Forming a Type 3 Survival Group

[230gr]

I originally wrote this in 2011 but it still holds true.

Forming a Type 3 Survival Group
    I define a type 3 survival group as one in which the retreat group members intend to live on one property, compound or close grouping of contiguous properties during and after a TEOTWAWKI event. Though they may be several separate families, related or not, they must act and function as one extended family. This will not be an easy task but it is far from a new concept. In fact, it the strategy many extended European families, including my own, that settled the dark and dangerous forests of what is now the American Midwest.
   Over the last 30 years, I've watched many survival groups form, fraction and dissolve. About the only arrangement that seems to worked is where group was already a "group" before it purchased the retreat land; where they formed common bonds of kinship and or friendship decades before and where, usually quite literally, one big family group. I see this “clan based” structure to quite effective and prominently in the groups in my local community. Meeting people on the net, forming up a retreat group and making this work long term is pretty very difficult. Trying to knit together a cohesive retreat group with people you do not know well is never a good idea and could be very dangerous.
   Most survivalists that have already made the move out of the large cities soon realize the need for a retreat group or survival group of people to depend on as their chances of surviving on their own are slim. A lone family will not have the manpower to post a 24/7 security, let alone all the skill sets necessary for long term survival. Even the most rural of survivalists need to network and develop a working retreat group for the purpose of having extra folks for security food production at their retreats when the time comes. If done correctly, this sort of arrangement can work and be beneficial to all parties. The big city survivalist can now has a secure, manned bug out location to which he can escape while the country survivalist now has extra help around for security, food production efforts, etc. This is the Group retreat strategy I have used and it seems the one that usually works best in the long term.
Dangers and Disadvantages
1.   First and foremost the country survivalist, especially, must be VERY careful in selection of group prospects.
a.   Consider that you will be living with these people for a long period of time, under difficult circumstances.
b.   If you can't stand to be around anyone of them for a long weekend, it's going to be impossible to live with for an extended period of time.
2.   Most people can and will "fake it" to some extent during your first initial meetings.
a.   Spouses and children will be on their best behavior.
b.   Serious family issues, abuse of alcohol, racism and religious bigotry will be hidden.
c.   I believe that time is the only thing that will expose these issues to you.
d.   Look for any warning signals during the first initial meetings; take your time and proceed with caution if and when these signals arise.
3.   Clearly communicate the requirements of your group and its rules.
a.   Do not include information that would be a security risk to you or is unnecessarily personal at this point.
b.   Have a general guideline of what is expected in terms of behavior, responsibilities, conduct, and material contributions.
c.   Go in with the understanding that some of this will be negotiated compromises and will, likely, have to be revised from time to time.
d.   Have the list of guidelines in written form when you discuss it and have a signoff procedure so no one can always claim; "I don't remember that".
   Just what sort of requirements for the group should you communicate your prospective members and how would you lay them out?
  1. Requirements for group participation
   a. Time requirements- meetings & exercisers- times per month or quarter                     
•   To discuss group issues and projects
•   For group security practice and maneuvers, fire arms practice
•   Maintenance and repair of the retreat if appropriate.
              b. Weapons, gear and supply requirements need to also be laid out
•   What weapons types and calibers are acceptable
•   How many rounds of ammunition for each firearm, and what form (loose rounds, minimum in bandoleer & stripper clips, stored in ammo cans
•   How much food each family should have.
•   What types of camping, military and personal gear are required.
•   When the requirements need to be completed.
            c. All monetary requirements per person or family per year
•   To help cover the costs of ammunition and materials for training events.
•   To help with property taxes, up keep and improvements.
  2. Acceptable behavior amongst group members and outsiders       
a.   You may not be able to legislate ethics and morality but discipline must be maintained and you can define minimum requirements, expectation and the consequences of violating the rules.
b.   How members shall share in the labor essential tasks and in the support the defense of the community in a survival situation.
c.   Many people simply to not share our basic Christian concept of behavior, morality and ethics and these issues must be brought out, sorted out and, where possible, compromises and agreements made.
d.   Family units should be respected and held responsible for their members.
e.   The use of recreational intoxication with drugs and alcohol must be addressed.
f.   Some governing structure should be provided but we, as Americans, expect to have a say in our lives. This must be tempered by the fact that we are in survival mode where leaders must be able to make vital decidedness quickly and decisively.
     The reasoning behind laying these things out is that you may very well be living with these people for an extended period of time, possibly years, in tense, if not desperate, circumstances. You MUST be able to trust and live with them. People are going to get irritable and upset with one another. This is human nature. You are going to have argument and temper blow ups; they must be handled. A group is much more like an extended family than a military unit but there will be times when drill sergeants will be necessary. In general though, the “hairy chested, chest thumper” leadership style will not long be long tolerated.
    Bad behavior should not be ignored. It will send a wrong signal to both the group and the one doing it. It will cause the harboring resentment against him, and your leadership, as well as, being a bad example for you other members, especially the children.
    In short, true Christian behavior is the key to the survival of your survival group; forbearance, tolerance, tact. Listen patiently and carefully, speak softly and with thought, be quick to apologize, and quicker to forgive. Peter asked Jesus how many times we should forgive our brother and Peter suggested the 7 times. But Jesus said that we should forgive, not 7 times, but 70 times 7 times. Matthew 18:21
    We are Survivalists, yes, but we are Christians first. When you get to the other side of whatever we need to go through, whether it be 3 months or 10 years, you need to have your family survive in more ways than just in flesh and blood.