Check out the Combative Anatomy article starting on page 91 of the latest issue of Self-Reliance Illustrated. Featuring the incredible photography of John Pavoncello of Pho-Tac..

That’s right. From now until 27MAY12 if you order a 3 pack of mercharnesses you will also receive a 3 pack of Tactical Tethers ($9.99 value) FREE. To order send $22 including world wide shipping to MCS521@gmail.com and let us know whether you want black or coyote mercharnesses and Tactical Tethers. Feel free to mix and match.- George

George Matheis – Preparation is always the key to success and survival

Just got done being interviewed by Kerry Lutz from the Financial Survival Network.  He tasked me to come up with an essential gear list for people wanting to prepare.  I decided to share it with you guys first.  These are the things that no adult should leave the house without.  You will find it handy to have all these things in one place at home as well.

Stainless Steel water bottle (to boil water and soup/Ramen in)
Aquamira Frontier Emergency Water Filter (good for 20 gallons of drinking water)
Headlamp (that runs on AAs)
Baby Wipes (to keep you clean)
Leatherman Mulit-Tool
First Aid Kit (that includes 72 hrs of personal OTC and RX meds)
Lightweight Rain Jacket (keeps you dry and can be used to layer to keep warm, should be considered your first line of shelter)
Eye Protection (your sunglasses should be OK)
Gloves (I prefer Mechanix)  during any emergency situation there are going to lots of things that you can cut or burn your hands on, you have to protect your hands
Food (that is high in protein and fat, I prefer Almonds and Beef Jerky)

It is also a good idea to put this stuff into a pouch of its own so that you can switch it between bags if you need to.  Once your essentials are acquired, start doing the same for those that you care for.

Probably one of the most common questions I get is people wanting to know my advice on carry fixed blade knives in such a way that they have a carry and a deployment option.  The problem with most carry options are that they do a good job of securing the knife in the sheath, but don’t allow for rapid in-fight deployment.

There are three phases of combat, standing free range movement, clinch, and ground fighting.  Most carry options only work well when you are standing upright and reasonably still.

In MCS we carry all our tools for dealing with people problems, including knives, between 3 and 9 o’clock to the front.  This in effort to keep both of our hands forward and not having to reach behind out back for a tool.  Less glamorous is the fact that you can get to your tools while seated, such as in a car.

After years of force on force, I still only advocate two carry/deployment options.  The both work with just about any factory or custom plastic or kydex sheath with holes in them.

First is the mercharness, which is a light weight adjustable shoulder harness.  It allows you to carry a fixed blade completely concealed under a t-shirt without having to wear a belt.  Once set up the mercharness allows for-

• Ambidextrous carry and deployment
• Deployment while standing, crouching,  kneeling, laying on your stomach or back
• Reliable position-unlike a neck knife, a knife on a mercharness will not pendulum or swing around to your back
• When worn under an open concealment garment allows you to stand at the ready with your hand on your knives appearing to just have your arms crossed.
• It can be set up to draw into the inverted edge to take advantage of Inverted Edge Tactics.
• Can be used to carry other things like lights, kubatons, and small pistols such as the Kel Tec and Ruger LCP.

Mercharnesses are $10 each or 3 for $20 and available in black or coyote.

Our other fixed blade carry option is the Tactical Tether which is primarily intended to be attached first to just about any plastic or kydex sheath and then to your belt loop or belt.  This also allows ambidextrous in-fight access from just about any position.

Besides being worn in the waist line, the Tactical Tether can also be used with any of the available trigger guard holsters that have become popular.  Many prefer to use them to attach fixed blades to the inside of bags/purses allowing them to deploy the knife with just a sharp tug on the handle.  Yet another use is to do the same within your vehicle.  A favorite it to attach a small flat fixed blade on my visor to draw if being pulled out of the car.

Tactical Tethers are $5 each or 3 for $10 and availible in black and coyote.  We are please to ship anywhere in the world.

Add these innovative carry options to your Every Day Carry.

So, I am cruising down Rt 69 between New Castle and Indianapolis when the above vehicle pulls up next to me. Sticking out like a sore thumb does not effectively describe the situation. Everything was painted flat black from the truck to the containers on the back. Pulling up next to the cab so I could see the driver, confirmed my suspicions. He looked exactly like the guy you would put with that vehicle if you were playing the match game. As shocking as it may sound, I was not the only one staring, although probably the only one taking a picture.

It just illustrates how easy it will be to spot people heading towards their retreat with all their nice shiny new gear. Think about how during normal times a car loaded to the gills with gear and people attracts your attention. Add some black and camo to that and you might as well hang a sign.

