JWR’s Introductory Note: This is an update to an article that I wrote for SurvivalBlog in December, 2005. It is part of a series of SurvivalBlog 20th Anniversary update re-posts, in recognition of the fact that the majority of readers did not join us until recent years.
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As an Army officer, I learned that in order to be effective, an army must have three key abilities: To move, shoot, and communicate. Take away any one of them, and you are ineffective. But if you get all three right, and you can absolutely devastate an opponent–even one that has superior numbers. The same principles apply to defending a survival retreat in a TEOTWAWKI situation. I will briefly address all three:
Move
In the context of a static retreat position, movement is not as crucial, but don’t overlook the need to conduct commerce, and even the need to move between retreat buildings safely. And, in an absolute worst case, consider the potential need to vacate your retreat in a hurry. Always have a “Plan B”!
You might consider investing in some mountain bikes or mountain e-bikes, to be able to rapidly move a squad-sized element, to set up an ambush. Both are amazingly quiet.
Shoot
If my correspondence with SurvivalBlog readers for the past 20 years has been any indicator, I’d say that most of you have the capability to shoot well in hand! But be sure to consider:
1.) Engagement at all ranges within line of sight.
2.) Engagement at night. See the many SurvivalBlog posts on tritium sights, tritium-lit reticule scopes, Light Amplification Night Vision, and Thermal Night Vision. Also, consider getting some military surplus pyrotechnic trip flares, if you can find some. Unfortunately, these are scarce and expensive, but they have a very long shelf life. There are also some homemade equivalents. You can find instructions for making those by searching YouTube.
There is also a nifty device made for chemical light sticks that works much like a traditional trip flare: It is a metal light stick holder that can be nailed to a tree or to a fence post. It has a spring-loaded mechanism that flexes a five-minute duration ultra-bright chemical lightstick, to activate it. Clever! And here is something even more clever that was mentioned to me by a friend who was recently in the Special Forces: Use infrared chem light sticks, and the bad guys won’t even know that they’ve illuminated themselves. (“I pity da fools!”) To explain: Infrared chemical light sticks throw off light that can be seen only through starlight night vision goggles or a starlight rifle scope.
The chemlite trip flare mechanisms are available from several Internet dealers including All Safe Industries and GetCyalume.com, Just keep in mind that because of their relatively short shelf life, your stock of chemical light sticks should be kept refrigerated and rotated once every two years! (The steel trip flare mechanisms can be used many times, but the light sticks themselves are of course one-time-use.)
3.) Taking game quietly. Consider snares, traps, archery, and registered suppressors. For details on how to use snares and traps, see the SurvivalBlog archives and the umpteen instructional videos on YouTube. Take note that as of January, 2026, the heretofore $200 tax for federally registering a suppressor will drop to zero. You should consider buying a couple (at least one rifle can and one pistol can) ASAP, and have the dealer hold them for you until January, for delayed registration.
Communicate
1.) Plan for communications with your neighbors to coordinate security. Obviously, the phone systems will be down (both land line and cellular) When The Schumer Hits The Fan (WTSHTF) and the utility power goes out. Most telephone company offices have large backup banks of “floating” batteries, but don’t depend on the phones to work for more than a few days after the onset of a long-term power failure.
By now, most SurvivalBlog readers who are serious about prepping should own at least three or four military surplus hardwire field telephones (such as the venerable TA-1 or TA-312) and plenty of commo wire. Those are available from a number of vendors including Ready Made Resources (one of our advertisers) and Fair Radio Sales. Both of these companies are very reputable. Remember that if you use FRS, GMRS, CB, 2-Meter, or any other radio-based communications system that you should consider them non-secure. (Read: vulnerable to interception.) Also, be advised that most of these bands have line-of-sight limitations.
The capability for really long-range communications — such as HF transceivers — may be a huge morale booster in the event of TEOTWAWKI. Odds are that you will have relatives living at the other end of the continent, or perhaps even overseas. Being able to communicate with them will be very reassuring. WTSHTF, that sort of reassurance will be crucial to keeping everyone at your retreat sane.
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