Alone and Unafraid

Copyright © 2018 by Laissez Faire Books
All rights reserved.

Published by Laissez Faire Books, 808 St. Paul Street, Baltimore, Maryland
www.lfb.org
Cover and Layout Design: Mena Sugg
Managing Editor: Shane Ormond & Barbara Hauck
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER 1:
SPY TECHNIQUES: COVERT OPERATIONS TRAINING 001
· The Single-Best Way to Help You Detect Lies

· Become a Professionally Trained Hostage
· The Walkie-Talkie Spy Trade Trick
· Disappear From Unwanted Surveillance
· How to Counter Facial Recognition Technology
· How to Shake a Tail in Three Easy Steps
· Concealing Spy Gear When You Travel
· A Practical Guide to Disguising (and Protecting) Your Identity
· Leave These Items at Home and You Might Not Return
· Extract Top-Secret Information Like a CIA Operative
· The Art of Lock-Picking
· Avoid Being Wined, Dined and Duped
· Be Aware of Traitors in Our Midst
· How to Handle an Interrogation Like a Pro
· How Foreign Spies Live Among Us
CHAPTER 2:
ONLINE SECURITY: SURF LIKE A SPY 061
· Safeguard Your Secrets Against Data Theft

· 10 Ways to Protect Yourself From Social Engineering Hacks
· Hacking the Director of the CIA is Easier than You Think
· How Cyber Thieves Are Holding Your Computer Hostage
· The Secrecy App Used by Senators and Suicide Bombers
· Why You Should Think Twice Before Posting Online
· Four Ways to Protect Your Online Privacy
· Read Before Downloading
· How to Create Hack-Proof Passwords
· Beware of Smishing
· How to Shield Your Keyboard From Hackers
· Five Ways to Protect Your Privacy on Vacation
CHAPTER 3:
HOME DEFENSE: HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE 113
· Your Step-By-Step Guide to Surviving a Break-In

· Build a Panic Room Without Spending a Fortune
· Five Home Security Mistakes to Avoid
· An Invisible Shield That Keeps Your Home Safe
· 5 Steps to an Invasion-Proof Home
· How to Effectively Clear Your Home of a Potential Intruder
· Your Home Security System Isn’t as Secure as You Think
· White House-Worthy Home Security Tips
· The #1 Item for Home Defense… and it Costs Just $13
· A SEAL’s Guide to Home Defense
· Make Your Home a Fortress for Under $100
CHAPTER 4:
PERSONAL DEFENSE: TACTICS FOR TAKING DOWN ANY ATTACKER 171
· Why “Self Defense” is a Sham

· Are You a Predator or Are You Prey?
· Trident: A Simple Self-Defense Technique That Anyone Can Master
· Six Signs Your Self-Defense Instructor Sucks
· Send Your Child Back to School With the Supplies to Survive
· SEAL Self-Defense for Seniors
· Stay Safe While Exercising in the Great Outdoors
· Could a Flashlight Really Save Your Life?
· Is That a Toss Wallet in Your Pocket?
· Bring a Knife to a Gun Fight: The Bigger, the Better
· SEAL Tactics for an Active Shooter Scenario
· Communicate Covertly in an Emergency
· A Step-by-Step Guide to Cultivating a SEAL Mindset
CHAPTER 5:
FIREARMS COMBAT: TACTICS FOR LETHAL RESPONSE 225
· The Ultimate Guide to Home Defense Guns

· The One Gun Missing From Your Collection
· The Best Accessories for Your Firearm
· Five Key Factors of the Perfect Pocket Pistol
· Five Mistakes to Avoid When Selecting a Hunting Firearm
· 10 Things to Look for in a Quality Firearms Instructor
· Revolver vs. Semi-Automatic
· Be Safe and Confident at the Range With These 10 Tips
CHAPTER 6:
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: HOW TO SURVIVE ANY CRISIS 261
· How to Endure a Blackout

· A Warning From the Other Side of the World
· How Not to Drown
· The Secret to Avoiding Psychological Defeat in a Life-and-Death Situation
· An Essential Tool to Help You See the Light of Day
· 5 Tips for Surviving When Lost
· How to Build a Survival Shelter Anywhere
· Three Survival Tips for Senior Citizens and Those With Limited Mobility
· 90 Survival Uses of Paracord
· Build (or Buy) Your Own Survival Shelter
· Prepping for a Financial Collapse
· How to Stash Your Cash When You’re on the Move
· Bugging Out With Pets
· Ditch the Dead Weight by Tossing These Five Nonessential Tools
· Five Weird Survival Hacks Using Household Items
· Masking Your Preparations From Neighbors
· The No. 1 Way to Store Emergency Water
· Four Emergency Water Sources in Your Home
· Ensure Your Family’s Not Exposed to Toxic Water
· 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid When Stranded in an Emergency Roadside Situation
· You Can’t Drink Gold
· Paying, Trading And Bartering In A Cashless World
· An Emergency Stockpile Every Home Needs
· Four Common Survival Mistakes and How to Avoid Them
· Nine Survival Myths That Are Downright Dangerous
· 10 Simple DIY Fire Starters
· Protect Your Digital Memories From a Blackout
· My Top Must-Have Survival Tools
· A Quality Knife Could Save Your Life
· Seven Ways Your Belt Can Keep You Alive
· How to Survive North America’s Most Dangerous Animal Attacks
· Airline Survival Guide
· How to Survive When Disaster Strikes on the Water
· What Do You Do When a Bomb Explodes?
· Making Your Own Bug-Out Bag Could Save Your Life
· Tomahawks: An Underrated Survival Tool Everyone Should Have
CHAPTER 7:
EMERGENCY MEDICINE: THE BASICS OF FIELD MEDICINE 421
· Doctor’s Orders: 10 Must-Have Medical Items for Your Bug-out Bag

· How to Stay Clean and Healthy When the SHTF
· Survival A to Zzzz
· How to Beat the Heat and Avoid Dehydration
· Ensuring You & Your Family Would Survive an 8-Week Quarantine
· 50 Survival Uses of a Mylar Blanket
· Four Steps to Surviving a Global Pandemic
· How to Avoid Tickborne Diseases
· The Viability of Veterinary Medications
CHAPTER 8:
SURVIVAL AND SPY TRAINING: THE NEXT LEVEL 463
· For Everyday Gear, Leave This Piece Behind

· 7 Tips To Ensure Your Next International Vacation is Carefree
· The Art of Successfully Bribing the Police in a Foreign Country
· Five Tips for a Safe Trip Overseas
· Travel Advisory: Leave These Items at Home
· How to Sell Like a Spy
· Your Crash Course in Air Travel Survival
· Three Traits to Look for in a Personal Protection Agent
· How to Survive a Riot
· Four Real-Life Ninja Skills You Can Use Today
· Avoid Falling for This Deadly Prank Call
· Six Tips for Staying Safe During the Holiday Season
· Why the U.S. Should Take North Korea Seriously
· Play It Cool With These Summer Safety Tips
· SEAL Survival Secrets for the Road
· Hit the Road Safely With These Important Reminders
INTRODUCTION
I learned a lot more than spy and survival tactics during the
almost decade I spent working for the CIA.
I learned that most folks take their safety for granted, rarely
giving a second thought to their survival until it’s too late. I
discovered that the world today is more dangerous than most
people ever realize. And with terrorist attacks, mass shootings
and large-scale disasters, it’s only getting worse by the day.
But more than anything, I realized that only you can take
responsibility for your and your loved ones’ safety.
If an intruder breaks into your home, you and I both know
the police can’t get there quickly enough. If a thug stops you in
the street, no one is going to come to your rescue. And during
a flood or an earthquake, you can be waiting for aid — and
wasting critical time — for up to 72 hours or more.
That’s why I always choose to act instead of wait.
If you’re already reading this book, then you’re probably
like me. You’d rather have the tools and knowledge to take
matters into your own hands than wait for someone else to
arrive just a few moments too late. You sleep better at night
knowing that you’ve already taken the necessary precautions
to protect your family. And you’re done with being afraid.
Now don’t get me wrong: I’m not Mr. Doom and Gloom.
Far from it, in fact. Knowing that I’m prepared for the next
flood or blackout… that my family’s home is safe and secure…
or how to handle myself when attacked… gives me the peace
of mind and confidence to enjoy every day with my loved ones
to the fullest.
As I always say, “Hope for the best, but prepare for the worst.”
And if you can take care of hoping for the best, then this
book will prepare you for the worst. In it, I’ve adapted many of
the spy and survival techniques I’ve learned over the years —
on escape and evasion, self-defense, survival and much more
— for use in everyday life.
By the time you finish this book, you’ll know how to sur-
vive in a prolonged blackout, be able to turn your house into
a secure fortress and learn a powerful self-defense technique
anyone can master — as well as dozens of techniques for
making your everyday life safer.
Of course, I couldn’t have put together this massive tome of
knowledge on my own. When you’re in the intelligence busi-
ness, you learn that there’s no place for ego when people’s lives
are on the line. To get the job done, you have to surround
yourself with the “best of the best” and know when to tap the
talents of other “A-players.”
That’s why I’ve enlisted the aid of former Navy SEAL Cade
Courtley, Special Operations Physician Dr. Omar Hamada (a
14-year veteran of the U.S. Army) and an ex-CIA operative
known only as JAVELIN to protect his identity. Together —
along with contributions from experts on self-defense, survival
and guns — they form an unbeatable dream team of spy and
survival knowledge… and it’s all in here.
By the way, feel free to read this book however you like.
It’s made so you can read it back to front or dip in and out,
cherry-picking your favorite subjects first. (If that’s your style,
I recommend checking out Trident: A Simple Self-Defense Tech-
nique That Anyone Can Master on Page 183 or How to Survive
North America’s Most Dangerous Animal Attacks on Page 391.)
Enjoy this book and don’t allow yourself to become a victim.
Your safety is in your own hands.
Best,
Jason Hanson
Former CIA officer
Safety and survival expert
CHAPTER 1:
SPY TECHNIQUES : COVERT

OPERATIONS TRAINING
THE SINGLE-BEST WAY
TO HELP YOU DETECT LIES
We’ll call her “Lindsay.” She was a young woman, about 25

years of age, and she was sitting in my office for a job interview.
Her résumé was solid. She looked like the perfect candidate for
the opening I had at my company.
But in a matter of moments, after asking her my two favorite
questions that I use to determine the quality of a potential em-
ployee, Lindsay would flunk out.
Now, I understand you might not be an employer, but this
method of questioning can be used anytime you need help
determining if someone is being honest with you or not.
Establishing a Base Line

When Lindsay first came in, we were chatting about less seri-
ous topics: the weather, where she was from, where she heard
about the job, and so on.
In addition to getting to know her better, the purpose of
these first few questions was to establish her “base line.” What
this means is that I was watching her verbal and nonverbal
reactions to see how she responded to questions she had no
reason to lie about.
SPY TECHNIQUES: COVERT OPERATIONS TRAINING
After several of these questions, I was able to determine her

base line and how she reacted when she was in her comfort
zone. Now that I knew her comfort zone, it was time to move
on to more serious questions to find out if she really was the
right person for the job.
My Two Favorite Questions

The first question I asked was, “When is the last time you stole
something?”
She sat in her chair for a second, got an uncomfortable look
on her face, and was clearly taking as much time as she could
before she answered me.
Finally, after several seconds, she informed me that she
used to work for a bookkeeper a few years ago when she was
right out of school. She had stolen several office supplies so
she could quit that job and start a competing business.
Clearly, after I heard her answer, I knew I would not be hir-
ing her for the position. But I proceeded to my next question
since I treat all interviews the same and ask everyone the same
set of questions.
The next question was, “When’s the last time you did
drugs?”
Again she got that awkward look on her face and was stalling
for time before she answered. She ended up admitting that she
still does drugs, smoking marijuana almost on a daily basis. At
that point, I asked her a few other questions and then thanked
her for her time and concluded the job interview.
To Get the Truth, Ask a Presumptive Question

So why are these my two favorite questions to ask of potential
employees?
Well, I ask the first question about stealing because almost
all of us have stolen something in our lives. When many of
3
CHAPTER 1
us were in elementary school, we would steal candy from the

supermarket.
Obviously, I realize we were all kids once and I don’t care if
someone stole a Snickers when they were in fifth grade. How-
ever, if someone is stealing from their employer as in the story
above, that’s definitely not someone I’m going to hire.
I ask the second question about doing drugs for the same
reason as the first. I know many people tried drugs in high
school or college, and I don’t care about that. I just want to
make sure they’re not doing drugs today.
Both of these questions are known as “presumptive ques-
tions,” meaning I am presuming that someone has done them.
I am presuming they’ve stolen, and I am presuming they’ve
done drugs.
When I ask these presumptive questions and a person has
never done drugs before, they just immediately tell me no and
their base line remains the same. I know they’re telling the
truth. In other words, I don’t get a pause from them or an awk-
ward look on their face, because they don’t feel guilty about the
question and so have nothing to hide.
To get the truth, all you have to do is ask a presumptive
question about whatever it is you’d like to know.
Versatility of Presumptive Questions

For instance, let’s say someone knocks on your door trying to
sell you a vacuum. This is a trick of many criminals: They’ll
pose as salesmen because they’re trying to case your house to
see if there’s any reason to come back and rob the place when
you’re not home.
To find out if the salesman is legit, you could ask him,
“When’s the last time you sold a vacuum to someone?” An
honest person will have an immediate answer because they
have nothing to hide. However, if the salesman stutters or buys
4
time, that could mean he’s never sold a vacuum and he’s not
really a salesman. In which case, you should write down his
license plate and perhaps notify police.
Or say you have kids, like I do. If you’ve got a teenager who
came home extra late one night, you could ask them, “You told
me you were going to Rob’s house. How come you didn’t tell
me where you were really going?” If the kid is truthful, they’ll
likely have an instant answer such as, “What are you talking
about, Mom? I was at Rob’s house all night.”
But if the child hesitates and you see that guilty look on
their face, you know you need to do more digging to find out
where they really were.
The bottom line is it’s easier to detect deception than most
people realize. By using a presumptive question, you can quick-
ly ferret out honest people from dishonest people, saving you
a lot of headaches in the future.
Also, remember to be creative, because there are many sit-
uations where you can use a presumptive question, including
if you’re a single man or woman on the dating scene. In fact,
when I was single, I used to ask women (in a joking tone with
a smile), “When’s the last time you slashed an ex-boyfriend’s
tires?”
And yes, one time, a girl did tell me she vandalized an ex’s
car, so I certainly didn’t go on a date with her!
5
BECOME A PROFESSIONALLY
TRAINED HOSTAGE
In 1989, an American by the name of Kurt Muse was living in

Panama with his family. Though he loved the country and peo-
ple of Panama, Kurt was horrified by the brutal acts of dictator
Manuel Noriega.
So to help the country he lived in, Kurt set up underground
radio broadcasts urging the citizens of Panama to fight for their
God-given rights. Eventually, Kurt was discovered as the per-
petrator of the broadcasts — and was promptly arrested and
imprisoned by Noriega’s men.
For months, he suffered things you and I couldn’t imag-
ine, until a harrowing rescue took place by operators of Delta
Force.
On the night of Dec. 20, 1989, a helicopter dropped the
operators onto the roof of the infamous Modelo prison where
Muse was being held.
One operator was given the task to drop outside his window
and shoot the guard whose job it was to kill Muse in the event
of a rescue attempt. That guard wasn’t there; instead, he was
taken out by another operator as the rescuers rushed through
the prison to Muse’s cell.
Once there, they blew off the door and gave Muse a bullet-
proof vest, a helmet, and goggles for his protection.
After making it safely to the roof, they were picked up by a
helicopter, but they sustained heavy gunfire and crashed a few
minutes later. Thankfully, nobody was seriously injured, and
the operators were able to form a secure perimeter at the crash
site until an armored personnel carrier could rescue them.
Incredibly, this Delta Force team became the first counter-
terrorist unit ever to rescue an American hostage from enemy’s
hands.
The FBI’s Secret Weapon

Of course, not all hostage rescue attempts go as well, and not
all of them occur overseas. When someone is taken hostage
here in America, the job of rescuing them falls to the FBI’s Hos-
tage Rescue Team (HRT).
For example, you may remember in 2013 when a man
named Jimmy Dykes stormed a school bus in Alabama.
Dykes shot the bus driver five times, killing him, and then
kidnapped a 5-year-old boy, taking him to an underground
bunker that was booby-trapped with explosives. After a six-
day standoff, the FBI’s HRT raided the bunker, killing Dykes
and saving the life of the boy.
Obviously, the chances that you’ll ever be kidnapped and
held hostage by a madman are rather slim. However, if, heaven
forbid, you were to find yourself in this situation, you could
significantly increase your chances of being rescued by becom-
ing a “professionally trained hostage.”
Very few people have had the training or knowledge I’m
about to share with you, so please spread the word to your
friends and family, because this information has and does
save lives.
7
CHAPTER 1
How to Be a Professionally Trained Hostage

In the kidnappings mentioned above, it was obvious who the
captors were and where the individuals were taken. However,
this is often not the case.
This is why if you’re ever kidnapped, you want to leave as
many clues as possible to your whereabouts, so you’re easy to
track by the police and FBI.
The trail of evidence begins with you sticking your finger
down your throat so you force yourself to throw up. I know,
this sounds highly unpleasant — but it’s evidence that could be
the key to finding you.
You also want to cut yourself and leave blood if you can.
For example, if you were kidnapped and transported to a
room, you would want to find anything that could cut your
finger and draw some blood. You would then wipe this blood
in areas that are not obvious.
In other words, you wouldn’t wipe the blood on top of a
table, because your captors could see it and quickly clean it
up. Instead, you would want to leave blood evidence under a
table, in a corner, on a piece of carpet, or on the wall in a less
obvious place.
Keep in mind I’m talking about making a small cut to leave
blood evidence. Don’t create a huge gash that’s going to require
medical attention and weaken you.
Also, if you can, leave footprints or scrapes with your shoes
or boots on walls or floors. Again, don’t make these marks su-
per obvious. Put them in more discreet places.
The reason you’re doing this, leaving as much evidence as
you can, is because that way your family or friends can tell the
police you’ve had training and you know to leave clues.
This means the police won’t just walk into the supposed
place you may have been and spend a few minutes walking
around. Instead, they’ll be looking at the walls, under tables,
8
pulling up corners of the carpet, and spending a lot more time

looking for clues.
If you’ve left these clues discreetly, you’ll make the police’s job
easier and you’ll significantly increase your chances of survival.
A Final Tip
If a rescue attempt does happen, make sure you’re low to the
ground when it takes place.
The last thing you want to do is to stand up, waving your
arms as law enforcement bursts through the door, because any-
one standing up is a threat to them.
So to avoid being accidentally shot, lie flat on the floor and
don’t move at all. They’ll eventually get to you after a (hope-
fully) successful raid.
9
THE WALKIE-TALKIE
SPY TRADE TRICK
Modern cellphones are incredible communication tools. But

sometimes, there are situations where a more low-tech device
is actually better.
The trusty walkie-talkie is a perfect example.
No, not the cheap kind you find at RadioShack that kids
play with. I’m referring to a unique walkie-talkie that has liter-
ally saved lives in the intelligence business.
Below, I’m going to divulge one of the tricks of the spy
trade to show you how powerful this simple device can be.
Pay attention, because in a crisis situation, you can use this
technique in a similar way to keep you safe.
Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It…

Imagine you’re a government operative who was just handed a
top-secret mission in Belarus.
Your job is to locate a scientist who has a flash drive with
some critical information about nuclear weapons. Since this
scientist is so well-known, it’s not easy to get into his office, but
you just found out he’s giving a presentation at a conference.

The conference takes place in a week, so you hop on a plane
to Belarus to exploit this small window of opportunity. When
you land in Belarus, you know that you have to be extreme-
ly careful, because the Belarusian government knows people
want access to this scientist.
In other words, they know the conference is coming up, so
the Belarus intelligence services are on high alert for anyone in
the area who looks suspicious.
Your legend (cover) for this mission is that you work for
a think tank that studies nuclear and biological weapons. As
soon as you get off the plane, you head to your hotel and check
in under your alias, Alan Bowen.
Because this is such a dangerous mission, as soon as you get
to your room, you pull out your special radio.
The radio is fully charged, so you turn it on and tape down
the “talk” button so that the radio is constantly transmitting.
You then take out a second radio and turn it on, making sure
that you can clearly hear what’s coming from the first radio.
Once you’ve determined the radio with the button taped
down is working properly, you then put it close to the door
under a small pile of clothes.
Next, you use the room phone to call the front desk, telling
them that you’ve got a friend checking in and that they prefer
a room on a lower level.
You’re on the sixth floor, so you ask them if they have any-
thing available on the third floor, which they do. You then go
down to the front desk to get the room key for your “friend”
— and then you check into that new room on the third floor.
You leave that second radio on all the time so you can hear
if someone raids your original room, in which case you’ve been
exposed and it’s time to escape to safety.
11
CHAPTER 1
The Versatility of a Good-Quality Radio

The key to making this spy trick work is, of
course, the good-quality radios. The ones that I
prefer are the Baofeng radios.
Baofeng Radio: http://amzn.to/2gMiPZO
Baofeng radios have a multiband FM trans-
ceiver with an extensive frequency coverage,
which means you won’t have a problem finding
a channel and getting them to work. They’re also Baofeng Radio
very inexpensive, at only about $35 each, and are
great for bug-out bags and home invasion protection purposes.
I have a friend who lives in a rural area of Alabama and doesn’t
get any cell service. He leaves his radio on all of the time, and a
neighbor does the same. If there’s ever an emergency, he can just
key up his radio to let his neighbor know what’s going on.
You can also use these radios in place of a “nanny cam.”
Simply tape down the talk button on one of the radios and
leave it in the room of someone you wish to record and you’ll
hear everything they say.
I’ve even heard of instances where these were taped un-
derneath a restaurant table to hear the conversations of some
guests who were being investigated.
I’m sure you can think of several more uses for the Baofeng
radio. But my point is during a crisis situation, cellphone tow-
ers will likely be down, just as they were during the Sept. 11
attacks, when nobody could get calls through. So since none
of us knows when the next natural disaster or terrorist event
is going to take place, I would consider getting a set of radios,
such as the Baofeng, today.
12
DISAPPEAR FROM UNWANTED
SURVEILLANCE
A couple years ago, while teaching a seminar in Las Vegas, a

man approached me and asked to speak privately. The reason
for his discretion became clear once we’d stepped away from
the group: “I’ve had multiple wives cheat on me — and I think
my current wife is cheating on me too.”
Awkward as this was, I felt sorry for the guy and asked how
I could help.
He admitted he wasn’t 100% sure. He just suspected his
wife was lying when she claimed to be going to the gym and
on other errands. He wanted my advice on how to follow her
so he could discover the truth.
I laid out two options for him. The first was to hire a private
investigator to tail her for a week. This, however, would be
rather expensive. So option two would be to buy a GPS track-
ing device, pop it on her car, and check the data after a week to
find out where she’d been going.
He went with the second option.
A short while later, I heard back from this gentleman and,
unfortunately, among other things, the tracking device showed
CHAPTER 1
that his wife had driven to a local hotel, where she’d spent
about an hour. He confronted her about this, and she told him
she went there to smoke marijuana with a friend.
Turn Your Smartphone Into a Motion Detector

Perhaps you’re in a hotel room and you want to ensure nobody enters your
room without you knowing. Or maybe you’ve got a child or grandchild in
college and you want to protect their dorm room from unwanted visitors.
Well, there’s a simple app that solves this issue by turning a spare smart-
phone into a motion detector.
All you have to do is place the phone in front of a hotel room door, for exam-
ple, and when someone crosses the path, the phone will begin recording a
video that’s uploaded live to the Internet. You can even have the phone set
off an alarm too if you want.
You can also use this app in a two-phone set up: One phone is used as the
motion detector, and then you use your other phone to monitor in real-time
what’s taking place on the first phone.
This clever app is called Presence and is the brainchild of a fellow named Gene
Wang. Gene’s mother had her home broken into twice in one year, so Gene
developed the app as an inexpensive security system to monitor her home.
The app is available for both Apple and Android devices and can be down-
loaded for free.
Download Presence: www.presencepro.com
In the nicest way possible, I pointed out that she probably

wasn’t just smoking marijuana. That was the end of our con-
versation, and I never heard back from the guy to see what
happened with his marriage.
Obviously, I hope you never have to track a spouse because
you’ve grown suspicious about their fidelity. But the fact is
that technology today has made it incredibly easy to track and
follow another person.
And when you consider that this technology could be turned
on you, that’s a scary thought. The good news, however, is that
14
it’s also very easy to keep yourself undetected, and it requires

no fancy equipment.
Disappear Like Jason Bourne

For those in the “intelligence business,” a common trick is to
“tag” a car so that it’s easy to follow. These tags can include a
sticker on a taillight or a piece of tape on the bumper.
To protect against this, you’re trained to discreetly walk
around your car before getting in to ensure you haven’t been
marked by a foreign adversary. In a high-threat situation, in-
telligence agents will also pretend to drop their keys on the
ground so they can take a quick look under the car to make
sure there are no tracking devices.
Since you probably don’t have any need to be discreet, I’d
recommend you simply kneel down to look under your car
anytime you feel the need to check for a GPS.
The average GPS device is a small black box about 3 by 3
inches in size. Most come with a magnetic case and easily at-
tach to the metal frame of the car. So if you glance under the
car, you’ll want to quickly scan the outer edges of the vehicle,
where the device is most likely to be placed.
If you did find a GPS, you could have some fun and put it
on someone else’s car so the folks trying to follow you get sent
on a wild-goose chase.
Another simple way to keep yourself safe is to turn off all
tracking features on your cellphone.
That way, no one can use your phone’s GPS or your social
media accounts against you. I’d recommend everyone with a
smartphone take this step.
For those with an iPhone, you can do this by going to Set-
tings: Privacy: Location Services.
There, you’ll see any apps that have access to your location.
Slide them all to “off.”
15
CHAPTER 1
If you’re really worried, the best way to ensure your phone

can’t be used to track you is to remove the battery completely
or, better yet, purchase a “faraday bag.”
A faraday bag (the name comes from the great English sci-
entist Michael Faraday) is a special type of bag that blocks
electric fields. This means that anything you place inside it that
emits a signal — such as a cellphone or GPS or key fob — will
be blocked.
The one I recommend is made by a company called Mission
Darkness, and you can buy it on Amazon for $30.
Mission Darkness Faraday Bag: http://amzn.to/2gFI6kB
As technology continues to get better, I believe the average
American is going to need to be a lot more vigilant to ensure
they can’t be easily located or followed. By taking the steps
above, you’ll be ahead of the game.
16
HOW TO COUNTER FACIAL
RECOGNITION TECHNOLOGY
The most wanted terrorist in the world lay dead with a bullet
in his head. However, the Navy SEALs who killed Osama bin
Laden needed to be 100% sure this was their man.
After all, the president of the United States would soon
announce to the country that after several long years we had
finally tracked down and killed the man responsible for the
Sept. 11 attacks.
To verify bin Laden’s identity, the SEALs used a variety of
techniques, including photographs, a DNA sample, and finger-
prints. In addition, they carried with them a unique hand-held
device used for facial recognition, which helped confirm once
and for all that Osama bin Laden had been eliminated.
Designed to Trap Criminals at Home and Abroad

The first facial recognition software was developed by the CIA
in the 1980s. At the time, it was crude and didn’t do much, but
the agency was well aware of the potential in using it to help
identity threats across the world.
CHAPTER 1
Today, the agency still uses their venture capital firm called
In-Q-Tel to invest in private companies currently developing
the most advanced facial recognition software to date… and
trust me, it’s come a long way.
Of course, the CIA isn’t the only group using facial recog-
nition to catch people. The FBI and police often use it to catch
criminals right here in the U.S.
For instance, in 1996, a Pennsylvania man named Lynn
Cozart was convicted of sexual assault of his three children.
Two months before his sentencing, he disappeared and re-
mained on the run for 19 years.
During his time on the run, Cozart took an alias and ob-
tained a new driver’s license and Social Security number. This
horrible criminal was well-known, even featured on the TV
show America’s Most Wanted and listed as one of Pennsyl-
vania’s most wanted fugitives. Despite all of the publicity, he
went free until last year, when he was captured in Muskogee,
Oklahoma. He was comfortably working at a Wal-Mart under
the alias of David Stone.
The FBI used facial recognition technology to catch him. In
short, they uploaded his photo to a database that searches for
facial matches among driver’s licenses, military IDs, passports,
and law enforcement mug shots all over the country.
Cozart was caught when the facial recognition database
matched his mug shot to a driver’s license in another state.
Keeping Us Safe… or Tracked?

Obviously, guys like Cozart deserve to get caught, as do ter-
rorists, so facial recognition software certainly has its benefits.
However, you and I both know that like all technology, facial
recognition could be used for evil purposes.
The government could easily use it to spy on ordinary
Americans who aren’t fugitives on the run.
18
In the U.K., facial recognition technology called NeoFace

was used on over 90,000 ordinary people attending a music
festival in Leicestershire last year. Police claimed that it was
part of their security measures, used to scan for potential ter-
ror threats, but the festival attendants were not made aware
of its use.
Or what if an ex-spouse or ex-lover had access to this soft-
ware and were using it to stalk you?
In these cases, you might want a way to avoid getting picked
up by this software.
Facial recognition can be defeated, but it’s not as simple as
the movies make it out to be. Sure, you could wear a ski mask,
but in most cases you’d draw attention to yourself and look
like a criminal or crazy person.
Instead, let’s look at a few ways you can stay safe from facial
recognition and not stick out in your everyday life.
Disappear in Plain Sight

One of the simplest ways to reduce the chances of being caught
by facial recognition is to disguise your face. This is done fairly
often in the intelligence business. Stick to simple techniques
— you could wear big sunglasses and a hat or wear your hair
so that it covers your face a little. You could even put on fake
facial hair such as a beard or mustache, which I’ve done before.
Those are pretty basic disguises, more for everyday use. If
you are truly worried about the government spying on you and
want to do everything possible to cover your face, you could
purchase clothing or accessories that have NIR LED lights.
These lights work by overloading the light sensors on cam-
eras, causing any pictures taken to appear blurry and your face
to be unrecognizable. These lights can be worn on glasses,
T-shirts, and other clothing you can wear on a daily basis. The
good thing about some of these lights is that they are not easily
19
CHAPTER 1
noticeable to the naked eye. The lights will be apparent only

through a camera lens.
A third option for staying safe from facial recognition is to
wear a prosthetic mask. This is an extreme measure, which
would take your disguise to another level. I don’t mean some
cheap mask you bought at the Halloween store — remem-
ber, you don’t want to draw any attention to yourself. You
can actually purchase realistic-looking prosthetic masks for
around $500.
From a distance, these masks look very real and appear to
be a normal face. If you’re up close, you can see the holes on
the mask for the eyes, but that’s the only feature of your actual
face that’s exposed.
A few of these techniques are certainly extreme, but they
can help you stay safe from facial recognition. However, we all
know technology is constantly increasing. We’re going to con-
tinually have to come up with ways to defeat this and protect
our privacy as it becomes more widespread.
20
HOW TO SHAKE A TAIL
IN THREE EASY STEPS
Each day when I leave to go to my office and when I return

home, I always check my mirrors to make sure I’m not being
tailed. At this point, I don’t even really think about it; it’s just
second nature.
The other day while I was driving home, I noticed a red
sedan following me. There was nothing unusual about this par-
ticular vehicle, and nothing immediately set off any alarm bells.
But after several turns the red sedan was still behind me —
which was highly unusual because I take a shortcut to get to
my neighborhood that not many people know about.
The Long Way Round

Since the sedan was still following me, I passed my street and
kept going. I took a left a few streets later, and sure enough, the
red car turned after me. My heart started to race — at this point
the chances were pretty slim someone else would be driving
the exact same route I was.
CHAPTER 1
I made one last turn and the red car followed. I had reached
the end of a cul-de-sac and was planning to turn around to face
the pursuing vehicle so I could get a good look at the driver
and the license plate. (It was a sunny day and the glare pre-
vented me from seeing much in my rear-view mirror.)
But guess what? Before I could spin my car around, the red
sedan pulled into the driveway of a nearby house. The driver
— a woman who looked to be in her seventies — got out and
went inside. She didn’t notice me at all!
I sat and had a good laugh to myself. This was one of those
rare instances when it was all just a big coincidence. But I’m
glad I didn’t take any chances.
A Hard Act to Follow