So, everything works in your favor and the planets are in alignment, you actually make it to your retreat. Your location was probably picked out far ahead of time. One of the biggest things people look for is isolation and low population density. The fact that it isolated and with few people around means that outsiders are easy to spot and help may be far away. The locals are going to be aware of what is going on and will be awaiting your arrival.

Being raised and living in the country gives country folks the general opinion that people who come to where they like to enjoy the country are often ill prepared in the way of skills and resources to deal with every day occurrences. And most of the time they are very right.

Now most of the time they just put up with the intrusion knowing that it will not last, but in this case they are probably not going to be real pleased about weekend warriors bugging out to their homes and taking up resources like water, food, and gasoline, with little to contribute, especially in a society where paper currency can only be used in the bathroom.
Of course some people will spend a considerable amount of time at their retreat doing things like building, and placing caches etc. This is often done over weekends or during vacations. Never realizing that as soon as they leave locals are coming over to take a complete inventory of their progress towards self-sufficiency.

Heck, in some cases they probably have a good old trusted neighbor, who because they live there all the time is more than happy to keep an eye on the place. He will keep such a good eye on it that he will be moved in with his kin prior to your arrival.

The good thing is that most of those bugging out will be armed. The bad thing is that they get out of their loaded down SUV to talk to their local friends; somebody might just walk up behind them and put one in the back of their skull before deciding what to do with the wife and kids. I am sure with a total lack of communication, law enforcement, or anyone outside their circle of friends knowing where exactly they are, it will all work out for the best.

Our basic course for law enforcement is one day. It is called Contact & Control / Spontaneous Attack Survival. Total Officer Survival is two days, with day two being Combative Pistol (force on force) traffic stops, and scenarios. Instructors courses are available for both courses.

Contact & Control / Spontaneous Attack Survival is great for corrections. Total Officer Survival is primarily intended for officers who work in a full service capacity.

Contact us for details.

The most common emergency that would drive people out of their homes is fire. Fire does not discriminate based on location, education, or level of preparedness. We are not going to cover fire prevention here, but rather use it as an example of being forced to leave your home.

During classes, I always ask how many people keep a decent pair of shoes next to their bed. Not surprisingly, many do not. The deadliest time for a fire to occur is at night. After becoming aware of the fire, you will need to get yourself and loved ones out of the house as fast as possible. This, and the fact that you will have to move outside for an unknown period of time, necessitates that you have decent shoes to slip on.

On the way out the door you should have a grab and go bag. Mine, as most of you know, is affectionately called the Bag of Evil. Consider the worst case scenario where it is dark, cold, and raining outside.

Taking for granted that you have already called 911 (after evacuating the house) consider shelter as help arrives. Responding to many house fires over the years has shown me that even in bad weather victims often want to stand outside and watch the fire instead of going into a neighbor’s house. I guess that on some level going into another house is admitting that they cannot return to their house. This is where two of the primary things in the Bag of Evil come into play, my Gortex jacket and my heavy duty space blanket. Also keep in mind that most people sleep in cotton, the absolute worst thing to have on in bad weather.

The threat of fire is a real concern during good times; imagine it occurring during times of civil disorder. Anyone reading this could be displaced at any time. This leads us to having a plan if we are forced out.

Moving from shelter to shelter for survival is just like moving from cover to cover during a firefight, you try not to move from where you are until you have identified a better location than where you currently are. The farther you have to move, the greater your exposure. Imagine this as concentric circles around your location. It is up to you to know how big the circles are.

Depending on where you live, your first move in response to things like fires and gas leaks may be as close as friends a few streets over. Think of what you and your family would need to be reasonably comfortable for 72 hrs. Can you get to this first location by foot or do you need to drive? Be sure to have alternative routes to deal with road closures.
The next most possible threats are the ones that usually come with prior warnings like tornados and hurricanes. This seems to be the toughest one for people to decide whether to stay or leave. For the sake of our discussion here about being forced out, we will take for granted that you have decided to or been forced to leave.

This is the time when having made preparations will make a huge difference. It is imperative that you use containers such as duffle bags and plastic totes. Notice I did not say huge Multi-cam bug out bags. You want to have as much concealed as possible. Everyone should have a non-descript back pack or messenger bag. For kids it just makes sense to use their book bag. A short list of things to have in the bag is as follows:

Water bottle
Headlamp
Fleece hat
Gloves
Light jacket
Heavy duty space blanket
Whistle

These basic items should leave the bags partially empty. This serves two purposes. One is a place for comfort items, like a toy or game for kids. Two, it leaves room for things you grab on the way.
It is also good to have some 55 gallon drum liners on hand. You can slip the large duffle bags in them and bungee them to the roof of your vehicle, or leave them outside if you need to make room to shelter in your vehicle. The same is true for the plastic totes. Firearms are best left concealed.

