The world of prepping is continually evolving. Simply have a look at how far technological developments prior to now 5 to 10 years have come and the way it has benefitted not solely the army and regulation enforcement however the prepper neighborhood as nicely. However alas, with each technological advance, the prior means of doing issues and that data tends to slowly slip away into an abyss.
One main change has been in how we view defensive operations. Within the “ole” days one must reconnoiter when you wanted to collect intel. Quick ahead to at the moment and also you ask any MAG, tribe, or prepper group, and greater than seemingly they may have one, if not two, drones together with extremely expert and educated operators. In essence, drones have turn into a pressure multiplier for not solely the army however civilians as nicely. The “eye-in-the-sky” is the brand new means of performing reconnaissance, however is it all the time one of the simplest ways?
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECONNAISSANCE, RECONNOITER, AND SURVEILLANCE:
Earlier than going additional, I need to take a second to clarify the distinction between reconnaissance, reconnoiter, and surveillance. Many instances, these phrases are used interchangeably, however there’s a distinction between reconnaissance and surveillance. Surveillance often includes using digital tools (drones, surveillance cameras, wiretaps, and so forth.). Meriam-Webster Dictionary definitions are as follows:
Reconnaissance: (N) a preliminary survey to collect data
Reconnoiter: (V) to make a reconnaissance of
Surveillance: (N) shut watch stored over somebody or one thing (as by a detective)
For the sake of this text, this tertiary prepper ability goes to be targeted on using old-school reconnaissance teachings to get again to the fundamentals and never should depend on expertise, aside from a comms system. If comms isn’t accessible, you might use a two-person staff the place one is a runner and communicates again to the staff the findings of the reconnoiterer. Lastly, there’s nothing fallacious with using drones for surveillance or reconnaissance, nonetheless studying the handbook means of amassing intelligence will finally allow you to and your group in the long term, if want be, given an EMP occasion. As soon as discovered, meshing each drones and reconnoitering expertise throughout TEOTWAWKI will solely broaden your offensive and defensive safety plan.
The Prepper SKILLS OF RECONNAISSANCE:
The GoArmy web site definition for the army occupational specialty (MOS) 13F, or Joint Hearth Help Specialist, is: As a Joint Hearth Help Specialist, you’ll collect intelligence and enemy goal location to assist the Military decide the place and methods to deploy artillery in mission-based conditions. You’ll arrange and function communications methods, encode, and decode messages, help within the preparation of fireplace help plans, coordinate, and goal, function laser vary finders, and goal units, and decide the goal’s location utilizing computer systems or handbook calculations.
The primary half the place it states, “collect intelligence and enemy goal location” means in layman’s phrases, stealthfully looking for out your enemy’s location with out making a gift of your place after which reporting it again to your base of operations. That is primarily for FO’s (reconnoiterer) connected to mild infantry and infantry airborne models (at the very least it was after I was an FO). Except for attending to and establishing an commentary put up (OP), one should first be proficient within the artwork of stealthy reconnaissance. This isn’t an exhaustive record, however a few of the expertise a ahead observer must possess for reconnoitering are:
Topographic map readingDay and evening land navigationTarget / object distance estimationStealth and concealmentRadio operations (comms)Bodily and psychological staminaAbility to work autonomouslyBasic survival data (water procurement, wild edibles, and so forth.)Intestinal fortitude
In my perception, it’s right here that these expertise must be extra of a main or probably a secondary precept of prepping than a tertiary one. Though drones can play an necessary position in OPSEC (Operations Safety), bodily reconnaissance has now turn into extra of a TPS, which must be practiced and developed. That is additionally one of many extra elaborate tertiary prepper expertise that want extra consideration than only a weekend or two to study.
SCENARIO:
It has been 9 days because the U.S. descended into chaos and it’s a true WROL scenario. The president shortly thereafter declares martial regulation throughout the USA, and all mobile towers and web providers have been disabled. You hear chatter over the ham radio that there appears to be an estimated one-thousand-person caravan of ravenous folks heading northbound on the foremost freeway situated 5 miles from the place you reside. The horde is 15 miles away to the south at present.
There’s additionally a secondary freeway off the foremost northbound freeway that skirts to inside one mile of your bugout location. If the caravan takes the secondary freeway, you may need some critical issues, as scouts will probably be venturing out to scavenge. So as to add insult to damage, it’s nightfall and the wind is blowing at 30 mph. You’re listening to stories on the NOAA alert {that a} hurricane is coming inland and will probably be a tropical storm by the point it goes over your location. (Yeah, it’s a little far-fetched, however all the time attempt to incorporate Murphy’s Legislation into each state of affairs you develop. You’ll thank your self later.)
That is the place having reconnoiter expertise as a tertiary prepper ability will come into play. There are some knowns and unknowns on this state of affairs.
The Knowns are:
Nobody within the group has ready for any such state of affairs. There’s a potential risk roughly three to 5 hours away heading northbound in your course (relying on how rapidly a horde of ravenous folks can stroll).The scale of the caravan is reported to be 1k folks.You have got one drone that may be a long-range waterproof machine and might deal with robust winds, however you threat the lack of the drone when you probability it. It’s nightfall and about to get ugly exterior. A hungry horde could also be on the lookout for a spot to attend out a storm that might jeopardize your present location.
