subdued appearance making it a great choice for a Get Home Bag that you may have to carry in public places.

Get Home Bag

• Application: Support while getting to a secure location
• Duration: 12-24 hours
• Primary Benefit: Versatility without impacting movement
• Build Style: Balanced

As the name indicates, Get Home Bags are designed to provide supplies needed to get you home or another well stocked location in a emergency. Get Home Bags are often stored in a vehicle but are light enough to carry on your person comfortably when on foot for an extended duration if needed.

Communications

• Phone
• Satellite Communicator: Grid down, traveling outside cell coverage area
• Signaling Device: Whistle
• Back Up Power: Power Bank

Health

• First Aid Supplies: Minor Injuries, Trauma Kit
• Over the Counter Preventative Medicines: Pain killers, Allergy
• Prescription Medication: 1 day worth
• Additional clothing suited for being outdoors during the season if needed.

Protection

• Weather Protection: raincoat, seasonally appropriate for night time.
• Shelter: Emergency Blanket, Tarp and paracord
• Personal Protection: Self-Defense Item
• Extended Light option: Head lamp, small lantern

Sustenance

• Water Purification: Filter or chem tabs
• Food: Shelf Stable items with a days’ worth of calories
• Drinkable Water: Filled Water bottle 1-2 liters

Travel

• Navigation App
• Non-Cell Based Navigation: GPS Unit, Compass
• Foot Care Items: Extra Socks, Mole Skin, comfortable walking or hiking shoes if you wear other footwear.

EDC Basics

• Pen
• Notebook
• Folding Knife
• Lighter
• Flashlight
• Multi-tool

Basic Vital Documents

• Wallet

The Vanquest IBEX shares many features with hiking packs including a supportive suspension and waist belt making it an excellent choice for heavier Bug Out Bags that may have to carry over long distances.

Bug Out Bag

• Application: Multi-Day Survival System
• Duration: 24-72 hours
• Primary Benefit: Supplies for extended emergencies
• Build Style: Comprehensive

Bug Out Bags are designed to provide up to 3 days of survival equipment and supplies and are often used in disaster situations that require evacuation. In addition to emergency equipment and supplies, Bug Out Bags will often contain spare clothing and other comfort items to sustain you for a few days. The comprehensive nature of these bags prioritizes supplies over speed.

Communications

• Phone
• Satellite Communicator: Grid down, traveling outside cell coverage area
• Signaling Device: Whistle
• Back Up Power: Large or multiple Power Banks, compact solar charging options

Health

• Advanced First Aid Supplies: Minor Injuries, Trauma Kit
• Over the Counter Preventative Medicines: Pain killers, Allergy, electrolytes, bug bite/sting relief
• Prescription Medication: 3 days worth
• Additional clothing for 3 days
• Basic Hygiene items

Protection

• Weather Protection: raincoat, seasonally appropriate outerwear for changing conditions.
• Shelter: Emergency Blanket, Tarp and paracord, bivvy sack, compact tent.
• Personal Protection: Self-Defense Item, Back up
• Extended Light option: Head lamp, small lantern, back up light

Sustenance

• Water Purification: Filter, chem tabs, empty container for storage.
• Food: Shelf Stable items with 3 days’ worth of calories.
• Drinkable Water: Filled Water bottles and/or Water Bladder 3-6 liters
• Compact cooking Wear: Portable Stove/pot/ utensils

Travel

• Navigation App
• Non-Cell Based Navigation: GPS Unit, Compass, local maps
• Foot Care Items: Extra Socks, Mole Skin, comfortable walking or hiking shoe if you wear other footwear.

Tools and Other Essential Items

• Pen, pencil, maker
• Notebook
• Robust Fixed Blade, Back Up Cutting Tool
• Lighter and Back Up Fire Starting tools
• Flashlight
• Robust Multi-tool
• Important Documents: Wallet, medical info, Identifying documents for children.

The 5.11 Tactical RUSH packs may not be discreet, but they make up for it in functionality and carry capacity. The Rush 24 has a large 37-liter carry capacity and the Rush 72 is a cavernous 55-liter pack making a great option for INCH bags.

INCH Bag

• Application: Supplies in situations where returning home may not occur
• Duration: Indefinite
• Primary Benefit: Contains everything needed
• Build Style: Tool Focused

If you are grabbing your Inch (I’m never coming home) Bag, you don’t plan on coming back! Where the INCH Bag is different from the Bug Out Bag is the focus shifts to long term survival and will rely more heavily on tools to help you accomplish your survival goals rather than short term supplements. The comprehensive nature of these bags makes them very large and heavy which can dramatically slow movement if traveling on foot and are better suited for vehicle travel.

Communications

• Phone
• Satellite Communicator: Grid down, traveling outside cell coverage area
• Signaling Device
• Back Up Power: Solar charging options, Large Capacity Power Banks

Health

• Extensive First Aid and Trauma Kit
• Over the Counter Preventative Medicines: Pain killers, Allergy, electrolytes, bug bite/sting relief, Durable Medical Equipment
• Prescription Medication: As much as possible
• Additional clothing focused on durability varied weather and temperature conditions.
• Long term Hygiene items
• Nutrition Supplements

Protection

• Weather Protection: Outerwear for Multiple seasons
• Shelter: Durable Tents, Tarps, Cordage, and Repair Supplies
• Personal Protection: Self-Defense Items and Back up.
• Extended Light Options with multiple power sources.

