Having attended both courses this year, I am sometimes asked to compare Randall’s Field Survival vs Basic Survival at Pathfinder School. If a handful of people that I regularly interact with are asking this, a few of you must be wondering it, too, so I thought I’d share my thoughts. Both were GREAT courses and this isn’t to find a “better” one, just to compare and contrast the differences for anyone deciding between the two.
VIDEO: Build a Better Bug Out Bag (B.O.B.)
Two years ago I wrote an article on the Realistic Bug Out Bag. With the election just eleven short months away, I want to once again shift my focus back to preparedness. I want to encourage people to be prepared for potential “negative outcomes” during another politically charged election seasons. Today, I’m going to give you a look at a better bug out bag (B.O.B.). Hopefully this will make the topic more approachable.
Southern Cross Bourbon Review
I’m going to start right up front by saying I’m not a bourbon reviewer. I know what I like, but generally speaking, I ain’t got the words. And this little “review” probably isn’t going to make a bourbon reviewer out of me. I was so impressed with Southern Cross High Proof Bourbon Whiskey that I felt compelled to write about it, however. I reached out to a brand representative who offered to send me a bottle for review and I jumped at the opportunity, so this is my Southern Cross Bourbon review.
VIDEO: TISAS Raider Review by Former MARSOC Operator
I recently had an opportunity to review the TISAS Raider, a full-size, 1911 pistol manufactured in Turkey. What makes this pistol special is the homage it pays to the Marine Raiders and their long-lived penchant for custom 1911s. Check out my TISAS Raider review below!
Distinguished Savage Podcast Appearance: UNLOC AAR
I recently appeared on the Distinguished Savage Podcast. Walt and I after-action the recent UNLOC (Unconventional Lock Opening Concepts) class that I taught and he attended.
AAR: The Pathfinder School Basic Survival Course
A huge priority for my 2023 training plan was to attend some wilderness survival training. Though I felt I had a pretty solid skillset via self-study and practice, there really is no substitute for formal, high-fidelity training. With that in mind I signed up for two classes. The first, Randall’s Adventure Training’s Field Survival was back in March. The second, and the subject of this after-action review, The Pathfinder School Basic Survival Course, was this past weekend.
AAR: Rangemaster Protective Pistolcraft IDC
This is an after-action review of the Rangemaster Protective Pistolcraft Instructor Development Course held in White Hall, Arkansas. This 5-day class was taught by Tom Givens. This is a rundown of the class, the equipment I used, and my thoughts on it. Hopefully this will give you some idea what to expect if you’re planning on attending some Rangemaster training, and encourage you to if you’re not!
GORUCK Tough 30th Anniversary Mogadishu Mile AAR
I recently completed a GORUCK Event, a “Tough”-level event. This was a phenomenal physical training opportunity and a self-inflicted gut-check. If you’re looking for a way to challenge yourself mentally and physically, a GORUCK event is a good way to do it. This post will talk about GORUCK Challenges, how to prepare your gear and yourself, and serve as a brief AAR to the GORUCK Tough Mogadishu Mile event I completed.
Handling Patient Firearms for EMS Professionals I: Pistols
Firearms are a fact of life for EMS professionals. Patients sometimes have guns on or around them. Usually it is up to law enforcement to secure firearms, but that’s just not always feasible. This article takes a look at some of these situations. More importantly, it offers a principle-based approach to handling patient firearms for EMS professionals. This article is also great information for firemen, cops, and just about anyone else.
The Civilian Battle Belt Setup
The civilian battle belt is a belt containing all the stuff you might need to defend your home. It is a pre-assembled, ready-to-go kit, allowing you to simply stand up, don, and go. It provides a lot more capability than a pistol, rifle, or shotgun alone. I’m not suggesting that having a good pistol or long gun is insufficient, but this is a step above and beyond. This article will primarily focus on battle belt setup, with mine as a point of reference.