Special skills for preppers (or not)

[NorthernRaider]

Special skills for preppers (or not)
NR 2011©
Heinlein - Specialization is for Insects
A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyse a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects.
-Robert A. Heinlein

A superb quote from a very wise man, but I want to clarify this contentious issue a bit.

The normal every day family Prepper does NOT, repeat NOT need to know how to strip, clean and assemble an assault rifle, they do NOT need to learn Morse code, they do not need to be able to fly a plane or helicopter, they do not need to be able to abseil down a cliff face in a force ten gale, they do not need to be able to perform major surgery, they do not need to be able to cook enough food in one setting to feed 200 people.

Let’s not try to turn ordinary people into militiamen or yeomanry, let us ENCOURAGE our people to learn sensible common sense skills that could save their lives.

If they have a bow, cross bow, air rifle, shotgun or sports rifle they SHOULD learn how to safely operate it and practise with it frequently and of course they should learn how to clean and maintain it.

If they have two way, amateur or CB radios they should learn how to operate the units and understand basic radio operation protocols (how to start, break and end a transmission etc)

They should learn to drive whatever vehicles are available to their family, normally a car, often a car and motorcycle and for some wealthier families the kids pet pony, if they own a 4x4 then it’s wise to put themselves through a basic 4x4 off road course, and everyone should do basic vehicle maintenance course 101 at night school.

If they have obtained ropes and shackles its worth finding out a few useful skills about rope work such as safe river cross rope setups, safe roping of heavy items in vehicles etc.

Everyone should do a decent first aid course with at least one family member doing an enhanced course, and if any of your family have special medical conditions such as type 1 diabetes its common sense to learn as much as possible about controlling their condition and extending the life of their insulin as long as possible.

And every prepper should know how to prepare a basic good nutritious meal using only basic camping equipment. You are not trying to feed your village, you are trying to keep your family and loved ones healthy.

There is nothing wrong with enhancing any basic skills you learn if it interests you, that’s the hallmark of a professional, but focusing primarily on learning basic sensible useful every day skills will benefit you more than learned how to jump from a plane at 50,000 without oxygen.
A broad wave of basic survival skills will be far more useful in most scenarios for most preppers.