Code Name Insight

A Trip Down Memory Lane

2012-01-23T15:22:00.000-08:00

After reviewing all 866 posts on this blog yesterday (!) and updating a bunch of them (actually I was removing any pictures that I didn't specifically own; sorry, don't know what that did to your feed reader...I hope each update didn't show up or you would have been inundated), I came to the conclusion that there are some very basic things, that show up year after year, that everyone can do to be prepared for 99% of what could possibly happen to them on the survival/preparedness front. Here's the top ten:

Get out of debt. This is by far the best thing you can do to position yourself to survive just about anything. Not only does this free up your money for better things than paying debt, but it allows you to be vastly more flexible in everything you do from where you live to where you work to how you respond to disaster situations.
Gain knowledge. Most of the disasters that happen to people can be mitigated/prevented just by having simple knowledge. Got laid off? You should know how to respond to this crisis (everything from when/where/how to apply for unemployment to the location of your nearest food pantry). Have a medical crisis? You should be able to respond quickly (everything from tossing your BOB in the car before heading to the hospital to having insurance to cover the majority of your medical expenses). Need a side business? You should be able to cobble together something to earn you a bit of cash based on your hobbies/interests and the vast array of "how to start a small business" knowledge available on the internet.
Have gear. Yes, when an earthquake strikes you are going to be forced to respond. You may end up camping out in your backyard for days on end or you may be fortunate enough to bunk with friends who were unaffected. You will, however, survive much more comfortably if you have some basic gear (ie: your Daily Carry Bag, your BOB, your firearms, your tools, etc).
Have training. A big part of preparedness, whether some people like the fact or not, revolves around firearms. In a true crisis, firearms will play an important part in your survival in many situations--everything from hunting down your own food to protecting your family and property. As with any dangerous item--from a gun to a motorcycle to a chainsaw to a boat--being properly trained to use the item in question can quite literally save your life.
Have skills. After you have the gear and the training, you will need to practice, and practice some more, in order to develop your skills. If you have a sewing machine and a couple of sewing classes, with a bunch of practice you will develop some pretty usable skills (everything from sewing your own gear to repairing your clothing so you don't have to buy new stuff to using the skill for a side business). Ditto for firearms. Ditto for food processing. Ditto for reloading ammo. Ditto for...just about everything else.
Be aware of your environment. This covers everything from assault prevention (if you're in an environment with a bunch of thugs, or the possibility thereof, you can almost guarantee trouble), to knowing where the fire exits in your hotel are, to knowing what natural disasters are most likely to happen in your current location so you can study how to survive them, etc.
Be responsible for your own actions. Personal responsibility covers a lot of ground and prevents a lot of problems. If you manage your money well, manage your acquaintances well (ie: don't let them talk you into dangerous or illegal things), manage your attitude well, manage your family well, and manage your impact on your community as well as possible, life will be a lot simpler.
Have multiple sources of income. There is no such thing as a job for life anymore and the ax can fall at any time. Be ready for this by always having multiple sources of income so if one source dries up, you will still have money coming in from other sources.
A good stockpile can be worth it's weight in gold. Do you have extra food and water stored at your house? How about ammo, tools, firearms, et al? The reasons for having a goodly supply of all things that you regularly use--from food to toilet paper to ammo--are many. You can fall back on your supply during a job layoff or extended illness; during a disaster--everything from a snowstorm to an extended power outage--you won't be among the masses clamoring for needed supplies at the local Walmart; and you can "hedge the market" a bit when the cost of these items skyrocket as they tend ot do on occasion.
Cash rules. If you pay cash for everything, you won't go in debt. If you always carry cash with you, you can instantly pay for any "good deal" you run across. If you need money but the ATMs are all down, or worse, there is a run on the banks, you will be sitting pretty with your stash of cash. tl;dr cash rules.

Some Thoughts on Prepaid Legal Services

2012-01-21T14:05:00.000-08:00

A comment on one of last week's blog posts asked what I thought of pre-paid legal services (probably in relation to the post which focused on shooting to defend your life...a situation which is bound to require some sort of legal response in many jurisdictions). My comments on this type of service are thus:

I am all for the pre-emptive protection of your assets (in the form of insurance for life, health, auto, home, disability, etc).
I am flat out against multi-level marketing businesses (except a few such as Amway and Avon). Prepaid legal services are an MLM business and if it looks like a pyramid scheme...
The average person should actually have very few reasons to need legal representation more than a couple times in their entire life (many legal processes can be done yourself such as uncontested divorces, Wills, etc).
EVERYONE should have an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses, legal or otherwise.
Everyone should know a bit about protecting themselves from lawsuits (if you carry a weapon you should have a massive amount of training on how to use it. If you drink you should not drive. If you have a situation in your home or business that could cause a liability claim, mitigate it. Et al.)
It's a good idea to know a few lawyers that you can call on with the odd question (or in the event you are in deep legal trouble).
If you find that you are ALWAYS having legal problems either figure out why this is and correct the problem on your end or learn the legal process well enough to represent yourself (not highly recommended but I have a friend who has been in litigation for over a decade and he has done a fine job of representing himself--sans legal degree--in a situation that would have bankrupted the average mere mortal).

Notice How the Internet is a Bit Dark Today?

2012-01-18T13:56:00.000-08:00

If you have tried to access Google, Reddit, Wikipedia, Boing Boing, or any of the many other sites that have went dark to protest SOPA and PIPA today, then you already know there is a problem. This link will tell you more about the problem, as will this one. What you can do to help keep the internet free is contact your congressperson and ask them to defeat these two bills (simply enter your zipcode here and find out who your reps are in congress). Note that if these bills pass, Code Name Insight will cease to exist, as will many other websites that link content that we want to share with our readers. That will be a very sad day for all of us.