As I sit writing this contemplating my own response during a forced evacuation, I have several locations in mind. There are places I can move my family from 10 to 400 miles away. The need for redundancy comes in when you consider you need places in different directions. Evacuation routes and weather may force you in the opposite direction of your first choice.

While considering your choices, remember that in the best case scenario two families living together can be hectic. People will continue to act like people, and when you add stress, little things turn into big things. Think about them ahead of time.

Arguments over length of stay
Sleeping arrangements
Prepared vs unprepared mindset
Pet interactions (they have a cat and your dog eats cats)

It is for these reasons and others that I would do my best to share land with friends and family but not a house. A few large blue tarps and some knowhow can create a comfortable temporary home. This allows parties to separate while arrangements can be made in reference to things like meals and sanitation.

If proper consideration is given to sanitation and water sources, the same could be true about local/state forests, campgrounds, and other areas.

In the next post, we will discuss sheltering in place, which is preferred.

For our first GTG/Training session we will meet near my house in a big mowed field. I will be teaching Spontaneous Attack Survival. I will bring all the training gear. This will include force on force if you want to, but it is not mandatory. The session will be $20 cash. E-mail me at mercop27@gmail.com to let me know you are coming or with any questions. We will also discuss the direction of the group including other location options.- George

There is a growing cottage industry around everything related to bugging out from bags to vehicles. Let’s take a detailed look at the realities of bugging out.

Who?

Who is bugging out with you? The lone survivor is the minority here. Many of us have a family we live with or at least family close by. How do these people fit into your bug out plans?

For those with families, consider how smoothly it went the last time you left for a road trip to travel anywhere for more than one night. During this planned event that you had time to prepare for, was there any stress involved? Did you forget anything? What percentage of things that you would want to take during a “bug out” did you take with you?
Do you anticipate any resistance within your family if you decided to bug out? If you have pets, will you take them? Do you have food and water packed for them? For those who say that they will leave their pets behind, this is easier said than done in real life where the kids are crying over leaving Old Yeller to die.

What?

What are you going to take with you? Do you have 3 years’ worth of beans in your bomb shelter, but no food packed to go with you should you leave? Are your water stores portable? How much water can you carry in your vehicle? Is that water for drinking, sanitation, and cooking? Of course you will want to take firearms with you to protect what you have. Which of your guns would you take and how much ammo? Would you keep it hidden so that people could not see it when the vehicle was parked, or during a checkpoint? But if you do that, then it will be harder to get to if you need it.
Since you are leaving your home behind, are you bringing another form of shelter with you in case you don’t make it to where you are going? Or do you plan to just hunker down in your vehicle? Even if that is the case, do you have sleeping bags to keep you warm? You obviously would not want to risk poisoning and wasting gas by leaving the vehicle running. Speaking of gas, do you keep your tank full all the time, or do you plan on filling up on your way out of town along with everyone else? If your vehicle does break down or run out of gas, is your gear packed in such a way that would make carrying easy? Under what circumstances would you leave your vehicle? Knowing you could not carry it all, what would you take? Do you plan on taking a gas can for spare gas? How is that going to fit into your bug out vehicle with your family, pets, food, water, gun, ammo, and sleeping bag?

Where?

When you decide that it is in fact time to bug out, where do you plan to go? On a regular uneventful day, a serious traffic accident can turn the biggest roads into parking lots. If the routes to your retreat are impassable, what are you going to do? At this point you may notice the other people around you that have not prepared at all, but are fleeing none the less, have taken notice of the large amount of things you have in and on your vehicle. Those things are not just anything; they are the items that after careful thought and deliberation you decided that you would take with you when leaving your home not knowing when, or if you will be able to return. Are you mentally prepared to defend them in front of your family?

When?

What would likely be the straw to break the camel’s back when it comes to deciding if it is time to bug out? If you leave too early, you expose your house to looting early. Not to mention that the earlier you leave the more you need to take with you. If you wait too long, you may be forced out by authorities in a rush. Waiting until the last minute may mean waiting in slow moving evacuation lines in extreme hot or cold temperatures or bad weather.

Why?

What are some things that would force you to consider leaving your home? For most, it would be bad weather such as hurricanes or tornadoes. Then there are other natural disasters that strike with little to no warning like earthquakes and solar flares. How far would you have to be away from these threats before you were safe?

How?

How would you know how long you would be gone? How many days are you prepared for? Was your thought process short term packing things like lighters and bottles of water, or more long term like a fire starter and water filter?
Hopefully after answering all the above questions in addition to all the ones they lead to, you can see how bugging out for most people would be a last resort and extremely difficult even under normal circumstances, much less during one that is life and death surrounded by others trying to survive.

Personally I believe and teach that when available the best option is always to stay put and shelter in place.
In future posts we will talk about options when staying put is not an option as well as the basic gear and skills you need to have and share with your family.