Sustenance

• Water Purification: Multiple Filters, chem tabs, empty containers for storage.
• Food: Shelf Stable items as much as can be reasonably carried with a focus on obtaining food from outside sources.
• Drinkable Water: Filled Water bottles and/or Water Bladder with a focus on having to replenish from other sources.
• Durable Cook Wear: Portable Stove/pot/utensils

Travel

• Navigation App
• Non-Cell Based Navigation: GPS Unit, Compass, local maps
• Foot Care Items: Extra Socks, Mole Skin, additional footwear for multiple seasons.

Tools and Other Essential Items

• Pens
• Notebook
• Robust Fixed Blade Knife with maintenance Items, Back Up options.
• Hatchet
• Compact Saw
• Multiple Fire Starters
• Tools for hunting, Trapping, and Foraging
• Flashlight
• Multi-tool
• Important Documents: Wallet, medical info, Identifying documents for children, passports, financial documents.

Using The ARC Bag Building Tools to Create a Custom Survival System

Each of us has a unique situation based on our physical condition, family size, geographic location, and climate conditions. In most cases everyone should have multiple bag types to accommodate different situations, and the contents of these bags will be determined by your own unique needs – but understand where to start and what your priority items are can be challenging. That is where ARC’s Bag Building Tools come in!

Using ARC’s bag building tools take Michael Caughran’s extensive experience as a US Air Force SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) instructor and condenses it into an easy-to-use format to provide a detailed custom tailored survival packing list for your unique needs.

Take the first step into becoming more prepared by clicking the link below to access ARC’s free Go Bag Tool! The process is simple -answer a few questions to help identify your unique needs based on your location, climate, personal capabilities, expected emergency type and the number of people you will need to support. From there you will receive a detailed list of everything you need to build your ideal Go Bag!

CHECK OUT THE ARC GO BAG SELECTOR TOOL HERE

Building your Go Bag is Just the First Step

Building your kit is just the beginning! Every piece of equipment is only as effective as your ability to use it! Utilize the numerous resources available on offgridweb.com to enhance your knowledge. Practice using the gear in your kit to perfect techniques and build muscle memory. Take training courses with reputable and experienced trainers through ARC or any of the trusted trainers found in the pages of our magazine or on offgridweb.com!

Read More on Go Bags

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• Go Bag: Building a Winter Survival Kit with BCO Discovery M1
• Bag Drop: Low Vis Gear ISR Pack
• Bag Drop: Ruger PC Charger Backpack
• Bag Drop: 5.11 Tactical Responder ALS Medical Bag
• Bag Drop: 5.11 Tactical RUSH72 Search and Rescue Pack

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The participants who signed up for RECOIL OFFGRID Undisclosed knew very little about what they were getting into. They knew that they were signing up to be part of an immersive tactical training event that would last approximately 36 hours somewhere in the vicinity of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania — and they knew that we had selected some of the best instructors in their respective fields to train them.

On arrival, Undisclosed VIPs hit the Lodge, got the mission brief, split into teams, geared up, and prepped for what was coming next. The night set off with a trauma care overview, a primer for the training to follow. The evening was spent getting to know one another, the instructors, and the support crew over good food and easy conversation. Still, unease lingered. Details of what was coming remained vague. None of the VIPs realized this would be their last chance to relax for the next 30 hours.

Each block of instruction was approximately an hour long. This meant they had to pick up the fundamentals quickly and apply them immediately.

Drinking from a Fire Hose

Training day kicked off at 7 a.m. with a quick grab-and-go breakfast. After a bite to eat, the participants were told to gear up in their full kit, and the group rucked down to the Ben Franklin Range shoot house. From there, the two groups split up for a marathon of training that went from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. with only a short break for an authentic MRE lunch.

Over the course of nine hours, the participants covered several vital tactical and survival topics and learned to utilize the gear they received the day before. Each class offered the opportunity to get some practice time for each skill. Following the completion of the day’s classes, the weary participants returned to the lodge for dinner and were encouraged to ask the instructors to clarify anything they learned that they didn’t fully grasp.

Reacting to this breakneck pace mimicked the velocity a real-world situation can force on an individual. It was a controlled environment where VIPs could learn how to control themelves in potential do-or-die scenarios.

Close Quarters Combat

At Ben Franklin Range’s multi-story CQB building, RECOIL’s Editor-in-Chief Iain Harrison taught an introduction to close quarters combat for Undisclosed VIPs. The class set clear expectations from the start and stayed focused on fundamentals. The goal was a fast primer that put movement before theory. Every block designed to be simple, repeatable, and immediately useful.

Participants worked in four-person teams throughout the session. Harrison defined what each position in the stack was responsible for during an entry. Teams hear how duties shift based on who is the one-, two-, three-, or four-man in the stack. That shared understanding framed every rep that followed.

Teams began by pieing corners around corner-fed and center-fed rooms. They practiced reading angles and adjusting movement to match their place in the order. Reps stayed tight and controlled to reinforce clean footwork and spacing. The emphasis was on exposing as little of yourself as possible, while maximizing your own visibility of potential targets.