A Bit More on Defensive Shooting and I'll Hop Off My Soapbox

2012-01-17T14:23:00.000-08:00

Last week I threw up this link up on the blog. Otherwise known as the defensive shot heard 'round the internet, it pointed out one of the most basic reasons for owning a firearm, namely, the protection of yourself and your children. Here's some follow up links pertaining to this story:

The 18 year old almost made this mistake (the gist of the article being that if you have to stop and ask about the legality of defensive shooting at a critical moment, you are wasting valuable time and putting yourself in even more danger, so know the laws BEFORE you need to know them)
An "Aftermaths" contact form (something we usually don't think about ahead of time)
After you draw your gun (again, more stuff you should think about before you find yourself in a self defense situation)

Challenge: Specialize

2012-01-11T14:20:00.000-08:00

Although Robert Heinlein famously quoted that specialization is for insects, today I am going to challenge that assumption and ask you to do the same. Today's challenge is for you to specialize in something this year. I don't care what you decide to specialize in, it could be taxidermy, HAM radio operations, website design, house painting...whatever it is you have the slightest interest in and/or whatever it is you have the easiest access to, I want you to go ahead and grab that specialization by the horns and conquer it.
Why? A couple of reasons actually. First, one of the biggest difficulties people have when looking to start their own business (or even finding side work after they have been laid off from their regular job) is that they are OK in many things but not really great in any particular field. With months of work in one area of specialization, you will overcome this problem and have some solid skills to fall back on. These skills may not make you a millionaire (but then again they could, who knows...) but they will make you a near expert in something.
Second, by specializing in something, you will have a usable skill should TSHTF and you have to bug out. No matter where you go, should you have picked a reasonably useful specialization, you will make yourself a useful person to others who will need your skill set. This will not only give you a way to earn money/a living/room and board/etc but it will instantly make you a vital part of the group you choose to bug out with.
Here's some ideas and how you may put them to work:

Idea one. EMT (emergency medical technician). An EMT-B (as opposed to being a paramedic, EMT-P) isn't going to make you rich. In fact many EMTs start off as volunteers, however the skills you learn from a basic EMT class can be extremely useful, not just for yourself but for your friends and family in an emergency. EMT classes are offered all over the place, the time needed for the class is minimal (usually a couple of months for the class and to become certified), the experience you gain from working along side paramedics and hospital staff is invaluable, and in a pinch, you can always get a side job as a part time EMT in many communities. From this one specialization, I have seen many people go on to get higher level jobs in hospitals, go on to train others, and even use these skills and credentials to start their own business (usually teaching fire safety and basic first aid skills).
Idea two. Range safety officer. If you hang around most professionally run shooting ranges, you will note that there are usually some range safety officers on duty to make sure everything runs smoothly at the range. Again, this usually starts out as a volunteer position and training (as well as certification) happens "on the job" but with this type of experience you will develop a wide range of skills that can be used in the future for earning an income. Also, the more time you spend around the range doling out advice and information, the more opportunity you have to pick up on all kinds of useful things/information (ie: someone selling firearms for a super low price because they know you, someone giving you some free reloads because they made extra, the opportunity to take advanced classes at a discount because you are part of the range staff, the opportunity to get in a lot of extra shooting practice on the range's dime, etc).
Idea three. Butchering meat during the fall hunting season. I know quite a few people who love to hunt in the fall. I know fewer people who relish the thought of butchering their own meat (which is why butcher shops near prime hunting areas are usually overwhelmed in the fall). Learning this skill--whether through formal instruction in a class, less formal instruction gleaned through the internet and lots of practice, or even less formal instruction by watching over your brother-in-law's shoulder while he cuts up his latest harvest--can prove invaluable. By learning this skill and after continued learning, you will then have many opportunities such as being able to buy a side of beef at a super low price and butchering it yourself, teaching community ed classes on the topic to people eager to learn this skill, or even writing a how-to book on the topic and becoming an "expert".
Idea four. Website design. There is a mountain of information available online to teach you this skill for free. While you won't be an "instant expert", after pouring through this information, and with a lot of practice, you will become good enough to offer your skills in your community and make a bit of money on the side. You might want to start here.
Idea five. Blow your hobby up into a multiple-stream-of-income business (and if you don't have a hobby, then get one). Many people have become "experts" simply because they had a hobby that they enjoyed, the learned as much as they could about their hobby, then they "went pro." Which isn't as hard as it sounds because often becoming a professional simply entails finding a way to make money off your hobby. Such as writing about it, teaching others about it, selling the results of your hobby (tied flies, bird houses, etc), etc. I was introduced to a friend of a friend last summer who happens to be a professional fisherman. He goes fishing, catches some fish, makes $50,000 (plus a boat in one tournament!) and now he is the advertising face of fishing lures and other fishing related equipment. Another guy I know liked hunting, knew all of the best spots to go in the mountains near his home, and with a bit of business and marketing skills, ended up with several clients who came from as far away as Asia to go hunting with him each year.

So in tl;dr form: pick a topic you enjoy, learn as much as you can about it, practice it, get certified if possible (however this isn't always necessary), continue learning, find a way to sell your knowledge, continue learning, become an expert.

Yes, Stockpiling Firearms for Future Bartering/Selling Is a Good Idea

2012-01-07T17:13:00.000-08:00

I got a couple of comments from this post which I thought I would address here. Seems some people think it is a crazy idea to stockpile firearms for future use--such as bartering and selling--which on the one hand does sound kind of crazy (why arm people who could use the arms against you?) but on the other hand makes complete sense. Here's why:

Firearms are easier to value and sell as compared to, say gold. I have yet to ever sell gold to a random person but have bought, sold, and traded firearms with people many times in the past.
I can shoot exactly two firearms at a time. So even if I stockpile a couple hundred firearms, I will only be able to shoot two at a time. With the spouse, that would make four. The other 180 firearms will be just sitting there doing nothing. Might as well make them usable...by holding them as hard assets that could be used to provide for the things I need via bartering or selling.
The possibility of total societal collapse where I would use my firearms as barterable/saleable items is about 2%. The possibility of personal collapse (extended illness, extended job loss, divorce that leaves me with nothing, etc) where I would use my firearms as barterable/saleable items is about 98%. It is the 98% that I mostly prepare for.
Should the 2% happen and societal collapse is upon us, I would still be able to decide who to sell/barter my firearms too. It's at that point that I would hope to be living in a community/with people as a "tribe" so to speak who would (most likely) be people who I could trade/barter my firearms with and who would be unlikely to use them against me.

Of course there is always a downside to stockpiling firearms, namely the need to maintain them, secure them, etc. but in the grand scheme of things, I would much rather put my money into usable assets such as firearms, food, tools, etc. than into, say, a pile of US bonds which may eventually be worth less than the paper they are printed on.