This brings me to my first tip if you think you’re being tailed:
Don’t drive directly to your house. You certainly wouldn’t want
to lead a criminal straight to where you lay your head at night.
Here’s my second piece of advice: Make as many turns as
necessary to determine if you are indeed being followed. If you
make eye contact with the other driver and it’s obvious you’re
trying to get their license plate, that’s perfectly OK.
If you’re truly uncomfortable or feel like you’re in immedi-
ate danger, do this: Head directly to a police or fire station to
get help. I don’t recommend doing what I did — going to the
end of a cul-de-sac to spin around. The last thing you want to
do is get yourself cornered.
Keep It Casual
As I mentioned, it’s all right if your attempts to shake your tail
are obvious. In the world of espionage, the person following
you is likely with another intelligence service. If you are clearly
trying to lose them, they’ll know you’re a spy because only a
spy would do that.
22
In that case, you’d want to drive naturally and do nothing

to arouse suspicion so they’d eventually leave you alone. The
goal is to lull your pursuer to sleep because you’re so boring
and normal.
Thankfully, you don’t have to worry about evading a foreign
intelligence service, so you can drive in as many circles as nec-
essary to ensure nobody is following you.
Always put your safety first. That way, the worst thing that
will happen is that you’ll be laughing to yourself as you watch
a perfectly nice stranger pulling into their driveway.
23
CONCEALING SPY GEAR
WHEN YOU TRAVEL
I was 30,000 feet in the air on my way overseas. I was going

over the checklist in my mind to make sure I had all of my gear
and that it was properly concealed. The truth is it doesn’t matter
how many times you head overseas — you never let your guard
down. To this day, I obsessively double check everything.
For instance, as I was sitting on the plane that day I was
wearing my Escape & Evasion Gun Belt. This is a solid leather
belt that has three hidden zippered pockets inside of the belt.
In the first pocket, I had $40 in cash because it’s always a
good idea to have extra cash when traveling.
In the second pocket I had a small lock pick set. If you
don’t know how to pick locks it’s something you can learn
very easily.
In the third pocket I had a bobby pin, hair barrette and a
handcuff key. Overseas, you’re more likely to run into corrupt
police who will use handcuffs to restrain you. The bobby pin
and hair barrette would allow me to escape handcuffs if that
situation arose, as would the universal handcuff key I was
carrying.
Escape and Evasion Belt:

http://bit.ly/2xNU1o9
If you’re traveling to
more dangerous areas of
the world, having escape
gear on your belt is just the beginning of the preparations you
should be making.
There are additional steps you can take once you’ve arrived,
to keep you safe as you travel around.
1. One good, yet painful way to conceal items on your body
is by using a piece of Gorilla Tape. This is a great way
to carry small items that could come in handy, such as a
razor blade, a handcuff key or lock picks. Simply place
the item in the middle of the Gorilla Tape and stick it
somewhere on your thigh or leg.
I f you’re wearing shorts, put the tape lower on your leg.
That way, when needed, you can just lift up the bottom
of your shorts to tear off the piece of tape to access the
gear. If you’re wearing pants, fasten the tape up higher
around the waistline so you can easily access it with your
hands. Ripping the tape off your skin might be uncom-
fortable, but in a life-or-death situation you won’t think
twice about doing it to get to the tools to keep you alive.
( A pain-free version of this tactic is to wrap your arm or
leg in a bandage to make it look as if you’ve been injured.
Underneath the bandage, you can have your escape gear,
essentially allowing you to hide the items in plain sight.)
2. If you wear pants with a button closure, you can hang
survival items on the button. Simply take a piece of string
and loop it around the button with the string hanging
down inside your pants. On the end of the string, you
can tape a handcuff key, hair barrette or bobby pin.
25
CHAPTER 1
I wouldn’t hang a razor blade or anything sharp using

this method because it would be too easy to cut yourself.
Upgraded Hotel Safety

When checking into hotels, always ask for two keys. That way, anyone who
is watching you check in will think there’s more than one person staying in
the room. If you’re clearly staying alone, criminals will think you’re an easy
target. After all, if they’re planning on breaking into your room, one person is
much easier to handle than two.
Use a door stop alarm in front of your hotel room door. A door stop alarm is
a wedge-shaped device that acts as a security system. If someone tries to
open your door, a very loud alarm goes off. Door stop alarms are inexpen-
sive and you should never travel without one.
GE Door Stop Alarm: http://amzn.to/2wFhc5q
Don’t stay higher than the sixth floor. A lot of the places in the world don’t
have fire codes and you don’t want to have to run down 77 flights of stairs
to get to safety. What’s more, even if your hotel has smoke alarms and is up
to code, most firetruck ladders only go as high as the sixth floor.
3. One of my favorite ways to conceal gear on my body is by

using a safety pin and a small plastic bag. First, take the
small plastic bag and fill it with whatever items you wish
— cash, handcuff key, copy of your passport — and then
clip the bag to the inside of your pants using the safety
pin. You can even clip one set of gear to your front and
one to your back since you don’t know if you’ll end up
restrained with your hands in the front or back.
4. A final way to conceal gear is by using your shoes. On the
tip of the laces on my shoe is a small handcuff key that is
secured to the laces. Unless you know what you’re look-
ing for you’ll never see it. You can also tape items to the
inside of your shoes or under the tongue of your shoes.
These are just a few of my favorite ways to conceal my
26
escape and evasion gear. Your chosen method should vary

according to the threat level of the country to which you’re
traveling. If you’re going to Bora Bora, you probably don’t
need to be decked out head to toe in evasion gear, but if
you’re going to Iraq you better be well equipped.
27
A PRACTICAL GUIDE TO DISGUISING
(AND PROTECTING) YOUR IDENTITY
By JAVELIN | Ex-CIA Operative

Through a chance encounter with a member of the Japanese
Triad, I found an opportunity to gain intel on government tele-
communications. So with plenty of support from Uncle Sam,
I set out to recruit this Triad member.
To ensure a favorable outcome — and to protect us both
in the developmental stage of the operation — I chose to wear
what I call my “Colombian drug lord” disguise, which includ-
ed a long, light-brown wig tied into a ponytail at the base of
my neck and reaching the small of my back. I also had a thick
walrus mustache to match, a tailor-made Italian suit and thick,
gaudy glasses.
In the beginning stages, our PMs (personal meetings) were
set up on his turf, in a very dangerous part of Tokyo where
he felt more comfortable. If there was a deal to be made, this
is where it would all go down. Blending in was critical to the
success of the mission, and the slightest mistake could prove
deadly for me.
Start With a Blank Slate

The average citizen might think wearing a disguise is easy, but
there are many challenges to executing a successful disguise.
First, you need to ask yourself: For whom are you wearing the
disguise? What is the weather like? How do the locals dress?
How long are you expecting to remain in disguise? Is this a
long- or short-term situation?
Next, when choosing a disguise, select one that is opposite
from your typical appearance and completely own your new
persona. You must be meticulous. Don’t half-ass anything. In
this case, my disguise had to be absolutely perfect, because my
life was on the line.
Keep Up Appearances
Here’s a list of the items I carry in my disguise kit:
1. Mascara in several shades for quick root touch ups to
match my natural hair to the color of my wig
2. Alcohol wipes to remove makeup quickly and effectively
3. Good facial adhesive to apply facial hair in a different
color. Keep in mind this is difficult and dangerous to
work with when heat and perspiration come into play.
4. Wigs in a variety of colors and lengths. If you have long
hair, using a wig might be too much trouble. If this is the
case, consider cutting your hair short
5. M
akeup that can be used for minor to major changes
6. Several sets of glasses. Glasses help to break up your face
drastically. This application works better when you don’t
normally wear glasses
7. A small mirror to aid in quick changes when a full-length
mirror is not accessible. Catching a flaw in your disguise
29
CHAPTER 1
before the enemy does will protect your cover and can
save your life.
Change Your Stripes

For quick disguises when the threat of discovery isn’t as severe,
you can use coverings like hats and coats that can be slapped
on and quickly removed. The simplicity of changing colors
by adding or removing articles of clothing can do wonders in
helping you lose a surveillance tail.
If you find yourself trying to shake off a tail, take it to the
next level by changing your shoes. This simple change is noto-
rious for being the hardest to affect with any disguise, but can
easily throw off even trained surveillance. The key is to change
your gait as well.
It’s imperative to be comfortable in your disguise and adept
at applying it. The purpose of a disguise is to take on anoth-
er persona to protect your true identity, family, friends, etc.
Immerse yourself in the persona to avoid blowing your own
cover. Grow your confidence and comfortability and practice,
practice, practice.
The good news is you probably won’t be meeting with a
Triad gang member in Tokyo, so you don’t have to put as much
effort into a disguise as I did. But a quick change of a hat and
jacket will do a great job of helping you escape a dangerous
situation when you want to ensure you’re not noticed.
30
LEAVE THESE ITEMS AT HOME
AND YOU MIGHT NOT RETURN
Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Phone? Check. Gun? Knife?

Lock pick set?
Whoa, whoa, whoa. What?
Yes, you read that correctly. And that’s not all.
Every time I walk out my front door, I carry certain items
on me. Items I can use to protect myself and my family or to
get out of a sticky situation.
Below is my list of everyday carry (EDC) items. Hopefully, this
list will give you the means to keep you and your family safer:
1. Gun — I realize not everyone wants to carry a gun, but
I think it’s wise. These days, I carry a Sig Sauer P238 in
my front pocket. I carry it in a Kydex holster that allows
me to easily draw the gun from my pocket without the
holster coming with it. At times, I also carry a Springfield
1911 inside the waistband at the four o’clock position on
my hip. The ammunition I use for my guns is Speer Gold
Dot.
2. Knife — If I’m just running errands around town, I’ll
CHAPTER 1
have a folding knife clipped to my pants pocket. It might

be one made by Spyderco or Benchmade. If I’m going up
in the mountains or out in the middle of nowhere, then I
always have the fixed-blade NOC Knife with me.
3. Flashlight — A small flashlight is a must-have. Especially
if you work a job that requires you to leave late at night.
Don’t forget, a flashlight can also be used as a self-de-
fense tool, as evidenced from this newspaper excerpt:
A Seattle, Washington, nurse was walking through
a hospital parking lot to begin her 5 a.m. shift when
she noticed a man following her. The man grabbed her
purse and arm to pull her away. She let go of the purse
but he continued to grab and pull her arm. The nurse
was carrying a tactical flashlight in her hand and struck
the man in his head, causing him to drop to his knees.
The man was caught by police and required 43 stitches
to repair the gash in his head. The suspect had been ar-
rested four previous times for assaulting women.
4. Belt — I always wear a gun belt because it can be used in
many different ways in addition to its intended purpose.
See this month’s article about seven ways your belt can
keep you alive.
5. Lock pick set — I know most people won’t want to carry
a lock pick set around either. But I’ve found them very
useful over the years, from helping neighbors get into
their homes to helping someone get into a filing cabinet
when they’ve lost the key.
6. Cash — It seems that you can use a credit card to pay for
almost everything these days, but that doesn’t mean you
shouldn’t always have emergency cash on you. I’ve been
in two situations in my life when having cold, hard cash
got me out of a nasty jam. I personally carry at least $300
32
in cash on me — with one $100 bill — every day.

7. Paracord keychain — These days, you can find paracord
— also called parachute cord — almost anywhere. Even
kids use it to make bracelets and necklaces and belts. I
carry paracord because it has amazing escape uses and
can saw through duct tape, zip ties and rope.
8. Cellphone — I’m pretty sure this is the one item that
everyone can agree on. If a crisis occurs, you want to be
able to dial 911 as quickly as possible.
9. Handcuff key — This is another item you probably won’t
need to carry unless you’re traveling to more danger-
ous areas of the world. I carry one because they’re light-
weight, don’t take up much space, and I can legally carry
one almost anywhere.
10. Tactical pen — This is my favorite self-defense tool. It
goes with me everywhere, whether I’m entering a high-
ly secure government building or I’m on an airplane. In
addition to using it for self-defense, I also use it to take
notes throughout the day.
33
EXTRACT TOP-SECRET INFORMATION
LIKE A CIA OPERATIVE

“We are back in the business of stealing secrets.”
At this declaration by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, spies’
ears everywhere perked up. Although, the truth is some of us
never stopped.
In my years of undercover work, I have never once lost a
target. Which is why they kept me in the business so long. For
me, it was easy — like breathing.
To be clear, my line of work isn’t your run-of-the-mill sift-
ing through trash and questioning the neighbors. It’s much
more intricate.
Man on a Mission
To start, I rarely know who my target is. You see, if any old
investigator could find you, they wouldn’t be calling me. No
— my assignments begin with an objective. Once for almost
for two years, I was out on an assignment you could write on
one line:
“Find out how Russia is getting railgun information out of Korea.”
And they wanted names. First, I found a list of railgun experts

in Korea and sent the names to a foreign technology center. I
had the center help me sift through the names to find a senior
researcher — someone with a heavy amount of published work
on railguns.
Now, researchers usually list collaborators on their pub-
lished work. I noticed one researcher, Armano, listed the same
two collaborators on each publication. And his collaborators
were Russian. It could have been a coincidence, but it almost
never is.
So I followed Armano for a few days. Generally, when I start
following a target, I’m looking for body language. Are they
confident or meek? Tense or relaxed?
And I look for routine. When do they leave work? What
route do they take? Where do they like to eat?
I can learn a lot from surveying a person’s normal behavior.
Following Armano, I knew he wasn’t meaningfully leaking infor-
mation. Which meant his Russian collaborators were stealing it.
Keep Your Friends Close

The only way I could get close to the Russians was by getting
close to Armano. I knew the Russians would be watching him,
so I couldn’t get too close too quickly.
I found a job where Armano’s best friend, Jin, worked and
made sure we became friends — in fact, Jin and I are still good
friends to this day. We would go swimming and play tennis on
the weekends. Then Jin introduced me to Armano.
After spending time with Armano, it was crystal clear he
had no idea the Russians were using him. But I couldn’t just
come out and say this. I had to spend months building rapport
with Armano to gain his trust.
When I’d built up this trust, I was able to convince Armano
that the Russians were planning to take his research and devel-
35
CHAPTER 1
op deadly weapons to use against the world.

I was so successful in convincing Armano, he immediately
went to the Korean government and explained what was going
on. The Russians were exposed and their operation was shut
down.
These types of operations — where covert operatives work
to keep critical research and technology out of the bad guys’
hands — still go on every single day, although you’d never
know it.
Most of the time, our enemies get information the same
way they tried to get it out of Armano. They befriend their tar-
gets — and the mark usually has no idea they’re giving away
valuable secrets.
The Bottom Line

My point is that 99% of people in this world are good and hon-
est, but you can never let your guard down. There’s a Russian
proverb (often misattributed to President Reagan) you should
keep in mind:
Trust, but verify.
Always be alert and pay attention to what is going on around
you. That new co-worker could be up to something, or that
strange van in your neighborhood might not be the cable guy.
Remain vigilant and don’t be afraid to question people before
divulging too much information.
36
THE ART OF LOCK-PICKING
The majority of locks in homes are the cheapest a homebuilder

can buy. Once you understand how easy it is to open the locks
securing your home, I hope you’ll change them out with a better
quality lock, such as a Medeco or Schlage.
You also won’t have to worry if you ever lose the key to a filing
cabinet or a desk drawer.
Tools You’ll Need

To open a standard lock, you’ll need two tools: a tension wrench
and an L rake. A tension wrench is a tool with a 90-degree an-
gle that’s used to apply pressure to the lock. Once the lock is
picked, the wrench turns the lock, opening the door. An L rake
is designed to push the cylinder pins into the correct position.
Household Items for Picking Locks

Most people don’t realize how many common household items
you can use to pick locks — like bobby pins, hairpins, bits of
wire and paperclips. In fact, it takes just two paper clips to pick
CHAPTER 1
a standard lock. Simply straighten them out and bend one in

a 90-degree angle — this one is your tension wrench. On the
other paperclip, create three wavy ridges totalling about ¾”.
This pin will act as your raking tool.
How to Pick a Lock

Lock-picking is a handy skill to have and a fairly easy one to
learn. That being said, it’s probably easier to show you how to
pick a lock than it is to tell you. Which is why I’ve prepared
this video to show you how to pick a standard lock in 60 sec-
onds or less.
For a more detailed guide check out my step-by-step
lock-picking video: http://bit.ly/2w62wsL
Is This Legal?
People constantly ask me if carrying a lock pick set or picking
locks is legal. To be clear, you should only pick locks of your
own property, unless you have permission from the owner. As
long as you aren’t using the lock pick set to break into some-
where or something that’s not yours, you shouldn’t worry about
carrying these tools. I always carry my lock pick set — I’ve been
all over the world with it — and I’ve never had an issue.
38
AVOID BEING WINED,
DINED AND DUPED
I saw her check my hand for a wedding ring before she intro-
duced herself. In her eyes, I was a single man out to lunch —
and I wanted to keep that image.
After a brief introduction, we were enjoying a meal togeth-
er. She was a Chinese woman, approximately 5’4”, dressed in
business casual. She blended in perfectly with the surrounding
crowd and seemed relatively harmless.
But then again, so did I.
I was on an intelligence-gathering operation that day, but
we spies have to eat, too. So I made a brief stop for lunch.
This woman who approached me could have been anyone —
including a foreign spy.
The fact is, women are extremely effective case officers.
They utilize their allure to gather information, penetrate orga-
nizations and recruit informants.
In many cultures, women are viewed as delicate, gentler and
more innocent. Their strength and intelligence are constantly
underestimated. But trust me when I tell you that female case
officers are well aware of their faculties and cunningly use them
to their advantage.
CHAPTER 1
Which is why I was especially wary of my lunch compan-

ion — she could have easily been an enemy agent. She also
could have simply been looking for company during her lunch
break.
Regardless, I made sure I was careful. I didn’t allow myself
to offer up any information that could hurt me in the long
run. If she were a spy, she would want my guard down. And
I wasn’t about to play into her hands that easily. I made sure
I came across as a typical businessman. We shared a polite,
casual lunch, and then I departed — leaving her with nothing
worth reporting.
Not everyone is this careful.
In 2014, retired Lt. Col. Benjamin Pierce Bishop, a defense
contractor at the U.S. Pacific Command, plead guilty to supply-
ing classified information to a Chinese woman he was dating.
As with many of our opposing intelligence agencies, many
of China’s most effective case officers are females. Not only do
they purposefully create “chance encounters,” some even join
our intelligence agencies as American citizens.
At this very moment, I can name over 10 Chinese-Ameri-
cans recently discovered to be double agents working for the
Chinese government. All of them had even passed polygraphs
to supplement their TS/SCI (Top Secret/Sensitive Compart-
mented Information) clearances. All of these uncovered agents
had been tasked with obtaining U.S. war plans and military
strategies from the Pentagon.
The Chinese may well have the most extensive network of
cooperating sources at their fingertips, and their intelligence
activities have significantly increased in the last decade.
One tactic is utilizing Chinese scholars studying at Ameri-
can colleges as passive collectors. These students are pre-briefed
before their journeys, and then debriefed upon return to their
homeland.
If someone appears to have developed facile access to
40
intelligence-related information, they’ll be contacted by a case

officer to work a collection-type operation. This is known as
the “saga of the visiting Chinese student.”
The bottom line is you should always be wary if a stranger
randomly wants to have a drink with you at a bar or a meal with
you at a restaurant. The beautiful woman talking to you may
not be a foreign spy, but she could be gauging to see if you’re
worth pickpocketing… worth following home… or worse.
There are, of course, chance happenings in life. But regard-
less of what you see in the movies, such coincidences are rare.
So keep your head up, your wits about you and your cards
close to your chest.
41
BE AWARE OF TRAITORS
IN OUR MIDST

Recruiting a double agent is the hardest task you will ever
come across as a case officer.
During my time in Asia, I became involved with a famous
scientist who was conducting weapons research. It wasn’t
known to many, but he was working closely with Soviet weap-
ons. My assignment was to recruit him as a double agent for the
U.S. My efforts proved to be successful, and he quickly became
a valuable resource in providing information on Soviet weapons
research.
Just as I traveled the globe looking for those — like the fa-
mous scientist above — who could work in favor of the U.S.,
foreign operatives are scouring the U.S. in search of weak Amer-
icans to work against us.
Spies Among Us
In our industry, we refer to these recruiters as Hostile Intel-
ligence Service Operators, or HOIS Operators. Years ago, I
caught wind of HOIS Operators working out of a college in
New York. I booked the next flight out.

Soon I found myself in the school’s administrative offices in
search of a trustworthy spotter. A “spotter” is shop talk for any-
one with an inside knowledge or access. HOIS Operators are
well hidden — and they work hard to keep it that way. I knew
if operators were recruiting at a college, they would be looking
for candidates interested in government positions. So I started
making files for any student applying for a government job.
Cameron’s file caught my attention right away, although to
anyone else, it would have seemed harmless. I kept every piece
of information I could find — from phone numbers to traffic
violations — but the only thing I had on Cameron was an im-
migration form.
The scarcity of information was a red flag.
I worked with the school to see if there was anything more
I could learn about him. Nothing. At least I had his job appli-
cation, and I used it to set up an interview. The interview was
just what I expected. I asked Cameron for his birthday and
birthplace. He responded calmly with a date and location, but
the information did not match his file.
He was lying.
He was a good liar, but he was also sloppy. HOIS Operators
don’t make that kind of mistake. I knew Cameron wasn’t an op-
erator, but he was exactly who operators would be looking for.
Easy Targets
I narrowed down my list to 10 students who would be primary
targets for HOIS Operatives. I watched them closely while staying
under the radar myself, and turned their names into Washington.
Even if the recruiters didn’t go after these students, they were unfit
for government employment.
Ultimately, there were six HOIS Operatives working out of
that school. While it’s good to see six operatives out of commis-
43
CHAPTER 1
sion, you have to wonder about the situation before I arrived.

How many students had been influenced by foreign intelli-
gence? And how many government employees already work as
double agents for our enemies?
Recently, Germany exposed a double agent within their intel-
ligence service. The agent had gone through extensive interviews
and training without so much as raising an eyebrow. He was ul-
timately discovered through a fake name online and turned over
to prosecutors. German officials believe they caught the double
agent before any damage was done, but only time will tell.
The German Federal Intelligence Service (Germany’s equiv-
alent to the CIA) discovered a weakness within their own walls.
U.S. government personnel are trained to do the same.
Upon employment, every new hire is briefed to be watchful
of their colleagues and report any unusual — even cavalier or
sloppy — behavior. Most people might not consider a sloppy
government employee a significant terror threat, but they can be.
Be Careful Who You Trust

Double agents and HOIS Operatives are out there right now,
threatening our national security. As citizens of the United
States, it is our responsibility to be actively looking for any-
thing — or anyone — that could threaten our way of life.
We all need to be more careful. Don’t let yourself dismiss
anything out of the ordinary. Better yet, don’t even dismiss the
ordinary. Be observant. Always take all details into account and
help keep America safe.
44
HOW TO HANDLE AN INTERROGATION
LIKE A PRO

In a particularly perilous country — I can’t say where — I was
nervously heading to the airport. It was my last stop before
home, but also the most dangerous. You see, in this country,
if I was suspected of being a spy, I would be detained. And if I
was detained, I would be tortured and most likely killed before
the week was out.
My training taught me how to keep my nerve at times like
this. And ultimately, what it really boils down to is confidence.
What one man can do, another can do… and I can do it better.
I’ve watched a lot of good people drop out of training because
they didn’t have the confidence to push through.
Think about it. Knowledge is an important part of any job.
But if you don’t have the confidence to act on what you know,
you might as well know nothing. Going to the airport, I re-
mained confident — then security flagged me for questioning.
CHAPTER 1
Keep Your Cool

This interview was a life-or-death situation for me. To keep my
fears in check, I had to isolate and identify the problem. What
was I actually afraid of? I was afraid of losing my life. What
would cause that? If security discovered my true identity. What
would it take to keep my fear from becoming a reality? If my
interrogators believed my assumed identity, I wouldn’t be de-
tained and I would live. Once the problem was identified, the
solution became clear.
The interview was pretty basic. Airport security questioned
me and accused me. So I acted like anyone else would under
the circumstances. I was cooperative and showed obvious signs
that I was scared and confused. Of course, I had abandoned my
actual fears — this was all an act.
I was questioned for about 25 minutes before I was free to
leave. But I knew I wasn’t out of the woods yet. I knew enough
about customs to know I would be subjected to a second inter-
view before my flight. I found an ugly green bench and sat for
a moment to calm my nerves.
Know Your Weakness

The second key element to keeping your wits about you is
knowing your weaknesses. Part of training is learning how to
function while fatigued. I’m talking no sleep, little food and
utter physical exhaustion.
During my training, once I was so tired I could practically
sleep standing up, the trainers would put me in an interrogation
room for hours. The U.S. would hire retired foreign nationals
to do the questioning. The idea was to practice getting through
foreign security.
As you can image, interrogation is a terrifying experience
even when it’s only training. After my first interrogation drill,
I watched the recording over and over again, looking for any
unconscious actions that gave away that I was lying. This is
what’s known as a “tell.” Some people shuffle their feet, touch
46
their face or blink faster when they’re not being truthful. As a

spy, these involuntary behaviors can get you killed.
But rather than completely covering up your tells, you can
simply approach them with a countermove. If you touch your
face a lot when you lie, purposely touch your face the same way
when you are telling the truth. If you blink faster when you lie,
focus on blinking normally through at least half of your lies.
That way, you won’t panic if you slip up occasionally, and
you’ll throw your interrogator off the scent. Watching my in-
terrogation training, I noticed that I blink less when I lie. And
it’s easy enough to counter that.
Get Ready for Round Two

I was staring at the ugly green bench, mentally preparing for a
round two with security. I consciously swallowed my fear for
my life. Feeling afraid was a waste of my energy. I had already
isolated the problem, so I needed to remain focused on the
solution. Sure enough, security “surprised” me with a second
interview.
Second interviews are usually more intense. On this occa-
sion, they kept me locked up long enough to miss my flight
before they started threatening me. Now, the average person
traveling for leisure would be upset that these people were
wasting their time with ridiculous allegations.
So I started showing frustration about missing my flight
and demanded to be reimbursed. The money really didn’t mat-
ter to me, but it would matter to someone who was innocent.
After a few more hours of interrogation, I was released and put
on a plane.
The lesson here is that fear is healthy. Fear helps keep me
alive. If I conducted my work with a fearless mentality, I would
quickly become careless — and carelessness gets you killed. But
I don’t let my fear control me. I’m the one in control of my fear.
Whenever I’m faced with fear, I isolate it, identify the prob-
lem at the root of my fear and figure out a solution. It’s that easy.
47
HOW FOREIGN SPIES LIVE AMONG US

On a warm June day in 2010, FBI agents arrested a couple
known as Donald Heathfield and Tracey Foley on suspicion
of being part of a Russian espionage ring tasked with gather-
ing information on nuclear weapons, American policy toward
Iran, CIA leadership and congressional politics, among other
topics.
The KGB had recruited the couple in their early twenties
and directed them to Canada, where they assumed their new
identities. After the birth of their first son, the family moved to
the U.S. They joined our society as Canadian-Americans with
the knowledge and language skills necessary to blend in with
their surroundings.
This FBI operation, known as “Ghost Stories,” led to the
arrest of 10 Russian spies living in the U.S. These agents were
part of an ongoing, deep immersion program that was believed
to be shut down until a Russian spy betrayed his comrades.
It’s rare to find an undercover operation running this long.
These spies had been hiding for 20 years to build up their cover
stories — which is no easy task. As someone who’s had numer-

ous legends (cover personas), I can tell you there are three vital
elements a spy considers when creating a cover persona:
1. Find a job that will provide access to the target or mission.
You want a job that will carefully and slowly ease you into
the situation to avoid raising any suspicions. Any posi-
tion too close to the subject that you assume too quickly
will draw unwanted attention. On the other hand, a job
that provides more distance could become a loss.
2. Find a job you can assume quickly. This requires an ac-
curate self-analysis of your job skills — both strengths
and weaknesses. It’s vital to build a persona that matches
your strengths with the target’s vulnerabilities. The Fo-
leys had an extended timeline, which allowed them to
attend universities in the U.S. Most jobs don’t allow you
that much time. I’ve had assignments where I spent over
18 hours a day preparing for a new role.
3. Study and predict any risks involved with the cover you
are assuming. Mrs. Foley worked as a realtor, which
is a low-risk job, and Mr. Heathfield in a consultancy
firm in Boston, which gave him access to high-profile
clients. Understand a spy is looking for a cover position
requiring little know-how and little attention but plen-
ty of access to valuable information.
Once in Japan, I created a cover persona to get close to a
highly targeted Russian scientist. Many Russian scientists are
either a spy or working for one, so my mission was to obtain
information from this scientist who was doubling as a spy
working with biological weapons.
Now, I can’t give too many details, but here’s what I can tell
you. In order to build up my persona, I posed as a college pro-
fessor in Osaka to gain access to instruction manuals and study
49
CHAPTER 1
guides. Of course, anyone working with biological weapons is

a valuable target. A target of this caliber draws the attention of
spies from across the globe. After discovering their objectives
were identical to mine, I recruited two foreign female spies to
assist me. Our combined efforts netted some of the most valu-
able information on Russian biological warfare ever obtained.
In America, Russian spies also assume the cover of scien-
tists, as well as researchers and diplomats. The use of diplo-
matic cover is well-known to U.S. intelligence agencies. Our
agents build relationships with the known Russian spies to ob-
tain valuable information on targets of mutual interest. This
orchestrated dance is a careful waltz of trading information
back and forth without causing any damage to either side.
Based on my experience with Russian intelligence, there’s
little doubt that Russia was behind several of the most recent
hacks on our internet systems and will continue to be a threat
in the future. But Russia is a potential superpower, and we
need to maintain positive relations to remain allies. The waltz
continues…
50
CHAPTER 2:
ONLINE SECURITY:
SURF LIKE A SPY
SAFEGUARD YOUR SECRETS AGAINST
DATA THEFT
“One of the largest thefts of government data ever seen…”

That’s how The Wall Street Journal described the data breach
in which Chinese hackers broke into the federal Office of Per-
sonnel Management (OPM) database, stealing the records of
over 21 million government employees.
The hackers made off with everything from Social Security
numbers to all kinds of personal information which the OPM
obtains on people during their background investigations.
Since I used to work for the CIA and had a top-secret secu-
rity clearance, the security clearance files the OPM had on me
contained every bit of private information.
And I know the hackers obtained my files because I received
a letter from the OPM saying exactly that.
But the threat of identity theft is just part of it. To make
matters even worse, a friend of mine who’s also ex-CIA told me:
“If you traveled to any foreign countries in true name or
in alias while you were an officer, then that country — if you
went back — could pick you up while you’re overseas and hold
you for espionage based on previous travels and activities that
ON L I NE SECUR I TY: S U RF LI K E A S P Y
they suspect you committed. Also, we already know that the

Chinese have sold those lists of information to several other
countries, such as North Korea, Iran, Afghanistan, Syria, etc.”
I’m not going to lie. I certainly wasn’t happy hearing the
government lost my security files to the Chinese. But the truth
is I’m also not that worried about it.
Why not?
Because for years, I’ve taken various measures to protect my
identity and privacy, so a lot of the information they have on
me is practically useless. Below, I’ll share some of those mea-
sures with you so that you can start implementing them and
better protect your identity and personal information in 2016.
Is Your Home Address a Mystery?

