the best route to bug out or get back home.

[CharlesHarris]

If we ever have to use our Bug Out Vehicles (BOVs) for real we will wish, hope that we have trustworthy friends along with their own BOVs. When the balloon goes up, Murphy is already there! Having spares and buddies is always a good thing when danger lurks in the shadows.

You want to "convoy" using the word as both a verb and a noun. Any movement of more than one vehicle is a convoy.
It may consist of you driving the BOV while the spouse drives the "daily driver"; it could include friends or team mates - the bottom line is you are travelling together in multiple vehicles from Point A to Point B.

Convoying allows you to carry more stuff, provide for better security, respond to Murphy's unforeseen events better, etc. Like everything else – you must think it through ahead of time (planning!) and then you must rehearse the plan. Merely reading about it and exchanging emails will not a Convoy Leader make.

The Routes

You need to know where you are starting from, where you are headed to, and what routes, using PACE planning (Primary, Alternate, Contingency, and Emergency) you may need to get there. Study your routes well. Drive them now while it is safe. Note chokepoints, danger areas, slow bits, fast bits and so on.

Identify along your routes refueling points, eateries, hospitals, military bases, airports and so on. Avoid cities like the plague. Identify indicators that would signify a change in route and locations where you could switch from one route to another.
Mark these on your maps. You will need one map set per vehicle.

Vehicles

You’d like up-armored HumVees and mine-resistant MRAPS but you are stuck with SUVs, pickups and Mom’s Corolla. Deal with it. Decide who is going and what they will drive. Based on what you have, determine your movement formations and load plans.

If you had 5 vehicles in your convoy a formation might look like: Scout car 1 km o one mile out front of the main body followed the main body consisting of a Lead vehicle, Front Security, Precious Cargo vehicle (people or stuff), Rear Security.

You may want a scout vehicle out in front. The Corolla works well here –it’s inconspicuous and can drive up to a mile ahead of the convoy proper and report via radio on road conditions, warn of road blocks and so on. This vehicle should be “clean” – no heavy artillery. Mom and Pop and a couple bags with only a couple bags are great. We’ll get to communications later.

You want in the convoy proper both lead and rear security. These are vehicles with firearms and the best trained operators you have on board, who can respond to threats to life.

SOPs

You need Standard Operating Procedures for responding to common problems such as a flat tire or mechanical break down, road block, comfort stop, gasoline stop, overnight stop, hostile action, dealing with authorities, light traffic, heavy traffic, and so on and so on. YOU have to decide what you need to plan for. Then sit down and think it out. Come up with a couple different response options and go practice them. Decide on the ones you like as a group and make them your SOPs.

Not every situation will requires rounds down range, but every situation requires 360 degree security. Don’t just pull off the side of the road and let everyone gaggle in a clump!!!!!! Keep vehicles spread out but close enough together to control the convoy and keep eyes open all around. You may want to move away from the vehicles – you may not. Think about it now.

You will need a "bump" plan. Actually, several, written down. If Mike’s blue Suburban becomes inoperable where do his occupants ride? What stuff is gets switched over to other vehicles? What stuff is getting dumped out of those vehicles to make room. Decide now – 0230 in the rain with bad guys shooting AKs at you from across the highway is no time to have a pow wow.

Duties

Every vehicle has a driver. The driver’s duty is ONLY to drive. Period. Every vehicle must have at least one other person as transport coordinator (TC). The TC is in charge of the vehicle and makes any larger decisions. The driver drives and makes immediate decisions (swerve left now!). If there are only two people the TC reads the map, directs the driver, operates the CB or ham radio and pulls security (looks around and is prepared to respond). It is better if there are more than two people in the vehicle. It is best if all TC has to do is read the map and stay situationally aware so someone else can operate the mobile radio. The TC would is in the front passenger seat and the radio operator is behind the driver. Everyone should have a piece of the pie around their vehicle to watch while moving and while stopped.

“Unity of Command” is a basic military principle. “There can be only ONE!” is the battle cry from a cool movie. The point remains. You need one person in charge of the convoy. Pick your convoy leader now. Decisions have to be made. Some will must be made and followed immediately – without debate and discussion. If you want to live. Choose wisely.

Communications

Have multiple redundant communications between all vehicles. CBs, FRS, 2-meter, cell phones. Have scanners and radar detectors. Use pre-arranged brevity codes instead of saying, “HEY, there are black dudes in dreadlocks with AKs shooting at us from over here, just left of the blue sign” --- shorten that to “Contact LEFT – 10 o’clock”.

Instead of “we need to stop for gas” you could just say “coffee”. Have another code word to switch frequencies.

For routine information you attract less attention if you use innocuous phrases (like “coffee” than if you sound like a military convoy on the FRS.

Devise contingency signals to use when there are no communications working – flashing lights, hand signals – be imaginative but keep it simple.

Gear

Every vehicle should be in good repair, keep it in good shape, ready to roll. Every vehicle should have basic vehicle tools – working spare, jack, fluids and so on. Maps, comms and first aid in each BOV. Food and drink. Never separate a person from their BoB – their BoB rides with them no matter what. Never leave a BoB behind to make room for something else.

You should have some serious recovery gear in the convoy – somewhere in the middle or towards the rear. Winches, tow straps, chains, shackles, saws, bolt cutters, come-alongs, crow bars and so on. You should know how to use this stuff.

Consider carrying spare fuel. Decide where you want to carry it.

Once all this is decided, come up with load plans for each vehicle. What goes where in each vehicle? If you are really good standard things (like first aid) will be in the same place in each BOV. Draw a diagram for each BOV showing this and practice loading it to standard.

If you stop overnight only remove the minimum gear necessary - you may have to leave in a hurry. Keep everything packed up that you are not using. Never separate a person from their BoB.

Rehearsals

Practice everything from loading your BOVs to linkups, to actual movement to SOPs and so on. After each practice conduct an AAR (after action review) and discuss what you did, what went right, what went wrong, and so on. Ensure everyone participates.

Go back and relook your plans and operations. Tweak them and rehearse again. When you have to bug out for real you don’t want the journey to be your "first rodeo."

Conclusion

Think it through.
Make a Plan.
Rehearse the plan – the WHOLE plan.
Make needed adjustments.
Come up with alternate plans.
Rehearse again, and again.

I’ll see ya out there.

And the children of Israel, even the whole congregation, journeyed from Kadesh, and came unto mount Hor. - Numbers 20:22