Some Thoughts on Guns

2012-01-04T15:14:00.000-08:00

I am a big believer in average citizens owning guns. I think everyone should at least know how to use a variety of firearms and, with a few exceptions (homes where someone is mentally ill, or where there is domestic violence), everyone should keep firearms in their home for protection (note that along with literally protecting yourself, places where most homeowners are known to have firearms have a sort of "herd immunity" as robbers and others will not want to bet their life on trying to pick out which home isn't armed in a sea of armed homeowners).
And here's a bunch of reasons why YOU should consider investing in firearms:

Teen mom kills intruder while on the phone with 911 (when seconds count, law enforcement is only, in this case, 21 minutes away).
Are guns and ammo the new gold? (basically yes, instead of hoarding ALL gold to use in the event of TEOTWAWKI, I would suggest much of your prepping money go for firearms. Not only can they be bartered for goods and services, but they will protect your from danger and allow you to hunt down your dinner).
GunFacts (in case the media has scared the gun-owning desire right out of you. Note: most of the "children" who are killed each day with firearms are actually teenaged gangbangers so before you go believing the media hype, get your gun facts straight)
Where to Shoot (this is where to find a range near you)
Gun Rules (how not to hurt yourself or someone else with a firearm)
Handgun Laws (FYI)

'Nuff said.

Challenge: Get Your Daily Carry Bag Together

2012-01-02T19:07:00.000-08:00

Note: throughout the year you will find a variety of challenges that will make you more prepared should you choose to accept the challenge (...sorry just watched 'Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol' and couldn't resist...).

The last time I updated my Daily Carry Bag, it was about nine months ago. Times have changed a bit, situations have changed a bit, and I felt it was time to revamp and revise my Daily Carry Bag as this is the one item I have with me, day in and day out. This is not a BOB! I won't be bugging out with just these few things, but the items I carry with me everyday will provide the things that I need to either a) get back to my BOB (car, home, or office), or b) if TS really does hit TF, leave in a heartbeat and resurface somewhere else either near or far (I won't have much with me and would much prefer to have my BOB with me but I would also much prefer not to carry a fully loaded backpack around with me everywhere I go each day; the Daily Carry Bag is a good compromise). Also note that my Daily Carry Bag would be different if I had super long commutes, and thus the possibility of being stuck far from home, as opposed to mostly being less than 20 miles away from home at any given time. Here's the contents:
p.s. Feel free to add or subtract stuff from your own Daily Carry Bag in order to make it fit your own situation.
p.s.s. Also feel free to make up your bag, blog about it, then post the link in the comment section below so we can all get a gander at what you carry.

Smartphone with internet and GPS (plus radio, a scanner radio app, a very good flashlight, et al. Gotta love the app store!).
$200 in cash, $2 in quarters
Concealable firearm, ammo
Pocketknife
Wallet with driver's license, concealed carry license, military ID, health insurance card, etc
Passport (I usually carry this with me as definitive ID instead of handing over my driver's license or military ID which both include too much personal information)
Visa debit card (also in the wallet) linked to a bank account with a few thousand dollars in it. I don't link this card to my main account but rather to an emergency fund to use for emergencies only.
List of emergency phone numbers and medical info (also in wallet) which I can access in case my cell phone dies
Thumb drive with all of my important files backed up on it
Small, flat flashlight found at Walmart for about $2 (the flashlight on my cellphone is better but this can be used as a back up)
Lighter (I don't smoke but this has come in handy on numerous occasions)
Pen and paper (I can take notes on my phone but I like thinking on paper)
Aspirin, Handi-wipe, tissue, band aid
Digital camera (while my cell phone takes OK pictures and video, I often take pictures that require more detail so I still carry a digital camera with me)
Floss (numerous uses)
Rubber band, safety pin
Bottle of water and a granola bar
Small, tubular whistle (great for use in am emergency)
Keys
Sunglasses
Net book (I almost always carry this small computer with me since much of my work requires special software which can't yet be installed on a pad device; if I don't have work to do that day, I leave it at home and use my cell phone for things I need such as reading documents, checking email, etc)

Most of the smaller items are organized in a LeSportsac bag (lightweight, tough, quality made, the only qualm I have is the colors and patterns of the bags but oh well...) and tossed into whatever bag I am using for the day (briefcase, backpack, messenger bag).

Things that have dropped off this list since the last update:

Condom. Have never used it for it's usual use since the last couple re-vampings of the bag, and while it can come in handy in a pinch to carry water, empty water bottles thrown in the trash are practically ubiquitous these days.
OB tampon. Don't need this for its usual use either and while it is useful as a compress for bleeding wounds, so is the t shirt I am wearing.
Business cards. Again, mostly a weight/clutter saving thing as I rarely ever use them any more. When I meet new people I simply email them a link to my contact info on the spot.
Spare house key (before, I would often commute by bus, boat, and rail, however these days I drive everywhere so keep a spare key in the car instead of in my Daily Carry Bag)
Mirror. Didn't use this item in previous versions of my bag so have dropped it (note: there is a mirror app for smart phones now).

Some things I don't carry but you may want to:

Prescription meds
Mints or gum
Leatherman tool
Charging cables for cell phone and/or net book

Happy New Year, Yes I Survived, and Yes 2012 Is Going to Be a Kick-Ass Year for Preparedness

2012-01-01T20:53:00.000-08:00

First, here is a picture from the Las Vegas Strip Las Night--before it got busy.
Everyone was pretty cool, law enforcement was very visible, and there was only a bit of pushing and shoving as the entire crowd tried to move at once after the end of the fireworks (which necessitated a jump over a fence by the spouse and I to get to less claustrophobic ground). Note: my fence jumping skills need a bit of work. Second note: if I am going to do the Warrior Dash or Tough Mudder this year I better get busy preparing for it!
So what do you think 2012 will bring? TEOTWAWKI? A non-event similar to Y2K? Something in between--not horrible, not pleasant? Whatever happens, the goal of this blog will be to make sure you are prepared for ANY eventuality. There won't be an assumption that you will run for the hills when things get testy--but some of the challenges will ensure that your outdoor skills are up to par. There won't be an assumption that nothing will happen at the end of the year so you can kick back (mostly because it is a good bet that some sort of disaster--major or minor--will land on your doorstep at some time in the future so your preparations won't be for naught).
It's time to get busy and get prepared...for any eventuality.