One of the first things I recommend is to take your home ad-
dress off of your driver’s license. Too many people can hack
that database and find out where you live.
In fact, a friend of mine was the victim of a home invasion
after someone at the DMV gave criminals his home address.
(My friend got in a shootout with the intruders and was thank-
fully unharmed and the intruders were captured.)
In the state of Utah, where I live, you have to have a physi-
cal address on your license, so I just use a UPS Store mailbox as
my address. When I lived in the state of Virginia, I was allowed
to have a PO box on my license.
Also, not only do I have my UPS Store address on my li-
cense, I also have it on my car registration, and everything else
I own is registered to that address too.
Another benefit of having a UPS Store type of box is that
you don’t have any mail coming to your home, so you don’t
have to worry about criminals stealing credit card applications
or other important documents from your mailbox.
You can get set up with a UPS Store mailbox of your own at
http://bit.ly/2w6bLcm.
53
CHAPTER 2
Putting Your Credit on Ice

The second thing I recommend you do is put a freeze on your
credit report.
This is one of the best ways to protect yourself from identity
theft, as it prevents someone from taking out a mortgage, car, or
any other type of loan using your credit.
“Putting a freeze on your credit report is one of the best
ways to protect yourself from identity theft.”
All you have to do is go to the three credit bureaus — Ex-
perian, TransUnion, Equifax — and freeze your credit. It only
takes a few minutes to do. I’ve had my credit freeze in place
now for over 15 years.
In fact, right before I appeared on the ABC TV show Shark
Tank, I got a call from one of the producers saying they were
trying to check my credit to be on the show and they weren’t
able to access it.
This was a good reminder that the freeze keeps people out
of your credit, and so when someone does need to access it,
you can easily lift the freeze, which is what I did for the Shark
Tank producer.
Freeze Your Credit

Experian: http://bit.ly/2eETA7a
TransUnion: http://bit.ly/2eKADn1
Equifax: http://bit.ly/2l9cF6J
Upgraded Shredding
Another simple measure you can take is to get a quality shredder
for important documents. But not just any shredder.
A lot of folks own older shredders that simply cut the paper
into long strands. However, these long strands of paper can be
put together using a simple device that my team happens to own.
54
Instead, you want to buy a crosscut shredder, which is

sometimes referred to as a “popcorn” shredder because it
crosscuts the paper into tiny balls. While there are many of
these crosscut shredders on the market, I would check out the
Fellowes 79Ci.
Fellowes Powershred on Amazon: http://amzn.to/2w6ia7n
The Ultimate Hard Drive Eraser

Here’s something else you’ll want to do this year. If you’re like
me, you have old laptop or desktop computers that are sitting
in a closet somewhere but need to be thrown away.
Before you get rid of any computer, though, you need to
make sure that all of your personal information is removed.
“If you go to Starbucks and hop on their free Wi-Fi, you are
putting your personal information in danger.”
People claim there’s software that can erase your hard drive,
but the only method of truly ensuring no one can ever access
your data is to follow this four-step process:
1. Remove the hard drive from the computer.
2. Boil it in water for 10 minutes.
3. Smash the hard drive into pieces.
4. Throw the pieces away in separate garbage bags and
dispose of the bags in multiple different trash cans.
While this might sound like too much work, I guarantee
there’s a young person in your life who would be thrilled to
remove a hard drive and smash it into a million pieces.
Secure Internet… At Starbucks

The last nugget I want to share with you is about getting a virtu-
al private network (VPN). Though it doesn’t provide you with
true anonymity on the Internet, it does provide you with an
extra layer of security when connecting to unsecured networks.
55
CHAPTER 2
The fact is if you go to Starbucks and hop on their free Wi-Fi,

you are putting your personal information in danger. Someone
can easily hack that free Wi-Fi and locate your passwords and
bank account information.
But if you have a virtual private network — a technology
that uses an encrypted connection over an unsecure network
— then you can surf free Wi-Fi all day long and be protected.
The VPN that I use is called TunnelBear, and all you have
to do is download it from their site and install it and it’ll be up
and running, allowing you to surf the Internet as usual.
TunnelBear: www.tunnelbear.com
The bottom line is while you probably won’t have your in-
formation stolen by the Chinese like I did, you still don’t want
to open yourself up to other hackers out there, so take the
steps above to protect yourself.
56
HACKING THE DIRECTOR OF THE CIA
IS EASIER THAN YOU THINK
Recently, the personal email account of the director of the CIA

was hacked. His personal information was stolen, along with
numerous confidential emails.
He wasn’t hacked, however, by a foreign government or
organized crime syndicate — he was hacked by an American
high school student.
“The reason this type of ‘hacking’ works is that we live in a
high-trust society where most people believe in being honest
and polite.”
How did the kid do it?
The same way I would’ve done it: through psychological
manipulation.
It’s far easier to gain access to confidential information
through elicitation, better known as “social engineering,” than
through brute force or computer wizardry.
This is why it’s vitally important to be aware of how this
kind of manipulation gets deployed.
Through some simple awareness of the principles involved
— and by taking a couple practical steps — you won’t be so
easy to be taken advantage of.
CHAPTER 2
A Step-by-Step Guide to Performing a Hack

So if you want to hack the director of the CIA, where do you
start? Here’s how the American high school student did it.
First, he went online and did a reverse lookup of the director’s
cellphone number and discovered that he used Verizon. Next, he
called Verizon and pretended to be one of their technicians who
needed help with a customer’s cellphone.
The Verizon customer service representative then gave the
“technician” the director’s four-digit pin, his email address,
and the last four numbers on his credit card.
Once the high school kid had the director’s email address,
which belonged to an AOL account, he called AOL customer
service and told them he’d forgotten his password and needed
it reset.
AOL customer service asked a series of questions, such as
the last four digits of his credit card, and because he could
answer them correctly, the teen hacker was able to reset the di-
rector’s email password — thereby gaining access to his email
account.
When you want to find out all sorts of private details
about a person’s life, this is the most reliable way of doing it.
This is how it’s done in the intelligence business and in the
criminal world.
Why is this method so effective?
The Vulnerability of Trust

The reason this type of “hacking” works is that we live in a
high-trust society where most people believe in being honest
and polite.
Criminals know this, and they like to take advantage of it.
It’s why so many people are fooled by phone and Internet
scams. We take others on their word and often don’t question
people enough, as we’re afraid to offend them.
58
But if we’re to avoid being swindled, we need to challenge

people when they’re asking too much information from us. If
you find yourself in a situation where someone is poking around
and asking you a bunch of personal questions, don’t be afraid to
walk away or straight out tell them it’s none of their business.
What to Do
However, as noted in the story above, when it comes to the In-
ternet, sometimes you can get hacked without having anything
to do with it.
This is why you want to create a separate email address
that you only use for businesses such as the cellphone compa-
ny, Internet company, cable, etc. That way, if that account gets
hacked, none of your personal emails will be exposed because
they’re on another account.
To be extra safe, I would use the email service provider
Hushmail, which encrypts your emails.
Hushmail: www.hushmail.com
Another thing you may want to consider is to have a sepa-
rate cellphone number that you give out to businesses. You can
easily buy a flip phone from Wal-Mart for $10 with a plan that
costs only a couple of dollars a month.
What you don’t want is to have your smartphone details
given out, because most people keep pictures, passwords, and
other personal information on them. We’ve seen how danger-
ous this is when celebrities’ cellphones have been hacked and
nude photos have been exposed.
The bottom line is if you set up a Hushmail account and get
an inexpensive flip phone, you’ll be more secure than the vast
majority of Americans.
Just don’t forget to keep tight-lipped if someone comes
around asking you unusual questions, because that’s still the
No. 1 way to “hack” someone.
59
10 WAYS TO PROTECT YOURSELF FROM
SOCIAL ENGINEERING HACKS
We saw in the last chapter how — with very little information

— hackers easily exploit social engineering skills to extract
information from banks, utilities, email providers, online re-
tailers, social media companies, even government agencies.
The truth is the CIA director got off easy. The hackers could
have used his Verizon account information to have his number
ported to another device. This means every phone call or mes-
sage sent to Brennan’s cellphone would instead go to a phone in
the hacker’s possession. And unfortunately, there’s no way for
service providers to block the porting of cellphone numbers.
Now let’s say the hackers want to get into your online bank
or Gmail account. They would simply go through the “I forgot
my password” process, which often entails a call or a text with
a code to reset the password. This ploy can be used to hack
into accounts for major sites like Facebook, iCloud, Dropbox,
PayPal, even online banking websites.
Think about how many accounts use your phone num-
ber for security purposes. Every single one of those accounts
is vulnerable to this kind of social engineering attack. And
companies are doing little to prevent this from happening. Yet

another reason why the burden of protecting your online se-
curity rests on you.
If you follow these 10 steps, you’ll achieve the highest level
of protection possible when it comes to your online accounts:
1. Have a passcode on every account. This is pretty basic,
and many companies already require a four-digit security
pin that you set up when you first create your account.
Obviously, make sure this number isn’t similar to any
other number, such as your SSN or address, and use a
different pin for every account you have.
2. Use a separate email address for your cellphone account.
Create a new email address and use it only for contact
with your cellphone carrier. This may be inconvenient,
but you don’t want this email connected to any other
websites. Right now, you probably have your phone
number and primary email address tied to several differ-
ent accounts. If one account is breached, the hackers can
easily gain access to your other accounts.
3. Block online access to your cellphone account. This re-
moves the ease of viewing your account online, but it’s
another way of stopping hackers from stealing your in-
formation. You’ll have to go into a retail store to access
your account or change information, but it’s worth it to
keep your account secure.
4. Ask your cellphone provider to require photo ID to alter
your account. This is just an added layer of security. The
more the better when it comes to preventing fraud.
5. Use Google Voice. A Google Voice number can’t be ported
to another device, meaning a hacker couldn’t reroute
your communications to their phone. Let’s say you want
to use Google Voice, but don’t want to get new phone
61
CHAPTER 2
number. You can set up Google Voice with your existing

cellphone number.
hen go to your cellphone provider and ask for another
T
number for a second line. Your old number is your Google
Voice and you have a new number from your cellphone
carrier. Don’t share the new number with anyone. Have all
calls to your Google Voice (old number) forwarded to your
new number (the number only you know).
ou can also set it up so that all calls or texts from your
Y
new number (the number only you know) will appear to
come from the old number. And remember, never share
your new number.
6. Option No. 2 with Google Voice. The only drawback to
the step above is that you’ll be paying your cellphone
provider for two lines. If you don’t want to pay for two
phone lines, you can just set up a new number through
Google Voice.
S et up a new Gmail account, but don’t provide any back-
up email address or backup phone number. You don’t
want anything tied to this new Gmail account. Set up
Google Voice with your new email address. Select a
phone number for this Gmail account — you can even
have a random area code.
se your Google Voice number for all your important
U
online accounts — banking, Facebook, Twitter, etc. This
way, you won’t have to worry if your cellphone number
is hacked, as none of your important accounts is tied to
your real number. If you choose this option, make sure
your new Gmail account has a very strong password,
since it will be connected to your other online accounts.
7. Create strong passwords. Even if you think you have
strong passwords, you should revisit them. Make sure
62
each one contains random numbers, upper- and low-

ercase letters and special characters. Passwords should
be at least 10 characters long and random enough that
they only make sense to you. Be sure to invent a different
password for each of your accounts.
8. Give different answers to security questions. I’m sure
you’ve forgotten your password to a particular website at
one time or another and gone through the reset process.
You’re usually prompted with security questions such as,
“What was the name of your first pet?” The problem is
when hackers steal information from a website, that in-
formation usually includes the answers to your security
questions. I recommend giving dissimilar responses on
each website, so if your answers are stolen, a hacker can’t
easily go to another website and use them to get into a
different account.
9. Purchase a security key. The YubiKey, for example, is a se-
curity key you plug into your USB port. When you open
a website, simply enter your login information, and then
put the USB key into the port and press the button on the
key. Each security key has a unique chip that completes
the security process when you push the button.
In other words, the physical presence of the key is re-
quired anytime you want to log in to your accounts. This
prevents anyone who doesn’t have the key from logging
in. If you decide to use this key, you need to verify the
websites you want to use it with support this protocol.
Currently, a lot of websites — Gmail and Dropbox, for
instance — offer this security.
10. Biometric Authentication. This type of verification re-
quires a fingerprint, eye scan or voice verification to
access your account. This only works with mobile de-
63
CHAPTER 2
vices that recognize one of these biometric readings.

However, most new cellphones offer some type of bio-
metric security, and popular websites are adding it to
their log-in options. Biometric authentication can still
be hacked by very sophisticated criminals, but it’s in-
credibly costly and time-consuming, so it’s not likely to
happen on a large scale.
The 10 steps I’ve outlined here will take time to implement,

but if you follow them, you will be infinitely better protect-
ed from hackers looking to steal your information and access
your online accounts.
If hackers can get information from the director of the CIA,
they can get it from you. Don’t make it any easier.
64
HOW CYBER THIEVES ARE HOLDING
YOUR COMPUTER (AND YOUR DEEPEST
SECRETS) HOSTAGE
Recently, the University of Calgary received dozens of com-

plaints that the school email system and wireless network
weren’t working. Students couldn’t properly access their school
email and were being repeatedly kicked off when they tried to
login to different school sites.
Email and the student-focused websites are vital to campus
life, so this had a huge impact on the school’s day to day operation.
Shortly after the problems began, the issue became clear.
The school received a ransom notice stating that hackers broke
into the school server and had infected it with ransomware.
The hackers told the school that if they ever wanted to access
to their servers again, they would have to meet their ransom
demands.
Against better advice, the University of Calgary paid a ran-
som of C$20,000, which is about $15,000 in U.S. dollars. The
school agreed to pay the ransom with the digital currency Bit-
coin so the hackers could make sure the payment couldn’t be
traced back to them.
CHAPTER 2
Ransomware: Cyber Criminal’s’ Best Friend

Taking over an organization’s computer system and holding
it for ransom is becoming one of the most popular ways for
cybercriminals to make money.
In February of this year, Hollywood Presbyterian Medi-
cal Center in southern California paid a $17,000 ransom
to regain access to their computer system. The hackers had
blocked all access to the Medical Center computer system,
forcing employees to do record keeping with pen and paper
and hampering the efficient care of patients.
For some reason, the hospital didn’t contact law enforce-
ment until after they had paid the ransom. The entire ransom
was paid in Bitcoin, again ensuring that it would be nearly im-
possible for the FBI to conduct a trace.
As you can see, Ransomware is no joke, and it’s becoming
more common every day.
By understanding the details of how Ransomware works,
you’ll be better able to protect yourself against this cybercrime.
Ransomware has been around since 1989. That year, a man
named Joseph Popp created a virus that would pop up, telling
the computer user that their software license had expired and
that they needed to pay immediately in order to reactivate it.
It was designed to lure the user to click on the message and
enter payment information, shutting down their computer in
the process.
Ransomware is a type of malware (think, bad software)
virus that disables your computer by restricting access.
Once they have control over your computer, they’ll then try
to extort you for money — in other words, they’re holding the
computer or larger network for ransom.
There are two main ways that hackers usually restrict ac-
cess. They either lock you out of your computer entirely, or
they block access to certain computer files. Then, when you
66
attempt to log in to your computer or access those specific

files, you will receive a notice that tries to intimidate and ex-
tort money from you. Often, these notices will claim to be
from the FBI or the Department of Defense.
There are a number of other ways that these criminal hackers
infect computers.
One popular method is to send an email with an enticing
offer, tempting you to open an attachment. The attachment
would then release the virus, and infect your computer.
It’s also common to disguise malware as advertisements or
giveaways. For example, you may see an advertisement that
says, “Click here to enter for a chance to win” — but when you
click on the ad, it takes you to a website that will infect your
computer or trigger a file download.
Hackers will also put a time-sensitive date on many of the
emails and websites, further enticing the average person to
click on the link or download the attachment. None of us want
to miss an important notice, after all.
Protecting Yourself from Hackers

The first rule in protecting yourself from a cyberattack is real-
ly common sense. Never open suspicious emails or apply for
contests that don’t appear legitimate.
But what happens if you do find yourself a victim of ran-
somware? What are the best steps to take?
First, you’ll want to alert local law enforcement. Unfortu-
nately, there is little they can do, but you should always notify
them of the crime in order to create a paper trail.
You should also disconnect your infected computer from
your network and immediately turn the computer off. This is
vital. If you remain on the network you could potentially infect
other computers. I doubt you want to be the person explaining
to your boss that you crippled the company’s entire network by
clicking on a free vacation giveaway.
67
CHAPTER 2
After you turn off the computer you need to decide if you
will pay the ransom. I highly recommend never paying a ran-
som. You’ll be dealing with criminals who probably won’t
honor their word. If you choose to pay the ransom you will
likely be forced to pay with Bitcoin, which makes tracing the
money impossible. Also, if you do cave to their demands and
pay the ransom, it’s no guarantee that the problem is over.
They could very well return to access your computer again
down the line, and hold it for ransom again since they know
you’re good for it.
Instead, be sure that you regularly backup the data on your
computer. That way, if your computer is hacked, you’ll still
have access to everything you need without having to give into
ransom demands.
I backup my information in two ways, using a physical hard
drive and also a cloud-based service that automatically backs
up my data.
These cyberattacks continue to grow in frequency and se-
verity on a daily basis. Studies from Norton AntiVirus show that
hackers can easily earn $30,000 a day by infecting thousands
of computers. On average, only 2.9% of victims will pay the
ransom.
However, if a criminal is infecting 5,000 computers a day
(which is common) then they will make a large amount of
money. So the next time you see that free vacation give away,
think twice before you click on it. And, most importantly,
always remember to backup your data.
68
THE SECRECY APP USED BY SENATORS
AND SUICIDE BOMBERS
November 13 2015. Terrorists attacked six different locations

around Paris, killing 130 people and wounding hundreds more.
The city was attacked by terrorists armed with assault rifles and
explosives. ISIS claimed responsibility for the carnage.
The attacks started with multiple explosions in different
areas of the city at 9:20 p.m. local time. Around 9:25 p.m.,
men armed with rifles killed 15 people at a popular bar in the
city. At 9:40 p.m., three terrorists stormed a concert venue,
gunning down 89 people.
About a month after the tragedy, French investigators re-
vealed that the terrorists were communicating with smartphone
apps that use encryption to hide their conversations.
One of the apps specifically used by the terrorists was Tele-
gram, which is one of the more popular encrypted messaging
apps. Russian developers Nikolai and Pavel Durov includ-
ed multiple security measures when creating the app in the
hopes of preventing eavesdropping — whether by hackers or
the government.
The app is designed with end-to-end encryption, which
CHAPTER 2
means only the people sending and receiving messages can read
them. In fact, all data (including media and files) that you send
and receive via Telegram cannot be deciphered if intercepted.
The app also allows you to choose if you want the messages
to self-destruct after a certain time period. And you can use an
image encryption key that you compare with the other user to
make sure the conversation is secure.
Criminals aren’t the only ones who use these encryption
apps. Many lawmakers use similar apps when conducting
personal business. Now, lawmakers aren’t using these apps to
share government information. Instead, they’re using them to
communicate with their families and friends.
Foreign criminals love to target high-profile people and
steal their personal information, and we’ve seen repeated email
hacks confirming this. Kansas congressman and candidate for
CIA director Mike Pompeo said he uses apps like Telegram
because he wants to do everything in his power to protect his
personal information as an elected official.
If terrorists and members of Congress use these apps,
should you?
Let’s be honest: Most of us probably send text messages we
want to remain private. Even though the majority of hackers
don’t target average citizens, in this day and age of constant
security breaches, it’s a good idea to use an encrypted app.
In addition to Telegram, there are two other apps you
should check out to protect your privacy:
1. Wickr — This app was one of the first to offer end-to-end
encryption as well as self-destructing messages. Wickr
contains multiple layers of encryption and is built on the
industry standard calculations for security. Best of all,
Wickr is free in the App Store.
2. WhatsApp — This is the most popular messaging app on
the market, with over a billion users. WhatsApp provides
70
similar encryption to the other apps mentioned here, but

it also uses secret keys to verify the authentication of
messages. This app is also free in the App Store.
Of course, cybercriminals are constantly looking for ways
to crack these security measures. But unless you’re a celebrity
or government official, these apps should provide an adequate
level of privacy to protect your personal information.
71
WHY YOU SHOULD THINK TWICE
BEFORE POSTING ONLINE
Jackie Garner was a customer service rep who wanted an adven-

ture. One day, she decided to quit her job and row the perimeter
of Lake Michigan. Jackie had recently started a nonprofit organi-
zation for breast cancer awareness and thought this trip would
be a great way to raise money for the group.
To prepare for her two-month journey, Jackie began a rig-
orous workout regimen. She rowed every day in the morning
and attended CrossFit and yoga classes at night. A year after
she began training, she purchased a 19-foot boat that would
be her home during the trip. It was a small boat with no kitch-
en, but it had a sleeping area and a place to store food. Jackie
spent time learning the mechanics of her boat so she would be
prepared for anything. Or so she thought.
She set out from Chicago with a satellite phone, a GPS and
a laptop so she could stay in touch with her friends and family.
She posted daily updates to her blog and Facebook. Whenever
she posted online, people could see her exact location from
the GPS.
Erase Your Digital Footprint in Three Easy Steps

1. Delete or deactivate any and all social media accounts. This also includes
online shopping accounts with various retailers. If you can’t (or choose
not to) delete an account, change any identifying information associated
with that account.
2. Remove yourself from data collection websites. The easiest way to do this
is to pay a reputable company to do it for you. But you can certainly do
it yourself if you’ve got the time. You’ll have to contact private websites
individually. Or you can contact search engine sites and request to have
the URL containing your private information removed from any searches.
3. Delete your email address. This should be the last thing you do, since
you’ll need a valid email address to complete Steps 1 and 2 above.
One night about a month into her trip, Jackie decided to

dock at Seul Choix Point Lighthouse, a remote location on
Michigan’s Upper Peninsula. The area was desolate except for
the lighthouse gift shop. Around 2 a.m., Jackie was awoken by
her boat slamming into the dock.
She looked out the window and saw a man climbing aboard.
He forced the door open and was inside before she knew it.
The man tried to grab her and pin her down. Jackie yelled
and attempted to fight back. She managed to throw him off her
and run to the lighthouse bathrooms, but the man chased after
her. When he entered the bathroom, Jackie shoved him into a
mirror, which fell over and shattered, giving Jackie time to run
back to her boat and call 911.
At one point during the fight, the intruder had said to Jack-
ie, “I know who you are and I knew where to find you.” She
told the police she had no idea how this man knew so much
about her and how he could find her in such a remote area.
Then Jackie realized he must have been following her blog and
her updates on Facebook. With the information she freely post-
ed online, this man was able to see exactly where Jackie was at
any given moment. She was lucky to have survived the attack.
73
CHAPTER 2
Ditch Your Online Identity

There are plenty of crazy stalkers in this world and not every-
one is fortunate to survive such an encounter. That’s why it’s
critical you protect your digital footprint so it isn’t easy for
people to find you.
One of the best things you can do is get rid of social media.
I know, I know. But social media gathers a ton of information
about you, and it’s easy for other people to gain knowledge
from social media. So the first step is to delete or deactivate
your social media accounts. Make sure you delete them even if
they contain old information. If you really don’t want to delete
your social media accounts, at the very least give misinforma-
tion. In other words, don’t list your real birthday, your job or
the anniversary of your marriage.
Next you need to delete all of your other online accounts,
including your accounts on Amazon, eBay, PayPal, etc. If you
can’t delete or deactivate these accounts, I would again provide
misinformation. Change the address or phone number asso-
ciated with each account so they don’t contain any personal
information.
The second major step is to remove yourself from data col-
lection websites. When you surf the web, information about
you is constantly being gathered so advertisers know what
sorts of products to target you with. How do you stop this data
collection? Believe it or not, you can do it yourself, but it will
take a good amount of time.
There are quite a few data collection companies and you
would have to contact every single one directly to remove your
information. Some data collection companies require you to
submit paperwork to make it as big a hassle as possible. So I
recommend finding a company that will do this for you.
A company called Abine provides a service called DeleteMe.
You pay a yearly fee of $129 for them to delete you from data
74
collection sites. There are about 30 different websites from

which this service can delete your information. They check
those sites every three months and delete any new information
found. The one drawback to this service is that it doesn’t work
with data collection companies located outside the U.S.
Another popular company offering a similar service is Rep-
utationDefender. This company is one of the most well-known
in the business and was among the first companies to offer a
service that deletes your information. The yearly fee for this
service is $1,000. It’s a lot of money, but with their Executive
Privacy service, they delete you from the top 53 data collection
websites.
They also complete five checks during the year to make
sure your information doesn’t reappear. So while there is a
huge price difference, this service removes information from
more websites. If you don’t mind the expense, this is definitely
a company I would look into.
When it comes to private websites, it’s important to remem-
ber that they do not have to remove your information. If you’ve
ever posted a foolish comment or written something you want
removed, you have to contact the website owner directly and
ask them to remove your information. If a website refuses to
remove private information from their site — such as your So-
cial Security number or bank account information — you can
contact search engines sites (like Google) and they can remove
the URL from their search engine.
For example, if you want to remove your Social Security
number from a Google search, go to www.Support.Google.com
and type “remove information from Google” in the search bar
at the top. You will need to answer a series of questions about
which website contains the information you want removed.
Once you answer these questions, submit your request to Goo-
gle and they should remove the information from their search
engine within five days.
75
CHAPTER 2
Lastly, once you’ve deleted all of your social media and

shopping accounts and taken care of any personal information
on private websites, delete your email address. Make sure this
is the last thing you do, because you’ll still need a valid email
to complete many of the tasks above.
I realize this may sound extreme. But if you’ve ever been
stalked or had anyone follow you on social media and then
show up at your house, you may want to take some of these
precautionary steps.
If you decide these actions are not necessary for you, at
least keep this article in mind. And the next time you’re out
to dinner at some wonderful restaurant, you’ll probably think
twice before telling the world where you are.
76
FOUR WAYS TO PROTECT
YOUR ONLINE PRIVACY
No one is safe from being hacked and having their secrets

exposed — not even the government.
Beginning in March 2017, WikiLeaks released a cache of
classified documents — code-named Vault 7 — on the hacking
secrets of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) and the Na-
tional Security Agency (NSA). The exposed tools and methods
have been used to monitor and thwart major global attacks.
And now anyone can access them.
Of course, most people’s first thought is that this is the work
of a hostile foreign government, but governments generally
won’t reveal their hacking successes or capabilities. When they
discover a way to hack into another government, they’ll keep
it a secret so they can covertly continue to gather intelligence.
Hacker or Mole?
So the question remains: How did WikiLeaks get their hands
on this sensitive information? Did a cyberterrorist hack into
an NSA or CIA server? Or is there a mole within one of these
CHAPTER 2
agencies who is sharing information?

If it’s a mole, the country or organization behind the op-
eration would want to keep it a secret to protect their mole.
Unless the mole has provided as much information as they can
and their employer is ready to burn them and move on.
Or perhaps the mole isn’t working for anyone. Maybe it’s
an Edward Snowden type who is doing this as some sort of
crusade. Whoever it is — whether Russia, China or a rogue
terrorist network — the important takeaway is that this will
continue happening.
As long as there are humans on Earth, criminals will try to
steal valuable information. This is why I want to share with
you four crucial cybersecurity tips to prevent you from becom-
ing a victim:
1. Be careful with emails. If you’re like me, you spend a
decent amount of time emailing each day. Since we
use email so often, cybercriminals often use it to hack
into your computer. This why it’s always important to
double-check the sender’s email address to make sure it’s
from a real person or company.
e wary of any misspelled email address or addresses that
B
contain a string of random numbers and letters. Also,
never download an attachment or click on a link from
an email unless you know the person who sent it and are
100% positive it’s was sent by the actual person. Lastly,
you could switch to using a more secure email service
such as ProtonMail.
ProtonMail: www.protonmail.com
2. Use two-factor authentication. People often get hacked
because their passwords are easy to guess. By using
two-factor authentication (also known as two-step verifi-
cation), you can protect your online accounts from clever
78
criminals. In addition to a standard password, two-factor

authentication uses a second piece of information to ver-
ify the user.
his secondary proof might be something only the ac-
T
count holder knows, like a PIN. Or it might involve
sending a secret code to your smartphone or the use of
biometrics. This way, even if someone figures out your
password, they won’t be able to access your accounts
3. Create strong passwords. I guarantee a lot of people use
simple passwords — such as their child’s name or date
of birth — that are all too easy to figure out with a quick
Google search. Creating a difficult password is one of the
most critical things you can do to protect yourself on-
line. Make sure you have a unique password for every
online account. Each one should include capital letters,
numbers and special characters
4. Be cautious with the cloud. I understand why people use
cloud services — they’re convenient for storage, backup
and file recovery. But you should never upload confiden-
tial information to the cloud, because you can’t always
trust the cloud provider to keep your information secure.
And in the event that a company like Dropbox is hacked,
all your personal information would be up for grabs.
That’s far too risky for my blood.
Obviously, we know that hackers will continue to target
unsuspecting users and weak networks in an attempt to col-
lect confidential information. But if you follow the steps above,
you’re less likely to be a casualty of the next big cyberattack.
79
READ BEFORE DOWNLOADING
If you’ve ever been to the doctor, you know what it’s like to be
handed a sheaf of paperwork about health laws so you can sign
a bunch of authorization forms.
And I’m sure you know what it’s like to briefly skim those
documents before scrawling your John Hancock at the bottom.
Well, I would imagine that you probably pay even less
attention to the legal permissions you “Agree” to when you
download an app to your phone. But you should be more care-
ful. Here’s why.
A popular photo-editing app called Meitu — currently avail-
able for Android and iPhone users — has been downloaded
over a billion of times by users all over the world. In addition to
its editing capabilities, this app collects data from your phone,
including photos, calendars, contacts — even your geolocation.
It also collects the phone’s IMEI number, a 15-digit serial
number given to every mobile phone to verify the phone’s coun-
try of origin, the manufacturer and model number. With this
detailed information, a hacker could actually clone your phone
and easily intercept your calls and texts.
And who knows what the company could be doing with

all the data they’re collecting and whether they’re selling it to
third parties.
And here’s another possibility: Remember in 2015 when the
U.S. Office of Personnel Management (OPM) was hacked by
the Chinese? This app — or others like it — could be another
way for Chinese hackers to steal information from Americans.
Anything is possible. It’s certainly something to keep in
mind the next time you download an app to your cellphone.
81
HOW TO CREATE HACK-PROOF
PASSWORDS
The CIA doesn’t play games with computer security. Ignoring

cybersecurity protocol would put people’s lives at risk. Which
is why every agent knows the importance of having strong
passwords — and why they change these passwords often.
Since my days at the Agency, I’ve continued to take my
computer security just as seriously. I don’t take any chances
when it comes to my passwords. Unfortunately, not everyone
can say the same.
Ironically, tech billionaire and Facebook CEO Mark Zuck-
erberg had his social media accounts hacked by a group of
cybercriminals who guessed his passwords. Apparently, it be-
gan when the hackers gained access to the data of 117 million
LinkedIn accounts — including Zuckerberg’s.
Once they had this information, they used it to guess the
passwords to his other social media accounts. At that time,
Zuckerberg was a new father. Believe it or not, the hack-
ers discovered that the password to most of his accounts
was “dadada.” You would think someone in the tech world
would choose a password that’s a little more difficult to guess,
wouldn’t you? Zuckerberg also made other rookie mistakes,

including using the same password for different accounts.
Clever Is as Clever Does

With that being said, unique passwords can be hard to create
— as well as remember. Honestly, how are you supposed to
remember a different, complex password for each and every
account you log into?
Well, first, allow me to quickly explain the importance of
password entropy. Basically, without getting too technical on
you, entropy is the measure of how unpredictable a password
is. For example, the password “H}=HX5B[J)7Gdw5R” has a
stronger entropy than the password “dadada.” What it boils
down to is this: A stronger password contains more — and
varied — characters and will be much more challenging for a
hacker or their computer software to guess.
A good password should always include upper- and lowercase
letters, numbers and symbols. For the most secure passwords, I
wouldn’t create one with any less than 10 characters.
I realize that sounds daunting. But here’s an easy way to
remember your new password. Create a password based on a
passphrase. To do this, you would make up a phrase (some-
thing meaningful to you and only you) like, “Bob jumped for
glory and fell down.” Then take that phrase and add in some
punctuation, or swap the last B in bob for a 7 (because it’s the
seventh letter in the alphabet). Get as creative as you like — so
long as you don’t make it so complicated you can’t remember it.
Password Dos and Don’ts

Once you’ve created your new, one-of-a-kind password, here
are a few other points to consider. Specifically, these are things
you should never do with your passwords.
Undoubtedly, hackers will come up with new ways to guess
83
CHAPTER 2
your passwords in order to steal your personal information.