The Unknowns are:
Is there actually a big caravan of hungry folks heading in your course? Are there actually 1k folks or is it solely 50? Is somebody deploying psyop ways within the hopes folks within the surrounding space bug out and depart behind most of their prepper possessions?Does the potential caravan risk have present vulnerabilities? Are they armed? Are they largely girls and youngsters? Are all of them on foot or utilizing different technique of journey?Your fast group has not assessed and has had the time to course of the danger of their vulnerability and potential of being exploited by a mass of ravenous folks. Is it possible to place countermeasures in place in such a brief period of time?
The one technique to handle the unknowns is for somebody out of your prepper group, tribe, MAG, and even your loved ones, to collect extra intel to calculate this potential risk / non-threat and report it again to the staff to take the required precautions.
ITEMS NEEDED:
Except for the attributes above, to achieve success at reconnaissance, one should begin off with having the correct tools. Though this isn’t an exhaustive record, this could provide you with a good suggestion of what you would wish within the occasion you or somebody out of your group should carry out these reconnoiter duties.
A 12-hour rucksack (5.11 Rush 12 2.0 is an efficient instance)1:50,000 waterproof grid map of your areaLensatic or orienteering compassA good pair of binoculars (w/ vary finder reticle sample if potential; 10×50 magnification is an efficient begin)Two (2) army protractors (they’re clear; two is one and one is none)Tempo counter beadsComms (Ham, CB, or GMRS radio with an earpiece and small microphone could be most well-liked to stay as quiet as potential. Additionally, you will need a lengthy sufficient antenna to transmit throughout harsh terrains.)Vary CardsState Freeway map (verify your state’s dot.gov web site free of charge customer state freeway maps)Camouflage face paint.3mm drafting mechanical pencilsGrease markers (non-permanent)Giant 4mil sealing plastic bag or map caseFlashlight or headlamp with pink lensWrite within the rain notepad w/ penRain PonchoFirearm (Lengthy Rifle or sidearm relying on the mission and terrain)Correct seasonal clothes (camouflage ideally on your space, grey man if within the metropolis or suburbs)Correct footwear and socks for seasonal conditionsWaterAdditional Objects to think about:Evening Imaginative and prescient or Infrared (relying on funds)Water Filter (Sawyer mini or squeeze)IFAK (Particular person First Support Equipment)Ammo (take into account the extra weight as to what number of magazines you assume you’ll want)
This bag ought to all the time be packed to seize at a second’s discover. Don’t confuse this bag with an INCH (I’m By no means Coming Dwelling) bag or a get-home / bug-out bag. This bag has one function and that’s for reconnaissance. Attempt to keep away from using all the actual property on and contained in the bag. Attempt to maintain this bag round 15 lbs. when you can. Bear in mind, ounces equal kilos, and kilos equal ache. Being stealthy is the important thing to the mission. Being a minimalist can also be key right here, so you want simply the necessities to get to your OP or space of reconnaissance so you possibly can seize the intel and extract your self rapidly and quietly.
10 STEPS TO GETTING STARTED:
The artwork of reconnoitering must be developed over time as there are lots of points and expertise wanted to achieve success, particularly in a grid-down scenario or WROL. If you’re critical about having somebody carry out reconnaissance, here’s a non-exhaustive record to get you pointed in the correct course.
Buy as most of the above gadgets on the record as potential (NOTE: Do NOT attempt to discover the most cost effective protractors or compasses. A protractor that must be “trimmed” isn’t price shopping for. An awesome Lensatic compass is Cammenga. Purchase as soon as / cry as soon as).Put money into a 1:50,000 grid map when you can. (https://mapstore.mytopo.com/)Buy (or obtain) Map Studying and Land Navigation (FM 21-26) OR (FM 3-25.26).Research these manuals if you’re unfamiliar with map studying and land navigation and determine your tempo rely and remember it.After getting acquired your reconnoiter supplies and you’ve got familiarized your self with the knowledge, determine whom out of your tribe, group, MAG, or household has any expertise map studying, glassing, and/or searching and might bodily deal with the reconnoiter tasks on your group.This one isn’t crucial, however you may need to arrange a code phrase cheat sheet for you and your group if you’re planning on speaking on an unsecured radio channel throughout an SHTF scenario. (NOTE: Please abide by all FCC rules when using open-air communication units.)Start creating dry run eventualities along with your group or household. Begin off small, say, reconnoitering a half click on (500M) to a location the place you possibly can arrange a camouflaged Remark Put up (OP). Use your most well-liked comms to name into your base station, group, or household what it’s that you simply see.Egress. Attempt to decide in your grid map an egress or two earlier than committing to your OP. It’s good apply to all the time take into consideration your extraction plan as issues may get squirrely when you get into place.Crimson staff the whole lot. After your dry runs, get again along with your group or household and assess the professionals and cons of what you will have simply practiced. Do NOT fall into an echo chamber throughout this time and embrace affirmation biases. These dry runs must be taken significantly they usually must be dissected for each the nice and the unhealthy for them to be perfected. Getting captured (and even killed) whereas on a reconnaissance mission jeopardizes not solely your well-being however the security of the group as nicely.Follow, apply, and apply some extra as a result of Murphy by no means takes a day without work. Ever.
CONCLUSION:
Reconnoitering is a tertiary prepper ability that’s going to take a while to study you probably have by no means performed it earlier than. However be relaxation assured, hundreds of troopers yearly study the fundamental expertise of land navigation and map studying and you’ll too. This can be a ability that it would be best to develop sooner reasonably than later, particularly whereas instances are nonetheless considerably calm. Learn up in your manuals, watch YouTube movies, and speak to army veterans to study ideas and tips to raised carry out reconnaissance.
Keep robust, continue learning new tertiary prepper expertise, and luxuriate in stealth reconnaissance!
Sgt. Silverman
