New follower and review of a past training experience

    I would like to welcome a new follower, Longtime Wife has decided to follow me and I thank you for clicking the follow button, welcome aboard!!! I have added her blog in the hyperlink contained in her name, go over and say hi.

    Since I have been real busy over the past few months, I almost forgot that JUGM got me a very cool fathers day gift. She found a tactical training course just north of Charlotte called Wolf-Fire Firearms Instruction and thought it would be cool for me to go have some fun. I took the drive up there on a Friday night for the weekend.

     Rain was in the forecast so we all set-up camp under the tin-roofed barn. Of course I had my hammock set-up and I got a great night of sleep. 

     During the night, there was some very in-depth discussions on our current state of affairs ranging from the economy to self-defense and where we think things are going and who and what we are all about.  I think the last time I checked my citizen eco-drive, it was after 0200 and the snoring commenced, not just mine.

      Daylight arrived and it got hot very quick. After breakfast, training began with a safety brief. The instructor, David is real big on safety, and I commend him for that. It doesn't matter who you are and your level of proficiency, you can never have enough safety. 

     First session of the day was designed for tactical pistol. This was not standing in front of a target and shooting, this was elevating your heart rate and moving behind cover, running all-out and engaging targets, and point shooting. I was very pleased with how I and the others did, I heard for many years in the Navy, train like you fight and fight like you train. If you encounter a real-life situation, is you heart rate going to be 60-70 beats a second? Oh hell no!!! You will be above 120 beats a second so why not learn to shoot with an elevated heart rate and adrenaline in your veins? Make sense to me.

     Second session of the day was tactical rifle skills. You think I did running in the first session, think again. My team mate in the drills, John from a neighboring county here in SC, and who has attended several courses here suggested we do "Burpies". Now, I had no idea of what a burpy was, but later learned that John is really big into cross-fit and after the explanation, it was similar to 8-count body builders I did in the Navy. Now try doing those damn things after already running, with a tactical vest on, then running 50 yards before firing your first round. Thank god I didn't have my plates in. The instructor had one of his friends come out and do some camera work and I am happy to say, I have pictures and I can still run very fast. That session lasted I think maybe 3 hours, could have been more or less since I was dehydrated, tired, and lost all conception of time. Here are some of the pics.

Notice the angle of shooting to reduce exposure when shooting

John and I discussing one run.

    After the day was done, would I recommend this course or a course similar to this, HELL YES!!!

I learned a lot during this course. First, evaluate what you carry equipment is. If SHTF happens during the summer, there will be many people out there that will find out the hard way, that's kind-of why I wanted to do this in an extreme environment, to test myself. You will also learn what equipment set-up is good for you. I wish I had brought an AR or my AR pistol because shooting 500 rounds through an AK beat the crap out of my collar bone, and had a few magazine issues with mine. After closer review, it was the 2 TAPCO magazines I was carrying. 

    Second, accept criticism from the instructor. David on several occasions told me to try a different way to handle the weapon to improve accuracy and sight alignment for speed shooting and by-god it worked. The pistol session was not as bad as the AK took on my collar bone, but it was a good pain. 

    Finally, if you train during the hot and humid summer months, take a lot of water and gatorade with you, holy cow it was hot. I intend to continue with training and will return when it cools off some.

    Senior

   

Quarters, Quarters, all hand to Quarters for Muster, Instruction and Inspection

    I would like to welcome a new follower who sent me a kind email yesterday requesting a copy of my EXCEL Food Storage File I created, so I would like to extend a warm welcome aboard to BRYAN, who looks like he is starting off with his own blog in the blogisphere. Shipmate, it is so easy that a caveman or Senior Chief can do it. Let us all hear what is on your mind.

    

     Here we are finishing another week in the year of 2012, the year the Mayans predict on December 21st the world will end, well you forgot to figure in leap years so you are about 500 years off, so..... What was my Friday like? First off since it is my down time of the year, my hibernation time, I slept in till 0930 this morning. This is one thing I like about being self employed with year round contracts. My first task for the day was to visit the VA for my second physical of the year. I use the VA for my preventative care and they do a real good job at it. So I get there, see a Democratic Nurse and a Democratic M.D. and leave with a your fine, blood looks good, BP is fine, Flu, and Tetanus Shot.

    I head home and hang around the house before I head off for a Deep tissue Massage. I have been having back pain as of late and since the wife and I celebrated our 18th wedding anniversary, she knew I needed one and got me a gift certificate. I leave the house and stop at a package store on the way. One thing you must consider in a SHTF scenario is bartering items. I sure as hell will not be bartering guns, ammo, clothes, gas, or food. Well I always like a good stiff drink of whiskey, rum, tequila, or vodka from time to time but this is not for my consumption, its for barter. My local package store had these items, 2 for $4, 2 for $ 5.50, or 2 for $6. I walked out the door spending $25 and some change for 1200 ml of booze. Will try to get 500 rounds of ammo for each during SHTF or 50 pounds of Rice, who knows.... Look at it this way, you don't have to rotate it, it lasts for a very long time, and if you need it for killing pain, well you have it or one last hoorah before you go on a all-out suicide mission against the GUMBERMINT when they show up to negotiate for 4 hours before getting Testicular Fortitude to come in for your guns . Next barter item will be the cheapest cigarettes I can find.



