Military Tactics Every Prepper Should Learn

Being prepared for emergencies, whether natural disasters or societal upheavals, involves more than just stocking up on supplies. Knowing critical military tactics can give you a significant strategic advantage when it comes to survival. These skills not only help you stay safe but also enhance your ability to protect yourself and your loved ones.

Here are the essential military-inspired tactics every prepper should master:

1. Situational Awareness

Situational awareness is the foundation of survival. It’s the ability to observe your surroundings, identify threats, and assess risks quickly.

• Practice scanning your environment for entrances, exits, choke points, or potential danger zones.
• Use the OODA Loop (Observe, Orient, Decide, Act), a technique often used by the military to process information and take action effectively.

Pro Tip:

Practicing mindfulness and reducing distractions like staying off your phone can sharpen your situational awareness.

2. Camouflage and Concealment

Being unseen can keep you safe in dangerous situations. Learning the basics of blending into your environment and staying hidden is crucial.

• Use natural terrain, trees, or foliage to blend in.
• Wear neutral, dull colors that don’t contrast with your surroundings.
• Learn to avoid silhouetting, a common mistake where you outline yourself against the sky or light.

Practice Makes Perfect:

Test your skills by playing stealth games like hiding in plain sight or navigating through wooded areas unseen.

3. Navigation Without GPS

If technology fails, can you find your way without it?

• Master reading traditional maps and using a compass.
• Learn how to identify cardinal directions through natural indicators, like the sun’s position or the stars (e.g., North Star).
• Understand terrain features, such as ridgelines, valleys, and watercourses, to orient yourself in any environment.

Tactic Drill:

Try orienteering exercises and hiking with just a map and compass whenever possible.

4. Defensive Positioning and Fortifications

Whether you’re protecting your home or building a temporary shelter, understanding defensive positioning is vital.

• Position your shelter or stronghold in areas with natural advantages, like elevated locations.
• Reinforce windows and doors, and use barriers that delay entry without compromising your mobility.
• Create fields of visibility and limit blind spots to monitor any approaching threats.

Safeguard Tip:

Design early warning systems, such as tripwires or noisemakers, to alert you to intruders.

5. Escape and Evasion

If a threat becomes unavoidable, knowing how to escape and evade danger can be lifesaving.

• Practice the art of silence, moving quietly to avoid drawing attention.
• Learn zig-zag patterns to evade lines of sight when fleeing.
• Always have an escape route planned in advance, whether it’s in your home or during travel.

Escape Training:

Simulate scenarios where you must leave a location unnoticed to hone these tactics.

6. Basic Self-Defense Tactics

Physical confrontations should always be a last resort, but knowing how to defend yourself can ensure your safety when unavoidable.

• Learn basic striking, blocking, and grappling techniques from martial arts like Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu or Krav Maga.
• Practice weapon retention if you carry a firearm or tool, ensuring it won’t be turned against you.
• Understand non-lethal defenses, such as pepper spray or improvised weapons.

Stay Skilled:

Regular practice at self-defense classes or drilling with a partner is key to maintaining effectiveness.

7. Small-Unit Tactics

For preppers working together in a group, small-unit tactics enhance cohesion and safety.

• Practice team movement formations, like wedges or columns, to reduce exposure to threats while maintaining visibility.
• Learn how to communicate silently, using hand signals to relay information.
• Designate roles within your group, such as navigator, lookout, or first-aid provider.

Quick Group Training:

Organize team exercises where you rehearse evacuations, patrols, or securing an area.

8. First Aid and Triage

Preparedness isn’t complete without knowing how to manage injuries.

• Learn to control severe bleeding using a tourniquet or pressure bandages.
• Master the basics of CPR, wound care, and splinting broken bones.
• Understand prioritization in emergency care, focusing on immediate threats to life like airway or circulation.

Build a Kit:

Invest in a well-stocked first aid kit and supplement it with trauma-specific supplies, such as hemostatic agents.

9. Strategic Supply Management

Military units excel at sustaining themselves in austere conditions by managing supplies efficiently.

• Rotate your stockpile regularly to avoid spoilage or expiration.
• Use a FIFO system (First in, First out) to ensure old supplies are used before new ones.

Supply Insight:

Keep a clear log of your inventory and conduct frequent checks to identify low-stock items.

10. Communication and Signals

When cell networks fail, communication becomes critical for coordination and safety.

• Invest in two-way radios or HAM radios for reliable long-distance communication with your group.
• Develop pre-arranged signals for emergencies, such as whistles, light flashes, or colored markers visible to your team.
• Understand radio silence and encryption if intercept by hostile forces is a concern.

Radio Readiness:

Take a basic HAM radio course or test out different devices with your group.

Final Thoughts

Mastering military tactics as a prepper doesn’t mean you’re preparing for warfare. Instead, these skills help you stay adaptable and proactive in unpredictable situations. Whether you’re navigating challenges in your community or escaping hazardous conditions, these tactics ensure that you’re ready for whatever comes your way.

Are you ready to elevate your preparedness plan? Start practicing these skills now, because in an emergency, knowledge is your most reliable weapon. Stay safe, stay prepared. #preppertactics #emergencyplanning #militaryskills

Remember:

• Keep learning and training to sharpen your skills.
• Adapt tactics to fit your situation and resources.
• Always prioritize safety and teamwork in any emergency.