After a few runs with no rounds, teams cleared rooms with simunition. The switch kept the same fundamentals in place while adding training speed. Entries remained structured around position and room type. The class ended with concise takeaways that align with the drills they just performed.

Injury treatment was explained in simple ways, reducing the time spent thinking, and increasing the time spent acting.

Ballistic Trauma Care

Kristopher Hasenauer used his extensive experience as a Special Forces Medical Officer to train the Undisclosed participants in the essentials of ballistic and battlefield emergency care. This course covered common firearm and combat-related injuries and the equipment and techniques used to treat these injuries.

Hasenauer discussed prioritizing injury types using the Tactical Combat Casualty Care (TCCC) and how to utilize the head-to-toe method for identifying injuries.

TCCC Injury Priority:

1. Massive Bleeds
2. Airway
3. Respiration
4. Circulation
5. Hypothermia
6. Traumatic Brain Injury

As a crash course, Hasenauer focused on treating massive bleeds, discussing the science of blood clotting, the importance of applying pressure to wounds, and the appropriate situations to use tourniquets, quick clots, pressure bandages, and gauze. He demonstrated how to use different types of tourniquets and how to create improvised tourniquets.

Having a selection of the most effective medical equipment to treat traumatic injuries gave VIPs practical, hands-on experience.

Most importantly, he dispelled many of the myths around tourniquet use and reminded the participants that the best tourniquet is the one you have on you. The participants all experienced having a tourniquet put on them so they could understand the proper tension and got the opportunity to practice using them.

Following massive bleed treatment, Hasenauer covered treating airway and respiration discussing methods of clearing the airway and discussing the use of commercial chest seals, how to make improvised chest seals, and needle decompression to treat tension pneumothorax.

Some time was spent discussing circulation injuries, hypothermia prevention, and identifying traumatic brain injuries followed by treatment of non-life-threatening injuries and the usage of common first aid equipment including splints for arm and leg injuries.

Throughout the course, Hasenauer discussed the differences between military and civilian trauma and first aid and answered many of the questions the Undisclosed participants had. While the course run time was relatively short compared to the extensive training programs, the participants left with a great deal of knowledge and a basic understanding of how to utilize the equipment found in their supplied Gorilla Medical Trauma kits.

CQB can be a useful skill, but it also presents a high amount of risk. Learning how to reach out and touch someone puts life-saving distance between you and a life-threatening target.

Long-Range Shooting

Harrison also plied his marksmanship expertise to teach an introduction to long-range marksmanship for Undisclosed VIPs. The class set expectations early and stayed on fundamentals. The goal was a fast primer that built a repeatable shot process. Each block was simple, focused, and immediately useful.

He broke the shot sequence into clear parts. Students built a stable position they could return to every time. Instruction covered natural point of aim, sight picture, trigger control, and follow-through. Shared language kept everyone aligned on the same steps.

Work began with short dry-fire reps to groove the routine. Dry practice set the cadence for breathing, prep, and release. Coached strings followed to put the same steps into practice. Students focused on calling shots and making small adjustments between reps.

The session closed by sending rounds downrange to transform theory into live range time. Students left with a concise set of reminders that mirrored the sequence taught. Emphasis stayed on repeatability and clean fundamentals. Fifty minutes of clear instruction and focused reps set a solid foundation for longer work.

Navigating an area alive with threats takes deliberate planning to stay unseen.

Land Navigation

RECOIL OFFGRID Senior Editor Patrick Diedrich taught a land navigation course that did not rely on a map or a compass. He opened with a story about a failed missing person’s case from a place he once called home. That moment became his call to action to apply his military know-how to help his local search-and-rescue organization. He set the tone by tying skills to real outcomes. The aim was clear and practical from the first minute.

He then covered major and minor terrain features. He explained how identifying those features could help others home in on your location if you were lost. The same skill set could orient you and shorten the path to safety. He kept the focus on what you can see and describe. Students learned to use the ground as their guide.

He also taught how to use the OnX app, since everyone has a phone that can be used as a potent navigation tool. He discussed key points from Lost Person Behavior that affect how people move and how they are found. He outlined methods to hold a straight line when the sun was covered or when visibility was low. The guidance stayed simple and usable under stress. Each point supported navigation without extra tools.

The session culminated in a practical exercise around the Ben Franklin Range. Undisclosed VIPs applied the same techniques discussed in class to move from point to point. The route demanded attention to terrain and consistent direction keeping. The drill reinforced the connection between observation and movement. Students finished with a working framework they could repeat on their own.

The best clandestine shelter does not look like a shelter at all to the casual observer.

Escape and Evasion

In the escape and evasion course, Michael Caughran covered the basics of defeating illegal restraints and how to evade hostile forces when making your escape from an area both individually and as a group.

The course opened with Caughran discussing a variety of restraint types that are commonly used including zip ties, rope, duct tape, and electrical tape. With the help of Hasenauer, who used these methods to restrain Caughran, methods of defeating each were shown to the Undisclosed participants. Through the demonstration, Caughran discussed using passive resistance and proper body position while being retrained to provide an advantage when defeating the restraints.