I go for the massage, and it felt real good. I really needed that. I get home and JUGM asks me, "Did you get a Happy Ending"? I think to myself, Whiskey, Tango, Foxtrot, she didn't just ask me that. So I respond to her, "No, I didn't get a Rub and a Tug" and went on about my business.

    As I was heading to the house, we had some police activity about 3 miles down the road, somehow a main feeder line for power was knocked off a power pole and laying across a side street. Of course, our county Keystone Cops were out there making sure everyone was safe. Just before we started dinner, the power goes out. I say, RGR, break out the Coleman stove.





It never fails me that once I adapt to a situation and start cooking, the power comes back on. Well I look at JUGM and say, "F&$K IT", by the time I take it all back inside and start cooking, it will go out again. She allowed me to post a picture of her.

 

 

    Once we are done with dinner, time to get the evening fire ready for lighting. I really enjoy fires in the fire pit on friday, kind of a way to relax from a long week.

 



 

This weekend for us will include a trip to the Flea Market for more antique goodies, such as coleman stoves, lanterns, and painting the exterior of the house. Got to go and answer emails, Stephen sent me one finally.

 

Extra note, here is a video of Shooter Steve shooting his M1A Socom at the Boars Nest with a function check on a 30 round mag during the summer. Love that sound of the lady firing and hitting the tanks. 5 shots, 5 hits. He's on our side. Music to my Ears......

 



 

Senior



Numb, not Comfortably

   

     I think the title says it all, but it is not the song or lyrics from Pink Floyd. After watching the results come in from the abyss of a liberal arts classroom via the Inter-Gore-Net and once home watching it unfold on satellite and reliving the nightmare from four years ago, I am sick to my stomach and disgusted at the people in the country who would vote for this "FU^&*!G MORON"!!!

    Reading a few posts on the bogisphere tonight and writing this entry, I just don't want to talk about it, it depresses me but worst of all, it en-rages me. I posted on Facebook last night with a few friends about the results from the election, with my last post saying "I have lost faith in this country and God" I am sure some will comment on this and until the GUMBERMINT takes control on the Internet, you have that right too. Really, I have a lot of doubt right now, here physically and spiritually. Now, don't take my words as a key to doing something drastic to myself. That is not anything I am thinking about nor would consider. My current duty station is COMNAVHOMELANT and my job is to protect my family at all cost, no ifs , ands or buts about it. Family encompasses immediate and extended family, you know who you are.

    I look to the future and try to visualize events that we all may face in the next 4 years of this incompetent President, and all it points to is a total economic collapse within 2 years. We are in a stale-mate in the District of Corruption, nothing will be solved. Mark my words... If I am wrong and I hope I am, I have no problem eating "Humble Pie". I know what it tastes like.

    What will a total economic collapse, SHTF scenario mean to me? Many people will loose their lives, I don't even want to associate a numerical figure with this prediction, I cant count on my fingers and toes that high. Depression era poverty on a larger scale will be prevalent, violence will be unprecedented. What I see myself doing, UNLEASHING HELL!



There are no rules in war. Yes you have a Geneva Convention and many in the military or have served before know it and what it states. I don't care. Do I have the mental fortitude to act this way in a time of crisis, yes I do. Growing up a hunter, you have that feeling as a kid shooting your first deer, dove, squirrel, or rabbit. Adrenaline is pumping through your young body. Just like riding a bicycle, you never forget that feeling.
     A good training exercise to do and I have done in the past is to elevate your heart rate as high as you can get it, then shoot a course of fire. You cant simulate adrenaline in a life or death situation with a paper or other form of a target you choose to train with. The other option to elevate your heart rate and function in that manner, will give you a training value much more than plinking at a target. Shoot a course of fire in a normal and elevated heart rate. You will see a difference in your shot placement. Adjust, adapt, and overcome your sighting ,you wont have time to shoot between breaths.  One final note, if and when that day arrives, I hope all us prepared who care about our families are ready. I will be.

      In times of disgust or aggravation, I tend to do things that take my mind off what is really bothering me and I actually enjoy doing. I enjoy prepping, because I know what I do now will help me or someone close to me in a time of need. While visiting a local retail store today, I found a new addition to my get-home-bag. It's made by Stanley, which are famous for Thermos's. Its a camp cook and cup set. It cost me around $15 and fits the purpose of boiling clean water or making hot water for a mountain house meal, or even putting hot water in an canteen and using it to heat inside a sleeping bag. Here is a pic of it.





Another pic of the complete set-up.



    As part of any bag setup you create, you need a back-up, to a back-up, to a back-up. Well during rain or a quick distillation of water, I chose to use my ISOPRO stove to boil water. Boiled water in less than 6 mins, then another 2 mins to sterilize water = 8 mins for clean water. May be a bit hot for your drinking, so store, move and drink when it cools.

 

Senior