Forming a survival group

[doubletap007]

bro hug is in order

 

[MikeSettles]

Good subject for discussion.

Patrice Lewis at Backwoods Home has an article currently on their home page which may help: The 7 core areas of preparedness by Patrice Lewis Issue #133

Also, be advised that forming a "survival group" in Washington may be construed by an overzealous progressive prosecutor as being in contravention of RCW 38.40.120 "Authorized military organizations." This law would seem to be against both the Rights to Assemble and to Bear Arms, as well as not recognizing the "Unorganized" portion of the US and Washington Militia.

My take? It depends upon how long you intend to be self-sufficient: A few people can survive a for a few days to a few weeks - basically "camping out". Longer term, you will need a much larger group, organizing and sharing responsibilities for security/defense, food production and preservation, maintenance of vehicles/weapons/generators/dwellings. Think of forming a community/village. In this case, every able-bodied person old enough to carry a firearm must be prepared to participate in the common defense (think "repel boarders"). Most of the time, almost everyone in the community would work in the production/preservation of food or in procuring fuel (wood for cooking/heating, or perhaps scrounging for vehicle/generator fuel).

By the way: I am NOT a lawyer. I came across 38.40.120 as I was trying to figure out what state law said about training/equipping the unorganized militia: Apparently not much.

 

[Speedsteel]

Cyborg:

Check out Survival blog.com, if you have not yet.
James Westley Rawles has been there done that, couple of good books too, and would caution you immediately about OPSEC.

Agree with a lot of previous posts, security is a minimum of 9 members to run 24-7, all of whom must field weapons proficiently. And if you have a large property (read roving patrols) more than that, pending how many directions of advance or if augmented with electronics?

A minimum of three personnel on duty at all times, pulling 8 hour shifts, with 8 hour shifts each three member team pulls duty once a day - "indefinitely".
With more people you can either increase your area of security or reduce to six hour shifts and increase your quality of security.

As far as training, paintball is a ton of fun and widely accepted, you can even practice comms with radios and headsets,
otherwise it would be Appleseed-FAS-Gunsite-Thunder Ranch-Etc.

Also competitive shooting venues at local clubs offering Three Gun, IPSC, IDPA, all provide trigger time.

You have a lot of work ahead especially if your thinking long term grid down, but your getting started the right way "information", learn from others and build
on what you learn, The military standards and doctrines have worked well for the most part, but building teams and managing people will always be demanding.

There is a link on Survivalblog to Preppergroups.com -folks who are doing exactly what your doing starting up or seeking to fill established groups, discussing and processing inquires about vetting preps gear skills etc.

#1 is always "Skills and Training"
Best luck, Speedsteel