Tactical Thoughts on New Years Eve

2011-12-29T14:47:00.000-08:00

The fact that I will be spending my New Year's Eve on the Las Vegas Strip with hundreds of thousands of other people is pretty much a given...unfortunately. I would rather be home in front of the TV. But the spouse is fairly insistent since it is a "once in a lifetime event" and also because in our 25+ years of marriage it is just part of the deal that if something is super important to one of us, the other will go along with it whether they are actually thrilled about the prospect or not (such as when I decided that we should sell everything we own and travel for the last year--the spouse was less than inspired but it was very important to me...so I guess this is payback). Anyway... Since I get to be one of the civilians thrown into the mess instead of one of the planners of how to coral the mess (although visions of disaster mitigation are still dancing in my head, retired or not), here's some of my thoughts on our upcoming adventure:

We will park off the Strip and walk to our destination since driving anywhere near there will be a disaster in and of itself. Plus I would like to be home sometime before 4am and that involves getting away from the traffic as quickly as possible even if it includes walking a mile or so.
We will of course dress for the occasion. I've seen the news clips of scantily clad females in spike heeled shoes walking down the Strip celebrating New Years but that seems insane. Walking shoes, check. Jacket, check. Maybe even gloves--it gets cold in the desert at night.
Any important items that we carry will be zippered into the inside pockets of our jackets. A crowd that big is a pickpocket's dream so carrying your wallet in your back pocket is out, along with any other item that you could be relieved of quickly.
I will also carry a small backpack (on my front, not on my back where again, thieve could get at its contents) which will contain: a bottle of water, a small first aid kit, a knife, a bandanna, goggles, a square of fluorescent fabric, a couple of granola bars, a flashlight, matches, para cord, zip ties, packet of tissue, and large garbage bag.
Carrying a firearm is, well, still something I will do but I don't recommend it for the partying masses. First, someone who is drunk shouldn't be in control of a firearm. Second, although an active shooter scenario is always a possibility, our plan would be to duck, cover, and get the Hell out of there in such an instance. NO ONE wants to find themselves in a situation where you are returning fire with a crowd behind your target (if you can even find your target, as hearing shots from the crowd as opposed to standing right next to the shooter makes it difficult to identify your target in the first place). So concealed carry is OK but actually using your firearm in a crowd is definitely not.
We will stay on the fringes of the crowd, not in the middle of the swarming masses. And also check and re-check for exits to use in the event of a crisis. In a set venue this is simple but in a large outdoor venue exits can move (as people move, barricades are moved, etc). I will also be keeping an eye on visible security (which also moves in such a venue), the crowd overall (you can generally tell when something is about to happen by looking at the overall pattern of the crowd), and any other things that have the potential to turn into a threat.
We have a plan for when and where to meet if we get separated. Even though we each have a phone, there are a number of reasons that we may not be able to contact each other this way (the circuits may be overloaded, we may not be able to hear over the roar of the crowd, and texting is difficult if you are crowded up against people). Of course the plan is multi-faceted with three different places to meet, in order, and three different times to meet (in case we can't get to location one, for example).
Of course I will check for dangers as we go through the event. Generally in large crowds you want to avoid bad weather like thunder and lightening (shouldn't happen here), the crush of the crowd (such as a stampede which could lead to being crushed or trampled), and other obvious dangers (fire, fights, getting between law enforcement and whatever group they are trying to control), etc.
We will be on our best behaviour, as usual. In other words we won't be drunk, belligerent, or looking for a brawl which can quickly get out of hand in a crowd situation. That's basically how melees start. If you can tell there may be a problem, your best bet is to diffuse the situation as quickly as possible then leave the area as quickly as possible.
We will be responsible for our own safety. Although I am assuming there will be plenty of security at the event (an added bonus is the large number of security personnel in the casinos and a military base near by...otherwise the nearest reinforcements are five hours away), in these types of situations, taking care of each individual in the crowd is not at the top of law enforcement's priority list. Such a thing would be impossible of course, due to the number of law enforcement versus the number of people in the crowd, plus LE is there for over all crowd control and major disaster mitigation.
Finally, I hope to get in and get out as quickly as possible. We plan to arrive sometime past 10pm and leave shortly after midnight while the crowd parties on.

I hope you all have a safe and pleasant New Year's Eve.

End of the Year Wrap Up

2011-12-28T19:29:00.000-08:00

Some random stuff for the end of the year...

I hope you all had a great Christmas. It was busy but pretty low-key around here, just the way I like it.
Have a safe and happy New Year. The spouse is insistent on spending New Year's Eve on the Strip in Las Vegas. I'm less than enthused about spending any time at all in a crowd of hundreds of thousands.
With lots less work and lots less traveling, at least for the first half of next year, the blog should be updated much more regularly.
Please do not drink and drive this coming weekend. It could save your life or the life of another.
There's been plenty of rumbling about TEOTWAWKI happening at the end of next year (mostly due to then end of the Mayan calendar). If you are prepared for such a thing on a daily basis this could be a chance or test out your preps and less of a "running around like a chicken with it's head cut off" thing like the unprepared masses may experience. But then again, it could turn out like Y2K.
Thanks to all who have supported our efforts at CNI!

The Threat Assessment

2011-12-20T17:17:00.000-08:00

Right after we move into a new place and I run through the 35 questions about our new home, I then proceed to conduct a simple threat assessment. Here's what it entails:

First, make sure there are no threats inside your home, using the list above.
Next, do a simple walk around your neighborhood and maybe talk to a few of the neighbors and determine if there are any threats in your neighborhood (this can be anything from living right next to a chemical plant to hearing the neighbors fight every night to seeing graffiti repeatedly in your neighborhood).
You can also check and see what kind of threat assessment tools are provided by your local police department, such as this, this, and this.
I also sign up for alerts (either via text messages, email, or FaceBook) from the local fire department, department of emergency management, and Nixle for my area.
Finally, I Google "threat analysis" for my city and state and see what other work is being done in this area that can shed some light on current threats to my area such as this, this, and this.

By conducting a threat assessment of your local area, you will be well positioned to plan for situations that are most likely to affect you. This will allow you to fine-tune the contents of your BOB, take pre-emptive action towards threats if necessary, and plan for disasters that are more than likely to happen (ie: you don't want to spend your time planning for a tornado if the area you live in is much more likely to be hit by an earthquake, etc).

