The world of prepping is continually evolving. Simply have a look at how far technological developments up to now 5 to 10 years have come and the way it has benefitted not solely the army and legislation enforcement however the prepper neighborhood as effectively. However alas, with each technological advance, the prior means of doing issues and that information 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 for those who wanted to collect intel. Quick ahead to at present and also you ask any MAG, tribe, or prepper group, and greater than seemingly they’ll have one, if not two, drones together with extremely expert and educated operators. In essence, drones have turn out to be a pressure multiplier for not solely the army however civilians as effectively. The “eye-in-the-sky” is the brand new means of performing reconnaissance, however is it at all times the finest means?
DIFFERENCE BETWEEN RECONNAISSANCE, RECONNOITER, AND SURVEILLANCE:
Earlier than going additional, I wish to take a second to elucidate the distinction between reconnaissance, reconnoiter, and surveillance. Many occasions, these phrases are used interchangeably, however there’s a distinction between reconnaissance and surveillance. Surveillance often includes the usage of 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 saved over somebody or one thing (as by a detective)
For the sake of this text, this tertiary prepper ability goes to be centered on using old-school reconnaissance teachings to get again to the fundamentals and never should depend on know-how, aside from a comms system. If comms just isn’t out there, you would use a two-person crew the place one is a runner and communicates again to the crew the findings of the reconnoiterer. Lastly, there may be nothing flawed with using drones for surveillance or reconnaissance, nonetheless studying the guide means of gathering intelligence will finally assist 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 the right way to deploy artillery in mission-based conditions. You’ll arrange and function communications programs, encode, and decode messages, help within the preparation of fireplace assist plans, coordinate, and goal, function laser vary finders, and goal units, and decide the goal’s location utilizing computer systems or guide calculations.
The primary half the place it states, “collect intelligence and enemy goal location” means in layman’s phrases, stealthfully searching for out your enemy’s location with out freely giving your place after which reporting it again to your base of operations. That is primarily for FO’s (reconnoiterer) connected to gentle infantry and infantry airborne models (no less than it was after I was an FO). Apart from attending to and organising an remark publish (OP), one should first be proficient within the artwork of stealthy reconnaissance. This isn’t an exhaustive listing, however among the expertise a ahead observer must possess for reconnoitering are:
- Topographic map studying
- Day and night time land navigation
- Goal / object distance estimation
- Stealth and concealment
- Radio operations (comms)
- Bodily and psychological stamina
- Potential to work autonomously
- Fundamental survival information (water procurement, wild edibles, and so forth.)
- Intestinal fortitude
In my perception, it’s right here that these expertise ought to be extra of a main or probably a secondary precept of prepping than a tertiary one. Though drones can play an necessary function in OPSEC (Operations Safety), bodily reconnaissance has now turn out to be 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 be taught.
SCENARIO:
It has been 9 days for the reason that U.S. descended into chaos and it’s a true WROL state of affairs. The president shortly thereafter declares martial legislation throughout america, 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 individuals heading northbound on the main freeway positioned 5 miles from the place you reside. The horde is 15 miles away to the south presently.
There may be additionally a secondary freeway off the main northbound freeway that skirts to inside one mile of your bugout location. If the caravan takes the secondary freeway, you might need some critical issues, as scouts will most certainly be venturing out to scavenge. So as to add insult to harm, 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 can be a tropical storm by the point it goes over your location. (Yeah, it’s a little far-fetched, however at all times attempt to incorporate Murphy’s Regulation into each situation 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 situation.
The Knowns are:
- Nobody within the group has ready for this kind of situation. There’s a potential menace roughly three to 5 hours away heading northbound in your route (relying on how rapidly a horde of ravenous individuals can stroll).
- The scale of the caravan is reported to be 1k individuals.
- You’ve gotten one drone that could be a long-range waterproof machine and might deal with robust winds, however you threat the lack of the drone for those who likelihood it.
- It’s nightfall and about to get ugly outdoors. A hungry horde could also be in search of a spot to attend out a storm that might jeopardize your present location.
The Unknowns are:
- Is there actually a big caravan of hungry individuals heading in your route? Are there actually 1k individuals or is it solely 50? Is somebody deploying psyop techniques within the hopes individuals within the surrounding space bug out and go away behind most of their prepper possessions?
- Does the potential caravan menace have present vulnerabilities? Are they armed? Are they principally ladies and youngsters? Are all of them on foot or utilizing different technique of journey?