Caughran explained that the more aggressive you are when being restrained the more the abductor would work to restrain you. By remaining calm and compliant, it can lull the abductor into a false sense of security when retraining and guarding you. While remaining compliant you should take note of any information you can gather such as building layout, people within the area and their movements to provide an edge when escaping. Caughran emphasized that the best chance of escape will be shortly after you are taken as you will not be worn down from poor conditions and potential integration.
Following the demonstration and discussion, the participants got the opportunity to practice defeating each of the restraint types before moving on to the escape portion of the evasion part of the course.

During the evasion portion of the course, the participants had to escape from the lodge area into the woodland trails behind the building. Caughran emphasized the importance of “getting off the X” as quickly as possible and putting as much distance between the escape point as possible. During this portion, the participants were taught to move quickly as a unit and how to use terrain features to cover their movement. Caughran and Hasenauer covered the best times to move, avoiding areas where patrols are likely, and generally avoiding the easy route in favor of areas that are less likely to have hostiles moving about.

The course is wrapped up with a discussion about the importance of pre-planning meeting points for your unit when operating in an area in the event of separation. This is contingent on having a good knowledge of the lay of the land before entering the area.

Early warning is an important aspect of maintaining security at a clandestine shelter site. Caughran discussed several techniques that could be used.

Clandestine Shelters

Caughran’s course covered building a variety of survival shelters using the participants supplied Rab tarps and paracord. While this skill is commonly taught in Wilderness Survival 101, Caughran kicks it up a notch using his USAF SERE experience to teach the Undisclosed participants how to build effective concealment shelters from the resources around them.

The class kicked off with a discussion of some of the concepts around concealment shelters and their use to evade those tracking you and to gather information on an area or building. In the case of evasion, Caughran emphasized the importance of understanding the tracking capabilities of those pursuing you. He discussed methods of ensuring that enemy forces cannot see you while remaining visible to friendly forces.

After the discussion, Caughran took the participants around the training site to attempt to identify shelters he had built the previous day. He also strategically placed distraction devices in the area to throw the participants off. After explaining the uses of distraction devices, Caughran revealed his shelters. The first looked like nothing more than a pile of discarded building materials but he demonstrated the interior space being large enough to fit his body and give him a great vantage point on the hypothetical target he was observing. The second concealment shelter Caughran created utilized natural plant materials found in the area. The only significant tell was that some of the day-old plant material he picked was starting to wither. Caughran reinforced the importance of using longer-lasting plant materials so as not give away your hide site. He also noted that the best concealment shelters are found not built.

Following the demonstration on concealed shelters, Caughran showed participants common devices that could be used as perimeter alarms, distractions, and deterrents to warn of incoming hostiles or throw them off track.

The course wrapped up with building a variety of tarp shelters and various knots and hitches that can be used while building non-concealment survival shelters. After that the participants had the opportunity to practice building shelters.

VIPs built their own ghillie veils, tweaking and adapting them as the environment shifted.

Camouflage and Sensory Defeat

In this course, Freddy Osuna covered the art and science of personal camouflage and discussed how to move silently and discreetly through the environment. This course blended Osuna’s professional experience as a Marine Scout Sniper and extensive knowledge of the environment to provide the Undisclosed participants with a unique approach to the topic.

The course started with the students following a trail behind the lodge to meet up with Osuna in a stretch of tall grassland in the woods. The participants found him The course started with the students following a trail behind the lodge to meet up with Osuna in a stretch of tall grassland in the woods. The participants found him waiting on a section of trail by a small tree housing an active wasp nest. As the participants glanced apprehensively at the nest, Osuna was completely unphased by them. He began the course with a brief discussion about the history of camouflage and then pulled out a collection of different types of camouflage to discuss the history and innovations throughout history.

The next section of the course went into the usage of camouflage paint on the body. Osuna explained different methods of applying camouflage paint with local plants as brush and stressed the importance of using it to reduce the visual appearance of facial structures. He also explained how the reflective nature of skin stresses constant reapplication of camouflage paint to maintain the effect.

Throughout the discussion, Osuna talked about the science of vision and how the human eye detects things. He went into the differences in how humans see and how animals see and why certain types of camouflage work on animals but not humans.

Next, Osuna covered movement through the environment and how erratic movement such as swatting at bugs around or on your body can quickly give away your position. He also discussed how the shape of the human “V” and contrast between the background and foreground are highly detectable to the human eye. Osuna demonstrated how to use local plants and terrain features to conceal yourself while moving.

Participants learned multiple camouflage techniques, chose what worked best for them, and put those ideas to the test once the mission went live.

Osuna focused on the importance of understanding the environment around you and being familiar with the plants and animals within it. He explained how having a healthy respect for the land will allow you to survive longer and move more efficiently. To wrap this section, Osuna offered the participants the most valuable piece of advice when it comes to camouflaged movement: “It’s not what you are wearing; it’s how you move.”

The final section of the course covered creating ghillie suits using bits of camouflage material scraps and local plants. The participants were then tasked with creating their own ghillie veils using their provided hats, camo scraps, and natural materials.

Breaks were short, but carried flashes of humor that kept spirits up.