50 Important Documents to Keep on Hand

2011-12-17T14:05:00.000-08:00

I finally got my new Nevada driver's license. What with traveling and moving and shuffling stuff in and out of storage, it was a bit of a challenge to get all of the documents together to actually go and apply for the license and although I have copies of all of my important documents on a secure thumb drive, only original documents would do. So with a bit of effort, all of my documents are now safely residing in a hidden safe in our home. Here are the documents you should always have on hand:

Your driver's license
Your social security card
Your military ID
Your concealed carry license
Your birth certificate
Your marriage certificate(s)
Your divorce decree(s)
Your children's birth certificates
Your spouse's birth certificate
Your passport
Your DD214 (for military members)
Other military records (VA disability award letter, etc)
Your Will, Living Will, and Power of Attorney
Your spouse's Will, Living Will, and Power of Attorney
Death certificates (for any spouses and children)
Past seven year's tax returns
Investment records (stock certificates, bonds, etc)
Adoption records (yours, your spouse's, your children's if applicable)
Your green card (if applicable)
Baptism records (if applicable)
Insurance policies (home, life, health, auto)
Copyright and patent records
Updated immunization records (for you, your spouse, and your minor children)
Deeds and titles (for real estate, vehicles, burial plots, etc)
An annually updated household inventory
List of your debts and credit cards (with account numbers)
List of banks and investment firms (with account numbers)
Documentation of debts owed to you
Citizenship and naturalization documents (if applicable)
Education records (high school diploma, college diplomas)
Professional licenses (state medical license, cosmetology license, license to practice law, etc)
Employment records
Medical history (for each family member)
Updated list of prescription and non prescription meds for each family member (if applicable)
Record of funeral plans
An "if I die" letter (include people to call, location of keys/safe codes, location of important records, etc)
Pet records (license, vaccination card, etc)
Warranties and receipts (for appliances, cars, etc)
Updated list of monthly bills (include everything from mortgage to electricity and cable with account numbers)
Retirement records (pensions, annuities, IRAs, etc with account numbers)
Other medical forms (DNR form, organ donor card, etc)
Legal settlement/judgement records (bankruptcy, insurance claims, etc)
Child custody records (records should be legal documents that include a parenting plan, custody award, child support order, etc)
Real estate records (mortgage, tax assessments, easements, etc)
Updates vehicle records for cars, boats, motorcycle, etc (insurance card, registration)
A file for tax records (W2 forms, charity and other deductible expenses, etc)
A "kidnapping" file, for lack of a better term, for each family member (include recent photo, physical description, photo of tattoos and scars, even a DNA sample)
Copies of criminal records (date, charge, disposition, etc)
Updated net worth statement
A list of user names and passwords for all of your online accounts

Preparedness Gifts for Your Christmas List

2011-12-15T14:24:00.000-08:00

Here's the obligatory Christmas gift list, targeted towards the survivalists on your list, of course...

Firearms. Fortunately there aren't any anti-gunners in our family so giving firearms as a gift isn't an unusual--or shocking--occurrence. When kids are younger they get a BB gun and as they get older they usually find a .22 rifle under the tree. For the kids who develop a real interest in competitive shooting or hunting, they will eventually find something much nicer from "Santa Claus" (like a Mossburg, S&W, H&K, Sig, etc).
Knives. Everyone should own a good knife. Even grandma should carry a small pocket knife in her purse for simple things like opening packages or peeling an apple while on a picnic with the grandbaby. A pocket knife will be something that people will own for a lifetime so make sure it is of good quality.
Outdoor gear. There are plenty of people in the family who participate in outdoor sports which makes Christmas shopping a lot more fun (meaning I would much rather spend my time perusing gifts at Bass or REI than at the mall). Whether you buy some fancy new long underwear for the hunters in the group, a snowboard for Junior, or the latest gadget for the long-distance bicyclist or runner in the family, quality outdoor gear is yet another item that will be used for years and years so makes an excellent gift.
Emergency gear. I know. I've been told that buying flashlights and Bug Out Bag stuff for Christmas doesn't make people say "wow!" but how can a person resist the lure of a new Maglight or a comprehensive first aid kit?? I am sure these kinds of things will be much more appreciated during an emergency than a tie or a sweater.
Experiences. By far one of the best gifts that you can give someone, especially the person who has everything, is an experience. Experiences--everything from a deep-sea fishing trip to a guided hunting trip in Alaska (or something less costly and closer to home)--will be something that a person remembers forever with the added bonus that the lessons learned on these types of trips are skills that a person will be able to keep--an use--forever.

The bottom line--in my mind anyway--is that giving gifts shouldn't be something that one does just to check a name off a list but it should be done with purpose in mind. The main purpose being that the gift has some sort of usefulness that would come in handy during every day tasks as well as during an emergency situation.

35 Questions About Your New Home

2011-12-09T16:08:00.000-08:00

This has been moving week as we shuffle our stuff into a rental place until our new place is finished in a few months. After traveling for almost a year, I needed to make myself a list of things to check in our new place when we moved in (the old memory ain't what it used to be...). Here's the list:

Are the smoke alarms working?
Are the carbon monoxide alarms working?
Have all of the door locks been re keyed?
Have all names been taken off the mailbox and replaced with just an address?
Has a home inspection been completed (you can do this yourself if it is a rental but when buying a place, a professional inspection is definitely worth the money)?
Have any problems (especially with a rental) been well documented and repairs been requested?
Has the place been thoroughly scrubbed from top to bottom?
If you notice signs of pest or rodent infestation has this been treated?
Have all window locks been checked to be sure they work?
Has the alarm system been reset with a new pass code?
Have all services been put into your name (water, gas, sewer, electricity, cable, etc)? If you are living on the down low, have these services been put into your agent's name?
Have you checked the fire extinguishers to see if they exist and if they are fully charged?
Do you know where the emergency shut offs are (water, gas, electricity) and are there tools nearby to allow you to shut off these things?
Have you purchased insurance (home owners or renters) for your new digs?
Did you make a list of local emergency contacts (hospital, pharmacy, etc)?
Did you check all of the appliances to make sure they are in good working order?
Did you perform a safety check to make sure there aren't any dangers lurking in your new home (wobbly stairs, electrical problems, etc)?
Did you change all of the filters in your appliances (furnace, water purifying system, etc)?
Have you created a fire escape plan and practiced it with your family?
Did you give all family members their new info (address, phone number, etc) in case of emergency?
Did you photograph your new place before you moved in (especially if you are a renter)?
Have you walked around the outside of your new place in the day time and at night time to check for anything that may impact your safety (blinds that are too thin, exterior lights that are burnt out, etc)?
Did you immediately tidy up your landscaping to make your new home look less inviting to thieves?
Did you create a 'safe room' in your new place?
Did you paint, re-carpet, re-floor, etc before moving in (it's much easier than doing this after you move in)?
Did you create a file for all of the documents related to your new place (rental agreement, appliance warranties, etc)?
Did you do a walk-around and/or drive-around of your new neighborhood to look for potential problems?
Did you put in a change of address with the post office (skip, of course, if you use a ghost address)?
Did you change the address on your: driver's license, voter registration, CCR, bills, etc?
Did you check out your home and yard and make sure it will work for your pets (ie: fence is secure, there are no potential dangers for your pets, etc)?
Did you find out about your water supply (if from a well, has it been tested recently, if from a municipal source, is it fluoridated, etc)?
Are the first five things you placed in your home: toilet paper, flashlights in each bedroom with fresh batteries, basic food stuff, a bit of cash hidden somewhere, spare house key (hidden well somewhere outside)?
As you unpack, have you started a box of things you no longer want/need that you can get rid of before it takes up residence in your new place?
Have you introduced yourself to your new neighbors?
And all the other stuff: register your kids in their new schools, find a local doctor/dentist/vet, get a library card for the local library, review the rules of your HOA, give your friends and relatives your new contact info, etc.

