Tactical Gear Considerations

"When Americans awake from the corona coma like millions of Rip Van Winkles... this will be a different country."
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- James Howard Kunstler

Welcome to the Seneca Cliff, folks. Coronavirus, the black swan that is ushering us off the cliff, has only just begun and already mainstream media is saying this'll be "worse than the Great Depression". Of course, while the quarantined masses follow the rabbit-holes of a confusing morass of information and vehemently scoff at those who disagree online, "the way things were" zooms ever smaller in the rearview mirror. 

There's so much Dunning-Kruger cognitive bias out there, it's enough to make even an otherwise 'normal' person question the collective sanity of these other quarantined "experts" across the ether, whether they agree with our opinion or not. Whatever the case, the paradigm of infinite growth in our society has ended - and we should start seriously considering the consequences. We're in it, now. No more theorizing on the interwebs. The limits to growth are here, and they will level all previous expectations of a thriving global society. 

In specific, I decided to dive deep into one small aspect of these consequences. Already we are seeing cities where police departments have significantly cut back 'services'. In NYC, thousands of police officers have called in sick indefinitely. This is happening now, the beginning months of 2020, and it will only get worse. Years ago on this blog I wrote the following: ​

"... what happens in a future where there are no police answering your emergency calls, in a future where there is no court system administering justice? And why are we not preparing for that future? Because if you believe as I do... all things will become more and more localized. If we admit that we need localized solutions to food production, then it's not much of a stretch at all to say that we'll also need to prepare for localized solutions to justice. And the only way that works is if we have a community composed of at least a segment of individuals who are willing to respond to dangerous situations involving firearms. Having firearms ourselves and being trained in their use gives us a level playing field against the likely threats posed to us in a collapse scenario ... "

This article is for those to whom that may apply. If you have a Sheepdog mentality, then you will want to get prepared tactically. Not just buying a gun for home defense or to shoot looters or squirrels, but someone who sees themselves taking an active role in the security of their family/community.  The future I envision is one where all fit members of your local community will be at least possible tertiary combatants, and it is easier to get the gear now than to 'make do' when the time is upon you and your community asks you to patrol the neighborhood or nearby town, or to operate a guard shack or a checkpoint, or any number of possible tactical roles that will occur when civilization breaks down to that point and justice is a much more local concept. 

Scouring the internet in search of advice for post-collapse localized solutions to justice and what a person should have on them netted endless "tacticool" results. Apparently you need to buy the same things that warfighting combat veterans with 10+ years in the special forces used overseas. Which honestly does make some sense, if you're part of some highly trained militia force. But I assume those guys already know that and the 'prepper' culture is simply trying to make boatloads of money on guys who can't even do 20 pushups, nevermind wear/carry 30+ pounds of gear on their person not including any kind of water, food, or rucksack. 

So, the caveat to this is that while other things in our life should be prioritized over "stuff", the right tools for the job do make the job easier. And while you can't use the tools without being very physically capable, you also might not have the tools available when you are physically capable - so getting them now despite health issues might be prudent. Hell, get them for others in your tribe or in your community. Spending your funds on something you have no intention of using though is irrational. It's a conundrum. Do what you wish, but if you want to survive after law and order has deteriorated then it is up to you and your group to protect yourselves and to do that effectively you need organization, personnel, and gear. 

To put this in context I am not a 'gun guy'. I never owned a firearm before 4 years ago. I had shot a few times at gun ranges over my life, maybe a dozen times at most. I've still never been hunting. I may be a veteran, but I'm not a combat veteran. I don't envision myself as some revolutionary or some guerrilla warrior against a tyrannical government, but I know that these things will likely be necessary and I want to be able to defend myself and those I love and build a secure community where my wife doesn't have to live in fear and our daughter can thrive. 