A Short Reprieve

With the marathon of training classes ending around dusk, the weary participants shuffled into the lodge to eat dinner. They talked amongst themselves about the day’s events and discussed what their thoughts on tomorrow’s training may bring. They were given the opportunity to ask the instructors questions about the day’s training. It wasn’t long before the instructors and support staff discreetly started moving out of the room. Suddenly, the participants’ relaxation was interrupted by the sounds of shouting and gunfire in the distance. Diedrich went into the kitchen and called the participants into the briefing room for an emergency meeting — the official mission of Undisclosed was about to begin!

Read More From Issue 70

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• Issue 70
• Challenge Facilitates Capability
• Between River and Sky: Recounting a Jungle Expedition
• Blades for any Challenge
• Garmont Tactical Boots
• Mission Ready Pack: Minimalist Survival Kit
• ATAC, OLIGHT & Sunshine
• GEAR UP: Mission Ready
• Grey Man Academy
• Into the Unknown at UNDISCLOSED

Check out our other publications on the web: Recoil | Gun Digest | Blade | RecoilTV | RECOILtv (YouTube)

Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.

Could the difference between life and death be determined by a boot print in the dirt? Or a single broken blade of grass? I’ve learned firsthand that it very well could be. Your tracking skills, or lack thereof, could be the determining factor in whether your quarry escapes and you fail to put food on your family’s table. Or whether a child lost in the woods isn’t found. Or an escaped fugitive isn’t apprehended and remains free to cause more harm to others. Simply put, tracking is a skill that saves lives. It’s a skill that was once necessary for our very survival and was passed down through generations so our bloodlines could carry on through the ages. But now, as humans seek comfort in modernity and move further away from nature, man tracking is becoming a dying skill. Freddy Osuna, Founder and Lead Instructor of Greenside Training, seeks to return this valuable craft to our modern-day warriors in the military, law enforcement, and civilian populace.

From an early age, Osuna faced and overcame significant hardships. Those challenges forced him to quickly learn, understand, and adapt to both natural terrain and human terrain. This early resilience became the framework for developing and honing his skills as a tracker. A skill set that would later serve him well as a United States Marine deployed overseas, as well as an instructor for the Corps’ Combat Hunter program.

His abilities as a tracker have also been put to the test far beyond the battlefield. He has helped search and rescue teams near his home in Arizona find lost children. His teachings have been credited by law enforcement agencies around the world in the apprehension of dangerous armed criminals. As I learned under Osuna’s tutelage, tracks aren’t always obvious, and tracking can be difficult and exhausting. One instance in particular had him tracking for over six hours. When fatigue set in and his focus began to dwindle, he had to draw upon strength from deep within, and from forces greater than himself, to keep going. As a tracker, he has saved lives. Now, his mission is to teach others this valuable skill so they may have the ability to do the same. And with that comes Greenside Training.

From June 21–22, 2025, a group of students gathered at The Ranch TX near Dilley, Texas, for Osuna’s weekend-long Weaponize the Senses man tracking course. This sprawling 300-acre tactical training facility in the South Texas brush is home to multiple firing ranges, shoot houses, K9 kennels, and driving tracks. But for this weekend, it hosted its very first tracking course. Students included active law enforcement officers, military veterans, hunters, prepared citizens, and even a mother who was seeking more ways to protect her children. Several staff members from The Ranch TX also took part, including Founder and CEO, Chad Timney.

Upon arrival on the first day, Osuna and Co-Instructor Manny Tellez led the students deeper into the property for their first lesson: examining a single footprint. “Every track is a word, a set of tracks is a sentence, and the trail tells a story,” said Osuna. He pointed out a vast array of details about the track. Details that left the students bewildered yet fascinated. He also explained what he referred to as the “time shadow effect,” where a low angle of light reveals details that may otherwise be less visible. This makes early morning and late evening the best times to conduct tracking.

When it came to analyzing track details, students were taught to look for a specific set of criteria: the size of the impression, the type or shape of footwear, any distinguishing patterns, and the age of the track. Osuna explained that at least two of these criteria must be determined, and one of them must be the age. By analyzing the size of the impression and the type of footwear, certain deductions could be made. A large impression might suggest a larger person. Footwear style offered additional clues: did they look like hiking shoes, indicating outdoor competency and perhaps athletic ability? Or were they boots that could suggest prior military experience?

Osuna also explained how the age of a track could be assessed by examining the shape of the outer ridges and the hue of the soil. Outer ridges are formed from the displacement of air and dirt when someone steps into the soil, creating raised edges around the footprint. These ridges begin to wear down over time due to the elements. Additionally, fresh tracks typically expose darker soil due to retained moisture, which lightens as it dries out. He went on to highlight what he considered the most important detail in the track: the toe dig. By lining up the toe dig with the small dirt mound kicked up behind it, trackers can determine direction. Once direction is established, your senses, weapon, drone, team, dog, and other assets can be oriented accordingly.

Students then moved on to examining different sets of tracks, where they were tasked with determining who they were tracking. Were the footprints closer together or spread farther apart, indicating whether someone was walking or running? Did the footprints have a wide straddle, which could suggest the person was carrying a heavy load? Furthermore, students were taught to put themselves in the shoes of their quarry and think as such. “There’s a person at the end of the trail,” said Osuna. He emphasized the importance of considering who you might encounter and being prepared for that encounter.