Some Events to Add to your 2012 Calendar

2011-12-01T15:38:00.000-08:00

Usually around this time, I pick up a calendar for the coming year and develop a rough outline of the things I want to see/do/experience for the following year. Here's what's on my list so far:

The Warrior Challenge
The Warrior Dash
Spartan Race
Tough Mudder
Toughguy (actually probably the Nettle version as I should be in the UK this summer)
USMC Mud Run
Spartan Death Race
Zombie Race
Rugged Maniac

Notice a trend? I may try one or two of these or maybe more. Previously I have mostly worked on distance events (marathons, bike centuries) but this year I want to change things up and I have heard good things about almost all of these events. Should be fun...

25 Health Questions

2011-11-27T15:18:00.000-08:00

Funny that we should be talking about health--right after a food-coma-inducing Thanksgiving weekend and before all of the goodies that will be popping up for the Christmas holidays--but getting a handle on your health isn't something you can wait to do. In fact, there are people dropping dead today, as I type this, because they put their health on hold in order to concentrate on "more important things". I can't think of anything that is more important for increasing your survival odds than being fit and healthy. Here's 25 questions you should be able to answer about your health (and a good base-line for improving your health):

What is your height? I know plenty of guys whose driver's licenses say they are 6' tall when clearly that was either wishful thinking or they have greatly shrunk over time. Knowing your actual height is part of the formula for finding your BMI.
What is your current weight? I also know plenty of women whose driver's licenses include a lot of wishful thinking when it comes to this question.
What is your body mass index? Your BMI tells you how much body fat you have and is a good indicator of your overall health. Here is a simple calculator.
What is your blood pressure? This is another critical factor in your overall health--too high and you are much more prone to heart attack and stroke.
What is your blood glucose level? Many, many people are diabetic and don't even know it. Don't wait until your eyesight, a kidney, or a limb is gone in order to be tested for--and control if necessary--this pervasive disease.
What is your cholesterol levels (HDL/LDL)? This is yet another factor in determining your overall health and risk of heart disease and stroke.
Have you had your vision tested lately? You may not realize a decline in your vision but having your eyes tested regularly can preempt vision-associated problems.
Have you had your hearing tested lately? Ditto. Many people don't realize their hearing is less than satisfactory because it declines so slowly.
Have you had a bone density test? This test, usually conducted on women, can tell you how strong your bones are and how likely you are to fracture your bones as you age as well as allow for preemtive treatment.
Have you had a complete physical lately? Men and women should have complete physicals every couple of years or as recommended by their doctor; this is a great way to catch disease early so you will have a better opportunity to treat it.
Have you been tested for cancer lately? Tests for everything from breast and cervical cancer to colon and prostate cancer generally come along with your complete physical and are an excellent way to catch cancer when it is still treatable.
Have you had your thyroid checked lately? This test can be overlooked during a complete physical but can often alert you to the reason you are having trouble with weight gain and other metabolic issues.
Have you had your blood iron level checked? Anemia is quite common in women during their child-bearing years but isn't routinely tested for unless you have specific problems. This test will, like many other tests, allow you to head off problems in their early stages.
Have you had your vitamin D levels tested? Most Americans suffer from very low Vitamin D levels which can account for a multitude of problems ranging from depression to cancer.
Do you have persistent digestion issues? You may want to be tested for parasites, especially if you have traveled widely. If it isn't that, you may want to experiment with pro-biotics and decreasing stress to head off stomach issues.
What is your waist measurement? This has recently been publicized as a pretty good indicator of your risk for diabetes and cardiovascular issues.
Have you had a c-reactive protein test done? Like many of the other tests mentioned here, this isn't a normal test to do but it can shed a great deal of light on your your overall health as it measures the amount of inflammation in your body.
Do you smoke? Smoking or using other tobacco products is detrimental to your overall health and predisposes you to a number of cancers and other diseases. If you smoke, stop.
Do you have allergies? Sometimes people are well aware of their allergies (to nuts or bee stings, for example), but many times people have food sensitivities or allergies that mimic other types of health problems and can cause sinus problems, stomach problems, migraines, etc.
Do you take drugs or drink alcohol in excess? While a glass of wine occasionally is fine, ditto with a rare course of antibiotics, taking any sort of drugs or alcohol to excess will predispose you to a number of chronic--possibly fatal--health problems.
Have you been tested for sexually transmitted diseases lately? Many STDs can have no symptoms for years so many carriers don't even know they have them. Be tested regularly if you have multiple sex partners and occasionally if you are in a monogamous relationship (I hate to say it but there are quite a few people in supposedly monogamous relationships who end up with "mystery" STDs...).
Do you exercise regularly? I hope the answer is yes. Exercise is one of the leading prevention factors for a number of diseases and health problems.
Do you eat nutritious food as a rule instead of as an exception? Again, I hope the answer is yes as the combination of healthy food and exercise can beat nearly every common medical problems that afflicts people in our society today.
Do you get regular vaccinations? Every time I hear a parent say they don't want to vaccinate their kids I cringe at their stupidity. Vaccinations may cause problems in a very small percentile of people but for the vast majority of human being, vaccinations are life savers. Ask you doctor what vaccines you are due for.
Do you chill out and de-stress regularly? Some researchers put chronic stress above many of the most common causes of diseases and chronic illness simply because continuous stress can cause a person to have all sorts of health problems.

