How and Why a Civilian Should Prepare for War
There was a time in this country where the TV show Doomsday Preppers may have seemed a bit overboard. With the continual escalation both stateside and abroad, now many people not prepping more when prices were much lower.
Aside from increasing threats of a major world war, in recent years we've seen a growing concern over the possibility of civil war in the United States. In this article we're going to be taking a look at how you can start preparing for a worst case scenario.
Table of Contents
- Hard Times Create Strong Men
- Why Think About Preparing?
- What a Civillian Can do to Prepare
- Related Products
“Hard times create strong men, strong men create good times, good times create weak men, and weak men create hard times.”
- G. Michael Hopf
Let’s take a look at the quote from G. Michael Hopf. If this is true, that hard times create strong men, would you say we have a lot of “strong men” in our country right now?
We haven’t had a major event reach our shores, for the most part in at least a couple of decades now. Does this mean we have had good times? Which then would imply we have weak men.
You probably know where I’m going with this. There is a decent chance that we have a lot of “weak men” right now if Hopf’s quote is true.
To be successful at anything, you need to be prepared. We challenge you to become a strong man, for your family, community, and your country, if the worst happens.
Why should you even think about preparing?
The news is filled with grief and sorrow it seems these days. Things are uncertain on a global scale. China continues to threaten the invasion of Taiwan, which would ultimately pull the U.S.A. into the conflict due to obligations with Japan.
The Russia/Ukraine conflict continues with Putin making “transparently false allegations”, just to try and escalate the war and have a pretext for aggression.
Not only could all of the worldwide conflict turn into World War III, but other factors come into play too. If war escalates or there is an attack on US soil, the demand for tactical gear like body armor will rise.
As we head into the holiday season very soon, for some companies, lead times and costs will rise, while inventory will quickly deplete. Spartan Armor Systems® has taken measures to ensure supplies stay in stock for the holiday rush.
Inflation is just the cherry on top to make all the factors press against you.
That’s why we highly recommend you get prepared right now.
What can you do now to prepare for war as a civilian?
Even if you aren’t a US Marine with battle-tested survival skills, you can still put up a good fight, and protect your family.
Here are some things you can do right now as a civilian, to prepare for a war-like scenario:
1. Get into Shape
If you can’t make it up the stairs without huffing and puffing, how do you expect to run to your safe location, fight with hand-to-hand combat, and/or survive the elements if need be? If you skip leg day 364 days a year, then don’t be surprised when put on a bulletproof vest or plate carrier and it feels heavy.
In combat, it’s common for troops to carry well over 60 pounds of gear. If you can’t wear 10 to 20 pounds of body armor then you are putting yourself at a severe disadvantage.
You need to do everything you can right now, to get yourself physically prepared.
Train your conditioning, mental toughness, strength, and your tactical skills as much as you can now, so that when it comes a time, your body goes off of muscle memory.
You most likely will not have time to even think if/when a situation occurs, whether it be a full-scale invasion or a random burglar in your home.
A great way to start doing this is to use one of our Weighted Workout Vests to train with. With the high mobility design, you can stay nimble and complete the tasks you need to complete without being restricted.
They are great for working out at the gym, doing CrossFit, rifle training, or mixing it all and getting a tactical training session in at the gun range.
The Sentinel High Mobility package is made with 1000 Denier, elevated padding for breathability, and ultra durable. This weighted fitness plate carrier package will last you a lifetime.
Not only do you get the hard-core workout and durability features, but these special packages come with our Spartan™ Omega™ AR500 Steel Plates, which provide NIJ Level III protection.
Protect yourself against basic rifle rounds while making sure you are in the greatest shape of your life, in preparation for war.
2. Get Training
It’s a common attitude that once you acquire a bunch of gear and supplies that you’re all set and ready to ride out the apocalypse.
If you’re stockpiling a bunch of supplies but have very little ability to defend a position, then you’re really just creating a jackpot for the first band of raiders that discover your location.
Is your plate carrier setup correctly? Do you have extensive experience with your firearms? Have you tested all your gear to make sure it won’t let you down when you need it most? Do you know how to quickly apply a tourniquet under stress? These questions need to be answered during training and not when your life, or the life of a loved one is at stake.
As a starting point, check out our Body Armor 101 series and our other blogs where Rob Orgel of ER Tactical gives high level guidance on such issues as setting up a plate carrier. However, don’t let your training stop there.
Seek out trainers with proven track records (hint: Instagram is not the first place to look) who can help you build your skills and identify your weaknesses. Time on the range and time spent using your tactical gear will help you determine if you selected the right gear.
3. Build a Safe Room or Location
A safe room is a place that is hidden from the world and provides hiding and protection for you and your family.
This could be an extra room in your basement that is accessible through a hidden door. Or even a bunker, buried in your yard.
These safe rooms need to have protection from areal threats such as bombs and air strikes AND have protection from ground attacks.
Secure your bunker with a steel door and proper ventilation, so that you do not get smoked out, or broken into if found.
If you don’t have the space or funds to create a safe room, then put your focus on a location that is secure as possible and easy to defend.
4. Preparation Items
Speaking of a safe room, it’s important to have that room or bunker stocked with food, water, flashlights, a radio (or two), and defensive items, like body armor and weapons.
Think about the type of protection you will need in a situation where you have to use your safe room/bunker. More than likely, the enemy or attackers will have more firepower than just handguns, so we recommend looking at our Level III+ and Level IV body armor plates, carriers, and packages.
All these items and advice are great, but if you don’t practice while using these strategies or equipment, then at the end of the day, it’s worthless.
Only 22% of Americans have practiced emergency drills or habits, even though 45% of Americans have assembled or updated supplies.
Be prepared for anything. Act for your and your family’s safety today.