Osuna didn’t make the training easy. Much of the ground throughout The Ranch TX consisted of densely compacted dirt, making footprints much more difficult to see after steps had been taken. “This is what it’s going to be like,” he said, making sure the students were well aware of how challenging tracking can be. Tracks aren’t always readily apparent and easy to spot. Therefore, sharpened senses, coupled with the techniques being taught, are crucial to tracking successfully. To further emphasize this point, Osuna put the students through an exercise in which they were divided into two different groups. One group would conduct a scenario and walk through an area in a particular way. The other group would then have to analyze the tracks and try to determine what might’ve taken place. Not only did this serve as a means for the students to practice and develop their own individual tracking skills, but it also taught them how to track as part of a team.

When night fell on the first day of training, the students returned to The Ranch TX for Osuna’s nighttime tracking demonstration. He showed how different colors emitted from a flashlight could be used for tracking in various ways and environments. For instance, blue light is good for showing contrast, making it ideal for tracking blood as it’ll appear darker while the surrounding foliage appears lighter. Green light works well for providing contrast at a longer range, making it a solid choice for tracking in the snow or on other light surfaces. Red light helps a tracker retain night vision and is less likely to spook animals. The demonstration concluded with Osuna showing the students how they could even track at night using a laser, yet another thing that left them fascinated.

The students also learned about various animal tracks they might encounter in the wild. Osuna explained how animal tracking could be done for various reasons. The obvious being hunting, though he also shared that he likes to track animals for recreational purposes as well, such as wildlife photography. The first tracks the students were shown were ungulates: hoofed animals such as deer, elk, moose, and bighorn sheep. This part of the training drew great enthusiasm from the hunters in the group. The students were also taught how to identify the tracks of predators, such as coyotes, big cats, wolves, and bears. Even small critters like raccoons made the roster of animal tracks covered in the training.

It wasn’t just practical tracking skills the students learned during the weekend. Mindset was another critical aspect Osuna instilled in them. “Tracking is a search for the truth,” he said, explaining how personal bias could negatively affect one’s ability to track effectively. Students were told to keep those biases in check so they could see what is actually there, not what they’d like to be there. He also explained how the skills learned during the course could be plugged into each stage of the OODA loop. By Observing with enhanced senses, Orienting with track direction and context, Deciding based on quarry profile, and Acting with the right tactics, techniques, and procedures (TTPs). Osuna also emphasized that the skills learned during the course could be applied to other aspects of life. Using the senses, staying focused, and removing distractions allows people to be more present with their families and friends, in their careers and businesses, and when out in the world.

The course culminated on Sunday afternoon with a final test: an individual exercise in which students would, one by one, traverse down a trail armed with an AR-15 rifle repurposed to fire simunition paint rounds. They had to use their eyes, nose, and ears in unison to recognize anomalies on the trail and engage targets lying in wait. Each student was graded on their ability to determine the direction of sounds, smells, and sights they encountered. This also allowed students to combine their newly formed tracking skills with marksmanship skills. It took many by surprise, and they had a lot of fun doing it.

At the end of the course, Osuna presented each student with the Greenside Training arrowhead patch as a mark of completion. He also awarded one student the coveted “Black Wolf” patch. A tradition established to honor Osuna’s friend and fellow Marine, Josh Robinson, a highly skilled tracker who was tragically killed in Afghanistan in 2011. Robinson was the first Black Wolf, and now the title, along with a solid black arrowhead patch, is presented to the highest-scoring student at each course. This time, I was awarded that honor.

Weaponize the Senses wasn’t about gimmicks. It was about helping students reclaim their innate human capabilities and sharpening them with intention. By the end, I walked away more connected to my environment, more confident in my perception, and more aware of the gaps in my own abilities, which was exactly the point. Though Weaponize the Senses is just one of several courses offered by Osuna and Greenside Training, he also teaches tactical tracking, urban tracking, anti-tracking, and more. Each is designed to give students a faster and more intuitive grasp of the OODA loop through deliberate sensory engagement.

To learn more and sign up for a course near you, visit GreensideTraining.com. To explore the variety of other training opportunities at The Ranch TX, visit RanchTX.org.

Read More on Tracking

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• Best Flashlights For Tracking Man and Beast
• Pounding Pavement: Man-Tracking Skills for Urban Environments
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I did not expect to start a training course taped to a chair. Wrists bound to the armrests. Forearms pinned. Ankles secured to the legs of a battered office seat. There is a saying that echoes through survival circles, “You do not rise to the occasion. You sink to your lowest level of training.” It sounded dramatic when I first heard it. It felt different with adhesive biting into skin. The room smelled like dust and coffee. The instructor’s footsteps moved behind me. A timer started. I took a breath and tried to think like someone who had done this a hundred times.

That scene was no movie set. It was a drill at Grey Man Academy. The program promises a quiet path to an uncommon skill set. Think less costume drama and more practical competence. The goal is not to become a walking action figure. The goal is to move through modern life with a trained mind and a steady hand. The weekend is built to pressure test both.

Instructor Michael Caughran discusses the layers of the “Capability Pyramid.”

The Silent Professional

The phrase came up within the first hour. Our instructor, Michael Caughran, spoke in an even tone that fit the room. He was not interested in social media theater or tactical fashion. He addressed teachers, parents, young professionals, and the occasional veteran with the same message. Capability is a choice. You do not need a certain background to become the person who stays calm when the rest of the room is losing its footing. However, you do need discipline and a plan.