Answer these 25 questions then make a concerted effort to improve in ALL of these areas. Being fit and healthy is, besides being a major factor in survivng TEOTWAWKI, a way to avoid illness and disease as you age.

Have a Safe Thanksgiving!

2011-11-22T17:58:00.000-08:00

A few "rules of the road" for Thanksgiving:

Be extra careful if you are deep frying the turkey (check YouTube for videos where this tip was not heeded).
Be careful driving (driving over the holiday can be extra dangerous as the weather isn't so good in most parts of the country, DUIs are usually up, there's more people on the road, and people are impatient).
Be careful with the food (luckily the weather is cool most places so the rates of food poisoning don't usually spike but you still want to be careful to keep hot food hot and cold food cold. If you have new people coming for dinner be sure to ask about food allergies before serving dinner).
Fires and carbon monoxide poisoning cases pick up this time of year so be careful with candles and cooking fires and NEVER use outdoor appliances to heat the inside of a house or to cook on inside a house.
Be aware that domestic violence also tends to spike around the holidays and take care to avoid volatile domestic situations.
Know some basic first aid skills. At the least it should be CPR and the Heimlich Maneuver.
Ratchet down the stress. Many people find the holidays stressful but they don't have to be. Start with the premise that it is a good thing to have food to eat and people around that you like and work up from there. You don't have to spend a fortune on dinner and it doesn't need to look like Martha Stewart landed on your porch and you don't even have to be around people you don't like because, well, it's a free country.
Monitor the alcohol. Especially due to the aforementioned items. Some alcohol can make a football game more interesting and your uncle more jovial but too much alcohol can lead to DUIs and domestic violence.
Be aware of your kid's activities during the busy holidays. With so much going on it could be easy to miss a kid who has ducked out or small children doing something they aren't supposed to do. Check on the young'uns, as my cousin calls them, often.
Do a "house check" after everyone leaves. Toss leftover alcohol (so kids of all ages can't get to it), make sure all of the windows are locked (some people open windows to cool off the room but forget to close them afterwards), ensure that your forgetful Aunt didn't leave any of her prescription meds laying around (so kids and animals can't get to it), don't let pets get to the chocolate and don't overload them on scraps, etc.

Who to Follow on Twitter

2011-11-19T17:23:00.000-08:00

Here's some interesting people/organizations you may want to follow on Twitter:

Code Name Insight
FEMA
CDC Emergency
CDC
Adventure Doc
Masaad Ayoob
Weather Channel
Preparedness Pro
WHO
The Survival Mom
NRA
GDACS
Red Cross
CNN Breaking News
CNN
Your local newspaper
Your local television news station
Your local department of emergency management
Your local fire department

Know of anyone else that should be on this list? Let me know who I missed.

A Round-up of News Headlines...With Lessons Learned, Of Course

2011-11-18T15:20:00.000-08:00

It's been a busy week of news headlines (and with a little fore thought and preparedness most of these items wouldn't have happened/made the news)...

Big fire in Reno this morning. I woke up to hear about this on the news. Lesson learned: have a BOB and an evacuation plan.
Girl gets DUI. Girl blames getting caught on her shoes. Girl is soundly thrashed in the comment section. Lesson learned: if you get a DUI it's your own fault. Never drink and drive. If you drink don't drive, if you drive don't drink.
Crazy man kills woman. Unfortunately with our mental health system in shambles, this isn't an uncommon event. Lesson learned: you always need to be on alert and you always need to be able to defend yourself.
Snow storm causes drop in slot revenue. An FYI for your business (and for you if you are an employee). It's not if a disaster will happen but when. Lesson learned: sometime, something will happen that will disrupt your business, this is why you need an emergency fund to tide you over through drops in revenue caused by a disaster large or small.
Guy murders ex boyfriend and says "oops". Apparently the gun was supposed to just scare the guy. Lesson learned: if you pull a gun on someone assume that you will kill them. A weapon should never be used to "scare" someone.
Man killed when tree falls on SUV during a storm. This happens often. Lesson learned: stay in during a storm if at all possible, one of the most common ways to be hurt or injured during as storm is to have trees/power lines/other stuff blown down onto you.

Thanks to the Campers at Camp Price...

2011-11-16T14:36:00.000-08:00

...we have a new section in the CNI Link List (and a bunch of new Daily Insight links as well).
I got a nice email from some campers at Camp Price sharing some outdoor survival links that they found useful when learning outdoor survival skills at camp. Since we didn't have a separate outdoor survival skills section, I decided to add it to the link list on the front page of the CNI website (you will find it towards the bottom of the second column). This information should be reviewed and practiced by everyone as you never know when your cushy, modern life...you know, the one with heat and running water and computers/TV/smart phones...will come to a screeching halt and we will be forced to recall (and rely on!) the outdoor survival skills that came naturally to our ancestors but not necessarily so naturally to us. Thanks campers for the great information!

5 Emergency Funds

2011-11-14T18:05:00.000-08:00

Here's the five emergency funds you need:

The family emergency fund. Kept in the bank or other very safe location, comprised of enough cash for six month's of expenses, accessible by both spouses.
Your emergency fund. Kept in a safe location, comprised of $1000 to $2000, inaccessible by your spouse (however your spouse should be able to access the funds in the event of your death).
Your spouse's emergency fund. Kept in a safe location, comprised of $1000 to $2000, inaccessible by you (although you should be able to access the funds in the event of your spouse's death).
A small emergency fund for each child. Kept in a safe yet accessible location, comprised of around $500, accessible by you and your child (the challenge is to make the money accessible by your child in the event that they have a major crisis--ie: your death or incapacitation--yet kept in such a way they can't get to it for video games or the like).
And random small piles of cash in a variety of locations (I keep about $500 in each of the following location: my vehicle, my BOB, my office, and my home...a bit more in my home).

The reason for all of these separate emergency funds is because in the event of a crisis, you need a pretty good-sized emergency fund to cover expenses should you be laid off or laid up for a period of time. Each spouse should also have their own personal emergency fund in the off--but not unheard of--chance that one spouse goes to the bank one day and cleans out the family emergency fund (yes, it may not happen to you but I've seen it happen to enough people to know that it isn't in the realm of impossibility for anyone). Now, too, I am a believer that each child should be able to access some emergency cash as well after talking to a teen aged boy who found out on the evening news that his dad had been killed in a car accident--at the time, he didn't even have enough money to put gas in his car to get to the hospital where his dad had been taken and he had no friends or relatives in the area to provide him any cash as they were new in the area and his father was the only parent he had. Finally, the random piles of cash can come in handy for a variety of reasons (ie: you only have a second to grab your BOB so that's the only cash you will have, your house is leveled in an explosion--along with your emergency fund--and the only cash you have is what was hidden in your car or office, etc).