Which is why it’s critical to be aware of any mass cybersecurity
breaches — like the recently disclosed Yahoo and Gmail hacks —
and to change your password immediately if it might be at risk.
When creating new passwords, you can test them at
www.howsecureismypassword.net. This website lets you
type in a password and tells you how difficult it would be to
guess. For instance, the password “Bojf9Y+&flLdwn!” would
take a computer 380 quadrillion years to deduce.
Computers these days may be capable of sophisticated
calculations, but you can still outsmart them with strong
passwords. All it takes is a little imagination.
84
BEWARE OF SMISHING
According to the FBI, Americans lost $1.3 billion to cybercrime

in 2016 alone.
This should not come as a surprise. Our lives are becoming
more and more integrated with smart technology, and crim-
inals are capitalizing on this, coming up with novel ways to
steal your personal information.
Of course, cyberattacks are nothing new. Most people are
already familiar with phishing scams, where a hacker sends an
email in the hopes you click on an infected link or reply with
your personal information.
Remember when Hillary Clinton’s campaign chairman,
John Podesta, was the victim of a phishing expedition? As a re-
sult, his Gmail account was hacked and a slew of emails related
to Clinton’s campaign were leaked.
Thanks in large part to stories like this, people are becoming
increasingly aware of these types of email scams and exercising
caution before opening or downloading a suspicious email.
CHAPTER 2
A New Scam Emerges

However, criminals are always inventing new ploys to trick
people into giving up their personal information — and what
better way to accomplish this than preying on cellphones?
After all, most people are connected to their phones at the
hip. This has led to a new type of scam called “smishing” — a
combination of ‘SMS’ and ‘phishing’.
How does a smishing scam work?
Well, let’s say you are sitting at home one evening and you
receive a text that says, “$5,000 was just withdrawn from your
bank account. If you didn’t authorize this transaction, click
here or call…” This would certainly get your attention and
most likely prompt an immediate response.
But if you click on the link or call the phone number, the
criminal at the other end will try to get more information from
you. They may ask you to verify or update your account in-
formation or reveal other personal details. For some reason,
people are more liable to trust a text message than an email,
and criminals use this sense of security to their advantage.
The next time you receive a questionable or unusual text
message, DO NOT RESPOND. Instead, take the following
steps:
1. Read it carefully. People misread texts on a regular basis.
Scammers know this and may use a link that looks au-
thentic, but if you look closely you can easily spot a fake.
For example, if the link is www.ChaseBank123.com,
the “123” signals the link is likely not valid. But if you’re
not paying close attention, you may end up clicking on
a hacker’s link.
2. Ignore it. Some scammers will send text messages that
say, “Reply with ‘STOP’ if you no longer want to receive
these messages.” The problem is a response lets the hacker
86
know that they have contacted a valid phone number and

that someone will respond. Ignoring the message is best,
because ANY response may lead to more texts and more
attempts to gather personal details.
3. Call your bank. If you receive a text about withdrawals,
or other questions related to your bank account, im-
mediately call your bank at the number listed on your
statement or the back of your bank card. NEVER call
the number provided in the text message. Your bank
will confirm whether the text is legitimate and if any
money was actually taken out of your account.
4. Check your phone bill. Just as you should review your
credit card statement each month, you also need to re-
view your phone bill. Check to make sure there aren’t
any unauthorized charges. By checking your statement
regularly, you can avoid being unwittingly enrolled in
some type of subscription service by hackers.
The bottom line is hackers are constantly looking for new
ways to steal your personal information, and — as technology
advances — these criminals are devising new methods of com-
mitting cyberattacks.
One last thing: Credible companies (especially banks) won’t
ask for your personal information (or any sensitive information)
in a text message. If you do receive a strange solicitation via text,
take the precautions outlined above to verify it’s a legitimate re-
quest before doing anything else.
87
HOW TO SHIELD YOUR KEYBOARD
FROM HACKERS
Many years ago, when wireless keyboards were first introduced,

large numbers of computer users followed the untethered trend
into blissful, cordless ignorance.
Because what if I told you that for about $35, I could see
everything you type on your wireless keyboard?
Most wireless keyboards work on an unencrypted radio
frequency. The only wireless keyboards that are encrypted
are specifically made for Bluetooth connections. So unless
you have a Bluetooth-enabled keyboard, anyone who wants
to could purchase a $35 radio device that will intercept your
signal and share every keystroke you make.
This includes secure logins, passwords, banking information,
personal emails — literally anything you type on your keyboard.
No matter what type of security you have on the computer it-
self, it won’t protect the information being intercepted from the
keyboard.
Since these keyboards work on radio frequencies, the
criminal would have to be within 250 feet of you to be able to
pick up the frequency and intercept what you are typing. But
if you work in a large office building, a hacker could easily

set up shop within 250 feet of you. Or if a hacker walked into
the local Starbucks where everyone is using computer in close
proximity of one another? You can see how easy it would be
for your information to be hacked.
To compound the problem, radio frequencies aren’t traceable,
which means if someone were intercepting your keystrokes, you
wouldn’t even know about it.
So what can you do to protect yourself?
Since this type of hack only affects keyboards that operate
on an unencrypted radio frequency — this includes brands
such as Hewlett-Packard and Toshiba — you should purchase a
high-end keyboard that works on Bluetooth, such as one from
Logitech or Kanex. Apple also makes Bluetooth-compatible
wireless keyboards for their products.
As we continue to see new wireless technology devices, you
need to keep in mind these devices may not be the most secure.
Even though wireless keyboards have been around for several
years now, most people have no idea how vulnerable they are.
Eventually, I imagine most companies will move away
from using a radio frequency connection and toward the more
secure, encrypted Bluetooth technology. Until then, I recom-
mend a wired keyboard if you don’t have a wireless one that
uses Bluetooth.
In other words, don’t cut the cord.
89
FIVE WAYS TO PROTECT YOUR
PRIVACY ON VACATION
It’s no secret that pickpockets prowl popular tourist spots. In

fact, 33% of all travel insurance claims are for pickpocketing
losses.
And with the increase in electronic pickpocketing (where
criminals can electronically steal your information without
even touching you), it’s more critical than ever to be mindful
of your mobile devices while on vacation.
Considering all the recent ransomware and phishing at-
tacks, the security measures you take with your smartphone
are incredibly important — even more so when you travel.
Tourists often use their smartphones for taking pictures and
finding landmarks, so thieves abroad have increased electronic
targeting of these devices.
Here are five tips to prevent you from falling victim to an
electronic thief:
1. Turn off your Wi-Fi and Bluetooth. Even if you aren’t
connected to a wireless network or a Bluetooth device,
these applications allow access to your phone. Always
turn these functions off when you travel so your phone

isn’t constantly searching for a Wi-Fi signal with which
to connect. This will prevent anyone from being able to
track you electronically.
Why I Use the IronKey

When traveling, especially overseas, I always safeguard my information by
using an encrypted USB drive.
On this drive, I’ll have work documents, a copy of my passport, a copy of my

driver’s license, a copy of all my credit cards, a copy of my health insurance
card, and my trip itinerary.
Obviously, I don’t want this information to fall into the wrong hands, which
is why I use the IronKey USB drive. It’s about as big as a pack of bub-
ble gum and was originally created for government intelligence agencies.
Government employees, you see, were occasionally losing their USB
drives, which had classified material on them. So the government put out
a contract for a secure USB, which resulted in the IronKey
Ironkey USB drive: https://www.amazon.com/IronKey-Workspace-

Windows-Certified-Flash/dp/B00C6ICDQS/
The beauty of it is that its encryption is made to military specifications

(FIPS 140-2 Level 3 encryption). Also, the drive is very rugged and can
handle extreme cold and heat, plus 16 Gs of force. What’s more, the
IronKey self-destructs after 10 failed password attempts, so don’t forget
your password!
2. Update your phone before leaving. Prior to leaving for

your vacation, you should install the latest updates and
remove anything you don’t need from your phone. For
example, if you have lots of pictures stored on your
phone, I recommend downloading them to your com-
puter or cloud storage. That way if someone gains access
to your phone, they won’t see all your pictures.
3. Don’t make purchases from your phone. When traveling,
never use your phone to make a purchase unless you
91
CHAPTER 2
use an app that already has your credit card information

stored. In other words, you should never type your cred-
it card number into your phone while overseas because
you never know if someone has hacked into your device
and is stealing the information as you type. And you defi-
nitely shouldn’t pull out a credit card and hold it up to
punch in the number. This would make you an incredi-
bly easy target.
4. Never use public Wi-Fi. Most public Wi-Fi networks
overseas have no encryption, which makes it easy for a
hacker to target you. In fact, they can even see what you
are typing from your phone if they are physically within
a short distance. If you have no choice but to use public
Wi-Fi, I recommend downloading and using a VPN (vir-
tual private network) such as TunnelBear.
5. Require a password on your device. This should be a
given. In the event that your phone is stolen, you want
to make it as difficult as possible for the thieves to access
your smartphone (and therefore all your information). If
you’re an Apple user and your phone is stolen, you can
use the “Find My iPhone” feature to locate your device.
Similarly, if you have an Android, you can use the “An-
droid Device Manager.”
Whether you are going to a local hotspot or an exotic
locale this summer, you should never let the fear of being a
victim ruin your trip. That being said, there are thieves all
over the world who will try to steal your personal informa-
tion. By implementing these security measures, you can have
a great vacation without worrying about your information
being stolen.
Because if your family is anything like mine, your biggest
worry should be keeping the kids from fighting and trying to
avoid stopping every 20 minutes for a bathroom break.
92
CHAPTER 3:
HOME DEFENSE : HOW TO

KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE
YOUR STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE
TO SURVIVING A BREAK-IN
Recently, I was at a business meeting and happened to be sitting

across the table from this woman who found out I was in the
security business. The woman’s hands were visibly shaking as
she told me her house had just been robbed of over $100,000
in cash and jewelry.
Thankfully, no one was home at the time. The fear in her
eyes was clearly visible as she asked me what she could do to
make sure her home wasn’t broken into again.
I certainly hope you, dear reader, never find yourself in a
similar situation. But if you do, you’ll want to follow the ABCs
of home defense.
Make Yourself (Safe) at Home

First, of course, you’ll want to take a few simple home security
measures to help prevent a break-in in the first place. Invest in
surveillance cameras and put them at every exterior entrance
to your house. Also, don’t go cheap on cameras — or really
any item that is used to protect your family. The cameras I
HOME DEFENSE: HOW TO KEEP YOUR FAMILY SAFE
recommend are made by a company called Hikvision.

Next, get an alarm system and make sure everyone knows
you have one. In other words, put an alarm sign in your front
yard or alarm stickers on your doors or windows. You want
to clearly advertise that you have an alarm system. That way,
if a criminal is casing your neighborhood, they’ll avoid your
house and choose a house that bears no indication of having
an alarm.
Also, invest in motion sensor lights. Be sure to get both
traditional motion sensor lights that run on electricity and so-
lar-powered motion sensor lights. After all, if the electricity
goes out or a criminal cuts the wires, you still want all the
exterior doors of your house illuminated.
Three Simple Steps to Prepare for a Home Invasion

1. Invest in surveillance cameras and put them at every exterior entrance to
your home.
2. Get an alarm system and publicize it by putting signs or stickers on the

outside of your house.
3. Install both electric and solar-powered motion sensor lights around your
home.
Once you’ve taken these few simple steps to prepare your

house, it’s time to prepare your family for what happens if
you’re home when someone breaks in.
Follow This Advice to the Letter

The woman I mentioned above was fortunate in that her family
wasn’t home during the invasion, but there are thousands of
Americans each year who aren’t so lucky. However, if you re-
member the ABCs of home defense that I’m about to share with
you, you’ll be in a good position to defend against any intruder.
95
CHAPTER 3
A stands for Alert

If you hear someone trying to break into your home, you need
to alert everyone who is in the house and tell them to go to the
designated safe room (more on this in a moment). Of course,
if you followed my advice and installed an alarm, chances are
the blaring sirens will do this job for you.
B stands for Block
One designated family member needs to delay the intruder while
the other family members move to the safe room. By “safe room,”
I don’t mean some high-tech, expensive, bulletproof room. In re-
ality, a safe room is the bedroom of the least able-bodied member
of the family — the nursery or grandma’s room.
If a home invasion occurs, you don’t want to waste pre-
cious time moving the slowest person to the safe room. The
safe room should have a cellphone to call the police. More
importantly, you’ll want to take a firearm that can be used to
protect your family. In my house, I’d grab my gun, go to the
top of the stairs and take a position there while my wife and
kids get to safety. If the intruder chooses to rush up the stairs,
I will not hesitate in using my firearm.
C stands for Call
Once your family members are in the safe room, they should
immediately call 911. Be sure to give as much detailed infor-
mation as possible, such as the number of intruders and if they
have weapons. You also need to tell the dispatcher about the
family member who is doing the blocking by saying something
like, “My husband is at the top of our stairs. He is wearing a
green T-shirt and he has a gun with him.”
DEF Gee, What Next?

Once everyone else is in the safe room and someone has called
911, the blocking family member should retreat to the safe
96
room if possible. Once everyone is in the room, lock the door,

get behind some furniture and wait for the police to arrive. If
the intruder is foolish enough to bust down the door to the safe
room, you need to be ready to defend yourself (shoot them) as
they enter the room.
One last thing: You always want to have an escape route
from your safe room. If your safe room is on the second level
of your home, buy an escape ladder. I suggest checking out the
Kidde KL-2S Two-Story Fire Escape Ladder:
Kidde Fire Safety Equipment: http://bit.ly/1RnwLCx
Bottom line: If you protect the exterior of your home with
cameras, lights and alarm signs, and you remember these ABCs
if someone enters your home, you should be well prepared to
survive and overcome a home invasion situation.
97
BUILD A PANIC ROOM WITHOUT
SPENDING A FORTUNE
It was about 1:30 a.m. when the large crash awoke me.
I looked to my right at my wife, who immediately sat up
too, and then I looked to the left to grab my flashlight and open
up the gun safe on my nightstand.
The safe was open in less than three seconds, and I retrieved
my Glock 19 loaded with 124-grain Speer Gold Dot rounds. I
then made my way to the top of my staircase to ensure that
nobody would come up the stairs past me as my wife ushered
our kids to our “panic room.”
As I stood at the top of the stairs with my gun pointed
downward, I listened intently to hear who was in our house
and what I needed to be prepared for.
The thing is, I didn’t hear a peep.
I stood there for what seemed like an eternity, but I heard
and saw no other signs of an intruder.
Finally, I began to slowly make my way down the stairs to
clear my home. This isn’t something I would necessarily rec-
ommend everyone do, but I’m fortunate to have been trained
in how to clear buildings and homes.
Plus, at this point, I was pretty sure that nobody was in my

home and that the large crash had to be something else.
After opening a number of closest doors, I was relieved to
find the culprit of the noise that caused me to almost jump out
of bed.
You’re probably familiar with the large inflatable mattress
called the AeroBed that seemed to be on every TV infomercial
years ago. Well, we had an AeroBed on the top shelf of one of
our closets, and it had fallen off, crashing down onto a bunch
of kids toys. And since it weighs a ton, it caused the significant
noise that woke my wife and me up.
Thankfully, it wasn’t an intruder, but it was a great “dry
run” to show that my wife and I were prepared for a home
invasion and that we could react quickly to protect ourselves.
And yes, one of the most important elements of our home
defense plan was that we utilized our panic room. Because the
fact is, in the event of a home invasion, getting to your panic
room is one of the key things that will protect you and your
family from danger.
Identifying Your Panic Room

First, let me quickly dispel some myths that have been created
by Hollywood to sell movie tickets. A panic room doesn’t have
to cost several hundred thousand dollars. It isn’t only for mul-
timillionaires and billionaires. And it definitely doesn’t involve
a bunch of fancy gizmos and sliding doors at the push of a
button.
To create your own panic room, you don’t have to open up
your checkbook. You can just use one of the rooms already in
your home. So this then is the first step: knowing where the
room should be located.
A lot of people mistakenly think that the panic room should
always be in the basement or the master bedroom. But in re-
99
CHAPTER 3
ality, the best panic room is whichever one is occupied by the

weakest or slowest member of your family.
You Need a Strong Door

Once you’ve identified the room, it’s time to start fortifying
it. As I said, this doesn’t mean spending six figures. It simply
means getting a solid-core door, which means one made from
wood or metal. Most people prefer a wood door because of the
aesthetic factor, but the choice is yours.
The cheap, hollow-core bedroom doors most people have
can be kicked in by an intruder in seconds. But a solid wood
door will give you time to get ready to defend yourself. And to
keep the intruder out, you should also install a quality dead-
bolt such as Schlage or Medeco on the inside of the room.
The Most Important Thing in Your Panic Room

Once you’ve got the door and
deadbolt installed, then it’s time
to get to the most important fac-
tor of all when it comes to your
panic room: what I refer to as
the “crash box.”
A crash box is a fancy name
for a safe that is in your panic
room and contains all the neces-
sary supplies to fend off an in-
truder. A crash box is not a gigantic gun safe that is going to
take you forever to open. Instead, it’s typically a medium-sized
safe, such as the SentrySafe model SFW123DSB or the First
Alert model 2096DF.
SentrySafe: http://amzn.to/2wGNyLt
First Alert: http://amzn.to/2gLl8Mx
100
Once you have your crash box, then it’s time to fill it with
the items you need. These include a handgun and ammuni-
tion (I like Glock, Sig Sauer, and Springfield when it comes
to guns, and Speer Gold Dot and Hornady for ammo), extra
loaded magazines, a spare cellphone, a flashlight, medical
items such as QuikClot and a CAT tourniquet, a fixed-blade
knife, and whatever other items you choose to put in it.
QuikClot: http://amzn.to/2f2chCf
CAT Tourniquet: http://amzn.to/2j3o08l
If you ever do find yourself having to hunker down until
police arrive, then you should be prepared to fend off attackers
for a good amount of time.
The good news is unless you’re a politician or celebrity who
is more likely to face a coordinated attack, most likely a home
invasion will involve some local thugs who are looking to get
drug money for their next fix.
But once they see you’re well-armed and prepared to stop
them, they’ll probably flee your house and go looking for an
easier victim.
While none of us wishes to ever experience a home inva-
sion, the people I know that have gone through it were grateful
they were prepared. In other words, this weekend, take a few
minutes to designate a panic room, begin looking at solid-core
doors, and start writing down the supplies you’re going to have
inside your crash box.
101
FIVE HOME SECURITY MISTAKES
TO AVOID
Imagine: You wake up in the morning and notice that your

wallet is missing. Or let’s say you pad down to the kitchen to
make your morning pot of coffee and discover that someone
has rifled through your belongings.
That’s exactly what happened to a few people in Wisconsin
last summer. Early one morning between 3:00–4:30 a.m., bur-
glars entered three different homes in the Cottage Grove area
while the homeowners were still asleep. Stolen items included
wallets, purses, credit cards, laptops and other electronic devices.
Now, you’re probably wondering how these greedy thieves
gained access to so many homes so easily without getting
caught. They weren’t highly trained professionals, nor did they
use any high-tech equipment. No — they simply walked in
through an unlocked door.
In fact, studies have shown that the majority of burglars en-
ter homes through an unlocked door or window. Which means
something as simple as locking the exterior door could have
prevented some of these burglaries, and the victims could have
avoided a lot of hand-wringing.
Today, I want to review five common home security mis-

takes that make your home an easy target for a burglar looking
for a crime of opportunity. Starting with…
1. Leaving doors and windows unlocked — Unless you live
in Mayberry, I strongly recommend always locking your
doors and windows. The reality is burglaries can happen
anywhere. Even if you live in a small town where ev-
eryone knows each other, don’t be complacent when it
comes to home security. I have a relative who used to live
in a small town of 1,000 residents, and they regularly left
their doors unlocked — until one day someone entered
their home and emptied their medicine cabinet. So trust
me when I say a home invasion can happen anywhere.
2. Too much visibility inside — You should have curtains
on all your windows and keep them closed at night and
whenever you are gone. If a criminal can see into your
home, they can pinpoint the location of any valuables in-
side and determine if anyone is home. This is especially
important at night. When it’s dark and the lights are on,
it’s incredibly easy to see inside from outside. So always
make sure your windows are covered when you are at
home and away.
3. No exterior lighting — I’m by no means an electrician,
and I know installing new lights can be a bigger project
than most people want to tackle. However, you can buy
battery-operated or solar-powered lights that you can
drill into the side of your home. Or, even easier, ones
that you can simply peel and stick to the exterior of your
home. Criminals use darkness to their advantage, so the
more lighting you have around your home, the more risk
the criminal takes of being seen. Since they aren’t very
expensive (you can buy quality lights for around $20),
103
CHAPTER 3
I recommend putting them all around your house so

there are no dark spots at all.
4. Hiding a spare key — When I was a kid, I would get
locked out of the house sometimes because I forgot my
key. Like a lot of people, my family hid a spare key in a
fake rock that I would use to get in. Looking back on it
now, this spare key rock appeared wildly out of place.
It was a small rock that sat by itself and looked like it
was made of plastic. Nowadays, many people still leave
a spare key outside, but criminals know all the tricks.
Consider other options if you keep a spare key under
the doormat, in a fake rock or buried in a planter. These
hiding places are not as inventive as you think they are.
5. Leaving things outside — My neighbor has a large ladder
in his backyard leaning up against his shed. Every time I
see this ladder, I think about how a burglar could use it
to gain access to the second floor of his house. Criminals
are often desperate and will use anything they can find
to help them commit their crime. If you leave your shed
unlocked or tools lying around your backyard, remem-
ber that not only can these items be stolen, but they can
also be used to get inside your home.
A home security system complete with cameras is probably
the best crime deterrent, but don’t forget these common secu-
rity lapses. Because no matter how great your home security
is, a simple mistake like an unlocked door gives a criminal
unfettered access to your home — and you’ll quickly learn you
don’t live in Mayberry.
104
AN INVISIBLE SHIELD THAT
KEEPS YOUR HOME SAFE
“This is where the bullets entered…”

My friend Dennis didn’t waste any time. I’d only just en-
tered his home — this was about a month ago — before he
quickly ushered me into his master bedroom to show me the
damage.
“Now that he’d suffered a terrifying home invasion, my
friend was going to take his home security seriously.”
Dennis and his wife had recently suffered a terrifying home
invasion. Miraculously, they both got through it unscathed.
But it was a wake-up call for my friend. Now he was really
going to take his home security seriously. And that was why
I was there. I was helping him establish some precautionary
measures, which included the setting up of a perimeter alarm.
Installing a perimeter alarm is one of the best things you
can do to decrease the odds of being caught unaware like my
friend was. Below, I will show you several different kinds of
alarms, from a simple out-of-the-box option to DIY versions.
Their ordeal began one evening when they were sitting and
watching a movie together. After the movie, Dennis’ wife decided
CHAPTER 3
she was going to head to bed, while Dennis contemplated watch-

ing a second flick.
Suddenly, Dennis’ wife rushed into the room. According to
him, her face was as white as a ghost. She told him there was
somebody in the house, and he immediately grabbed one of
his guns.
Not wanting the intruder to get to his wife, Dennis left the
room where they were watching the movie and made his way
toward the bedroom.
All of a sudden, a person popped out of the bathroom in the
master bedroom and fired three shots at Dennis. All three shots
missed, and Dennis began firing in the direction of the intruder.
The intruder then fired again, and one of the shots missed
Dennis’ head by a mere six inches.
After a short firefight, Dennis heard the intruder yell to some-
one and then heard him flee out a bathroom window. Shortly
thereafter, the police showed up (Dennis’ wife had dialed 911).
Thankfully, neither Dennis nor his wife was physically
harmed. The craziest part of all, though, is they actually slept
in the house that night instead of getting a hotel!
A few weeks later, the police did end up catching the in-
truder and his accomplices, and since it was their third strike,
they got life in prison.
The Infrared Perimeter Alarm

After this incident, my friend made sure
that he always set his alarm (it was off that
night), and he installed motion sensor lights
around his home, too.
But one of the most important things
of all that he did was to set up a perimeter
alarm around his home. That way, if anyone
even crossed onto his property, he would in-
stantly be notified.
106
Three Essentials for Preventing a Home Invasion

1. Make sure there’s an alarm sign in your front yard even if you don’t have
an alarm. In your backyard, you’ll want to have alarm sign stickers on the
back door and any sliding glass doors. You can get both alarm signs and
stickers at amazon.com. These signs will make any intruder think twice.
2. Place a large dog bowl near your back door. Criminals are terrified of
dogs. If they see the dog bowl, they’ll move on to a dog-free neighbor’s
house.
3. Put solar motion sensor lights around all exterior doors of your home.
Since these lights are solar powered, you won’t have to worry about be-
ing vulnerable when the electricity goes out. The lights I use are made by
a company called Swiftly Done.
Swiftly Done: http://amzn.to/2eJLhuz
The type of alarm he used is an infrared break beam system.

The best way to explain it is to think of a laser beam pointing
from one unit to the next, and if anything breaks that beam, an
alarm is set off in his house.
These types of infrared systems can be set as much as 300
feet apart, meaning you can use them even if you have a very
large yard. One such system is made by Dakota Alert, and
these alarms work all year round, since they’ll operate in mi-
nus 30-degree weather all of the way up to 120-degree weather.
Dakota Alert Alarm: http://amzn.to/2x9QP9l
If you read the sidebar on this page, you’ll see that you can
also get quite creative with DIY perimeter alarms. The infrared
alarms will be the easiest to install and the most practical, but
if the electricity goes out or there’s some type of “grid down”
scenario, then the low-tech alarms could become critical in
keeping you and your family safe.
DIY Perimeter Alarms

While I certainly do recommend some type of infrared system
such as the Dakota Alert system, there are plenty of low-tech
perimeter alarms that you can easily use too.
107
CHAPTER 3
Flash Bang Perimeter Alarm

For this alarm, you take fishing line and you run it around the
perimeter of the place you want to secure, whether it is your
home, a campsite, or an RV. The fishing line runs back to a
small box that houses a shotgun shell blank with a nail right
above it. If someone walks into the fishing line, the nail is re-
leased and it strikes the shotgun shell — which puts out a very
loud warning signal that someone is in your area.
Air Horn Perimeter Alarm

Another low-tech perimeter alarm option I’ve used involves
an air horn. First, you dig a hole and bury the air horn so that
only about an inch of the top is exposed. Then, you find a
large, semi-flat object such as a rock. Take a stick and prop up
the rock so that it’s above the air horn. Tie some fishing line to
that stick and run it around your perimeter. If someone trips
the line, then the stick is pulled and the rock comes crashing
down on top of the air horn, setting it off. It’s incredibly loud.
You can hear it almost a mile away.
135dB Rip Cord

Perimeter Alarm
You can do something
similar to the air horn
version by using a
hand-held personal
security alarm like the
Vigilant Alarm, below.
Simply tie a piece of
fishing string to the
end of the alarm and then duct-tape the alarm to a wooden
stake, which you’ll hammer into the ground. Run the fishing
line around your perimeter through other wooden stakes that
108
have eyelets on them. If someone enters the area, the alarm

pin is pulled and the loud noise will let you know someone is
around.
Vigilant Personal Alarm: http://amzn.to/2eEs0qw
109
5 STEPS TO AN
INVASION-PROOF HOME
Are you the “soft target” home invaders are searching for?
“Soft target” is simply a military term meaning “unprotected
or easy to breach…”
Any given day, you can find a rash of home break-in stories.
Most people believe violence like this happens to someone
else. It’s human nature, really, to think that way. But when it
happens to you or someone close to you, it’s too late to do
anything about it.
And the result can rip a family apart. It’s heartbreaking.
It happens far more often than people think. Yet just a few
shockingly simple and inexpensive steps can effectively pro-
tect you and your loved ones.
The truth is awareness and preparation are the key to stay-
ing out of dangerous situations… and 99% of Americans are
oblivious to danger.
Preparing for these kinds of dangerous encounters is in-
credibly easy and more useful than you can probably imagine.
What I’m going to teach you today is going to transform
your home from a “soft target” that silently and unknowingly
invites criminals to your home… to a “hard target” that sends a

clear message to thugs casing your neighborhood: “You better
move on, punk.”
Step #1: Identify Any “Tells” From Your Home That

Are Easy for Invaders or Burglars to Spot
Homeowners don’t usually think someone is casing their
neighborhood and often leave strong clues that tell thieves and
thugs, “This home is an easy target.”
As one convicted burglar said: “If they’re in a [wealthy
neighborhood] and the yard is not manicured, I just think
they’re on vacation… and I will go to that house.”
So what exactly are the “tells” that a criminal looks for?
And how can you avoid them?
There are a few signs that make you and your home a target.
For starters, burglars look for full mailboxes. If you’re
going away, I suggest placing a temporary stop on any mail
delivery while you’re away. Because believe me… burglars
really do notice that mail piled up in the mailbox or newspa-
pers piled up on the driveway. It’s a telltale sign that nobody’s
home and the coast is clear. You might even consider doing
what I do — use only a UPS Store mailbox for all mail.
Bad weather could provide another “tell” that no one
is home is. When it snows, a big signal that no one’s home
is virgin snow leading up to the house. So if it snows while
you’re out of town, you’ll need to take precautions to protect
your home. Simply have a neighbor create car and foot tracks
into the house, to give the idea that you’re there… even when
you’re not.
Have a dog? While this is a great way to deter any burglars,
there is a way your own dog might accidentally reveal that you
are not home in just a few seconds, without a criminal even
entering your home.
111
CHAPTER 3
In an empty house, rather than alerting an owner that a po-

tential intruder is present, a dog might just stand by the door
waiting for its owner to come home.
A barking dog will bring unwanted attention to a potential
burglar, but don’t rely on your dog to attack a criminal unless
trained to.
Another “tell” that criminals will be looking for is an alarm
system.
Not just any alarm system. A wireless alarm system. The
response time is extremely quick, and any home invaders don’t
want to risk getting caught.
In fact, one career home invader from Allen, Texas, con-
fessed that a wireless alarm system is particularly scary… if
found, he said, “I’m not even going to attempt it.”
There are a lot of alarm companies out there, and the top-
name brands are all pretty good. But keep in mind those uncre-
ative criminals are getting smarter these days and will often cut
your phone lines. Therefore, make sure the company offers a
wireless backup for your alarm system in case the phone lines
get damaged during an attempted break-in (most of them do).
Step #2: Know Your Neighborhood

In a horrific home invasion triple murder in Connecticut back
in 2007, one of the killers said he stalked two of the family
members from a grocery store to their home, noting they had a
“very nice house” and a “very nice car” that made their home
stick out as a good target. He also believed the possibility that
they had money in the house was “very decent.”
There’s nothing wrong with having a decent home and do-
ing well for yourself. But there are certain ways people display
their success that makes them targets.
Most homeowners never think about their home in the
context of their neighborhood or other surroundings, but did
112
you know that most criminals usually go for corner homes,

since they tend to have fewer immediate neighbors?
This makes it easier for criminals to assess the surrounding
area and occupancy, making corner houses an easier target for
burglary.
Another factor for criminals when choosing a particular
neighborhood is a certain kind of street sign.
Believe it or not, having a neighborhood watch sign is ex-
tremely effective. Criminals strenuously avoid neighborhoods
that display these signs.
“A 2008 study conducted by the U.S. Justice Department
revealed an average 16% reduction of crime in neighborhoods
with active Neighborhood Watch programs,” reports the
Dornbos Sign and Safety blog.
Neighborhood Watch presents an intimidation factor for
criminals, as the community works together to recognize crim-
inal action and prevent it from occurring.
The key is to know what kind of weaknesses a criminal
is going to look for, and the best way to make your home the
least attractive one on the block.
Step #3: Invest in Security Cameras or Adequate

Lighting
These days, it’s so simple to make your home less appealing to
a potential intruder.
Having an obvious security camera on a front or back door
can be a quick deterrent to any thief, because no one wants to
be recorded doing something illegal.
Alarm systems are affordable, and there are DIY alarm sys-
tems you can install yourself if you don’t want to go with a
major company. The same goes with camera systems. You can
get a wireless camera system and install it yourself. The only
real knowledge you need is how to use a screwdriver and how
113
CHAPTER 3
to log on to a company’s website to set everything up.

Personally, I recommend Hikvision cameras for top-notch
security that won’t break the bank. You can get more informa-
tion on their website, www.hikvision.com.
If you can’t afford or don’t want a security camera setup, there
are work-arounds that can provide just as much deterrence.
A fake security camera is an inexpensive and easy way to
“decoy” your house to make crooks move on to the next house.
Now you can deter robbery, theft and vandalism without
the high cost of a real security camera.
Whether you have a real security camera or a fake one,
make sure you turn it on. This is the biggest mistake home-
owners who DO have a security camera make that ends up
costing them.
While I definitely recommend everyone have an alarm sys-
tem and video cameras, one of the most overlooked security
measures is having motion-sensor lights around your home.
Maybe this is because motion-sensor lights aren’t a “super sexy”
topic, but it’s critical that you don’t have dark areas around
your house where a criminal can hide as they try to break into
your house through a door or window.
Even though you’ve got a front porch light and a back porch
light, there are likely still areas around your home that don’t
receive any light and are pitch-black. Most people focus their
lights, locks and security systems on the front of their homes,
but many home invasions occur somewhere else.
To discover where these “blind spots” are, take a walk
around your house when the sun goes down today. Identify
these areas and then purchase a motion sensor light or two.
Since these lights have no wires, you can install them in un-
conventional places, such as on a tree, fence or shed. It doesn’t
have to be attached to your house to light up your yard.
You can go to Home Depot and most hardware stores and
get motion-sensor lights. I prefer a motion-sensor light that
114
simply runs on batteries and is about as easy to install as it

gets. All you need is a Phillips-head screwdriver and the abil-
ity to screw in three screws. With those tools and just a few
minutes, you can install these motion-sensor lights all around
your home.
My choice is the Mr. Beams 300-lumen spotlight. If you go
to Amazon.com and do a search for that phrase, it will be the
first item that comes up on your screen.
As mentioned in the name of the product, this light puts
out 300 lumens, which is bright enough to light up any lawn.
The advertised coverage area of the light is 400 square feet, and
I’d be willing to say it’s a bit more.
The 300 lumens are powered by four D batteries, and the
batteries seem to last forever. That’s because whenever some-
one crosses in front of the light and sets off the motion sensor,
the light stays on for only about 10 seconds, which prevents
the batteries from getting drained too quickly.
The best part of this light, besides it doing exactly what it’s
supposed to, is the easy installation I mentioned earlier. You
just install the four D batteries and then mount the light with
the three screws to whatever location you wish.
By the way, these lights aren’t too expensive. You can pur-
chase three of them for $80, which means they cost only about
$27 a piece. And depending on the size of your home and how
many areas you need to cover, three of these lights may be all
you need.
Step #4: Don’t Be Too Trusting of Strangers at the Door

Before a burglar plans on breaking into a house, they will often
knock first to see if anyone’s home.
A recent Houston, Texas, home invasion began as a knock
at the door. What appeared to be a UPS driver with a package,
however, turned out to be an armed robber in disguise.
115
CHAPTER 3
Criminals will often try to get you to open a door to them

by pretending to be someone nonthreatening.
That could mean they impersonate a car crash victim, a
neighbor, a police officer, a maintenance person, a mailman or
anyone else you might open your door for.
Too often, people are trusting and get fooled. The results
can be deadly.
So exactly how do you sniff out these liars and get them off
your property before they can do any damage?
If there is a deliveryman at the door, one question you can
ask him is where the distribution center is. There’s no way a real
driver doesn’t know this.
Is there a person who says they’ve been in a car crash and
needs assistance? There might be accomplices hiding some-
where. So before these thugs try to gain access to your home,
make sure you scan the area for any accomplices hiding off to
the side of the door.
Whatever the excuse, be very cautious if you answer the
door.
Step #5: Remove Cheap Locks or Other Vulnerabilities

Home invaders know cheap security makes a break-in very
easy.
In a recent home invasion in Atlanta, Georgia, two perps
kicked the front door in with ease, pistol whipped the home-
owner and stole $80 in cash.
Do you still have the same regular old locks your home
came with?
Most locks are easily picked in as little as 30 seconds. They
can also make a door easy to kick in. Which is why having reli-
able locks for the doors and windows in your home is a simple,
vital step in home defense.
Let’s start with the locks. One of the most common brands
116
of locks used in the U.S. is Kwikset. They’re a go-to brand for

contractors and builders, and there’s a pretty good chance you
use them in your own home.
If you do, go to the nearest Home Depot and buy new locks
immediately.
Kwikset locks are poorly made and easily compromised.
I myself can pick one easily, and so can most criminals.
Instead, I recommend buying Schlage or Medeco locks.
You can get Schlage locks at Home Depot or any other major
hardware store. Medeco locks are a little harder to find. I’d
recommend searching for a local dealer using their website,
www.medeco.com. Simply select “Dealer Locator” from their
home page and type in your ZIP code to find out where you
can purchase Medeco locks near you.
I also recommend having a reliable solid deadbolt from ei-
ther Schlage or Medeco.
Getting a solid-core door is a good idea, too. One that’s made
out of sturdy, solid materials, like wood, steel or iron.
It’s a sad fact that several types of doors can be kicked in with
minimal effort. In fact, as I’m sure you’re aware, most doors are
hollow, and if you have a teenage son, you may know how easily
these can be kicked through. Purchasing a high-quality solid-core
door, particularly for your front door, is very important.
Many of us also have glass sliding doors in the rear of our
homes. Hopefully, if someone breaks these doors to try to get
in, you will hear the glass shatter and be prepared to meet the
intruder. If you really want to ensure you’ll hear them, I rec-
ommend putting a glass break detector on your glass doors. If
someone jostles these doors at all, a loud alarm is set off. One
example is the Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ultra-Slim
Window Alarm, available on Amazon for only $29.99.
It’s important that you reinforce the locks on these doors
too. You can do so easily and cheaply by getting a wooden bar
to put along the floor track. This costs about $2.00 at any home
117
CHAPTER 3
goods store. Just cut it half an inch shorter than the total track
distance.
Now if an intruder wants to come in that way, they’ll have
to break the door. As I mentioned, the noise that creates will
give you time to spring into action, especially if you use a glass
break detector.
I’d also recommend locking and reinforcing your windows.
Smaller wooden pieces similar to the bars for sliding doors
can go in the bottom of window tracks or along the inside of
the frames.
Criminals aren’t usually the brightest bunch, which is why
the majority of home invasions occur through the front or back
door. To ensure that your door isn’t easily kicked in and to give
yourself extra time to get to safety, you may want to consider
using a door barricade.
While it might sound like a big piece of equipment, a door
barricade is actually quite small and you’ll barely notice it.
It’s simply a metal plate that is secured to the floor directly
in front of your door. This metal plate has a groove down the
middle that allows you to insert a second metal plate, which
goes perpendicular and blocks the door from opening. The
door barricade that I like is called the Nightlock, available on
Amazon. If you install one of these at home, it will be nearly
impossible for someone to kick in your door.
Better Safe Than Sorry

As dangerous as America is becoming these days, you must
take action to protect you and your family.
Most believe the police, their home security systems and
their communities will keep them “safe”… and that taking even
simple steps to prepare for violence is unnecessary.
That is a dangerous assumption that makes it easy for crim-
inals to get what they want. Many victims of home invasion
118
have realized this the hard way.