Michael introduced a simple idea that shaped everything that followed. He called it the capability pyramid. Mindset forms the base. Tactics sit above mindset. Skills go on top of tactics. Tools rest at the peak. The order matters. People love to start with gear. It is easier to buy a flashlight than it is to build a decision-making habit. Tools do not save you from poor choices. Even a legend from the frontier can walk into the wrong seat at the wrong time and fail to face the door. The pyramid rewards clear thinking before clever hardware.

Zip cuffs, a commonly used restraint, can be defeated with a cleverly manipulated bobby pin.

The Escapist Mindset

The first day of Grey Man Academy focused on mental control and threat recognition. The topic sounds dark at first. But it is all about understanding how people get trapped, and how they get out. We talked about situational awareness in plain language. Look for what does not belong. Notice who is watching who. Identify exits. Keep a simple baseline of the space you are in. These are life skills, not paranoia drills.

Michael walked us through case studies that turned abstract ideas into vivid markers. Two anti-apartheid activists in South Africa spent a year shaping a path to freedom and kept their heads clear enough to lock a cell behind them as they left. An American contractor used his captors’ assumptions to buy a sliver of time and eventually escape. A former student’s family faced a planned home invasion. Preparation, instincts, and decisive action made the difference. These are rare events. Rare is not the same as impossible. The lesson was not to seek danger. The lesson was to honor early warnings and act sooner rather than later.

We studied a simple model that breaks a kidnapping into phases. Capture is shock. Movement creates windows. Temporary holds are messy. Interrogations mix manipulation with pressure. Permanent holding creates overconfidence in the people running the show. None of this was presented as a script to follow. It was a way to organize stress. When your brain labels a phase, you can ask better questions. Where is the noise? Where are the doors? Where is the attention? Those questions turn panic into a plan.

Students were placed in what initially seemed like impossible situations, only to discover they could overcome the scenario with a calm and curious mind.

Mindset Meets Mechanics

Escape work begins between your ears. You need belief before you need a tool. You are not a statue. You are an investigator. You are always looking for slack, for edges, for changes in rhythm. Night favors the patient. Noise hides small movements. Distraction is a resource. Understanding how a restraint is supposed to function makes you better at finding its weak points. You can carry a lawful tool. You can improvise when you must. You can also make something simple out of what is available. None of this requires superpowers. It does require grit and curiosity.

The class moved from theory to carefully controlled practice. Each student chose a restraint to work against under supervision — tape, rope, plastic cuffs, steel cuffs with training keys. We practiced in a way that emphasized safety. We used communication. We checked circulation. We took turns as spotters. Under the pressure of a stopwatch, the test was to manage adrenaline as much as it was successfully escaping.

When it was my turn I chose plastic, law enforcement-style zip-ties. I tried one approach that failed. I shifted to another that demanded focus, coordination, and more patience than I thought I had in me. The timer stopped after 5 minutes and 11 seconds. The room felt 10 degrees cooler once the cuffs broke free. My forearms stung. My head felt oddly clear. I understood what the instructors meant by confidence built under pressure. You cannot buy that in a catalog.

Methods focused on strikes that came naturally so that reactions under stress became quick and efficient.

Combatives with Purpose

The second block moved from restraints to the human body. The premise was direct. Violence is rare in daily life. If it finds you, you will not schedule it. You might be in a kitchen. You might be stepping out of a car. You might be wearing clothing that restricts motion. You may have to act with one hand or from a compromised position. In those moments the goal is simple. End the threat as fast as you can and escape to safety. The techniques were rooted in structure rather than sport. We learned to think in terms of posture, base, and alignment. Strength was a bonus, not a requirement.

We drilled strikes that do not depend on perfect conditions. Palms, hammer fists, elbows, knees, simple kicks delivered with balance. We used open hands more than closed fists to protect our own bones. We practiced moving after contact, so we did not freeze in place. We drilled from different positions and while partially restrained to stress creativity and body awareness. You can hit hard and move smart at the same time. The metric was not speed or flash. The metric was repeatable damage that buys space and time.

Grey Man Academy’s Combatives training went beyond practicing moves by pitting students against potential real-world scenarios.

An important thread ran through every rep. We were learning how to protect ourselves and others inside the law and inside our values. There were no calls to escalate a minor incident. There was constant focus on de-escalation where possible and on accountability when force is necessary. The class asked hard questions about proportionality and about bystanders. We did not dodge those conversations, and they made the training more honest.

Fundamentals of drawing and presenting a concealed carry firearm were practiced before sending rounds down range.

Handgun Skills for Reality

The third day shifted to handguns. New shooters stood next to experienced ones. The range brief covered safety in plain terms. Muzzle discipline. Trigger discipline. A culture of calling a stop if anything looked odd. We began dry, working on grip, sight picture, and trigger press. Fundamentals sound boring until you watch them save time. Under pressure you do half of what you can do on your best day. That was the mantra for this block. We raised the bar in practice so our half would still be enough when it counted.
We built from slow draw strokes to faster ones.