50 Things to Do Between Now and the End of the Year

2011-11-13T15:14:00.000-08:00

There's a lot to do before the end of the year. Here's a list:

Pay off a debt.
Go to a gun show (I happen to like gun shows so thought I would throw that in).
Go for a hike in nature.
Review your annual credit report and correct any mistakes.
Fund your IRA or other retirement plan for the year.
Make any tax deductible donations before the end of the year.
Update your vaccinations.
Take any "use or lose" leave from you job.
Use up any "use or lose" health spending account funds.
Dump out your BOB and revamp it for winter.
Clean out and organize all of your files (both computer files and hard copy files in your file box).
Make sure your vehicle is in tip top shape for winter.
Gather all of your tax receipts to get ready for filing your taxes.
Make appointments for your annual: physical/vision/hearing/dental check ups.
Back up all of your computer files.
Get a new calendar for 2012 and get organized.
Check all of your important documents (passport, CCL, driver's license, etc) to see if any are expiring in the upcoming year and need to be renewed.
Plan your annual vacation for next year.
Set your 2012 goals.
Clean out your house and minimize your possessions.
Clean all of your firearms.
Stock up on ammo.
Get out to the shooting range and practice (a nice change from sunny, summer shooting).
Is it still hunting season in your area? Go out for a winter hunt.
Try backpacking or camping for a weekend during the winter.
Winter is a great time to stay in and bake. Try your hand at baking bread, cookies, even pizza.
Stock up. After Thanksgiving and Christmas a variety of holiday-related food is on sale. Now is a good time to stock your freezer with turkeys and your pantry with canned goods.
Make sure your emergency fund is fully funded by the end of the year.
Review the monthly bills you have paid over the past year; how can you reduce or eliminate these?
Set your goals for next year (consider ways to increase your income, decrease your debt, train in a variety of preparedness/survival skills, etc).
Get some exercise, eat better, lose some weight.
Connect with friends and family (kind of what the holidays are for).
Spend time with your kids (kind of what all of the school holidays this time of year are for).
During the next big snowfall, practice: driving in snow, building a snow shelter
Check your house now for problems you can fix in the spring (how is the roof, are there any drafts, how is the water run off near your place, etc).
Order your 2012 seed catalogs.
Experiment with winter gardening.
Eat through your food stockpile and restock.
Teach yourself (or your kids) some winter survival skills.
Update your Will, Power of Attorney, insurance coverages, etc.
Volunteer (at a school, thrift store, homeless center, etc).
Become an expert on something next year; use this time to figure out what and how.
Enjoy some winter sports: skiing, skating, etc.
Join a club (hiking club, shooting club, chess club...so you can learn some useful prep skills).
Celebrate the holidays and maybe start a new tradition.
Learn a new skill (you are spending more time indoors at this time of year, so it's a good time to learn how to knit, sew, do some woodworking, etc).
Help your kids get ready to be successful (SAT tests are coming up, scholarship applications will be due soon, they may want to consider joining the military after graduation, etc).
Fix a persistent problem. Start the new year off lighter by fixing a problem that has been bugging you.
Have a fire drill. Yes in the middle of the night. Yes in the middle of winter.
Consider what you are thankful for this year.

Some Lite Reading for a Saturday

2011-11-12T15:36:00.000-08:00

I came across this post on reddit and thought, you know, someone may read one of these tips and it may save their life someday. Happy reading.

Happy Veteran's Day And Some Reasons to Support Our Vets

2011-11-11T15:30:00.000-08:00

First off, Happy Veteran's Day to all who have served and those who continue to do so now.

Everyone once in a while I come across a blog post or article or comments on an article saying how veterans get too much from the government and how they shouldn't be able to retire in their 40's and how their compensation package should be just like that of people in the corporate world. When I read those things my first thought is that those people have no idea what it is like to be in the military, otherwise they wouldn't compare it to your standard nine to five job. Let's take a look at why our military folks and vets deserve what they get--and more--using the example of someone who retires from the military at the age of 43 with 25 years of service:

For 25 years the serviceman has been on call 24/7/365. It isn't like you do your shift and you go home at the end of the day. When you are in the military you are ALWAYS on call. For your entire career.
For 25 years the serviceman has had no choice of where he will live. In a 9-5 job you can always pick up and move, go back to the family farm and help the folks, or decide that you don't like the cold so head south. In the military, aside from requesting an open billet in a specific location which may or, more likely may not, happen, you live where the military tells you that you will live.
For 25 years the serviceman has not had much of a choice of careers. Of course there is some choice but there are lots of things that come into play with jobs in the military so again, you basically get what the military gives you. In the 9-5 world, you can be a barber today, quit tomorrow, and go start up a tech company. In the military you don't have the option of quiting a job you don't like.
For 25 years the serviceman has more than likely missed: multiple wedding anniversaries, multiple birthdays, multiple holidays, the birth of one or more children, and their children's first steps, first words, first fishing trips, first experience driving, and high school graduations. So not only has the serviceman given 24/7/365 to his country, his family has as well.
For 25 years the serviceman gets the home that is issued to them. Of course this isn't always the case. With a long enough duty station, military members can buy houses in the community but depending on a number of factors (the economy, the next duty station, the availability of houses to buy at a particular location, the cost, how long they will be stationed in each location) it isn't like they are going to have a family home to raise their kids in from infancy through graduation.
And speaking of the kids, many servicemen's kids can attend up to a dozen schools between kindergarten to their senior year of high school. They don't get their military parent around all that much, and family dynamics are continually shifting.
The military spouse is also on call 24/7/365. When the serviceman is gone, everything falls on the spouse even if it is a "man's job" or a "woman's job". The spouse at home gets the kids 24/7, the problems 24/7, the difficulties with finding work or an education or even a babysitter so that they can work for that matter.
The military also has higher divorce rates and higher suicide rates.

So while I am not knocking the military as a career (many people have had amazing careers in the military, you get to see the world, you get a free education, etc), I do want to point out that it is about as far from a corporate job as you can get and due to the many hardships faced by those in the military--truly a sacrifice they make for our country--they are more than entitled to the full benefits they were promised when they first joined up (medical for life, a pension for life, etc).