By utilizing the five essential strategies described above,
you’ll be able to sleep well every night knowing your family is
protected.
119
HOW TO EFFECTIVELY CLEAR YOUR
HOME OF A POTENTIAL INTRUDER
“Can you come home?” were the first words out of my wife’s
mouth when I answered the phone. Naturally, I asked why.
My wife said she had just pulled into our driveway and got
a bad feeling that something wasn’t right. She wanted me to
come and clear the home to make sure nobody was in it.
My office is only a few miles away, so I was home in less
than 10 minutes. I told my wife to wait in the car and to call
911 if she heard screams or gunshots. Even though the house
looked normal to me, I walked all the way around it before
entering to ensure none of the doors or windows was open and
the alarm wasn’t blaring.
If any doors or windows were ajar, I would have called the
police immediately and not entered the home. Even though
I’m well trained, I don’t need to prove anything to anyone, and
I prefer to avoid getting in a gunfight if I can help it.
Since everything appeared normal, I carefully unlocked my
front door, turned off the alarm and proceeded to clear my
home with my Sig Sauer P238 in hand.
I slowly headed up the stairs. You should always clear your
home from top to bottom, since most criminals go straight to

the master bedroom, where they believe they’ll find cash, jew-
elry, coins and other valuables.
I stayed close to the wall on one side of the hallway as I
made my way to the bedroom. Staying close to the wall — in-
stead of walking straight down the middle of the hallway —
helps minimize your outline so you’re a smaller target. In other
words, if a criminal pops out of a doorway and fires a round
straight down the hallway, there’s a good chance he’ll miss you
if you’re hugging the wall.
On the way to the bedroom, I passed our bathroom. Be-
fore I attempted to open the bathroom door to check inside, I
pulled my gun close to my body so that my wrist was practical-
ly touching my rib cage. With the gun close to your body, you
have more control in the event someone is hiding right inside
the doorway and tries to grab your gun. Another reason to pull
your gun close to your body is so you don’t accidentally shoot
your other hand when you open the door.
Stand to the right of the door as you reach for the door-
knob. Don’t stand in the doorway itself because if someone
hears you and fires through the door, you don’t want to get hit.
Turn the doorknob, push the door open and step back to the
right of the door.
If you don’t see anything suspicious, slowly begin to “slice
the pie.” This is a technique used to clear corners and doorway
entrances. Each area is cleared in small slices, hence the name.
In my particular case, I was standing to the right of the bath-
room door and couldn’t see inside the entire bathroom. And
I wasn’t about to take a big step into the bathroom and fully
expose myself.
I began taking baby steps in a semicircle from the right side
of the door to the left. Each time you take a small step, slight-
ly lean your body forward to look further into the bathroom.
This way, if a criminal is lying in wait with a gun pointed at the
121
CHAPTER 3
door, you will expose as little of your body as possible, giving

them the smallest possible target to hit.
Once you make your way to the other side of the door, it’s
time to enter the room. But don’t just walk straight in. Instead,
enter the room and quickly cross to the opposite corner. Since I
was now standing to the left of the bathroom door, I quickly en-
tered and went to the right side of the bathroom. As I did this,
I looked over my left shoulder to make sure nobody was hiding
on top of or underneath the sink. Then I checked the cabinets
and the bathtub to ensure nobody was hiding there, either.
After my bathroom was clear, it was time to make my way
to the master bedroom and my kids’ bedrooms. I continued to
hug one side of the wall, and I sliced the pie again before enter-
ing each of the other rooms. I looked under the beds, opened
all of the closets and searched behind the dressers. Thankfully,
I didn’t find anyone and the top level of my house was now
clear. But I still had two floors left.
On the main level, I continued to slice the pie each time
I went around a corner. I looked behind the TV, in all of the
kitchen cupboards large enough for a person and underneath
our piano. Then I made my way to the basement. As I went
downstairs, I looked over my shoulder to make sure nobody
was sneaking up on me from behind. Then I cleared the base-
ment rooms in the same manner I cleared the top two floors.
Once I cleared my entire home and confirmed nobody was
in it, I told my wife and kids it was safe to come in. I was glad
my wife called me to clear the house, because I’m a firm believ-
er in always trusting your gut. Even though there was nobody
in my house this time, I commend my wife’s caution. Because
your instincts are often right and you should follow them.
Remember, if you ever need to clear your own home, have
patience and take as much time as you need. If there’s any sign
of entry, do not go into the house. Immediately call the police,
because there’s a good chance someone has broken in.
122
YOUR HOME SECURITY SYSTEM ISN’T
AS SECURE AS YOU THINK
According to the FBI, a home burglary occurs every 13 sec-

onds. These criminals tend to be desperate people looking to
steal things they can turn into quick cash. The look for items
such as jewelry, small electronics and credit cards that they can
easily sell on the black market.
Sadly, there isn’t much to stop these thieves from breaking
in — only 17% of homes have a working home security system
installed. And criminals are becoming more brazen and dan-
gerous these days — choosing to rob even those houses with
an alarm system.
In fact, many nationwide security companies are finding
that their systems can be hacked with just a little bit of work.
Big companies like ADT, Comcast and Vivint have had tech-
nology issues exposed.
Nowadays, most security systems are tied to the internet in-
stead of using a telephone landline. An internet-based system
allows you to add other technology features to your alarm setup.
For example, you could add smart locks, light bulbs and a ther-
mostat and control all these components from your smartphone.
CHAPTER 3
Despite all of this fancy technology, criminals could still

hack your system. And it’s not very difficult to do. First, let’s
review how a basic home security system works.
Sound The Alarm

Most systems on the market today operate the same way, using
sensors on the doors and windows that communicate with the
home base system. If the signal from one of the sensors is bro-
ken, the alarm will sound.
The problem with this type of system is the radio signal
the hardware uses to communicate can be easily disrupted.
A criminal could simply order an inexpensive radio jammer
from a company overseas and have it shipped to the U.S. Then
all they’d have to do is find the frequency that your security
company operates at and they could jam the signal. The alarm
would never go off.
Using radio signals probably sounds outdated, but security
companies haven’t had a reason to change this technology, be-
cause it was never an issue… until now.
A False Sense of Security

To address this flaw, most of the major home security providers
claim to have added anti-jamming software to their systems.
But during testing, many hackers say the jamming technique
still works. In fact, one company admitted that their anti-jam-
ming software only alerted the homeowner to an issue with the
security system and didn’t actually set off the alarm.
Despite this, installing a home security system is still a good
idea. There are also a few other things you can do to make your
house less appealing to burglars:
• Place a large dog bowl near your back door. Criminals are
terrified of dogs. If they see the dog bowl, they’ll move on
124
to a dog-free neighbor’s house.

• Install motion sensor lights around your home. First, take
a walk around your home at night and locate all of the
“dark spots” so you know how many lights to buy and
where you need to put them.
• Reinforce the locks on your doors and windows. Put a
wooden bar along the floor track of your sliding glass
door. Smaller wooden pieces can go in the bottom of win-
dow tracks or along the inside of window frames.
Remember, any home security system has its flaws. You
should always have a backup plan to protect yourself if you’re
home when a break-in occurs. Mine happens to be a gun. Yours
might be a gun, knife, baseball bat or something else. What-
ever it is, don’t rely solely on your home security system to
protect you.
Secure Your Windows and Doors

Having reliable locks for the doors and windows in your home
is a simple, vital step in home defense. Let’s start with the locks.
One of the most common brands of locks used in the U.S. is
Kwikset. They’re a go-to brand for contractors and builders, and
there’s a pretty good chance you use them in your own home. If
you do, go to the nearest Home Depot and buy new locks imme-
diately. Kwikset locks are poorly made and easily compromised.
I myself can pick one easily, and so can most criminals.
Instead, I recommend buying Schlage or Medeco locks.
You can get Schlage locks at Home Depot or any other major
hardware store. Medeco locks are a little harder to find. I’d
recommend searching for a local dealer using their website,
www.medeco.com. Simply select “Dealer Locator” from their
home page and type in your ZIP code to find out where you
can purchase Medeco locks near you.
125
CHAPTER 3
I also recommend having a reliable, solid deadbolt from ei-

ther Schlage or Medeco. Getting a solid-core door is a good
idea, too. One that’s made out of sturdy, solid materials, like
wood, steel, or iron. It’s a sad fact that several types of doors
can be kicked in with minimal effort. In fact, as I’m sure you’re
aware, most doors are hollow, and if you have a teenage son,
you know how easily these can be kicked through.
Purchasing a high-quality solid-core door, particularly for
your front door, is very important. Many of us also have glass
sliding doors in the rear of our homes. Hopefully, if someone
breaks these doors to try to get in, you will hear the glass shat-
ter and be prepared to meet the intruder. If you really want to
ensure you’ll hear them, I recommend putting a glass break
detector on your glass doors. If someone jostles these doors at
all, a loud alarm is set off.
One example is the Doberman Security SE-0106-4PK Ul-
tra-Slim Window Alarm, available on Amazon for only $29.99.
It’s important that you reinforce the locks on these doors too.
You can do so easily and cheaply by getting a wooden bar to
put along the floor track. This costs about $2.00 at any home
goods store. Just cut it half an inch shorter than the total track
distance. Now if an intruder wants to come in that way, they’ll
have to break the door.
As I mentioned, the noise that creates will give you time to
spring into action, especially if you use a glass break detector.
I’d also recommend locking and reinforcing your windows.
Smaller wooden pieces similar to the bars for sliding doors
can go in the bottom of window tracks or along the inside of
the frames.
Being Prepared on Every Level of Your Home

There’s one sound that makes even hardened criminals run
in the other direction during an attempted home invasion:
126
gunshots. I have at least one gun stored on every level of my

home. Because I have small children, every one of these guns
is in a rapid access safe, made by GunVault or Stack-On or
Console Vault. I’ve set it up this way so that if someone breaks
into my home, I don’t have to worry about running all of the
way upstairs (and possibly past the intruder) to retrieve a fire-
arm to defend myself.
But guns aren’t the only preparedness item that I have on
every level of my home. I also have a flashlight on every level
so that they’re easily accessible from anywhere in my home if
the lights go out. When it comes to flashlights, I have plenty of
tactical flashlights that I carry with me always. Tactical flash-
lights are very small, with a high-powered beam, which makes
them easy to use and reliable. My tactical flashlights are made
by SureFire and Nextorch.
However, in addition to my tactical flashlights, I also have
larger (nontactical) lights, which have batteries that will last
for dozens of hours. On the low price point of things is the 6V
Eveready flashlight that can be bought at hardware stores for
about $7. This is the large yellow flashlight that you’ve prob-
ably seen a million times. The beauty of this flashlight is that
it lasts 100 hours before you need to get a new battery, and a
new battery is only about $8.00. If you’re looking for a cheap,
no-frills flashlight, this is it.
Recently, I got another larger flashlight that will also last
100 hours. The light is the O2 Beam by Nebo. It’s a brand-
new flashlight that has five different settings, ranging from 85
lumens with a 100-hour battery life to 420 lumens with a 20-
hour life. It also has strobe and beacon settings. I’ve been very
impressed with this flashlight so far because not only does it
have five settings, but you can adjust the light beam to go from
being wide to a concentrated spotlight.
Surprisingly, this flashlight isn’t too expensive, only $80,
which is a good deal for this type of flashlight. In addition to
127
CHAPTER 3
flashlights and guns, I also have food storage on every level of

my home, in case we experience any type of flooding. I get all
of my food storage from the LDS Cannery, run by the Mormon
church. Don’t worry — you don’t have to be Mormon to qual-
ify. Visit them at providentliving.lds.org to learn how to order
canned goods.
The bottom line is crazy events seem to occur every week
in this country that remind us about the importance of being
prepared. So it’s important to be prepared for any situation by
gathering the correct supplies and making sure that they are
easily accessible from anywhere in your home.
Buy These Batteries

Have you ever taken a count of how many items you use ev-
ery day that rely on batteries? Electric toothbrushes, children’s
toys, remote controls, flashlights… in the technological age
that we live in, batteries are a necessity. And because we rely on
these devices and we want to be prepared when the electricity
goes out (even if it’s just for a few hours), it’s important to have
quality batteries.
Sure, you can go to Wal-Mart and buy regular Energizer or
Duracell batteries, but if you use your flashlights as often as
I do, and if you use an electric toothbrush or any other item
frequently, you may want to consider rechargeable batteries.
Now, rechargeable batteries are nothing new, but like every
other product, you don’t want to buy poor-quality recharge-
able batteries that let you down when it counts. This is why I
recommend you check out the Panasonic Eneloop recharge-
able batteries. These are the ones that I personally use. These
batteries come pre-charged from the factory, which is an added
bonus — you can immediately put them to use. They can be
recharged up to 2,100 times, which is not only convenient but
will save you a ton of money over the years. Another good
128
thing about these batteries is that they actually maintain their

charge when not in use.
I have never left these batteries charged for years on end,
but according to the company, they can maintain up to 70%
of their charge after five years. What’s more, they can work in
freezing temperatures all the way down to minus 4 degrees F
without losing their charge. The fact is these are tough batter-
ies that will last. Even if they’re not as glamorous as a gun or a
knife, having high-quality batteries could come in handy much
more often.
If you decide you want to get these batteries, you can buy
them on Amazon.com by simply searching for “Panasonic
Eneloop batteries.” Where to Hide Your Guns As with all of
your valuables, it’s important to make your guns hard to find.
Never store guns and valuables in your master bedroom (with
the exception of your home defense gun, which should sit on
your nightstand in a rapid access safe).
The master bedroom is the first place burglars will look,
as most burglars want to be in and out of your house in eight
minutes. You want to keep your guns in a place like an attic.
This often requires a ladder to get to. In your attic, you want to
store the guns in a box marked “old clothes” or “child’s toys.”
If you have a large gun safe, consider getting a dummy gun
safe too. I know one guy who has his large dummy safe and
then behind it, in a wall, is his real safe full of guns. Other
good ideas are the safes that look like an electrical box or a
vent. A friend of mine owns a company called Console Vault.
One of their products is called the Red Herring Secret Safe. It
looks exactly like an electrical panel built into your wall but it
is covered with “high voltage” warnings and nobody in their
right mind would ever touch it.
Other places to consider are in your kitchen behind your
pots and pans or in a fireplace (that you don’t use) behind a
stack of wood. Wherever you decide to hide your guns, I do
129
CHAPTER 3
recommend having them locked up in some type of gun safe,

even if it’s just a small safe such as the SnapSafe Lockbox or the
GunVault NV200.
Stop Oversharing
A Texas couple returned home from vacation to realize they’d
been burglarized to the tune of over $200,000. The burglars
had broken into a safe and stolen 45 guns, ammunition, gold
coins, and jewelry. According to police, it appeared to be a
well planned job that took several hours, and the thieves likely
knew that the couple was out of town.
Obviously, this is a terrible event for the couple, who lost
family heirlooms and lots of money. But let’s be honest here —
it could have been prevented.
First, it’s imperative to have an alarm system, especially if
you have over $200,000 worth of goods in your house. These
days, alarm systems are so inexpensive there’s no excuse not to
have one.
Second, be careful of who you tell when you’re going out
of town. Make sure a trusted neighbor knows so that they can
keep an eye out for anything suspicious. But DON’T post on
Facebook. Anyone with ill intentions can easily see that post
and get a bad idea. It’s an easy trap that too many people fall
for. If you must post pictures and brag about your trip, save it
until after you return.
Family Emergency Plan

One question that I’m often asked is what you should do when
a crisis actually hits. If you’re at work when a terrorist attack or
a terrible natural disaster occurs, what should you do to get to
your family? When these things happen, it causes mass chaos.
That’s why it’s vital to have a family emergency plan in place,
which all of the members of your family are aware of.
130
The first thing you want to do is go get the youngest and

weakest members of the family. For me, this means going to
school and getting my kids, starting with the youngest child.
Also, if you are unable to get in touch with one another, it’s
important for both you and your spouse to go to get the kids.
In a crisis event, you hope for the best but always assume
the worst. So I have to assume my wife is dead and that I need
to go pick up the kids. My wife has to assume that I am dead
and that she’ll have to go pick up the kids. Whoever gets to the
first child leaves a note for their spouse. This is critical to do.
In the bag in my car, I have some Rite in the Rain paper and an
Inkzall marker. This marker can write on all types of wet and
oily surfaces.
I also have Gorilla tape to tape the note to the preschool
door or in some other easy-to-see place. On this note, write
something such as “Sandy, I got to the school first and picked
up Lucy. I am headed to get Tom. Love, Jason. 10-13-15, 9:05
a.m.” (Always put the date and time so your spouse knows
when you got there.)
Once you have gotten your kids, then you head home or to
the designated place you’re supposed to meet the rest of your
family (have two of them). Obviously, if your home or first
designated meeting place is no longer standing or safe to enter,
then you’ll go to the secondary meeting place, which can be
anything from a church house to random parking lot or park.
And if the secondary meeting place isn’t safe, you’ll go to a
third place.
This is an incredibly simple plan that I recommend you talk
with your spouse about tonight. In a true disaster, the chaos is
going to be extreme, and you’ll be grateful you know exactly
what to do and the places to meet your loved ones. Plus, don’t
forget the paper that you can write on in the rain, the Inkzall
marker, and the Gorilla tape.
You should also have a well-developed family emergency
131
CHAPTER 3
plan within your own home. Just as in the plan I just described,
you’re going to want to get to the weakest or youngest mem-
bers of your family first. Once you’ve established they are safe,
clear your home, room by room, to look for intruders.
132
WHITE HOUSE-WORTHY HOME
SECURITY TIPS
When it comes to the security of government facilities — like

the CIA headquarters in Langley, Virginia, or the White House
in Washington, D.C. — the government typically employs a
layered defense system, where the security level increases as
you pass through each “ring” or layer.
This security concept is referred to as concentric circles
of protection or concentric rings of security. Whatever you
call it, one of the best examples of this type of layered protec-
tion is the way the government secures the airspace around
Washington, D.C.
Unauthorized Aircraft Detected

In 2005, two pilots breached D.C. airspace and experienced
this security protocol firsthand. Pilots Troy Martin and Jim
Sheaffer left Pennsylvania en route to North Carolina on May
11, 2005. At some point, they veered off course and entered
the Air Defense Identification Zone near D.C.
The men kept flying and proceeded to enter a second, more
CHAPTER 3
restricted area: the 15-mile radius of the Flight Restricted

Zone. In response to their actions, a Department of Homeland
Security helicopter intercepted the Cessna Martin and Sheaffer
were flying.
The helicopter attempted to make radio contact with the
pilots but was unable to reach them. When the helicopter flew
away, the men believed they had left the restricted airspace. But
a few minutes later, two F-16 jets appeared, and the two pilots
quickly realized the gravity of the situation.
One of the F-16s deployed red flares to get the attention
of the disoriented pilots. They had flown within three miles
of the White House, causing it to be evacuated along with the
U.S. Capitol.
Finally, radio contact was made with the pilots, and they
were advised to head toward Frederick, Maryland, where they
could land at a small airport.
Even though one of the pilots of the F-16s confirmed they
were able to verify the Cessna was not a threat and they never
intended to fire upon the aircraft, I guarantee those two lost
pilots had the scare of a lifetime.
As I mentioned, this is a perfect example of concentric
rings of security. As the Cessna crossed each ring or circle, the
security response increased. And if Homeland Security had de-
termined that the plane posed a serious threat, further action
would have been taken.
DIY at Home
Even if you don’t live at 1600 Pennsylvania Ave., you can still
apply this idea to your home. In its simplest form, the concen-
tric circles of protection break down in three different layers:
The first layer of security is the perimeter of your property.
Make sure to include EVERY direction by which a criminal
could approach your home. Protections may include a fence,
134
motion sensor lights, security cameras or even an alarm sys-

tem yard sign. The point of these security measures is to deter
criminals from considering your home as a target.
The second layer of security is designed to prevent entry
into your home. Here are some questions to consider: Are
the bushes or shrubs around your home cut back, or can
a criminal easily hide in your yard? Are ALL of your doors
and windows regularly locked? Have you installed Medeco
or Schlage locks? Have you thought about using a door bar-
ricade, like Nightlock? All of these measures will hopefully
keep criminals from ever setting foot in your home.
Nightlock: www.nightlock.com
The last circle or line of defense is the security measures
inside your home. This should include an alarm system that
alerts you when a window or door is breached. For me, this
also includes my Sig Sauer P226 and extra magazines in a rap-
id-access safe on my nightstand. Another aspect of this circle of
protection is the safe room your family has chosen as a meeting
point. Inside this room should be another home defense weap-
on and a cellphone to call 911.
When you evaluate your home defense plan, consider im-
plementing the concentric ring approach. Then assess each
layer to see where your home may be vulnerable. Start at the
first circle and work your way inward.
If you’re able to successfully apply this information, your
home will be as secure as the White House — minus the F-16s.
135
THE #1 ITEM FOR HOME DEFENSE…
AND IT COSTS JUST $13
By Cade Courtley | Former Navy SEAL Sniper

Legal Disclaimer: Bear spray is intended for use against bears
— any use of bear spray other than its intended use may be
deemed unlawful and lead to prosecution. The information
given in this article is an opinion and not a recommendation
or advice. Use bear spray at your own risk and in accordance
with State and Federal laws/regulations.
Several years ago, my girlfriend and I were driving home
from a movie in my Ford Raptor. For some reason, the car in
front of me was stopped at an intersection — even though the
light was green.
As I came to a stop, I quickly realized why the vehicle in
front of me wasn’t moving…
A rough-looking guy in dirty black jeans and an open black
jacket was walking across the intersection. He was bare-chest-
ed with his arms outwardly stretched, practically “inviting” a
vehicle to hit him. It was clear from my vantage point that this
individual was not in his right mind.
As he continued slowly across the intersection, I blasted my

horn. That’s when he switched directions and began advancing
directly toward my truck. He was 25 feet away.
As I was taught in the SEAL teams, I did an immediate
threat assessment: HANDS — empty. No visible weapons. This
limited my options should I need to respond to this situation.
As he continued to advance toward my truck, I quickly re-
viewed my options:
1. Glock 22C (.40 cal) handgun in my door panel. Deadly
force = NOT AUTHORIZED.
2. Drive over him. Deadly force = NOT AUTHORIZED.
3. Get out of my truck. This would be considered confron-
tational/accelerating the conflict. Deadly force = NOT
AUTHORIZED.
Suddenly, he started running toward the passenger side of
my truck, where my girlfriend was seated with her window
down. When he got within six feet of the window, I told my
girlfriend to hold her breath and pushed her head into her lap.
That’s when I sprayed the assailant with a three-second
burst of bear spray. Nonlethal = AUTHORIZED.
He was immediately incapacitated. The threat was neutral-
ized and we proceeded home. This all occurred in just eight
seconds.
Approximately two hours later, two officers from the Boul-
der Police Department arrived at my door and charged ME
with third-degree assault.
I was BEYOND angry. I had never been arrested in my life.
Welcome to the People’s Republic of Boulder.
In the months that followed, I would have to spend over
$8,000 on lawyer fees only to have the charges dropped by the
district attorney the day before my trial. I would later learn that
the individual who approached my truck had been arrested 18
137
CHAPTER 3
times in the previous two years on charges that included as-

saulting a police officer.
Now, given the identical situation reoccurring — I would
still react in the very same way. I’d rather be judged by 12 than
carried by six.
Your Home Defense Tool

Bear spray, Wikipedia says, “is a type of pepper spray or capsa-
icin deterrent that is used to deter aggressive bears, typically in
wilderness environments.”
I used to do a lot of trail running in the area, which is why
I happened to be carrying a can of Counter Assault Bear Deter-
rent with me.
Now, let me once again emphasize that bear spray is only
intended for use on bears. Use bear spray at your own risk and
in accordance with state and federal laws/regulations.
However, if you feel that your life or the life of someone
else is a risk — you should do everything and anything to pro-
tect yourself and others.
Memorize this statement:
“I FELT MY LIFE WAS IN DANGER AND I DID WHAT I
HAD TO DO TO PROTECT MYSELF.”
Given my situation that required a response, I did what I
felt I had to do.
What to Carry
Frontiersman Bear Spray is a great brand that allows for maxi-
mum strength and maximum range. On sale, you can find this
for as little as $13.
While Frontiersman is a great option, I happen to carry
Counter Assault deterrent. It’s a little more expensive at $45,
but I’ve found it to be a very effective nonlethal option.
138
Frontiersman: https://www.sabrered.com/bear-spray
Counter Assault: https://www.rei.com/product/623173/
counter-assault-bear-deterrent-spray-81-fl-oz
I can tell you from personal experience that bear spray is
incredibly effective as a non-lethal form of self-defense. Keep
in mind, however, bear spray is a form of pepper spray. And
while it’s legal to possess pepper spray in all states, some states
do have restrictions including: the capacity of the cartridge,
potency of the spray, selling to minors, selling to felons and
special labeling requirements. Massachusetts and New York
even require a license to sell tear gas, Mace, or devices that
emit a substance designed to incapacitate.
In Canada, bear spray is considered as a prohibited weapon
if it is used against a person instead of a bear. Buying bear spray
with the intent of use on a person is illegal. It’s illegal to carry
a product designed for personal protection against a human
attack. You can buy bear spray for using on bears, BUT you can
also be charged with having a concealed weapon if you are car-
rying it in a place that you are unlikely to see bears. If you use
bear spray against a person, you can face additional charges if
it’s not considered a legitimate self-defense situation.
Bear spray should only be used as a means of protection in
life-threatening situations. And please make sure that you’re
aware of the rules and regulations regarding the use of bear
spray on people before you actually use it. Take it from me, the
police won’t take it lightly… but it may mean the difference
between life and death.
If you’re ever in a bind, this $13 spray might be your No. 1
ticket for home defense.
139
A SEAL’S GUIDE TO HOME DEFENSE

Most of us can’t afford a Level 1 security system with imme-
diate armed response and all the high-tech bells and whistles
you could ever need. But here are four steps anyone can take
to deter a would-be intruder:
1. Install an external Wi-Fi security camera. There are sev-
eral very reasonably priced external cameras available —
many for under $200. A security camera has two func-
tions. First, they allow you to monitor the exterior of
your house with a live feed through your phone or TV.
Second, if a criminal sees a camera at a point of entry —
they will likely move on to a home without one.
2. Secure ALL points of entry. If you can fit your head
through it — secure it! This includes all ducts, crawl
spaces and especially basements. Plywood or several lay-
ers of high-tensile-strength mesh wire will do the trick.
3. Fortify your windows and doors. For doors, I’m a big
fan of using two Grade 1 deadbolts. The second lock
should be keyless, meaning it can only be locked from
the inside, not accessed from the outside. To secure your

windows, buy a few dowels (at least 1” diameter) from
the hardware store. If the window opens from the bot-
tom, cut the dowel ½” shorter than the height of the
window and place it in the top half of the window. This
will stop anyone from opening the window without re-
moving the dowel on the inside. If your windows slide
open sideways, cut the dowel ½” shorter than the width
of the window and simply lay it in the track. Be sure to
secure any sliding glass doors this way as well.
4. Make your own alarm system. Add a magnetic alarm
unit to every door and window in your house. I’m a fan
of the ones made by Swann — you can buy 10 for just
under $30. These little devices sound with a screaming
110-decibel siren when the two pieces of the unit are sep-
arated. If that doesn’t scare away your intruder altogether,
it should at least give you a few extra seconds to respond.
Remember, criminals will follow the path of least resis-
tance. When confronted with even the slightest challenge,
they’ll simply move on to the next house.
DIY SAFE ROOM

Designate a safe retreat to accommodate any number of emergencies:
1. Select an interior room or large closet with no windows or skylight.
2. Install a solid-core or steel door with weld-on hinges. Hang it so it opens

outward.
3. Replace the wooden doorjamb with a steel one, or reinforce the door trim
with steel angle iron to prevent the door from being kicked open.
4. Install a keyless Grade 1 deadbolt.
5.
Furnish your safe room with the following: defensive weapon, fully
charged cellphone (preferably a secondary that stays in this room), first
aid kit, flashlight, water and fire extinguisher.
141
CHAPTER 3
This Is Not a Drill

Unfortunately, no amount of preemptive safety measures will
keep a tenacious trespasser from gaining entry into your home.
Which means you should know how to respond once a breach
has occurred — with zero hesitation.
Once a criminal is inside, the No. 1 goal for you and your
family is to avoid the intruder. To that end, here are some help-
ful SEAL-inspired tips to consider:
• If you don’t have an alarm system to alert the household to
the presence of an invader, establish a code word or words
that everyone knows mean trouble to initiate a predeter-
mined escape plan — i.e., leave the house and rendezvous
at an agreed-upon meeting point or head to the safe room.
• Draw a sketch of the interior of your home and mark al-
ternate points of exit that could be accessed while avoid-
ing the area the intruders have breached. Be sure to have
more than one exit strategy, including alternate escape
routes for the front, rear and second floor.
• Rehearse, rehearse, rehearse. In special ops, we rehearse
dozens of times before going on a mission. It’s one of the
most important factors of success. The plan becomes sec-
ond nature, and if something does go wrong, you are better
able to adjust. If you have kids, don’t turn these practice
drills into a scary situation, but be sure to rehearse with
the lights off, so they get used to maneuvering in the dark.
• Speaking of kids, teach your children how and when to
dial 911. And if they get separated from you, they should
know which neighbor to go to and what to say.
Make Your Home a Fortress for Under $100

You can spend hundreds of dollars each month on a profession-
ally installed home security system with cameras, automated
142
lights, door locks and 24-hour monitoring. However, this may

not be realistic for many people. The good news is there are
several simple steps you can take to make criminals think twice
about breaking into your home.
You can purchase the following for under $100. These
items will make your home much less attractive to a criminal
casing your neighborhood for an easy target, and chances are
they’ll end up choosing someone else’s house to break into
instead of yours:
• Fake security cameras — For as little as $10, you can get a
fake security camera with a blinking red light and wiring
that looks authentic. Simply install one of these on the
exterior of your home and put in batteries to make the
light blink. I had a client in Salt Lake City do this, and a
criminal broke into his neighbor’s house instead of his.
The best part was the police wanted the video from my
client’s cameras to catch the criminal, and my client had
to tell the cops they were fake
• Dog bowl and “beware of dog” signs — It’s no secret
that criminals hate dealing with dogs, because they can
be loud and unpredictable. That being said, for $5, you
can buy a large dog bowl to place by your door. Plus, for
around $10, you can add a “beware of dog” sign to your
door or fence. With these two signs that a dog is pres-
ent, criminals will likely go to a neighboring house that
doesn’t have the appearance of a dog
• Doorstopper alarm — For around $15, you can get a pair
of doorstopper alarms to place at your exterior doors.
In short, these devices emit a loud sound when they are
tripped by the door opening. If someone does attempt to
break in, these alarms would stun them for a moment and
wake you up in time to thwart the intruder
143
CHAPTER 3
• Motion sensor lights — Criminals like to hide in bushes

and sneak around to case a house, so I recommend in-
stalling motion sensor lights. If a thief enters your yard
and your property is flooded with light, it draws unwant-
ed attention. You can even purchase battery-operated or
solar-powered lights so you don’t have to wire in new fix-
tures. And you don’t even need to break the bank — you
can get quality lights for $30 or less
• Install window stops — Window stops allow a window to
open only about six inches, which isn’t enough space for
any criminal to squeeze through. All first-floor windows
should have these stops installed to prevent easy access.
Opening a window is one of the simplest ways to break
into a house, but most criminals won’t want to break a
window because the noise will blow their cover. You can
purchase window stops for under $15
• Alarm signs — Go on eBay or Amazon and for $10, you
can buy signs for an alarm company. Put one in your front
and backyard to make burglars think your home is pro-
fessionally monitored by an alarm service. Just make sure
you buy signs that look legit, such as those by ADT or
Brinks, and not ones by ACME alarm company that look
totally fake.
144
CHAPTER 4:
PERSONAL DEFENSE :
TACTICS FOR TAKING DOWN
ANY ATTACKER
WHY “SELF DEFENSE” IS A SHAM
When you think of “self-defense” or “self-protection,” what do

you see?
I see nothing.
OK, maybe that’s a little too harsh, too fast.
If I try really hard to cut through the ambiguous fog of
those phrases, I can almost see someone getting attacked, des-
perately trying to get away, maybe getting backed into a corner.
Flailing like a terrified animal.
At worst I see someone curled up in a ball on the ground.
That’s what “self-defense” means to me. And that’s why I
won’t teach, practice or do it.
I’m only ever interested in hurting people.
The term “self-defense” has no operational value. It does
not paint of picture of me doing anything of consequence. It
suggests passivity, being acted upon by someone else, moving
second and hoping for the best. It does not mean getting any-
thing done.
This really hit home while I was doing some reading on com-
bat handgun use. I grew tired of the constant, politically correct
PERSONAL DEFENSE: TACTICS FOR TAKING DOWN ANY ATTACKER
phraseology of “self-defense,” “self-protection” and “home de-

fense.” One actually has to dig deep to find any reference to killing
people with bullets. And here I always assumed that’s what guns
were for: a tool to enable a person to kill another without undue
effort or training.
Of course, that’s the elephant in the middle of the room that
we dance around by using sanitized code words. Why can’t we
just call it like it is?
Because every use of violence is a crime.
If someone breaks into your home in the middle of the
night and comes after you and your family — threatening or
outright harming you or others — and you shoot/stab/beat him
to death, you have committed, at the very least, manslaughter.
It is then up to the district attorney to look at the circum-
stances surrounding the case and decide whether it was OK for
you to commit that crime. This is where the legal definition of
self-defense comes in.
Unless you’re studying for the bar, the term is meaningless.
Slapping “self-defense” on physical training for combat or for
firearms use is just society’s way of really, really hoping you’ll
wait your turn and go second like polite, civilized folk do…
… and not go around terrorizing or hunting people.
Just to be clear: In purely legal terms, I will only use my
training when my life or the lives of others are in danger, just
as I would find it necessary to shoot somebody only under
identical circumstances.
While this is the very definition of legal self-defense, I
would not use that term to describe my practice. When I go to
the range or the countryside I practice marksmanship because
that’s how you kill someone with a gun. When I hit the mats
I practice hurting (and yes, killing) people with fists, boots,
sticks and knives.
“Self-defense” and its wishy-washy, go-second connota-
tions do not figure into the physical execution. While it may
147
CHAPTER 4
describe the situation under which such behavior may be

deemed acceptable by the legal system, it is a poor descriptor
of the act itself: Hurting people.
“Self-defense” is a marketing term, because it’s what we’ve
all been told is acceptable. Nobody searches for “how to use
violence” because it’s assumed that only the “bad guys” use
violence — the rest of us are stuck with self-defense.
It is far more effective for training to peel all the padding off
the hard corners and make the accepted generalities specific.
Instead of a hopeful “for serious self-defense, go for the eyes,”
we get specific on the mechanical process of gouging an eye-
ball out of a skull. How to get it done, how to get it right, the
resulting injury and associated disability and how to practice
to make that injury the most likely outcome.
While I would advocate that you only use the information
we train in serious life-or-death situations (textbook self-de-
fense scenarios) you should find the term itself to be insuffi-
cient to describe your actual training and practice. I don’t teach
people self-defense. I teach them how to hurt people.
And therein lies our issue of contention: Violence — hurting
people — is precisely what the winners are famous for doing.
I want to practice winning in violent conflict, not training for
second place.
Second place, as we all know, is first loser, and in life-or-
death violence, the losers are usually dead.
Don’t Be Fooled by Survival Semantics

Self-defense means many things:
It is the moral imperative we use to draw a line between
predatory and “civilized” use of force: “I will only fire in
self-defense.”
It is the legal rule we use to judge whether or not that use
of force is a crime: “The defendant claims to have acted in
self-defense.”
148
It’s a catchall term used to describe physical training for

such activities: “I’m taking a self-defense class.”
It can also refer to the unarmed techniques learned there:
“If someone comes after me, I’ll use self-defense on him.”
It means many things — and this vague imprecision is ex-
actly why it is useless for our needs in training to do violence
by hand.
The moral imperative and the legal rule are fine for what
they do — one informs the decision process before the fact
and the other helps society figure out how it feels about it after
the fact. It is the carrying over of the term to describe physical
training and technique that is harmful.
As was pointed out in the comments to the previous post,
words mean things. A single word can connote entire constel-
lations of meaning, in varying shades and intensities.
When it comes to training for physical action, we must
choose the words we use to describe that action very carefully:
The more direct and concrete, the better. We need the words
to conjure up a clear vision of that action that has you acting
decisively.
“Self-defense,” as a descriptor for hand-to-hand combat, is
unfortunately vague. It fails because it says nothing about the
other guy or you doing anything to him. It mentions you and
protecting you. And that’s it. “Self-defense” does not describe
any direct action.
The popular narrative looks no further than the attacker/
defender dichotomy. If you’re training for self-defense and do-
ing self-defense, you’re automatically accepting the role of the
defender. In criminal violence, attackers are usually the “bad
guys” and defenders the “good guys.” No sane, social person
wants to be a bad guy — we all want to be the good guy. We
want to have a good reason for doing what we must and be in
the right after the fact. So we’ve picked sides. We venerate the
doughty defender and vilify the animal attacker.
149
CHAPTER 4
And in doing so, we put our blinders on.