Even before considering post-collapse community security roles I had thought years ago that it was finally time to get serious about this gun stuff and over the last few years, and after intense research, I purchased a S&W Shield 9mm pistol, a Sig 5.56 Patrol rifle, and a Ruger 10/22 rifle. I got my concealed carry permit, I went to 3 pistol classes and 3 basic rifleman courses, and I became familiar with how to use them. Today, if I had to do it over again and could only get one from each category, I would choose the Glock 19 pistol, the same AR rifle or something similar, and the 'breakdown' version of the Ruger 10/22. Overall I made good choices, I think.  Of course, all these things come with man-cessories: you have to get holsters, slings, scopes, magazines, bags, ammo, etc. It's endless. I chose a basic 4x magnification scope for the AR and a 3-9x 'bugbuster' scope for the .22 and am happy with these choices. I am not one of those people who gets into accessorizing their weapons, honestly. Again, I'm not a gun guy really. I hope I never use any of them beyond the range, but I'm afraid that won't be the case in the near future. 

In any case, I think it would be a minimum ideal that those three categories of firearms are covered - pistol, rifle, and a .22 for small game and as a backup. Notice I said minimum ideal. If you have less, you do with less. If you have more, share with trusted members of your tribe. But this brings up the point of the article (hey, I'm finally getting to the point): you will need more tactical equipment, and more places to put that equipment, in any kind of community security role. To confront this problem, warfighters and soldiers have a tier system. The first tier is the personal tier, or what you carry on your person. In the currently unfolding drama when it deteriorates enough this will mean your EDC (everyday carry): ideally at minimum a pistol and extra magazine and a trauma IFAK (individual first aid kit). It would include other things like a flashlight and perhaps a multitool and/or knife. As you go about your business during the collapse, whether that was gardening or eating, you would always have these things, and likely a rifle, on or near you in a 'minute-man' concept, ready to be in action quickly. The next tier for a community security role would be a Patrol or Assault tier. Here you would ideally be part of a group (preferably minimally a group of 6, with two 3-man fire teams, and possibly many others) and would be serving in various roles from community patrols or blockades to guard gates or even repelling other armed groups. For such activities you need to carry much more with you, including quite a bit more ammo loaded into magazines. For this you need some kind of chest rig or battle belt and a decently sized backpack. There are endless combinations and options that are frankly staggering for an average joe, but I've been told by actual professional warfighters who know such things to stay away from cheap brands like Condor and Voodoo that you find everywhere online. I bought a Viking Tactics VTAC Chest Rig. It was on sale for $195 after taxes. That's a hefty price for someone like me, but I am convinced that it is a good investment. Certainly cheaper than the $340 one I was looking at on BDS Tactical. If anyone cares, the brand most used and recommended by actual SOF guys I know is Mayflower. I also got a fairly cheap ($50) backpack that has 40 liters capacity. When doing patrols or standing guard or any of these various security measures a person will need to have supplies for at least a few hours before they can expect resupply or shift changes. 

The next tier is known in the military as a Combat Order. This means all gear for an operation that could last 24 hours. This means overnight and camp-making gear. This requires some kind of large (usually 60 liter capacity or possibly bigger) pack or rucksack in addition to your rifle, pistol, ammo, pouches, first aid kit, radio, clothing layers, and all the rest of the things you're already carrying. For an average joe civilian in a post-collapse world where justice is local this sort of thing will ideally likely be reserved for a sub-group of the community who would make up the combat-oriented part of the militia at large. Those who are the most qualified, educated, trained, and fit would be the ones in this sort of group. In the military the next tier up from this is the Marching Order, which is up to 2 weeks of provisions without resupply. For us this does not really apply very much. Everything will be local and if you're in a stable enough community after collapse that they're sending out groups to walk to other communities a week+ away then maybe you'll have to worry about it. Until then a walk that long will continue to be called a refugee crisis, and you won't be bringing along your tactical gear. 

Conclusion:  We need to make rational decisions about tactical gear. If you are in an active security role in your community you will need a minimum of a gun and a place to store rapidly-deployable ammo and supplies. Anyone thinking about this subject who wants to have a minimal setup should have a pistol, an AR-style rifle, ammo and magazines, and a rig to hold it all. Of course you need to train with it, know how to use it, and more importantly be fit enough to use it as well.  

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<Author's note: I realize my blog here is viewed and shared by a good amount of people in European countries, as well as a few others. Your mileage may vary, as they say. This article is aimed at an American audience, which is what I'm familiar with and the reality I will have to deal with in a post-collapse world where major public services decrease until they disappear entirely.>