In Depth @WWAMD: The "WhatWouldAMarineDo? Prepper Blog". Survival, Survival, Survival.

So now I am heavily, mentally, invested in Steemit.com and committed to producing content that is not only enjoyable to read but that has intrinsic value. I realized that I have such a wealth of knowledge and 99% of it is never being mentioned, let alone posted, here on Steemit. I am a United States Marine. When I served I was a Crew Chief and Door Gunner for the CH53E "Super Stallion" Heavy Lift Helicopter. Through my various training I attained much muscle memory and much discipline, none of which I can pass on, but I also amassed an enormous amount of tangible knowledge that can be passed on, and what better place to put it and share it than here on Steemit.

I have obviously gone through Boot Camp, mine being in Parris Island, South Carolina. I also completed Marine Combat Training at Camp Geiger, North Carolina. After this I attended Aircrew Candidates Course in Pensacola, Florida at Naval Air Station (N.A.S.) Pensacola. After my training there I attended S.E.R.E. School (Survive, Evade, Resist, Escape) in Brunswick, Maine (more or less what to do if you go down behind enemy lines, POW type things, survival type things as well as some Classified Stuff). Then I went on to 2nd Marine Air Wing, Cherry Point, North Carolina to complete technical training for the helicopter. I also spent some time in Hawaii in case I had to use the older CH53D. I then went to Colorado to do exercises in Mountain Terrain Warfare as well as California to do a combined arms exercise among many other training opportunities and experiences.

What I think I have the most practical knowledge in is armed conflict tactics, survival techniques, both in nature and while in "society", as well as the leadership qualities that come with the job, or rather the training. After leaving the Marines I became a self-proclaimed (obviously) PREPPER! Yes, that crazy neighbor who says things like "Are you prepared for the (impending) possible economic collapse? Oh, you don't think that will ever occur? What type of weapons do you have/use...just in case, or for sport even? None? You're toast buddy. How many months of food and water do you have stored for you and your family? You need to go grocery shopping? Toast. How much cash do you keep at home in case the bank's or ATM's stop...being able to give out money? Once again, toast. Silver or other non-fiat currency in a safe location? None? Ammo? (No they don't have any WEAPONS, why would they have ammo...)...". Yeah one of those guys.

Now I am not some crazy person who thinks the world will come to an end I just have seen what happens when SHTF in other countries and considering how much of our lives in the USA rely upon the free transport of products interstate and internationally that any crisis could severely impact the civilian population, and once the food stops coming in, once the fuel runs out and once your job isn't running, what the hell would people do? They would rob, they would threaten, they would kill. If they can't get medicine they would die. No water, two days and you are gone. So you are prepared? Do you know what to even do if the S does HTF? Probably not, and who knows if I do, but the thing about prepping is you prepare with not only physical resources but with mental preparedness too.

Knowing how your weapon operates and how to fix it if something malfunctions. Not everything that shoots bullets is as simple as a pipe and a nail after all. How do you turn a puddle into something you can drink and cook with? How do you protect you and your family from all those who are desperate and walking the streets? Would you know what to do even if you had a Hunting Department in your fallout shelter? The gear is certainly a big deal and having it will make your mind much more at ease but are you advertising to your neighbors that you have resources they need? Are you making yourself a target or blending in with your surroundings? These are all questions many preppers don't think about let alone those who do not go to such lengths in case of some sort of major crisis or emergency. Thankfully I did do wilderness survival school. Thankfully I know how to use my weapons and I have the gear to blend in. I have a plan and I have not only equipped myself but my family as well because, well, I am highly trained yes, but what if I am the first one to die? I want my family to know how to survive even if I am captured, even if I have to create a distraction so that they can escape. These are the things I want to pass onto others who are so inclined to learn and want to learn.

I will teach you how to do certain things like make shelter and start a fire yes, but I will also tell you what gear you should have and how to properly use it. If you don't have the resources to go out and buy weapons and ammo and stockpile food, water, silver and cash I will teach you how to make weapons, how to hunt for food and how to turn puddle water into 99.999% clean drinking water and will attempt to do so in very user friendly ways. I have decided that for those who are willing to follow me I will impart the knowledge the United States Marine Corps has given to me, in the most trained enlisted occupation in the entire service branch, the Aircrewman.

Now I am not a master of the bush so this will come, obviously from a military P.O.V., so take that into consideration and also consider what type of environment you live in and how it differs from mine. I live in the suburbs. You may not. I do not claim to be an expert but I have been trained by Navy Seals, Marine Force Recon, Army Rangers and the finest Marine Grunts, and they ARE experts. S.E.R.E. School itself is relegated to Aircrew and Special Forces who are at a higher risk of being captured by the enemy and this is where I learned many valuable tactics and I will explain some, the ones that I can, so as to prepare you for what may happen if you find yourself surviving off the land, running from would-be captors, not...losing your sh*t if you are captured and ultimately how to escape alive, which is the most important part, of course.

In addition I will be posting a lot on what I have learned outside of my strict military training including living without electricity or running water. You will be surprised at how little you truly value the things you take for granted now when they are at once taken away from you. When it is your responsibility to protect others, children especially, you will panic if unprepared, so mental preparation is the best way to go at this event, should it ever occur. Otherwise if nothing bad ever happens just think how much better you will be next time you go fishing or camping. The next time you are at the beach and something breaks but you know how to fix it. When you ran out of matches to light that campfire and say "check this sh*t out".

I know many will reply and comment that there is an easier way to do this or that or a cheaper way and I HOPE YOU DO! I hope very much that you all interact and share ideas throughout my future posts. Without that I will not know if you are truly taking in what it is I am trying to get across. But fear not because I do take criticism and advice. If you guys get sick of hearing about how to trap squirrels and where to find grub worms, I will stop talking about it. If I have covered how to make a fire, I won't again unless asked in a comment. Once I give you my recommendations for what to own to prepare for the unforeseeable the list will stop and I do try to travel as light as possible. I can't teach you how to shoot an AR-15 or how to the apart, clean and put back together your rifle but I can and will explain what weapons are god for what scenario. I will even tell you what things are worth their weight in gold (usually its Gold), or what can be overpriced or covered by another item. But I realize that the knowledge in my head now has a place to go that isn't in my wife's ear (and quickly out the other).

For those that want some genuine USMC knowledge Follow. For preppers who want to test my mettle or add or critique please Follow so we can add to the knowledge I will be putting out there. I am not the authority, no one is, but everyone, especially those of us with Military Experience, especially Spec-Ops/Aircrew and those who have been in sketchy situations have something valuable to add and I very much hope I can see the interaction I expect from those who seek the knowledge. I look forward to posting tomorrow...later today actually, and to see how many of you are here to find some like-minded people who are experts in thier own fields. Take care and I hope to speak to you all soon. Get Ready.