Most videos of criminal violence involve an attacker sav-
aging a victim. Since we can’t identify with the attacker, we
see ourselves as the guy on the ground getting stomped,
stabbed, shot, whatever’s happening to him at the moment.
We then desperately try to come up with a plan to prevent
those things from happening, all the while ignoring what the
bad guy’s doing.
This is training for second place.
And all because we picked a role with the language we
chose to describe our actions.
It is far more useful to replace the attacker/defender dichot-
omy with the idea of winners and losers. In every successful
use of violence, there will be at least one winner and one loser.
Instead of identifying with the loser and looking to them for
answers, we need to figure out what the winner is doing. Why
did he win? How can I do what he did? What mistakes did he
make? How can I improve on his process?
Of course, we have to step outside what is socially accept-
able to see it from this perspective. No one wants to venerate
the bad guys or take on the mantle of the evildoer. But when
you stop painting black hats and white hats on the people in
the situation and look purely at the mechanics of success in
violence, it becomes clear that it is easier to win than to fulfill
the various needs of self-defense.
Words dictate how we think, and how we think directly
dictates how we move.
Don’t “defend yourself” — hurt the man.
Don’t train for “self-defense” — practice using violence as
a survival tool.
Leave self-defense where it’s best suited, in the realm of
ideas, where it bookends the act of violence as the moral im-
perative to not use force needlessly and for legal consideration
after the fact.
150
That’s why I don’t do, practice or teach “self-defense.” I’ve

spent my career figuring out why the winners win in violence
and how to teach anyone who’ll listen how to do what they do.
In hand-to-hand violence, defense gets you killed. Hurting
people gets you home.
The difference starts with mere words.
151
ARE YOU A PREDATOR OR
ARE YOU PREY?
By Damian Ross | Self Defense Co.

Self-defense size-ups happen in the first few milliseconds
you’re in someone else’s space.
They see you as a possible target of opportunity, and they
need to make a quick decision — a COST/BENEFIT analysis
— on whether you are going to be worth it.
In other words, will they be able to impose their will on you
without being injured, captured or identified?
When walking in rough neighborhoods, people who don’t
know any better will tell you to AVOID EYE CONTACT, keep
your head down and just keep moving.
This is not good advice.
At our core, we’re animals, and in the animal kingdom there
are PREDATORS and PREY.
If you act like either one, you will be TREATED as such.
When criminals and bullies pick targets, they’re looking for
PREY — not a title fight.
Take this story I just received from one of my elite members,
Lee:
“I was walking out of a Walmart when a male in his 20s
hocked up some phlegm and spit right across my path. He was

standing next to the wall, and my inclination was to swing my
right arm around and plaster his head against the wall before
he could escalate the situation.
“Needless to say, I didn’t, but I did make eye contact and
maintain my distance while walking past, and he went back
against the wall.
“I do believe he got the message.
“I have come to discover that the will to act is the currency
of respect in some circles. It sends a message that it’s not a
real good idea to mess with me.
“However, on a bad day, this could have degenerated into
an ass-kicking contest really quickly.
“So I’m glad I have something stronger to control these
animals.”
The spit was the punk’s way of testing Lee to see if he was
going to be a problem.
This is how most crimes of violence begin. Criminals try
to get away with a little and then take a little more and so on.
Make no mistake: Once they have you on the tracks, it’s only a
matter of time until it gets out of control.
Imagine if Lee had looked down and tried to avoid dealing
with this punk altogether. There’s a good chance this kid would
have decided to follow him to his car, ask him for some spare
change and then continue to see what he could get from Lee.
The good news is WE WILL NEVER KNOW, because Lee
acted like a PREDATOR, not PREY.
Are You Predator or Prey?
Predators…
• Make strong EYE CONTACT
153
CHAPTER 4
• Walk with their head up, scanning the environment

• Are looking to HUNT and DEFEND
• Move with purpose.
Prey…
• Avoid eye contact
• Constantly look for ways to escape
• Are looking to GRAZE, SCAVENGE and ESCAPE
• Move with panic.
Remember, wherever you go, you’re being SIZED UP and
TESTED. How you’re perceived is entirely up to you.
Now, this doesn’t mean you should overtly CHALLENGE
the local thugs on the corner, but casual eye contact for less
than a second is enough. And when you move your eyes off
them, KEEP YOUR EYES AT THE SAME LEVEL. Look past
them and slowly scan the area, left to right and right to left.
PLEASE — DON’T GET INTO A STARING CONTEST.
Always keep your head up and chest out, and move with
purpose and intent.
It also helps (a lot) if you have a plan of action mapped out
like Lee did.
Having a plan will:
• Instill purpose in your movement
• Emote confidence
• Calm your nerves and channel that adrenaline rush
• Give you something to focus on
• Stop you from panicking.
Remember — be predator, NOT prey.
154
TRIDENT: A SIMPLE SELF-DEFENSE
TECHNIQUE THAT ANYONE CAN MASTER
“Give me your wallet or I’ll kill you.”

These words would be enough to make most of us freeze
up and panic.
But imagine hearing them uttered late at night in one of the
most dangerous cities in the world… while you’re on a mission
that’s vital to the security of the United States.
That’s the situation one of my fellow ex-CIA officers (let’s
call him “Robert”) found himself in several years ago when he
was overseas in a country I’m unable to disclose.
When the suspicious man first approached him, Robert
thought the man was part of a foreign intelligence service and
that he was about to be “rolled up,” meaning he was about to
be put in jail for getting caught as a spy. However, once the guy
made that threat, Robert quickly realized he was dealing with
a street criminal.
He could have done a number of things, including giving the
criminal his wallet, hoping the thug would go away. But that’s
not always the best choice. Especially in this particular part of
the world, where, even if you comply and give the criminal your
CHAPTER 4
wallet, they’ll often still kill you just for the fun of it.
So instead of complying, Robert did what is known as the
“Trident” — and it saved his life.
The best part of the Trident is that you don’t need years
of martial arts experience to learn it. It’s a simple self-defense
technique anyone can master.
Self-Defense Basics
Intelligence officers don’t have 30 years to get trained in mar-
tial arts. Instead, when you attend your top-secret training,
you learn the critical self-defense moves needed to keep you
safe no matter where in the world you may travel.
You learn moves that are not only devastatingly effective,
but also incredibly simple, so that in a stressful situation they
can be quickly deployed.
And while I imagine you (hopefully) won’t be traveling to
the world’s most dangerous countries, you and I both know
that anything can happen here in America, even when we’re
doing something as mundane as shopping at the grocery store.
Before we get started, it’s important to remember that if
someone pulls a knife on you or threatens to harm you, you
always want to immediately escape if you can. Or, if you carry
a gun like I do, you want to draw your gun to defend yourself.
However, if you’re in a confined area, without a firearm,
and you think that you have no choice but to fight back, then
you want to overwhelm them with force. In other words, you
should perform the Trident with everything you’ve got.
The goal is to inflict damage on your attacker as quickly
as possible, thereby creating a window for you to flee to safety
and call the police.
Trident: Three Combo Attack

As the name suggests, this technique can be broken down into
three separate moves.
156
Step One: The first move is to strike the head area, specif-
ically the eyes. Put simply, reach one of your hands out and
claw and poke the eyes, to disorient your attacker.
Step Two: As soon as you strike the eyes with one of your
hands, immediately punch the throat with your other hand. I
know this may sound harsh, but we’re assuming someone is
trying to kill you. A punch to the throat is incredibly effective
and will likely have your attacker recoiling forward in pain.
Step Three: The third and final move is a swift knee to the
groin. This will send almost anyone to the ground, thereby
giving you a chance to escape to safety.
Remember, all three of these moves are quickly done one
after another, going from the eyes to the throat to the groin.
When you do them lightning fast — and with power — your
attacker will be caught off guard, giving you a chance to escape
with your life.
Visualize yourself carrying out this technique. Then, if you
ever find yourself in a potentially deadly situation, you’ll know
exactly what to do.
157
SIX SIGNS YOUR SELF-DEFENSE
INSTRUCTOR SUCKS
By Damian Ross | Self Defense Co.

Your instructor could be a world champ, Navy SEAL or black-
ops killing machine… but that doesn’t mean they can teach a
good class or be a good coach. We’ve put together the TOP six
signs you might not be getting what you bargained for in your
training. Starting with…
1. No course curriculum
Not having a curriculum is like embarking on an around-the-
world journey without a map and compass. It’s nearly impossible
to teach and even more impossible to learn without a road map
to tell you where you’re going. You should know exactly what is
expected of you for each rank and certification.
A curriculum does two things:
First, it keeps the validity of your training intact. This ensures
that you’re learning the correct skills and there’s continuity in
the system. Without it, your style will fall victim to being mod-
ified by every instructor who teaches it. Like the child’s game of
telephone, it will be changed by everyone who touches it.
Second, it holds your instructor accountable. Learning is a

two-way street because you take the time and pay money for a
product and you should receive that product. As an instructor,
I am always reviewing lesson plans because the majority of the
time, I discover an important point I would have left out of
the lesson.
2. No lesson plan
The worst thing an instructor or coach can do is “wing it.”
Showing up to a class and not having a plan to take full
advantage of the time is disrespectful to your students and
your system. Every class should be well-thought-out with a
progressive learning structure.
Your instructor should also have a monthly lesson plan
so you know exactly what’s being covered in each class. This
will help you work toward your rank faster because instead of
showing up and hoping you’re going to learn what you need,
you will be able to plan to attend those classes.
3. No out-of-class reinforcement
The University of South Florida Teaching College conducted
a study and discovered that after a class or a seminar, without
any outside reinforcement, students only retained 10% of what
they learned. And after a few weeks, 90% of that was forgotten.
In a typical martial arts system, the only time you’re learn-
ing is IN CLASS. This means the only time you learn is in front
of the instructor. Furthermore, beginners are discouraged to
practice on their own for fear of doing it wrong.
This is true, however, if you are given access to self-defense
videos, books and other multimedia; like in any other educa-
tion program, you will be able to practice on your own. This
will accelerate your learning exponentially. To be honest, in
this day and age, not having tools like video to practice what
you learned in class is unacceptable.
159
CHAPTER 4
4. Excessive conditioning
A sign of a lazy instructor is excessive conditioning. Anyone
can make you run wind sprints or do a bunch of calisthenics
— it takes ZERO thought. A good instructor will provide the
same type of conditioning training through drills based on
developing your skill.
Burst drills in the system for example (30-second rounds
of beating the crap out of your target as hard as you can) will
give you the same cardio benefit as burpees but with the added
benefit of developing real fighting skill.
At the end of the day, it’s not complicated. It just needs to
be set up and administered.
5. Excessive sparring
This is similar to excessive conditioning. It doesn’t take any
imagination or effort to have a class where everyone is rolling
around and the instructor corrects random mistakes he hap-
pens to catch.
The problem with sparring too much is that people get lazy
and form bad habits. Because there will come a point where
both you and your partner will slack off. It’s only natural when
you’re working with friends. Instead, controlled, short-term
drills and frequent rotation of partners work A LOT BETTER.
In reality, your typical class session for a sport martial art
should only be about 10–15% live sparring.
6. Low energy level and lack of engagement.

When you’re teaching, YOU NEVER HAVE A BAD DAY. It’s not
about you, it’s about the people who are paying you to prepare
them. It’s doesn’t matter what happened in your life for those
few moments you’re on the floor teaching — you’d better be on
your A-game. If not, pick another career.
160
Being an instructor doesn’t mean you’re the best fighter in

the room or whatever BS you want to believe. If you’re an in-
structor, you’re an educator. You’re providing a service, and
when it comes to the Self Defense Co., it’s a service that will
save a life. Find out more at http://bit.ly/2eZBVaM.
161
SEND YOUR CHILD BACK TO SCHOOL
WITH THE SUPPLIES TO SURVIVE
It’s back-to-school season and parents everywhere are nervous-

ly sending their children off to college. More and more these
days, we see universities and college campuses make the news
for deadly parties, mass shootings and rallies turned violent.
How can a parent possibly prepare their child for the array of
dangers they may encounter?
Even though most colleges and universities are required by
law to report crime statistics to the federal government, not
all of them do. Not only that, but these stats typically aren’t
accurate, because some crimes are handled entirely by campus
police who fail to contact local law enforcement. And unfortu-
nately, a lot of crimes that occur on campuses go unreported
by the victims.
So while it’s difficult to say what the statistical risks are
when kids go off to college, there is no question they are more
vulnerable when they’re living on their own.
With that in mind, here are five safety and survival items
I recommend sending with your kids or grandkids back to
school:
Doorstopper alarm — Just like it sounds, this is simply a

doorstopper with a built-in alarm that emits an incredibly loud
sound when someone opens the door. Whenever your child is
alone in their dorm room or apartment, they should put this
behind the door to alert them in case someone tries to enter
without their knowledge.
Stun-gun flashlight — I know a lot of people like to carry
mace or pepper spray, but I recommend packing a stun-gun
flashlight instead. A flashlight is something everyone should
have on them anyway — the stun gun is an added bonus. I
know of a young woman who was being followed in a parking
lot one night. She turned around and hit the stun feature on
her flashlight and the loud zapping noise was enough to make
the creeper flee.
Diversion safe — It’s always a good idea to store money
and important documents (like a passport) in a safe. This is
especially crucial if your child is living in a dorm with people
they don’t know. You can purchase all kinds of diversion safes
that range from a fake shaving cream can to a decoy can of
soup. Just be sure to pick one that won’t look out of place.
Bug-out bag — Your kids should be prepared for any
emergency or natural disaster that may occur. This is why I
recommend sending with them a fully stocked bug-out bag
that includes a first-aid kit, three days’ worth of food and
water, extra clothes and a paper map of the area surround-
ing their school, among other survival items. This is another
place I suggest stashing some emergency cash in case your
child needs money for a bus ticket or gas to get somewhere
safe after bugging out.
Bulletproof panel — Unfortunately, we have seen many
instances of mass shootings on college campuses, which is why
I recommend adding a bulletproof panel to the backpack or
school bag your child carries. I suggest buying a 10x15” panel
that is rated Level 3A, which can stop up to a .44 Magnum.
163
CHAPTER 4
My kids are still very young, so my wife and I don’t have

to worry about sending them off to college anytime soon. But
when we do, we’ll be sending all this (and probably more)
with them.
164
SEAL SELF-DEFENSE FOR SENIORS

Let’s face it — fighting is a young person’s game. Strength, agili-
ty, reaction time and an offensive mentality are all paramount to
the success of a physical altercation — or a ride to the hospital.
Which is probably why you don’t see this very often:
But that doesn’t mean that someone in their twilight years
won’t ever find themselves in a situation that requires some
form of self-defense.
Unfortunately, it makes perfect sense. Older folks are more
vulnerable targets because they can no longer rely on the phys-
ical prowess that youth affords. Which is why they must be
able to employ effective techniques.
Now, I’m a huge fan of learning self-defense skills in such
disciplines as Muay Thai and Brazilian jiu-jitsu — and training
weekly, if not daily — but this is simply not a practical under-
taking for our aging population.
So let’s keep it simple.
CHAPTER 4
Three Surefire Clues You’re About to Be Attacked

1. A person is giving you way too much eye contact. A criminal does this
because they’ve “locked onto you” as a target. When normal people are
on the streets and they make eye contact, they quickly break it and don’t
stare people down.
2. A person is matching your pace. Normally, if you’re walking on the side-

walk with a stranger, you would both try to avoid walking side by side by
speeding up or slowing down, since it’s awkward to keep pace with one
another. But a criminal who’s targeting you will match your pacing so they
can rob or attack you at the moment they choose.
3. A stranger comes up to you out of the blue and asks you a strange
question. They do this to distract you so they can snatch your wallet,
punch you out, or worse. Always maintain good space between you and
strangers, and remember that it’s better to be rude and alive than polite
and dead.
Be a Fall Guy
First, you need to understand that a deliberate, controlled fall
is much safer and less injurious than the impact from being
thrown to the ground. If you’re assaulted, quickly and calmly
lower your body to the ground, curl up in a ball, cover you
head and scream as loud as you can. If you have a whistle —
even better. Use it.
Now, this goes against everything I believe regarding phys-
ical conflicts. But if you’re able to control your descent to the
ground and take a defensive posture that protects the most vi-
tal areas of your body, you will have a much better chance of
surviving the attack.
If you happen to be one of many elderly folks who carry a
cane — I have an alternative to curling up in a ball. It’s an ag-
gressive maneuver — but personally, I’d rather die on my feet
than on the ground.
Here it is in four simple steps:
166
STEP 1:
Take a broad stance — greater than shoulder
width. Your foundation is key.
STEP 2: Focus all of your energy and swing your cane at
the outer side of the knee closest to your cane-car-
rying hand. If done correctly and with enough
force, your attacker will drop to half their height.
STEP 3: T
his step is critical. Don’t waste the momentum
you created from the first blow. Strike again with
even more force to your assailant’s neck/temple
region. They should be around waist height after
your knee strike, which will make this blow much
easier to land.
STEP 4: I mmediately exit the area and find anyone and ev-
eryone who can offer you support and/or security.
Whether you curl up in a ball or lash out with your cane,
the point is to stay alive. So if you find that you’re no longer as
up for a fight as you once were, remember my advice and you’ll
be a survivor, not a statistic.
167
STAY SAFE WHILE EXERCISING IN THE
GREAT OUTDOORS
Recently, there have been some horrific murders of joggers.

Many of these murders occurred in broad daylight, dispelling
the myth that these attacks only happen in the dark.
Here are some quick tips to share with your friends and
family. Keep them in mind when you go trail running or jog-
ging in your own neighborhood:
1. Never, ever run while wearing headphones. You can’t
hear your surroundings and you won’t know if someone
is approaching you from behind. Unfortunately, several
of the recent victims were found with their headphones.
2. Join a running club. This way, you’ll have a partner or
two when you run. There is safety in numbers, and crim-
inals will seldom attack a group.
3. Make eye contact with passersby. If you think someone is
following you, look them in the eye and let them know
you see them. What’s more, don’t be afraid to say some-
thing. The worst thing you can do is to put your head
down, look afraid and avoid eye contact. The criminal
will continue to follow you if he thinks you are an easy

victim.
4. Carry self-defense tools. Whether it’s a gun, pepper spray
or a tactical pen. One benefit of both pepper spray and
the tactical pen is that you can run with them in your
hand, so you won’t waste time accessing them. I know
several women who run with their tactical pens, and it
gives them a huge boost of confidence.
5. Be brutal. If you are attacked, you have to be ruthless.
Gouge your attacker’s eyes, kick them in the groin and
punch their throat. If you don’t fight with everything
you’ve got, you might not make it out alive.
6. Change it up. If you see someone suspicious and think
they’re watching you, you should vary your route. That
person might see you run by the same lake at the same
time each day, and they could be planning to abduct you.
At the first sign that something doesn’t look or feel right
on your usual route, try a different one.
7. Stay in relatively public places. Don’t go jogging in the
woods alone or run down a gravel road that only gets one
car a day.
While exercising is important, it’s also crucial to remain
aware of your surroundings so you can stay safe. Following
this simple advice will help minimize potential dangers and
ensure you return home to your loved ones.
169
COULD A FLASHLIGHT REALLY SAVE
YOUR LIFE?
The club was packed as one of my agents escorted Jay Z into

the corner of a dark VIP room. As soon as word spread that Jay
was there, people immediately began trying to sneak into the
room any way they could. One gentleman in particular was
quite bold. He walked right up to the agent guarding the en-
trance and said he was there to have a drink with Jay.
The agent informed him it was a private party and he need-
ed to go back to the club area. This gentleman looked my agent
up and down and said, “What you gonna do? I ain’t no shorty!”
He repeated over and over, “I ain’t no shorty.” Each shout
grew louder in volume and intensity.
The gentleman began to advance with a chest bump in what
seemed to be an attempt to close the distance between himself
and Jay. Another agent witnessed what was going on, got Jay
on his feet, and moved him toward the private exit that had
previously been designated for egress.
The agent dealing with the angry man pulled his tactical
flashlight from its holster and shined it in the gentleman’s face.
With a loud, direct shout, he said, “Hey, that’s enough. Let me
see your driver’s license.”
The intensity of the light from the tactical flashlight did the
trick: The angry man stopped for just a moment, his face went
blank, and the agent was able to step away to leave through the
open door. As he exited and the door closed, the agent looked
back to see the angry man still trying to regain his focus.
I realize you’re probably not a bodyguard to the stars, but
this is a great reminder that a tactical flashlight is an excellent
tool to blind and stop someone in their tracks, giving you time
to flee to safety. If you find yourself walking alone, particularly
at night, I recommend keeping one on you at all times. Plus, if
you need to, you can use the flashlight as a self-defense tool to
strike an attacker. They’re made out of top-grade, heavy mate-
rials and will help to deter an attack.
Fortunately for you and me, there are numerous companies
that make quality tactical flashlights these days. I recommend
checking out brands such as SureFire, Streamlight, and Fenix.
More specifically, the SureFire G2X, Streamlight 88040 ProTac
HL, and the Fenix PD35 TAC.
SureFire: http://amzn.to/2eFW0m3
Streamlight: http://amzn.to/2wGfn8t
Fenix: http://amzn.to/2xOsx1C
I guarantee a tactical flashlight will come in handy far more
often than you think, and it’s a smart investment for boosting
your personal safety.
171
IS THAT A TOSS WALLET
IN YOUR POCKET?
A toss wallet is a decoy wallet containing a few cards and

around $60 in cash made up of ones, fives, tens, etc.
Why carry a toss wallet?

In the intelligence business, you often find yourself in
less-than-desirable areas where it’s not the local authorities you
have to worry about but your average, run-of-the-mill street
criminals. If some ne’er-do-well tries to rob you with a gun or
knife pointed at your chest, you can use your toss wallet to dis-
tract the thief long enough to safely escape — without giving
up your belongings.
How do you use a toss wallet?

There are two ways you can use a toss wallet.
1. If you’re in an open space, take out your fake wallet and
throw it at the criminal’s face. This will likely stun them,
giving you time to flee to safety.
2. If you happen to be in a confined space and there’s no-

where to run, you’ll have to take a different approach
with the toss wallet. You still chuck it at the criminal’s
face, but then immediately charge, punching them in the
throat, gouging their eyes or kneeing them in the groin.
Once the criminal has been neutralized, quickly make
your exit.
What else can you do with a toss wallet?

If you want to take this concept one step further, you can make
sure the criminal gets caught. Here’s what one fellow I know
does: He calls his credit card company and says his credit card
has been stolen (even though it hasn’t). The credit card com-
pany flags the card in case anyone tries to use it. Then he puts
his “stolen” credit card in his toss wallet. If a criminal ends up
with the wallet and tries to use the card, they’ll likely get in
trouble. I’m not necessarily suggesting you go this far, but it’s
worth considering.
Either way, using a toss wallet is a really simple trick. One
that could save you the complicated hassle of replacing credit
cards and IDs if you’re robbed of your real wallet.
173
BRING A KNIFE TO A GUN FIGHT:
THE BIGGER, THE BETTER
On a quiet summer night in Clearwater, Florida, Mr. and Mrs.

Steve and Heather Aiosa awoke at 2:10 a.m. to find an intruder
standing in the doorway of their bedroom.
The intruder, later identified as Robert James Alcalde, began
ransacking the bedroom while the frightened couple called 911.
Then Steve Aiosa retrieved his .22 rifle from underneath the
bed and went outside to load it. But the rifle malfunctioned and
wouldn’t fire. At this point, Heather Aiosa ran from the home to
join her husband, the intruder following closely behind.
There Will Be Blood

The criminal tackled Mrs. Aiosa, and a struggle ensued. Mr.
Aiosa ran into the house to grab his machete, also from un-
derneath the bed, and rushed back outside. The intruder was
still on the ground fighting with Mrs. Aiosa. Mr. Aiosa hacked
his legs repeatedly with the machete, causing large, gaping
wounds. Per Pinellas County Sheriff Bob Gualtieri, “It was a
very, very bloody scene.”
When the police arrived, homeowner and intruder were

fighting over the rifle, so the responding officers stunned the
suspect with a Taser. Mr. Alcalde was transported to the hos-
pital, but due to the severity of the wounds on his legs, he was
pronounced dead upon arrival.
As extreme as it sounds, Mr. Aiosa did the right thing. He
used the necessary means to protect himself, his wife and his
property. Who knows what the intruder would have done had
Mr. Aiosa not struck him with the machete?
Obviously, this is a great lesson in preparation. Mr. Aiosa
retrieved his gun, which malfunctioned, but thankfully, he had
another weapon readily available. I’m a firm believer that a gun
is the best tool for self-defense, but for this very reason it’s
always wise to have a backup weapon. I strongly urge you to
consider what other tools you could keep on hand that might
save your life. Perhaps a baseball bat, a golf club, a knife or,
yes, even a machete.
No Reloading Needed
Now, I’m sure that when most people think about a machete,
they picture someone clearing a path through the jungle, slic-
ing away at the undergrowth. It’s true that in many tropical
countries, the machete is used as an agricultural tool to clear
brush, chop sugar cane, split wood and butcher animals for
food. But the machete also makes a deadly improvised fighting
tool. In fact, today the machete is still widely used in many
parts of the world, both for agricultural purposes as well as for
fighting.
Clearly, the machete has many uses, but is it realistic or
necessary for you to own one? Obviously, it’s not practical to
carry one on you for daily self-defense, but should you keep
one in your car or your home as a backup weapon? If you were
in a situation such as the Aiosa couple, what would you use
175
CHAPTER 4
as a second weapon? Would a knife, for example, be a better

option?
Maybe not. The biggest advantage of a machete is that it
allows you to attack from farther away. For a knife to be effec-
tive, you have be very close to the threat, but a machete can
cause damage from a greater distance.
Not only that, a machete’s size, makes it very intimidat-
ing. An attacker would probably think twice if they saw you
wielding such a large blade. A machete would also be a better
weapon to defend against wild animals. And finally, it can still
be used for agricultural and other nonviolent uses.
Chop Shopping
If you’re interested in adding a machete to your gear, make
sure you purchase a quality tool that will last. Check out the
Kershaw Camp 18 Machete, which sells for around $65 on
Amazon or the Ka-Bar Combat Kukri, which is about $75.
There are many different sizes and shapes when it comes to
machetes. Shop around to find the best option for your needs.
And just like I recommend always keeping your home-de-
fense gun loaded, always keep your machete sharp. You never
know when you may need this versatile blade to defend hearth
and home.
176
SEAL TACTICS FOR AN ACTIVE
SHOOTER SCENARIO

In an active shooter scenario, the FIRST THING you must do
is remove yourself from the immediate vicinity of the source of
the gunfire, which is referred to as the “kill zone” or the “X,”
and do so without hesitation.
Simply put, you must do whatever it takes to get clear of
the “kill zone” if you expect to have any chance of survival or
retaliation. If you survive the first 10 seconds of this type of
ambush, you have a much better chance of making it out alive.
Fight, Flight or Freeze

When a shooting occurs in a public place, the natural and ini-
tial response is to flee, but you need to do it with forethought.
There is little time to think, but you must make your flight a
calculated one so you don’t turn yourself into a more visible
and attractive running target.
By scrambling in panic, you could end up going nowhere
worthwhile or even moving closer to the line of fire. Your flight
CHAPTER 4
must be for the purpose of getting clear of danger — off the

“X” — and not flagging your position.
In many shootings, it’s bystanders who freeze who are add-
ed to the casualty toll. Do not freeze or burrow in — react and
move immediately. Hitting the floor and lying flat is usually
the first thing people do instinctively, but don’t just cover your
head and hope for the best.
Maintain Cover
You must begin moving immediately while staying low. If you
are able to dive for one of the objects you previously identified
as cover, make that move while the shooter is aiming some-
where else. Get to your cover while staying as low as possible,
and do it with maximum purpose.
Continue to move away from the shooter, going from cover
to cover. Visualize the path you will take — this will help you
set your mind to achieving small goals or little victories, as
each move takes you farther from the “X.”
For example, you see a potted plant 15 feet away. Your goal
is to make it to that point, and thus you gain one more little
victory in your overall escape plan. Once you make it to that
secure cover, follow your path to get to the next one.
At first, get to covers by making small bounds. As you gain
distance from the shooter, you can increase the distance you
travel between covers. Start by low-crawling, but note that the
farther you are away from the shooter, the faster you can move,
until even sprinting if the situation warrants it.
But remember — assault rifles have a maximum effective
range of 600 meters (or six football fields), and sniper rifles
can hit targets even further, so if you can hear gunfire, you can
be shot. You must continue to move with maximum purpose
and calculated caution.
178
Danger Crossings
Even when places have numerous objects that afford cover or
concealment, your escape route will often have open spaces,
like hallways, that must be crossed. These junctions, while you
are still in the line of fire, are called “danger crossings.”
If you come upon a dangerous crossing, take a moment to
discern a pattern in the shooting and try to move when there
is a pause in the gunfire. This will generally happen when the
shooter is reloading.
Even after you have cleared the kill zone, there is still a
good chance of being shot. Maintain a lower profile (slightly
hunched over, with your weight over the balls of your feet).
Continue to move from cover to cover. Utilize shadows or
“dead space” areas that are obstructed from view.
Be sure to stay at least a foot off the walls. When a bullet ric-
ochets off a wall, it tends to travel along the wall approximately
6 inches. If your body is against the wall, you will get hit.
Exiting the Area