- Your quick group has not assessed and has had the time to course of the chance of their vulnerability and potential of being exploited by a mass of ravenous individuals.
- Is it possible to place countermeasures in place in such a brief period of time?
The one approach to deal with 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 menace / non-threat and report it again to the crew to take the required precautions.
ITEMS NEEDED:
Apart from the attributes above, to achieve success at reconnaissance, one should begin off with having the appropriate tools. Though this isn’t an exhaustive listing, this could offer you a good suggestion of what you would want 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 effective instance)
- 1:50,000 waterproof grid map of your space
- Lensatic or orienteering compass
- A great pair of binoculars (w/ vary finder reticle sample if potential; 10×50 magnification is an effective begin)
- Two (2) army protractors (they’re clear; two is one and one is none)
- Tempo counter beads
- Comms (Ham, CB, or GMRS radio with an earpiece and small microphone could be most popular to stay as quiet as potential. Additionally, you will desire a lengthy sufficient antenna to transmit throughout harsh terrains.)
- Vary Playing cards
- State Freeway map (examine your state’s dot.gov web site without cost customer state freeway maps)
- Camouflage face paint
- .3mm drafting mechanical pencils
- Grease markers (non-permanent)
- Giant 4mil sealing plastic bag or map case
- Flashlight or headlamp with purple lens
- Write within the rain notepad w/ pen
- Rain Poncho
- Firearm (Lengthy Rifle or sidearm relying on the mission and terrain)
- Correct seasonal clothes (camouflage ideally in your space, grey man if within the metropolis or suburbs)
- Correct footwear and socks for seasonal situations
- Water
- Extra Gadgets to think about:
- Night time Imaginative and prescient or Infrared (relying on price range)
- Water Filter (Sawyer mini or squeeze)
- IFAK (Particular person First Assist Package)
- Ammo (think about the extra weight as to what number of magazines you suppose you’ll want)
This bag ought to at all times be packed to seize at a second’s discover. Don’t confuse this bag with an INCH (I’m By no means Coming House) bag or a get-home / bug-out bag. This bag has one goal and that’s for reconnaissance. Attempt to keep away from using all the true property on and contained in the bag. Attempt to maintain this bag round 15 lbs. for those who can. Keep in mind, ounces equal kilos, and kilos equal ache. Being stealthy is the important thing to the mission. Being a minimalist can be key right here, so you want simply the necessities to get to your OP or space of reconnaissance so you may 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 numerous points and expertise wanted to achieve success, particularly in a grid-down state of affairs or WROL. If you’re critical about having somebody carry out reconnaissance, here’s a non-exhaustive listing to get you pointed in the appropriate route.
- Buy as lots of the above objects on the listing as potential (NOTE: Do NOT attempt to discover the most affordable protractors or compasses. A protractor that must be “trimmed” just isn’t value shopping for. An important Lensatic compass is Cammenga. Purchase as soon as / cry as soon as).
- Spend money on a 1:50,000 grid map for those who 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 bring it to mind.
- Upon 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 obligations in your group.
- This one isn’t essential, however you would possibly wish 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 state of affairs. (NOTE: Please abide by all FCC laws when using open-air communication units.)
- Start creating dry run eventualities together with your group or household. Begin off small, say, reconnoitering a half click on (500M) to a location the place you may arrange a camouflaged Statement Put up (OP). Use your most popular comms to name into your base station, group, or household what it’s that you just see.
- Egress. Attempt to decide in your grid map an egress or two earlier than committing to your OP. It’s good observe to at all times take into consideration your extraction plan as issues would possibly get squirrely when you get into place.
- Pink crew every part. After your dry runs, get again together with your group or household and assess the professionals and cons of what you have got simply practiced. Do NOT fall into an echo chamber throughout this time and embrace affirmation biases. These dry runs should be taken significantly they usually should 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 effectively.
- Follow, observe, and observe some extra as a result of Murphy by no means takes a time without work. Ever.
CONCLUSION:
Reconnoitering is a tertiary prepper ability that’s going to take a while to be taught when you have by no means carried out it earlier than. However be relaxation assured, hundreds of troopers yearly be taught the fundamental expertise of land navigation and map studying and you may too. It is a ability that it would be best to develop sooner somewhat than later, particularly whereas occasions are nonetheless considerably calm. Learn up in your manuals, watch YouTube movies, and speak to army veterans to be taught ideas and tips to higher carry out reconnaissance.
Keep robust, continue learning new tertiary prepper expertise, and revel in stealth reconnaissance!
Sgt. Silverman