We drew from concealment. We tested how clothing affects access. We shot sighted and unsighted at appropriate distances and learned when each method makes sense. We reloaded and cleared simple malfunctions. We adapted our stances to odd terrain. We learned about different carry positions and how they interact with driving, sitting, grappling, and daily tasks. We looked at everyday items and asked whether they enabled access or created a trap. Running a qualification drill turned our scattered reps into a single arc. It did not feel like a test for bragging rights. It felt like a map we could use to see where to spend our next month of practice.

After working on a few live-fire drills, Michael discusses what the shot patterns might be saying about our technique.

Life Between Sessions

A word about the setting. Grey Man Academy is not a spartan camp where you crash on a cot and eat mystery stew. The lodging sits on quiet ground with enough space between buildings to let your nervous system find neutral. Early registrants can land rooms with a patio and extra views. Everyone gets a private space with clean linens and simple comforts. The walk to the training areas takes the edge off the morning.

The food supports the pace. The kitchen crew leans into a farm-to-table approach that tastes like a place rather than a supplier catalog. Three full meals arrive like clockwork. Coffee appears when you need it. The menu shifts with the season and with the animals raised nearby. Dinner included a slow-cooked cut from the ranch that refilled everyone without sending us into a coma. It is surprising how much better you process new information when what you eat is simple and clean.

When the day ends, you are not stuck pacing a hotel hallway. A hot tub sits near a pond where the light lingers at the edges. There is a small gym for the people who like to prime their legs before breakfast. Trails cut through the property for slow walks that turn jittery energy into reflection. An on-site range lets motivated students revisit a drill with a coach watching. Benches near fire pits become quiet corners for writing down what you want to remember. Recovery is not a treat. It is part of the curriculum.

Out at the range, we went through the motions of presenting our firearms with our eyes closed to work on our consistency and develop that all-important muscle memory.

What Sticks When the Tape Comes Off

Grey Man Academy sells skills. The thing it really delivers is composure. That word kept surfacing as I unpacked the weekend in my head. Composure is noticing the shape of a room before a problem starts. It is remembering that movement creates options. It is choosing a tactic that fits your values and your laws. It is acting without advertising your intent. The training turns those ideas into a set of habits you can feel in your bones.

A skeptic might ask whether any of this is necessary for an average person. My answer is straightforward: The vast majority of days will be normal, but that is exactly why you train. Skills you never use in a dramatic way still change how you carry yourself. You lock your doors with intention. You read a crowd with a softer gaze. You pick a table with better sight lines without making a show of it. You handle a flat tire at night without spinning into anxiety. You speak calmly to the person next to you when a loud noise rattles the room. You keep your head while others are searching for theirs.

For students who already have experience, the Grey Man Academy offers a chance to refine rather than accumulate. Michael’s pyramid forces you to ask whether you are building on the right layer. It is humbling to realize that a new holster will not fix a mindset issue. It is empowering to watch your draw times fall after you correct a single habit at the base of your stance. Tools become meaningful after tactics and skills are anchored.

The class returns to that point again and again until it becomes muscle memory.
The ethical tone matters as much as the technique. The staff frames every drill with real-world context. We talked about communication with law enforcement after a defensive incident. We talked about the presence of family members and strangers. We talked about how to ask for help clearly and how to keep others from rushing into danger. There is a strong thread of responsibility running through the course. You leave with more power. You also leave with a better sense of when not to use it.

Although the Grey Man Academy class made use of a variety of tools to escape restraints, the items in this photo are by no means exhaustive. The only limit to what constitutes an appropriate tool is what your mind can come up with

Final Thoughts on ARC’s Grey Man Academy

I keep thinking about the first seconds of that chair drill. I remember the taste of adhesive and the thud of my heart and the weird urge to thrash. Then, the breathing starts. The plan forms. The panic drains just enough to move. That transition is the essence of Grey Man Academy. It is not a fantasy factory. It is a place that teaches you how to meet stress with a steady mind, a smart tactic, and a skill you practiced when no one was watching. The weekend gave me stories to tell, but it also gave me quiet habits that do not need an audience.

The goal is not to be the hero in a camera frame. The goal is to be the person who gets home. Sometimes that means you escape a situation you never wanted. Sometimes that means you use your voice to settle a room. Sometimes that means your hands do what they must so you can reach a door and hold it open for someone else. The Academy does not promise that life will present you with a perfect scenario. It shows you how to move through the imperfect ones with humility and resolve.

I left with sore hands and a clear head. With respect for the quiet people who practice without a spotlight. With a pyramid I can carry in my pocket. Mindset first. Tactics next. Skills after that. Tools last. That order feels like a compass I can trust. When the world gets loud, it points me in the right direction.

Train with ARC

Beyond Grey Man Academy, ARC offers numerous classes in topics of self-defense, dedicated weapons training, and wilderness survival skills. Check out the ARC website for more information.

Read More From Issue 70

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• Issue 70
• Challenge Facilitates Capability
• Between River and Sky: Recounting a Jungle Expedition
• Blades for any Challenge
• Garmont Tactical Boots
• Mission Ready Pack: Minimalist Survival Kit
• ATAC, OLIGHT & Sunshine
• GEAR UP: Mission Ready

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Editor’s Note: This article has been modified from its original version for the web.