Once you have successfully cleared the kill zone, you need to
quickly decide the best way to gain even greater distance from
the shooter or ultimately exit the building.
Remember where you saw the main exits. Fire exit doors in
malls and many other public buildings are required by law to
be at the rear of the building or at the back of each store.
Continue to move, but take no chances, because the shoot-
er could be following you. Put as many obstacles as you can be-
tween you and danger, by closing doors as you go or tumbling
merchandise to the ground, making it harder for the shooter to
trail you if that is his or her intention.
If, and only if, you feel you are at a location of relative,
short-term safety, gather yourself. When you are in a defen-
sive position that is well hidden and away from the site of
179
CHAPTER 4
the shooting, take a moment to calm yourself, but keep your

mind alert.
Moving as a Group
If you find yourself among a group of other survivors, it’s your
job to assign responsibilities. This will help focus individuals
who are still in a serious panic mode.
Maintain group cohesion by displaying a sense of purpose
and by offering a reasonable game plan. Remind people: “We’re
in this together, and we’re going to get out of this together.”
Think of your group as a small unit, which can benefit by
using standard, small-unit tactics and techniques employed
by the military. Usually, but depending upon the scenario, it’s
better to move in single file, with a couple of feet or an arm’s
length of separation between each person.
Assign each person on the line to scout out areas that you
plan to travel to during your evacuation. By using all eyes, the
group can maintain 360 degrees of awareness. The leader, or
the one in point position, is responsible for the front 180 de-
grees — or from 9 o’clock to 3 o’clock, with 12 o’clock always
being the direction of travel.
The second person covers the left, the third covers the
right and so on. The last person on the line scopes out the
rear to alert the group of any indication that the shooter is
following them.
If you are in the rear, don’t walk backward; you will un-
doubtedly trip and fall. Instead, every three or four steps, stop
momentarily and turn back. Then continue moving forward.
This person is responsible for the 180 degrees (or 3 o’clock to
9 o’clock) field of the rear view.
Once you are in a defensive position that is well hidden and
away from the site of the shooting, you can take a moment to
180
calm yourself — but keep your mind alert. Now is the time for
the next phase of survival.
Stop and Assess

You’ll naturally think, What the hell just happened? Don’t sit
there and ponder this. Visualize your trigger and focus. The
calmer you are, the better equipped you’ll be to outthink your
assailant.
To devise a trigger, you must dig deep, identify the sin-
gle-most-important thing in the world to you and make a men-
tal portrait of this image. Whatever it is, your trigger is how you
ignite the will to survive. Use this memory file as the ultimate
motivation to get you through life-and-death situations.
If able, call 911. Give police as much HUMINT (human
intelligence) as possible, including:
• Who you are, what’s happening and where
• How many shooters there are and their physical description
• What types of weapons are being used, and what special
gear, such as body armor, you observed
• The shooter’s skill level, ethnicity, language or accent —
and anything else that may be helpful to first responders.
Next, check yourself for wounds. If you have made it this
far, you are probably not critically injured. Present breathing
and a heartbeat rule out serious injuries, but many times, in
great stress, people will be injured and not know it.
Do a quick head-to-toe self-assessment, paying particular
attention to bleeding and potential fractures. If you are with
others and someone is injured, you may need to figure out a
way to transport that person. Also, take a moment to remove
excess or brightly colored clothing and any accessories you
don’t need (coat, purse or shiny jewelry).
181
CHAPTER 4
Another part of this assessment step is to take an inventory

of the resources at hand that could help you further. Is there
anything that can break a window, for example, or something
to act as a transportable shield? Is there a vending machine
or a water cooler nearby to get some nourishment? You have
just been through strenuous physical activity and significantly
more effort may be required until you are safe.
Make a Plan
Success in warfare often comes down to the side that knows
their battlefield better. If a mall or school turns into a battle-
field, knowledge of the environment will be a great advantage.
If you are in a familiar environment, such as an office
building where you work, where your previous situational
awareness provides knowledge of the exits, this is the time to
figure out where you are.
If you are in an unfamiliar place, like a mall, and your smart-
phone still works, get a map from the website, or use evacuation
placards or signs posted on walls to get your bearings.
Make a decision as to the next course of action. There isn’t
time to second-guess yourself or for debate. Pick the best plan
for evacuation and then follow it.
In an active shooter scenario, here are your three options:
1. Head to the nearest exit.
2. Run to the highest level and attempt rescue from the
roof.
3. Set an ambush, recover a weapon and shoot your way
out.
Even if the police are on their way, don’t wait for help. You
might be dead before the cavalry gets there. In making your
decision to evacuate, choose the most discreet way out and the
one most likely to limit your chances of meeting the shooter
182
again. Your goal now is evacuation. However, remember that

the safest evacuation route may not be the most direct. The
best exit may not be the closest one.
Fight for Your Life

Sometimes, the only way out is to fight. There will be times
when your only course of action might be limited to taking on
the shooter. If that’s the case, it’s best to try to capitalize on the
shooter’s lack of discipline or training and attempt to set an
ambush.
The best ambush is one in which your target ends up in the
exact location you want them in. Essentially, walking right into
your trap. Put yourself in a hidden position that the shooter
must pass by. This is known as the “strike zone.” Obviously,
surprise is the key to a successful ambush. Additionally, you
will increase the odds of your success with a weapon.
An ambush with using multiple people is the ideal form
of ambush because you are able to strike from multiple posi-
tions simultaneously. Just remember that with multiple people,
the odds of hurting one of your own increase. Make sure that
you direct those in your party to remain at pre-established set
points in the ambush to avoid casualties from “friendly fire.”
If the ambush is successful and the shooter is dead — good,
the mad dog is done. If the shooter is alive, make sure to bind
and gag them. Never assume this is the only shooter or that the
incident is now over.
Instead, be sure to:
1. S top and listen: Do you hear any more gunfire?
2. Does the shooter you took down have a radio? If they do,
they must have accomplices.
3. Attempt to get information on the number and their
location from the assailant using any effective form of
183
CHAPTER 4
coercion. Yes, I mean torture. This person was trying to

kill you and other innocent people — I would use what-
ever means necessary to know whether or not they are
acting alone.
4. Immediately inform the police of your status and pass on
any useful information.
Again never assume an active shooter situation is over until
law enforcement declares it.
Hands in the Air

If your efforts are successful and you’ve made it out alive, you
surely don’t want police to think you are one of the assailants.
As in the military, law enforcement are taught to look at the
hands of anyone first. If your hands are free of weapons, then
you aren’t considered a shooting threat.
When you are about to exit and think there is a high prob-
ability of encountering law enforcement, you must empty your
hands. Put all weapons on the ground and away from you.
Place hands high in the air and yell out, “Friendlies — we are
unarmed.” Keep repeating this, and do so loudly.
At this point, do exactly as you are instructed. There will be
time for police to realize you are a survivor once they have you
in a non-threatening position.
184
COMMUNICATE COVERTLY
IN AN EMERGENCY
By Thomas Lavin | Founding Partner, Global Protection

and Intelligence
A day in the life of Halle Berry is a great example of how to use
nonverbal cues to communicate in an emergency. Ah, to be a
celebrity.
She was traveling, being presented with an award at a film
festival, doing media interviews and scheduled for a nightclub
appearance — all in one day. As a protection agent, the situa-
tion was in constant flux, and we were there to protect her in
every way possible.
Nonverbal codes helped Halle let us know if she felt stressed
out or in danger. One concern expressed by Halle’s publicist was
that she had an extremely tight schedule. If we didn’t stick to it,
several of her obligations would have to be cut short on time.
According to her publicist, Halle was “so nice that she
wouldn’t say no to anyone who requested to talk to her, take a
photo or sign an autograph.” So I offered to be the bad guy. I
have no problem intervening in situations when needed.
Even though I was also helping to manage Halle’s itinerary,
CHAPTER 4
my primary objective was to protect her. Nonverbal communi-

cation served to accomplish both tasks.
A Show of Hands
If Halle felt uncomfortable, she would make a fist with her
thumb extended and scratch her eyebrow. This was my cue to
make this person in front of her go away — immediately. If we
were running out of time, Halle’s publicist would fold a piece
of paper with the agenda on it in half. This was my cue to in-
terrupt and remove Halley from the event.
This is not uncommon. Protection agents, spies and un-
dercover operatives regularly use nonverbal communication
during covert operations and protection details.
Every client has slightly different requests and preferenc-
es, but all of them want to feel safe and crave some degree of
comfort as they go about their day. Celebrity clients are often
placed in awkward social situations, and as their protector and
facilitator, I’m significantly more effective if I can communicate
with them nonverbally.
The reciprocal is also true. If the client can use body lan-
guage to communicate with me — especially in potentially
threatening environments — I am much more successful in
completing my mission objectives safely and fluidly.
A Bird(ie) in the Hand

Take golfer Lee Trevino. One event I worked for him had so
many attendees expecting to meet and greet him, but Lee
didn’t have time to interact with every single guest. In true golf
fashion, we arranged a code playing off of the golf warning
“FORE.”
If Lee got stuck talking to someone for too long, he simply
put his arm straight down with four fingers. That was our heads-
up to move the guest along.
186
Nonverbal codes even work with clients who don’t interact

with us directly. On several occasions, I’ve worked with Sir Rich-
ard Branson of the Virgin companies. He doesn’t particularly like
to have “security guys” around him. So we adapted and arranged
his security in layers.
A female agent stays close, looking like an assistant, and
other agents are deployed close by. The female agent needs
only to signal silently to the other agents if there is a need for
intervention.
You might think these are just fun, inside stories about
celebrity life. But you can apply this nonverbal signaling ap-
proach to situations in your life as well.
Your Life Is in Your Hands

If you’re in a situation and don’t feel safe, you can use it to
communicate calmly and quietly to your family members. Or
if you find yourself in a dangerous situation and you’re not at
liberty to speak openly about your concerns.
Your child can also use it to tell you that he or she doesn’t
feel safe or is in danger. Or you can alert your significant other
if you’re annoyed at a party and just want to get away from the
people in the room.
This technique will significantly increase your ability to
stay safe in a variety of circumstances. I strongly recommend
that you work out code words and nonverbal emergency sig-
nals in advance with your family.
Whether it’s a hand sign, a body gesture, a certain stance or
a noticeable facial expression — you can escape danger with-
out saying a word.
[Jason’s note: Tom and I run our corporate company called
Global Protection and Intelligence (GPI). For more informa-
tion about GPI, please visit www.GPIagents.com, or you can
reach Tom at tlavin@gpiagents.com.]
187
A STEP-BY-STEP GUIDE TO
CULTIVATING A SEAL MINDSET

Hell Week — the defining event of BUD/S training — consists
of 5½ days of cold, wet, intensely difficult operational training
on fewer than four hours of sleep a night. I’ve witnessed men
bigger, stronger and faster than I quit during one of the many
hypothermic nights of Hell Week.
Why the harsh conditions? Well, this is SEAL training in its
simplest form:
1. Break the individual down.
2. Build them back up, achieving a physically and mentally
tougher trainee.
3. Repeat, repeat, repeat.
Even though I’ve seen many a soldier throw in the towel
when the going gets tough, I truly believe anyone can over-
come even the most brutal circumstances.
When you’re born, you instantly figure out how to breathe
on your own — or you die. The first time you skin your knee,
you quickly realize that a boo-boo isn’t going to kill you. And
as you get older, life only gets harder — broken bones, broken
hearts — you have to learn how to deal with it all. The instinct
to survive is in all of us.
But how do you take that foundation of perseverance and
forge it into a mentality that enables you to endure the worst
event you could ever imagine — a nationwide blackout… a
complete societal breakdown… a devastating natural disaster…
or perhaps something even more catastrophic?
Well, here it is: My four-step guide to developing a SEAL
mindset so you can competently and confidently handle any-
thing life throws your way:
STEP 1: Expand Your Comfort Zone

Consider your current comfort zone — your day-to-day routine
and the things that make you feel content, secure and in con-
trol. Most of your daily rituals leave you completely unprepared
to deal with even the smallest disruption or discomfort — and
they certainly render you incapable of handling a sudden emer-
gency or life-threatening challenge.
Don’t believe me? Try spending a day without your cellphone.
You need to push the boundaries of your comfort zone regu-
larly. Here are some easy examples. Try climbing the stairs instead
of taking the elevator or adding an additional mile to your morn-
ing run. Or this might mean one less beer, forgoing dessert or
waiting an hour more before eating dinner. These daily victories
will build up and ultimately expand your comfort zone.
When I was younger, I felt bulletproof — but it’s hard to
stay hard. So I blast the water on cold for the last minute of my
shower as a friendly little reminder not to get complacent.
STEP 2: Make a Fear List

Fear can be healthy. Everyone has it. Fear can make you alert
and keep you alive, as long as you never let it take control.
189
CHAPTER 4
I believe your brain is your strongest asset — but it only

works if you work it. Start by making a list of five things that
make you nervous or scared. It could be heights, fighting,
small spaces or open water. Then starting confronting the fears
on your list one by one.
Let’s take public speaking, for example. I’ve seen some of
the toughest guys in the world turn into gummy bears when
required to speak in front of a group of people. If this is also a
fear of yours, create a five-minute presentation on something
you are familiar with. Rehearse it several times until ultimate-
ly you are ready to organize a group of people — be it your
co-workers or an assemblage at a public event — and give your
presentation.
There! You’ve just confronted and conquered an item on
your fear list! Move on to the next one and see how quickly
you can remove other fear-induced limits.
SEAL training aims to push people to their very limits in
order to build a level of confidence so that when we are “in the
sh*t,” we don’t let our fear get the best of us.
STEP 3: Create a Trigger

One of the most important things you need to do to create a
SEAL mindset is to devise a trigger. In order to do this, you
must dig deep and identify the single-most-important thing in
the world to you. Make a mental portrait of this image.
This is the thing that makes you want to live, no matter
what. For some, the trigger will be the image of their children, a
spouse or elderly parent. Whatever it is, your trigger is how you
ignite the will to survive. Use this memory file as the ultimate
motivation to get you through anything life throws at you.
To maintain the effectiveness of your trigger, you should
save it for only the direst situations. But when it comes to life
or death, PULL THAT TRIGGER!
190
STEP 4: Violence of Action

In the SEALs, the phrase “violence of action” refers to the ap-
plication of complete and unrestricted use of speed, strength,
surprise and aggression to achieve total domination against an
enemy in an adversarial situation.
Humans have three acute stress responses when confront-
ed with a potentially life-threatening situation: fight, flight or
freeze. The best response will always depend on the situation.
To freeze in a life-or-death moment is rarely a desirable re-
action. If you are in public and hear gunshots or explosions,
freezing will almost certainly mean serious injury or death.
If the situation merits fighting, you better be ready to go all
out. Remember: violence of action — complete and unrestricted.
You may not have years of special ops experience — but if
you follow the four steps above, you’ll be mentally prepared to
come out on top in a life-threatening situation.
Never give up — BE A SURVIVOR, NOT A STATISTIC!
191
CHAPTER 5:
FIREARMS COMBAT:
TACTICS FOR LETHAL
RESPONSE
THE ULTIMATE GUIDE TO
HOME DEFENSE GUNS
“It’s currently 11 p.m. here in Vegas on Saturday. Julie and

I usually go to bed around 10. We were sound asleep when
I heard four (it’s crazy that I can tell you exactly how many)
gunshots in front of our home.
“I immediately jumped out of bed and retrieved my hand-
gun from the safe. I ran and grabbed both girls and passed
them to Julie and set up a chokepoint at the top of my stairs.
I proceeded to clear my house, working my way to the front
door. As I carefully looked out the window, I could see cars and
people scrambling everywhere outside. Julie was on the phone
with 911.
“The people who live directly across the street were hav-
ing a birthday party. Apparently, there was a drive-by shooting
targeting their home. There were four shell casings in the mid-
dle of the road directly in front of my home. Our street was
blocked off, with two helicopters above.
“It is amazing how quickly you react from your training.
I was out of bed and had my gun safe open before Julie even
realized what had happened. I have no doubt that if there’d
CHAPTER 5
been someone breaking into my home, I would have stopped

them at the stairs.”
A close friend of mine, who happens to be a former law
enforcement officer, sent me this heart-pounding email after
hearing the sound of gunshots in front of his home.
My friend did everything correct that night. If an intrud-
er had entered his home, his quick action would have likely
saved his family.
But this would not have been possible had he not owned a
firearm.
If you don’t yet own a gun — and think it’s high time to get
one for home defense purposes — where do you start? After
all, there are dozens to choose from. Which is the best one?
Here are three steps to take before making a purchase.
Step One: Choosing the Gun for You

The first step is to decide whether you want a handgun, ri-
fle, or shotgun. Depending on your circumstances, one will be
more practical than another.
For instance, my home defense gun is a handgun, a Sig Sauer
P226. My friend in the story above also uses a handgun, a Glock
19. I’d recommend either model if you’re looking for a handgun.
The reason I use a
handgun is because I
have three kids under
the age of 4 and I want
to make sure my gun
is secure on my night-
stand in a rapid-ac-
cess safe. Although
they do make safes for
shotguns and rifles, My very own Sig Sauer P226, which I rely on for
I haven’t found one I home defense.
194
FIREARMS COMBAT: TACTICS FOR LETHAL RESPONSE
like that would allow me the quick access that my handgun

safe does.
I also believe it’s easier to clear a home using a handgun.
Say, for example, you awake one night to hear someone
breaking into your home. You may be forced to confront the
intruder, in which case a handgun is ideal.
With a handgun, you don’t have to worry as much about
knocking into walls and drawing attention to yourself or turn-
ing the corner and having the intruder grab the end of your
gun — all of which are more likely with a long gun like a rifle
or shotgun.
“There is no ‘right’ gun. You need to take the time to figure
out the perfect gun for you.”
But if in this situation you only had to protect you and your
spouse, you would want to stay put in your bedroom. In which
case, you may prefer a shotgun or rifle over a handgun.
[Fight or Flight? A quick aside… If you and your spouse
are alone in the house and hear a break in, it’s generally best to
hunker down there, secure the door, call 911, and wait for the
police to arrive.
However, if you have children or an elderly parent in the
house, you shouldn’t leave them unprotected. In that case,
you’d want to leave your bedroom and clear the home, to
ensure that the intruder doesn’t get to them before you do.]
My favorite shotgun is the Remington 870. It’s a pump-action
shotgun, the kind you’ve probably seen in the movies dozens of
times. It’s built like a tank and is very easy to operate.
If I were using this gun for home defense, the shells I would
use would be 00 (double-aught) buckshot. A shell of dou-
ble-aught buckshot sends nine lead balls downrange, which
is something you would not want to be on the wrong end of!
If you do opt for a shotgun, please disregard the horrible
myth that all you have to do is “rack the shotgun” to send the
intruder fleeing. Yes, the noise is scary and intimidating, but
195
CHAPTER 5
you cannot let your guard down on account of the sound —

you have to be prepared to use the gun to defend yourself.
If you’re not a fan of handguns or shotguns, then a rifle may
be right for you.
The major benefit of a rifle is that it holds a lot of ammu-
nition. So unless you live in a state that isn’t gun friendly, you
can have a 30-round magazine ready to go. Criminals tend to
travel in packs, so if you had to fend off three or four intruders,
a rifle would be ideal.
The rifle I like best is the AR-15. You can put plenty of
accessories on it, such as lights and lasers, so you can easily
see any threats in the dark. If you’re going to get one, though,
definitely buy from a quality manufacturer, such as Colt or
Rock River Arms.
The bottom line is, when it comes to choosing a gun for
home defense, there is no “right” gun.
You need to take the time to figure out the perfect home
defense gun for you… which leads me to step two.
Step Two: Give It a Test Run

Step two is a fun one: You need to go to your local shooting
range to try out whichever gun you’re thinking about buying.
I don’t care what your spouse, friend, or guy behind the
gun counter says, you should never, ever buy a gun for home
defense until you’ve put several rounds through it.
After all, this is the gun that could save your life one day,
so you need to feel comfortable holding and shooting it — and
the only way to be sure of that is to get out there and test it.
Step Three: Practice Makes Perfect

OK, so you’ve tested and purchased your new gun. Now comes
the final, critical step: You need to train with it by taking a live-
fire course and practicing a dry run in your home.
196
To attend a live-fire training course, you can go to a national

firearms school such as Gunsite Academy (with locations in Ar-
izona, Indiana, Tennessee, Virginia, and Washington) or Front
Sight (located outside of Las Vegas). You can also do a quick
Internet search to find a local firearms trainer. There is one in
almost every city in the country. Depending on what gun you
purchased, you’ll be able to take a handgun, rifle, or shotgun
course to learn (or further increase your) firearm skills.
Gunsight Academy: www.gunsite.com
Front Sight: https://www.frontsight.com/
To practice a dry run, make sure your gun is empty and
triple-check that there’s no ammunition in it.
Then secure the gun however you plan to keep it (in a safe,
in your closet, etc.) Next, walk through the motions. Lie in
your bed and pretend you hear someone trying to kick in your
front door.
Immediately hop out of bed and arm yourself, timing how
quickly you were able to get your gun.
You need to be able to access it in less than 10 seconds, so
if it takes you longer, you’ll need to pick a new place to store it.
By taking the steps above, you’ll ensure that if the day ever
comes when you hear someone smashing in your door, you’ll
be fully prepared to defend yourself.
197
THE ONE GUN MISSING FROM
YOUR COLLECTION
Today, I’m going to tell you why I think your gun collection is
incomplete.
This is assuming you already have a good pistol and (possi-
bly) an AR-15.
Look, the AR-15 is a GREAT rifle, and it will get the job
done for 99.9% of what you need. You can use it for everything
from home defense at close-quarters battle (CQB) distances all
the way to making accurate, effective hits at 500 yards or even
more, depending on your skill.
That’s why I think it’s the perfect first or second gun to
own. With a midsize fighting pistol like a Glock 19 or Smith &
Wesson M&P (suitable for concealed carry) and an AR-15, you
have almost all your bases covered.
Almost.
The fact of the matter is that beyond 500 yards, while you
CAN make effective hits with the AR-15, the 5.56 cartridge
starts to run out of steam.
If you want something bigger than the standard AR-
15 in 5.56, then I believe there’s no better caliber than the
.308/7.62x51 mm NATO.
Why I Think the .308 Is One of the Best All-Around

Rifle Round Choices
The fact is that the .308/7.62x51 mm NATO is a great full-power
rifle round. Here’s just a few reasons why…
1. It has excellent terminal ballistics. To quote leading bal-
listics expert Dr. Gary Roberts (emphasis mine):
hile snipers like to talk of head shots, there are an
W
inordinate number of torso hits in the law enforcement
forensic literature. As posted above, ASA indicates 47%
of sniper shots were to the head (104/219), while 53%
were to the body (115/219). As a result, law enforcement
sniper bullets need to exhibit terminal performance
which can consistently induce rapid incapacitation with
shots to the torso, as well as the head. If you use a 5.56
mm, what happens if you have to shoot through a win-
dow or into a vehicle? How about if the bad guy has
something over his chest — perhaps AK mags? The 5.56
mm is suddenly not looking so good.
2. It’s an accurate rifle caliber. Here’s a bit of history that
was new to me, from SniperCountry.com, comparing
the .308’s inherent accuracy with the .30-06 (emphasis
mine):
et’s go back to when the .30-06 and .308 were the only
L
cartridges allowed in NRA match rifle competitions. In
comparing accuracy between the .308 and .30-06, folks
who used each quickly agreed on one thing: .308s were
two–three times more accurate than the .30-06.
ost top high-power shooters feel the main reason the
M
.308 is much more accurate than the .30-06 is its shorter,
fatter case promotes more uniform and gentle push on
the bullet due to a higher loading density (less air space)
199
CHAPTER 5
and a more easily uniformly ignitable powder charge.

3. It is a very, VERY popular cartridge. The best thing, to
me, about the .308 is that it is a super-popular caliber.
ook, I worry about things like gun grabbers in govern-
L
ment making it hard to get ammunition… “grid down”
situations in which it may be hard to get ammo… or the
government scaring millions of Americans so that ammu-
nition becomes super expensive.
So I don’t want a “special snowflake” caliber.
“I don’t want a ‘special snowflake’ caliber. I like to stick to
a few calibers and stack them deep so I know I have plenty of
stores of ammunition.”
I’m not even that much of a gun or caliber collector. I like
to stick to a few calibers and stack them deep so I know I have
plenty ammunition stored for practice and for if (God forbid!)
I find myself in a crisis situation.
That’s why I like the NATO standard calibers. They’re VERY
plentiful because they’re used by armies and governments all
over the world. The 9 mm, 5.56 and 7.62x51 mm are all NATO
rounds.
Combine that with an ample stash of 7.62×39 (if you have
an AK-pattern rifle) and you’ve got the same ammunition stores
of all the world’s armies. In short, there’s almost ALWAYS going
to be ammunition somewhere for you to use.
Sure, I might be paranoid or whatever… but it’s something
to think about.
Also, because it’s so popular, there is plenty of commercial
support. That means tons of different loads, bullets, weights,
grains, etc., are available for you to use.
Lastly, because it’s so popular, it’s a GREAT choice for hunt-
ing and will take down practically any medium or big game
in North America. ’Nuff said on that, as the .308 is a proven
hunting round.
200
So if a .308 will do 80–90% of whatever any other “full

power” rifle round will do, why not go with the most plentiful,
popular, easy-to-find and commercially supported ammuni-
tion there is?
Semi-Auto AR-Style .308 or a Bolt-Action .308?

Specifically, I don’t think there’s any better .308 — especially in
semi-auto form — than the AR-style .308 rifle.
I’ll even go as far as to say that I believe the advent of reli-
able, accurate, ergonomic AR-style .308 semi-auto rifles make
the bolt-action sniper rifle somewhat obsolete. At least in .308.
Why?
“The .308 is a GREAT choice for hunting and will take
down practically any medium or big game in North America.”
Because a semi-auto .308 is so much more versatile than
a bolt-action .308 if we’re talking about self-defense or grid-
down, SHTF type situations…
Even if all you had was ONE AR-308 rifle, then that one
rifle could be put into use just like an AR-15 (at close-quar-
ter battle distances, midrange, large volume of suppressive fire,
etc.) and used for long-range “sniping”-type roles too.
It’s that versatile.
And it seems like many of the U.S. snipers over in “the
sandbox” are moving in this direction too.
This Is the “Golden Age” of AR-308s

The truth is that for a long time, compared with the AR-
15, the AR-10/AR-308 market was known for producing
not-very-reliable rifles.
But in the last few years, that has really changed.
Now more and more manufacturers are coming out with
.308 caliber rifles, and they’re becoming more popular by
the day.
201
CHAPTER 5
Should You Get an AR-308?

Only you know if you may need one, but I think it’s a good
choice if you want to round out your collection.
Again, I think an AR-15 in .223 and a midsize concealed-
carry-appropriate handgun like a Glock 19 are the perfect “first
guns,” but an AR-308 may be the perfect “next gun” if you
want to do some midrange to long-range shooting and move
up to a heavier caliber for things like hunting.
202
THE BEST ACCESSORIES FOR
YOUR FIREARM
If you’ve ever gone to a gun store and purchased a firearm or

just picked up a gun magazine, you have undoubtedly been
inundated with the many, many gun accessories you can add
to your firearm.
The reality is there are some people who spend more on
gun accessories than they do on the gun itself. Which begs the
question are any of these accessories really necessary?
The short answer is yes — as long as you purchase the right
accessories.
Accessories for your gun are worth every penny if you buy
ones that actually make a difference in performance. Don’t waste
your money on an add-on that has no functional purpose.
With that in mind, here are the most important gun acces-
sories I recommend for your firearm:
Tactical Light: This is the No. 1 gun accessory I recom-
mend. If you wake up in the middle of the night from the
sound of someone in your house, you’ll need a light to inves-
tigate. Most people will just grab a flashlight in this scenario,
which is fine.
CHAPTER 5
But if you decide to go this route, I encourage you to practice

shooting while holding your flashlight so you get used to having
only one hand on the gun instead of two. You can also buy a
tactical light/laser combo that will help you aim in the dark, but
like anything gun related, these gadgets can be expensive, and
they’re not something you want to go cheap on
Holsters: Whenever you purchase a new gun, you should
buy a holster at the same time. Owning multiple holsters is
beneficial for a few reasons. First, you need to make sure you
always have a holster that works with the clothes you’re wear-
ing. For example, the holster I wear with my jeans wouldn’t
work with the shorts I wear on my morning run.
Second, you need to have a holster that best fits your life-
style. What I mean is if you’re always going to carry concealed,
you might want an inside-the-waistband holster. However, if
you live on a large piece of property and regularly patrol it, you
may find that an outside-the-waistband holster is more com-
fortable and convenient
Sling: When it comes to long guns, I believe a sling is a
must-have accessory. A sling makes it easier to carry your gun
while hunting or patrolling. Plus, a sling often makes it easier
to transition from a long gun to a pistol in an emergency. Don’t
forget, if you buy a sling, you will have to purchase swivels to
attach the sling to your gun, but this accessory is well worth
the price
Extra Magazines: I recommend everyone have — at the
absolute minimum — three magazines for each gun they own.
The fact is if you are in a bug-out situation, you should have
all three mags loaded and ready to go. Even if you just keep
your guns at home, you should keep your extra mags ready. If,
heaven forbid, multiple intruders break into your home, you’ll
be glad you’re prepared. In addition to having extra magazines,
remember to practice reloading them so you won’t miss a beat
in an emergency
204
Gun Cleaning Kit: A basic gun cleaning kit isn’t expensive,

and while it’s certainly not the sexiest gun accessory, it’s one
that’s often overlooked. Keeping your gun clean and well oiled
is critical to ensure it functions properly when you need it.
Now, I know people who say they’ve shot thousands of rounds
with a Glock without having to clean it. While that may be
true, the fact is grime and dirt will build up eventually, so al-
ways remember to clean your gun regularly.
Some people spend thousands of dollars to add all kind of
bells and whistles to their firearms, but I’m a big believer in the
idea that a quality self-defense gun doesn’t need a lot of fancy
add-ons.
One final note: No matter what, please don’t do a trigger
job on your self-defense gun. You don’t want to find yourself
facing a prosecutor trying to explain why your gun has a two-
pound trigger.
205
FIVE KEY FACTORS OF THE PERFECT
POCKET PISTOL
By Larry Ellis | Hunting & Firearms Expert

According to the latest study by the Crime Prevention Re-
search Center, “Last year, the number of [concealed carry]
permit holders grew by a record 1.83 million. This is more
than the previous record increase of 1.73 million, set just the
year before.”
Clearly, every year more and more Americans are purchas-
ing firearms for concealed carry, which is why pocket firearms
are becoming increasingly popular.
The truth is pocket guns are great — they’re comfortable to
carry, and you can conceal them in all types of clothing, which
makes them easy to access. In fact, one of my favorite guns for
everyday carry is my Sig Sauer P238, which I keep loaded with
Speer Gold Dot ammo.
Since pocket guns are becoming so popular, here are five
factors to consider when selecting the right pocket pistol for
you:
Sights: Some pocket guns don’t come with sights, but I
highly recommend buying one that does. You also might want
to consider purchasing a laser sight for your pocket gun. Re-

member, it’s pointless to carry a firearm if you can never hit
your target.
Recoil: There is a common misconception that a smaller
gun will have less recoil than a larger gun. The truth is exactly
the opposite — smaller guns usually have more recoil than
larger guns of the same caliber. This is why you should test a
pocket gun at the range before you buy it. The Sig P238 I car-
ry, for instance, has significantly less recoil than the original
Ruger LCP.
Speed: One of the biggest advantages of a pocket pistol is
that you can draw it quickly. It’s perfectly natural to walk down
the street with your hand in your pocket; if something hap-
pens, you will be ready to defend yourself. That being said,
think about any external parts that could snag on your clothes.
Some pocket pistols feature an internal hammer, like the Smith
& Wesson 642.
Holster: If you carry a pocket gun, you should use a holster
that changes the outline of the gun. Some people would be
very alarmed if they saw the distinct outline of a gun in your
pocket. Plus, you don’t want to always want people to know
you’re carrying. Make sure the holster you choose stays in your
pocket when you draw (you don’t want it to come out with the
gun). My favorite pocket holsters are the plastic holsters made
of Kydex.
Ammo: There are a lot of different options when it comes to
ammo, but I recommend carrying self-defense rounds in your
pocket gun. As I mentioned, I prefer Speer Gold Dot rounds.
Another great round for your pocket gun is Hornady Critical
Defense ammunition.
If you decide a pocket pistol is the way to go, keep these
factors in mind and you’ll have no problem choosing the
perfect gun for you.
207
FIVE MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN
SELECTING A HUNTING FIREARM
Before you consider purchasing a firearm for hunting, it’s im-

portant that you do some homework and build your knowl-
edge base. It is highly recommended that you attend a hunting
education or safety course so you can learn the basics and how
to get started. Novice hunters are encouraged to learn from an
experienced hunter through an apprentice licensing program.
After you’ve got a good grasp of the fundamentals, you can
proceed with purchasing your own firearm for hunting.
If this is your very first firearm purchase, however, there are
several buying considerations to take into account. Selecting
a reliable, quality firearm requires a little background knowl-
edge so you can make the right investment. Amateur hunters
tend to make mistakes that can end not only in poor shopping
decisions, but also in potential safety issues. This article aims
to present the five most common mistakes people make when
selecting a firearm for hunting.
“Amateur hunters tend to make mistakes that can end in
potential safety issues.”
1. Caliber
By far, one of the most frequent mistakes that beginners make
when getting their first firearm is choosing the wrong caliber
for hunting. Even though there is not an ideal caliber for hunt-
ing in general, or for a specific animal, there is a range that you
should take into consideration.
This means that you need to know the difference between
a .17 HMR and a 577 Nitro Express, as well as when and how
to use them. An infographic created by Hunter Ed is a quick,
easy reference that shows you how to choose the right caliber
depending on the animals you will hunt:
• Varmint hunting: .22 Mag, .22 Long or .17 HMR are all
suitable for hunting small animals
• Deer Hunting: You can look into .22-250, .223 or .243
Win for hunting deer
• Big Game: For hunting bears or elk, choose .338, .300
Win Mag or 7mm Rem Mag.
2. Ammunition
Another significant factor you need to remember when select-
ing a firearm for hunting is your choice of ammunition. First
of all, not all ammunition works for all types of firearms, so
you need to ask what ammunition is suitable for the gun you
want to buy.
Choosing the proper type of ammunition involves critical
safety aspects. If you select the wrong kind, you’ll waste money
on ammunition you can’t use, and you’ll be putting yourself
and the people around you in danger. Always double-check
with the company you plan on buying your firearm from to see
if the ammunition you get on the side is compatible with your
choice of gun.
209
CHAPTER 5
3. Scope
Most beginner hunters get excited when buying their first rifle
and tend to forget about this essential component: the scope.
You could spend a considerable amount on your rifle but not
get the right scope and ruin your hunting experience from the
beginning.
Optics are just as important as the firearm you choose and
a basic part of the firearm selection process that many tend
to overlook. The best way to avoid this mistake is to organize
your budget in advance with both the firearm and the scope
in mind.
4. Investment
Speaking of budget, this leads us to another common mistake
when buying hunting firearms. Those who lack hunting expe-
rience might end up purchasing a firearm that is way over their
budget. This results in not having enough money left over to
spend on accessories (like the scope as we discussed above) or
for carrying out the practice afterward.
After all, hunting licenses and permits also cost money.
You should always weigh your options and check out various
sources before buying your hunting firearm from a store. If you
decide to purchase your hunting firearm online, it is recom-
mended that you search for a particular model through at least
three sources to see where you can get the best deal.
5. Complexity
Last but not least, complexity tends to be a trending mistake
among amateur hunters. This mistake can go one of two ways:
A hunter might purchase a firearm that’s too complex for his or
her level of training and knowledge at that time, or they might
get a gun that’s too basic and won’t meet their needs. Be aware
210
of your skill level as a hunter and choose the complexity of

your firearm accordingly.
To avoid these five crucial mistakes, I strongly encourage
you once again to spend time with an experienced hunter
learning the ins and outs of the sport. Visit several gun rang-
es to try out different weapons, and don’t be afraid to shop
around. You’ll enjoy a better hunting experience with a quality
firearm, so take the time to choose wisely.
211
10 THINGS TO LOOK FOR IN A QUALITY
FIREARMS INSTRUCTOR
I realize most people don’t have access to the same training that
I did when I was in the CIA. But there are plenty of exceptional
instructors throughout the U.S. that anyone can train with.
I’d say 98% of these instructors are good, honest folks who
know what they’re doing. However, since the training from
these instructors can literally mean the difference between life
and death, you need to avoid the 2% who could put your life in
jeopardy because they don’t know what the heck they’re doing.
To help you weed out the careless, inexperienced or down-
right dangerous demonstrators out there, here are 10 questions
to ask when you’re looking for a quality firearms instructor:
1. What’s their employment background? What did the in-
structor do for a living — or what do they currently do? Are
they a former cop, ex-FBI, ex-Secret Service agent, ex-CIA
or former military? The training connected with this type
of background is far superior to that of the average person,
and they’ll also be able to share real-life experiences with
you. In other words, you want someone who doesn’t just
spout theory, but knows what they’re talking about from

firsthand experience.
2. What’s their training background? The groups I mentioned
above have trained with some of the best instructors in the
world at state-of-the-art facilities. However, even if a par-
ticular instructor has years of experience in the military
or a government agency, they should still have plenty of
extracurricular firearms training.
true instructor never stops learning, and there are pri-
A
vate firearms schools all over the country that anyone
can attend. If I were you, I would avoid any instructor
who doesn’t train often and can’t rattle off the schools
and trainings they’ve attended.
3. Are they NRA certified? This is crucial because then you
know they at least went through the NRA instructor
class and have been taught proper instruction and safe-
ty techniques. This ensures you don’t sign up to learn
from someone who doesn’t know the first thing about
firearms.
4. Do they guarantee their training? This is a topic I’m sure
will make more than one instructor a little squeamish.
Too bad! If they truly believe they are offering the best
training to their students, there is absolutely no reason
why they shouldn’t offer a 100% money-back guarantee.
Why would you want to train with someone who doesn’t
stand behind their product?
5.
Are they friendly, open-minded and non-militaristic?
Do you know this type of instructor? The one who says,
“This is my way and there’s no other way to do it”? Or
the instructor who finds it necessary to intimidate people
to stroke his own ego? If you haven’t, just visit your local
gun shop — I’ve met many of these types working there.
213
CHAPTER 5
When looking for an instructor, you want someone who

is humble and willing to learn from others, as well as
share their own wisdom.
6. Do they emphasize safety? A firearms instructor should
make safety paramount. If the instructor doesn’t cover the
four basic safety rules or makes light of safety in ANY man-
ner, walk the other way. There’s a video floating around
of an instructor who had a cameraman down range next
to the targets,taking pictures of his students as they were
shooting. I won’t waste your time discussing the stupidity
of this. I don’t care if the instructor is a former sniper or
Rambo himself: If they violate safety protocol, they should
be avoided.
7. Speaking of Rambo… You want an instructor who lives in
real world and trains his students for the practical scenar-
ios they may encounter. An overdramatic instructor who
tells students they shouldn’t leave their house without
wearing bulletproof vests, carrying 12 different guns on
them and having a bazooka in the trunk should also be
avoided. You laugh, but I’m sure you’ve seen some of these
hyperbolic trainers.
8. Do they listen to you and genuinely care about you?
When you ask an instructor about the first gun you
should purchase, do they listen to you and to the rea-
sons you want to buy a gun? Or do they pontificate about
their preferred model? “Everybody should own a Glock,
just buy a Glock and you’ll be fine.” Firearms needs vary
greatly from person to person. Look for an instructor
that understands this.
9. Do they walk the walk? I admit, this trait is difficult to
get a feel for. But it’s important to know whether an in-
structor believes in their training. If you ran into them,
214
would they be carrying a concealed firearm? Or do they

just teach classes, yet never carry themselves? Obvious-
ly, I’d like to learn from someone who lives by what
they teach.
10. Can they teach? Pretty obvious, right? I know a num-
ber of excellent marksmen with incredible self-defense
knowledge who are terrible teachers. You need someone
who is articulate and able to explain why we do the things
we do. If an instructor loses patience with someone for
asking a few innocent questions, they probably shouldn’t
be teaching.
As I mentioned, most instructors should fit this bill, but
this handy list of questions will help you avoid the 2% who
don’t. Plus, it will give you good laugh when you inevitably
encounter some knucklehead instructor who thinks they’re
training ninjas instead of the average American who just wants
to protect themselves in everyday America.
215
REVOLVER VS. SEMI-AUTOMATIC
I’m often asked which type of handgun is better, a revolver or

a semi-automatic? Well, the truth is there are pros and cons to
both — it all depends on which one you’re more comfortable
using. So allow me to break down the facts to help you decide
which type firearm fits your needs best.
Revolver Raves
First, let’s go over some of the reasons people prefer revolvers
for self-defense:
1. They’re easy to fire. A typical revolver has a cylinder that
rotates with each fired shot. There is no need to feed the
next round, and each round is separate, so there is no
way for the rounds to jam or double-feed. Anyone who
shoots often has at some point experienced an ammu-
nition malfunction or feeding issue with a semi-auto.
While it’s not something that happens all the time, it
does happen. And if you don’t know how to fix it, you
could be in trouble
2. A revolver is simple to reload. It’s easy to reload a revolv-

er, because all you have to do is push the cylinder out
and remove the expended cartridges. Then reload each
chamber with fresh ammo and push the cylinder back
into place. It’s not exactly a quick process, but it’s very
basic. Reloading a semi-automatic weapon can be diffi-
cult for some people, because first, you have to pull back
the slide to chamber a round. Someone who is elderly or
has weak hands may not be able to manipulate the slide
very well, which is another reason to consider a revolver
3. They require less maintenance. I’m a big believer in keep-
ing your guns clean and properly oiled. Even if you don’t
shoot often, it’s important to make sure you oil your
semi-auto to keep the contact points lubricated. While
this is especially important for a semi-auto, it’s less im-
portant for a revolver. Now, don’t get me wrong, I’m not
saying you never need to clean or oil a revolver, but you
don’t need to do it as often as with a semi-automatic.
When semi-autos first arrived on the scene, most people
agreed that revolvers were more reliable and dismissed them.
But over the years, handgun manufacturers have improved the
durability and functionality of semi-automatic weapons.
Semi-Auto Advantages
Now here are the top three reasons to consider a semi-auto:
1. They have a higher capacity. Most revolvers have a five-
or six-shot capacity. However, semi-autos have a much
wider range of magazine capacity — usually anywhere
from 7–19 rounds depending on the firearm. Obviously,
if I was in a gunfight, I would rather have more rounds. In
fact, when police departments around the country began
switching to semi-autos, one of the biggest reasons was
so officers had more rounds in the event of a shootout 217
CHAPTER 5
2. They’re quicker to reload. There are people who will

tell you that they can reload a revolver faster than you
can reload a semi-auto. And someone who has practiced
reloading a revolver can probably do it pretty quickly.
However, the average person will likely always be faster
at reloading a semi-automatic than a revolver
3. They have better accuracy. The majority of people will be
more accurate shooting a semi-automatic than a revolver
because of the more modern design. Most semi-autos have
less recoil and muzzle jump than revolvers. Also, semi-au-
tos tend to have a smoother trigger pull than revolvers,
and when you combine these factors, they usually allow
for better accuracy.
When it comes down to which type of handgun is better,

it really depends on personal preference. If you suffer from
arthritis and can’t pull the slide back on a semi-auto, then
you might want to consider a revolver. However, if you carry
concealed often, you probably want a semi-auto that can hold
more rounds.
To figure out which side of the fence you’re on, I recom-
mend going to your local gun range. Rent a few different guns
of each type and see what works best for you.
218
BE SAFE AND CONFIDENT AT THE RANGE
WITH THESE 10 TIPS
Clayton Brumby of Sarasota, Florida, is a gun owner and fa-

ther of seven. He has always enjoyed target shooting and keeps
multiple guns in his home for self-defense. At an appropriate
age, he has taught each of his children gun safety and regularly
takes them to the shooting range.
On July 3, 2016, Clayton and three of his sons went to the
local Sarasota gun range. Clayton was shooting his new .22
semi-auto pistol in the end lane. He and his boys were having
a great time.
Then Clayton fired a round and the shell casing bounced
off the wall and fell down the back of his shirt. He reached
back to get the hot casing out of his shirt, pointing the gun
behind him. While his gun was pointed in this direction, Clay-
ton accidentally fired a round. In gun lingo, this is called an
accidental discharge, or “AD” for short.
Clayton thought the round went into the ceiling, until one
of his sons yelled, “Dad, Stephen’s been shot!” Immediately,
Clayton looked at his 14-year-old son Stephen and realized he
had shot his son while trying to fish the piece of hot brass out
of his shirt.
CHAPTER 5
A Parent’s Worst Nightmare

Tragically, Stephen passed away that afternoon at Sarasota Me-
morial Hospital. The bullet had pierced Stephen’s jugular vein,
causing irreparable damage. Doctors were able to keep Stephen
alive only until his mother arrived at the hospital to give her
son a kiss goodbye. Sadly, Clayton will have to live the rest of
his life with the pain of knowing he made a mistake that took
his son’s life. I’m sure there is not a minute that goes by in
which Clayton doesn’t think about his son. As a parent myself,
I can’t even begin to imagine his grief.
There is no question that this was a horrific accident. Clay-
ton simply wasn’t thinking when he reacted to the hot casing
the way he did. Unfortunately, hot casings are common when
handling firearms and something every shooter needs to know
how to deal with.
Be Safe, Not Sorry

Since safety is the No. 1 priority at any gun range, here are
some rules and etiquette tips that will help keep you and your
fellow shooters safe at your next — or first — range visit. Pay
attention to the first four tips, which are critical safety rules
that everyone needs to follow:
1. Always treat every gun as if it is loaded.
2. Never point a gun at anything you are not willing to destroy.
3. Always keep your finger off the trigger until you’re on
target and ready to shoot.
4. Always be sure of your target and what is behind it.
5. When you put your gun down, it should be empty, with
the slide locked back and the gun pointed down range.
6. Never pick up someone else’s gun unless you ask their
permission first.
220
7. If you have any questions, ask the range safety officer.
Don’t bother another shooter. You don’t want to distract
another shooter who may be firing.
8. When transporting your firearms, make sure they are se-
cure. Which means always carry your guns to and from
the range in a bag or case, never in your hand.
9. Don’t hover over, coach or correct other shooters unless
they ask you for help (which they shouldn’t). In other
words, don’t be “that guy” who thinks he’s a commando
and tries to give everyone advice when nobody wants it.
10. Always clean up after yourself at the range. Most im-
portantly, pick up all your shell casings and never leave
empty ammo boxes or trash lying around.
As I mentioned, safety is the biggest concern. By being fa-
miliar with the rules specific to your local range and keeping
these basic etiquette tips in mind, you’ll be able to have an
enjoyable time without any awful accidents.
221
CHAPTER 6:
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS:
HOW TO SURVIVE ANY CRISIS
HOW TO ENDURE A BLACKOUT
People living on the East Coast will no doubt remember the se-
vere snowstorms of 2010 that many dubbed “Snowmageddon.”
Because of these storms, for the first time in history, the
federal government shut down for four straight days.
However, I never got a day off and still headed into work
each day, as did most of my colleagues at the CIA. Even though
there were several feet of snow on the ground and many people
had lost power at home, the agency continued to run as usual.
This is possible because the agency has a thorough Conti-
nuity of Operations (COOP) plan. In other words, the agency is
prepared to continue with business as usual despite snowstorms
or any other type of event that may cause a blackout in the area.
While you and I certainly don’t have the budget of the CIA,
that doesn’t mean you can’t operate as normal when a storm
knocks out the power.
The truth is the chances of experiencing a blackout at home
are rather high. In winter, all it takes is an ice-covered tree fall-
ing on a power line to knock the power out for a few hours or,
if you’re unlucky, even a few days.
CHAPTER 6
But on the more severe end of things, a blackout could last

weeks if a terrorist attack were to damage a major portion of
the power grid.
Either way, whether it’s a few hours or a few weeks, here’s
how to ensure you survive (and stay as comfortable as possi-
ble). Below, I’d like to share with you my family’s COOP for
our own home in case we have a blackout.
We’ll cover my most reliable and efficient light sources,
food storage planning, how to keep warm in an extended
winter outage, and a few bonus topics.
Lighting Basics
A simple thing you can do is to have flashlights placed stra-
tegically throughout your house. My family has one on every
level of our home, in our glove boxes, and on our nightstands.
A neat flashlight that I like is called the Blocklite, which is a
small light you pop on top of a 9V battery.
Blocklite: http://amzn.to/2xOxzen
These lights are plenty bright for getting around the house,
you can carry them in your pocket, and they’re inexpensive, so
if you lose one, it’s not a big deal.
In addition to the Blocklite, I do have several tactical flash-
lights from companies such as SureFire and Fenix around my
home. However, these tactical flashlights are only for self-de-
fense purposes, because they eat batteries, so I’m not using
them to wander around my home in the dark doing normal
tasks. I’m using them in the event of a home invasion, which is
why these also sit on my nightstand every night.
SureFire: http://bit.ly/2f2tKL9
Fenix: www.fenix-store.com
Since you don’t only want to rely on flashlights for light, I also
use a Coleman propane lantern. I use this lantern for outdoor
224
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS: HOW TO SURVIVE ANY CRISIS
tasks, and I’m a huge fan of propane-run devices, which I’ll ex-
pand on in a moment.
“At a minimum, I would have a 30-day supply of food and
a one week supply of water.”
Of course, there are other ways to provide light, such as
candles, but if you have multiple flashlights, batteries, and pro-
pane lanterns, you’ll be in good shape.
Extreme Long Life Batteries

Once you’ve picked up several flashlights, don’t forget to stock up on bat-
teries. While you can get batteries almost anywhere. I prefer the Panasonic
Eneloop rechargeable batteries.
Panasonic Eneloop: http://amzn.to/2xOxVSf
These batteries come pre-charged from the factory so you can immediately
put them to use. Also, they can be recharged up to 2,100 times, which is a
huge money saver, since you’re not constantly buying new batteries for all
of your flashlights and other gear.
Keeping Warm & Well Fed

If a blackout occurs in the summer, keeping warm obviously
won’t be a problem, but if it occurs this weekend, you’ve got to
be able to provide heat to your home.
One of my favorite ways to do this is the Mr. Heater Buddy
portable propane heaters. I talked about these heaters in last
month’s issue of the Laissez Faire Letter (which you can read
here. In that article, you’ll also be able to read about one of my
favorite sleeping bags for keeping warm.)
In a blackout, you’re also going to want to continue to eat
well to stay healthy and keep up your strength. This is why I
recommend food and water storage. I personally have a one-
year supply of food and a 30-day supply of water in my home.
I realize not everyone can or wants to store this much food,
225
CHAPTER 6
so at a minimum, I would have a 30-day supply of food and a

one week supply of water.
My food storage comes from the LDS Cannery (from the
Mormon church), and any person of any religion can order
from the LDS Cannery. It’s the cheapest place to get food stor-
age, and there might be a cannery near you to pick up the
food. If not, you can just order it online. As far as my water
storage, I use the seven-gallon Aqua-Tainer jugs that can be
stacked on top of one another.
LDS Cannery: www.providentliving.lds.org
For cooking my food, I rely on propane stoves, more spe-
cifically, the Coleman one-burner stove. If you’re looking for a
stove with more burners, check out the Stansport two-burner
propane stove, which I also own. Keep in mind, unlike the
propane heater I mentioned earlier, these stoves are not de-
signed to be used indoors.
Coleman stove: http://amzn.to/2xOtFCA
Stansport: http://amzn.to/2vL7nUO
The Need for Power

So far, I’ve mentioned several smaller items to help you survive
a blackout, but now let’s get to something bigger — a generator.
The generator I own does not run on gas or diesel but is a
propane generator. Gas or diesel will provide more “juice,” but
I don’t need to run every appliance in my house at the same
time. I simply want to keep the fridge going and be able to use
a few small appliances.
But don’t get me wrong, the propane generator I own is still
plenty powerful and is nothing to scoff at.
“If everything else is down, a landline is the best way to call
911 or anyone else you need to contact.
The reason I got a propane generator is because you can
226
essentially store propane indefinitely and it won’t go bad.

If you’ve ever tried to store gasoline for a long period of
time, then you know what a pain in the butt it can be. Plus,
most of us don’t want gallons and gallons of gasoline sitting in
our garages or backyards. (The smell isn’t exactly appealing.)
With propane, though, you don’t have to worry about the
smell, and you can easily store the propane tanks in your ga-
rage or in a shed in the backyard. What’s more, you can easily
purchase the regular 20-pound tanks that are sold at Home
Depot and Wal-Mart, or you can purchase a 100-pound tank
for even more storage.
The propane generator that I own is the Sportsman 7,000-
watt propane gas-electric-start portable generator.
This generator is rather inexpensive and cost me about
$700 at Home Depot. You can buy more expensive generators
for $3,000 or more, but this one has everything I want and I
didn’t feel the need to have the unit attached to my house. This
generator has always worked well for me, and I don’t have any
complaints.
Sportsman Portable Generator: https://thd.co/2eFlPTq
Easy Backup Emergency Power Supply

Here’s my personal backup power system for smaller devices such as cell-
phones and tablets. This system only requires three items, and you can
have it up and running in less than 60 seconds.
The first item you need is a car battery. While you could go to your local auto
store and get a regular car battery, I recommend and use an absorbed glass
mat (AGM) battery. These batteries last about 10 years, are more reliable,
have no chance of leaking fluid, and are used by NASCAR. The brand of
AGM battery I use is Optima, and they’re available on Amazon.
Optima AGM Battery: http://amzn.to/2xa0OLR
Once you’ve got your battery, you’ll need an inverter. I use a 400-watt invert-
er made by a company called Bestek. My inverter has two standard outlets
and four USB ports, so you have plenty of space to plug items into.
227
CHAPTER 6
Bestek Inverter: http://amzn.to/2gLybO4
When the lights go out, all you do is hook up the inverter to the car battery
terminals and you can start plugging devices into the inverter, so you’ll be
all set to go.
The final item you’ll need is a battery charger to recharge your battery when
the lights come back on. I use a 10-amp battery charger by Schumacher,
and it’s available on Amazon.
Schumacher 10-amp Recharger: http://amzn.to/2gLybO4
When Cell Phones Die

Besides ways to power devices, you’ve also got to
make sure you have ways to communicate with
family members during a blackout. Depending
on the cause of the blackout, there’s no guaran-
tee cellphones will work.
This is where the old reliable landline comes
into play. The fact is if everything else is down,
a landline is the best way to call 911 or anyone
else you need to contact.
Another backup communication option is a
satellite phone. Both my wife and I have satellite phones in the
back of our cars because they’ll still function when cellphone
towers won’t. The satellite phone I use is the Inmarsat Isat-
Phone Pro.
Inmarsat IsatPhone Pro: http://amzn.to/2gGB9zs
Creating a Survival Group

Building a survival team is crucial. It is much more difficult
to survive alone than with a small group of people who have
different skill sets to bring to the table.
No man is an island, as they say, so it’s important to find a
228
trusted and capable survival group of like-minded people who

keep things on “the down-low.”
Basically, people have a better chance of getting through
dangerous situations together. I realize that the movies make it
seem “sexy” to be a lone wolf. But in real life, you’ll be much
more successful if you’re willing to work with others.
It would also be wise to learn how to read people, as you
need to be careful whom you’re telling about your prepping
and especially whom you trust to have access to your plans,
your supplies and your family.
First thing you need to do is vet members and make sure
they have compatible personalities and similar goals. Learn
about your neighbors, and get to know people. Start looking
for what kind of people you might need in certain situations
and figure out how to meet them and work together. Look for
unique skills that would make a person a great member of a
survival team. Military veterans, medical professionals, me-
chanics and farmers, to name a few, have skills that could be
an asset to you and your survival group.
Next comes the hard part. Learning to work together as a
team. You need to find out exactly where everyone excels, so
that when the time comes you are fully prepared to operate as
a team.
Drilling With Your Family and Survival Group

When it comes to survival gear, people often forget to famil-
iarize themselves with the ins and outs of all their gear so they
know how to use it in an emergency. Learn how your gear
works and be sure to test it periodically. This may seem basic,
but remember, during a stressful situation, you won’t have time
to figure out your equipment. Believe me, if you knew all the
prep work that spies do before going on an operation, it would
make your head spin. After all, if an operation fails, people may
229
CHAPTER 6
die. The same could be said in an emergency, so it’s important

to know your gear.
A good way to bring the whole group up to speed is to
take your gear camping. Once, my family lived off of survival
food — you know, the kind that comes in pouches — for an
entire week to make sure we liked it and our kids would eat it.
The food wasn’t too bad, the kids ate (almost) everything and
now we all know what we’re in for. Figure out what everyone
packed and then decide if it is a necessity for next time.
Make each outing tougher and longer than the last. And
don’t let the weather stop you — plan some outings in the
cold or snow. A grid-down exercise will show you where your
strengths and weaknesses really lie. Tim MacWelch from Out-
door Life recommends you:
Kill the main breaker for your home’s electricity, and then
get to work — cooking, cleaning, performing sanitation and
hygiene tasks, providing alternative heat and even figuring out
how to keep the kids entertained. It should also be a high pri-
ority to keep your home from getting damaged, especially in
sub-freezing weather. Drain all the water pipes, or keep a small
amount of heat going to prevent freezing.
The tougher the situations get, the tougher your team gets.
You should also make sure you have a Plan B or C. Just be-
cause you prepped on the idea that things will go a certain way,
things don’t always happen like you planned. Murphy’s law:
“Anything that CAN go wrong WILL go wrong.”
230
A WARNING FROM THE OTHER SIDE
OF THE WORLD

Pulling into a deserted harbor will give anyone goosebumps.
I was training a new spy in Kobe, Japan, and the target we were
after was a crime boss known simply as SCORPION.
We needed a secluded location where we could talk freely
and build a relationship with SCORPION. As you might imag-
ine, it is extremely difficult to get a crime boss alone. My trainee
and I lucked out in setting up this meeting on his boat.
I could sense my new partner wasn’t the biggest fan of the
ocean, but the advantages of this location outweighed the
risks. The meeting was going as planned until the lights went
out in the city. The only source of light for miles came from the
running lights on the boats bobbing in the harbor around us.
My thoughts quickly went to my family. Through my work,
I had managed to build up a serious list of enemies. Enemies
that are skilled at hiding in shadows. And now the entire world
was shadows.
CHAPTER 6
Act Natural
My protégé had a look of pure panic on her face. I could sense
her fear. We had to get out of there before she blew our cover.
Just my luck. I was stuck on a boat in complete darkness with
a crime boss and a nervous spy. Just another day at the office.
We wrapped up the meeting and managed to make it back
to the pier, where we parted ways with SCORPION. Getting
home to my family was my top priority. But my car was 30
miles away.
To top it off, I had to get rid of the two men following us.
Even with the blackout, SCORPION had surveillance ready
to follow us once we stepped off the boat. As intelligence offi-
cers, we’re trained to disappear, but we couldn’t disappear too
quickly. The men following us would be watching our every
move to gauge if we were spies or just regular folks.
We needed to make sure that SCORPION’s men thought we
were just a couple of regular Joes, which is why we took our
time that night and avoided making any suspicious moves.
If you’ve ever been to Japan, you’re probably familiar with
the massive number of people on the sidewalks. Now imagine
those crowds in total darkness, made larger without the use of
the subway lines. We didn’t have to walk far to casually lose
SCORPION’s men.
When I got home that night, I was more grateful than ever
to see my wife and kids. A few hours later, the power came
back on and everyone went back to business as usual. But I’ll
never forget that day and how dangerous it can be when the
lights go out. Which is why I believe a blackout is something
everyone should prepare for.
Lights Out in the Big City

In December 2016, Russian hackers temporarily disabled
Ukraine’s power grid, cutting off electricity to one-fifth of the
capital city. Some experts believe that this attack was meant
as a diversion. Others believe it was a direct attack against the
232
Ukrainian government. I think it’s both. Launching an attack on

the power grid is as much a statement of power as a distraction.
But there’s another angle people fail to recognize: A system
in disarray can give away a lot of information.
Think about it. All attempts to bring back power give infor-
mation on restoration techniques. Let’s say Russia is planning a
larger attack. This smaller attack has revealed Ukraine’s recov-
ery protocol, so hackers can plan more attacks to increase the
duration of the next blackout.
We also face cybersecurity threats from Russia.
Now the U.S. is not nearly as vulnerable as Ukraine. And
thankfully, we’ve greatly improved our power grid since the
Northeast blackout of 2003. Our system has undergone numer-
ous hardening projects, and extra power grids have been put
in place in case others fail. There are also monitoring satellites
that serve as an early-warning system.
The Bottom Line

That day in Japan, my family stayed safe because we had sat down
together and made emergency plans for almost every scenario
we could imagine. I was happy to see that my children knew
what to do when the lights went out. And now I get to watch my
children teach the same principles to my young grandchildren. I
recommend preparing your family in a similar way.
You should also have a flashlight, weapons, water, food, a
radio, money and a full tank of gas in your car. Most power
failures are localized. Depending on the situation, you should
be prepared to leave the affected area.
Our network systems — which include the power grid —
are under constant threat of attack. I certainly hope that our
security efforts keep us protected, but my family and I are pre-
pared if our defenses fail.
You don’t have much control over a blackout. But you do
have control over how you handle it. Prepare now and stay safe.
233
HOW NOT TO DROWN
We lived in fluid for our first nine months, so swimming should

be instinctual — but for many people, it’s not. The human body
(for most of us) is naturally buoyant. We are designed to float.
That said, there is a large percentage of the population who
can’t swim. And an even larger percentage will be hopeless in
churning seas and the surf zone.
Trust me when I tell you when you have 30-foot waves
crashing above you that the safest place is UNDER the water.
I have avoided death many times by simply swimming down
and grabbing sand with my hands to anchor myself until the
break in sets (the time between the waves) and taking that
time gap to swim to shore.
If you can hold your breath for 30 seconds, you will find
that under the waves is the safest place to be. It’s utter calm-
ness. If you can’t, here are some other things you can try.
DIY Flotation Device

According to the Navy Swimming and Water Survival Instructor’s
Manual, you should “carefully weigh the pros and cons of re-
moving clothing, as clothing can protect against hypothermia

and offers protection from marine life, fuel oil and sunlight.”
If you find yourself in the water without a life vest, here’s
how you can improvise:
According to the Navy manual, you should take your pants
off and “tie the two legs together using a square or overhand
knot,” and then zip and button the waist closures.
Holding the pant legs vertically about two inches beneath
the surface of the water, take a deep breath and exhale into the
submerged waistband. The air will rise and be trapped in the
leg knots. Place your neck in the crotch of the pants. Congrat-
ulations — you now have a makeshift life vest.
A few things to keep in mind: Make sure you keep the
waistband below the surface of the water to keep air from
escaping. Also, as the manual explains, “The trousers should
be kept wet by splashing water on them periodically. If the
trousers are allowed to dry out, they may leak.”
Face-Down Survival Float

As also stated in the Navy Swimming and Water Survival In-
structor’s Manual, the back float (often preferred by bad or
non-swimmers who have not learned proper breath control)
“is effective only in calm water, and can be hazardous in rough
seas.”
So the best way to stay afloat in choppy seas is the face-
down float. Here’s how to execute this maneuver by the book
just like a trained Navy SEAL:
1. Place your face in the water with your chin to your chest
and the back of your head just above the surface of the
water. “The upper back and shoulders are underwater,
horizontal to the surface, and the arms are at the surface
with elbows bent and hands separated slightly.” Allow
your legs to dangle beneath you. “These actions balance
the floater around the chest, the center of buoyancy.”
235
CHAPTER 6
2. To take a breath, “pivot at the neck, lifting your chin

off your chest until your mouth clears the surface… As
your mouth clears the surface, the swimmer exhales
quickly and forcefully through the mouth and nose.”
Then inhale deeply. Once you’ve inhaled a full breath
of air, lower your head back to the resting position with
your chin on your chest.
3. When you lift your head to breathe, keep your arms par-
allel to the surface and press your hands outward (palms
facing out) to a point near the width of your shoulders.
This motion is called sculling and will help you keep
your head above water while you take in a new breath.
You can also use your legs for additional support — the
best method is a modified frog kick: Kick while your head is
above water. “Only one or two short, quick kicks are required
to support the head while breathing.”
The most important aspect of this maneuver is that it will
help you conserve energy while you wait for help to arrive.
Also, remember to stay calm and keep your breathing consis-
tent so you don’t hyperventilate or aspirate.
Make sure you check the local conditions before heading
into the water on your next vacation so you can avoid this is-
sue altogether. But if you do find yourself in suddenly violent
waters, you’ll know what to do to make it out alive.
236
THE SECRET TO AVOIDING
PSYCHOLOGICAL DEFEAT IN
A LIFE-AND-DEATH SITUATION
By The Survival Ready Blog Team

Your mission in a survival situation is to stay alive. You are
going to experience an assortment of thoughts and emotions.
These feelings can work for you, or they can work to your
downfall. Fear, anxiety, anger, frustration, guilt, depression
and loneliness are all possible reactions to the many stresses
common to survival.
These reactions — when controlled in a healthy way —
help to increase your likelihood of surviving. They prompt the
would-be survivor to pay more attention, to fight back when
scared, to take actions that ensure sustenance and security, to
keep faith and to strive against large odds.
When the survivor cannot control these reactions in a
healthy way, they can bring that person to a standstill. Instead
of rallying their internal resources, the survivor listens to their
internal fears. This survivor experiences psychological defeat
long before they physically succumb.
Remember, survival is natural to everyone; being unexpect-
edly thrust into the life-and-death struggle of survival is not.
CHAPTER 6
Don’t be afraid of your “natural reactions to this unnatural sit-

uation.” Prepare yourself to rule over these reactions so they
serve your ultimate interest — staying alive.
This preparation ensures that your reactions in a survival
setting are productive, not destructive.
The challenge of survival has produced countless examples
of heroism, courage and self-sacrifice. These are the qualities it
can bring out in you if you have prepared yourself. Below are
a few tips to help psychologically prepare yourself for survival.
Know Yourself
Through training, family and friends take the time to discover
who you are on the inside. Reinforce your stronger qualities
and develop the areas that you know are necessary to survive.
Anticipate Fears
Don’t pretend that you will have no fears. Begin thinking about
what would frighten you the most if forced to survive alone.
Train in those areas of concern to you. The goal is not to elimi-
nate the fear but to build confidence in your ability to function
despite your fears.
Be Realistic
Don’t be afraid to make an honest appraisal of situations. See cir-
cumstances as they are, not as you want them to be. Keep your
hopes and expectations within the estimate of the situation.
When you go into a survival setting with unrealistic ex-
pectations, you may be laying the groundwork for bitter dis-
appointment. Follow the adage, “Hope for the best, prepare
for the worst.” It is much easier to adjust to pleasant surprises
about one’s unexpected good fortunes than to be upset by one’s
unexpected harsh circumstances.
238
Adopt a Positive Attitude

Learn to see the potential good in everything. Looking for the
good not only boosts morale, but it’s also excellent for exercis-
ing your imagination and creativity.
Remind Yourself What Is at Stake

Remember, failure to prepare yourself psychologically to cope
with survival leads to reactions such as depression, careless-
ness, inattention, loss of confidence, poor decision making and
mentally giving up before the body gives in. At stake is your
life and the lives of others who are depending on you to do
your share.
Train
Through self-defense training and life experiences, begin today
to prepare yourself to cope with the rigors of survival. Demon-
strating your skills in training will give you the confidence to
call upon them should the need arise. Remember, the more
realistic the training, the less overwhelming an actual survival
setting will be.
Learn to Manage Stress

People under stress have a potential to panic if they are not well-
trained or psychologically prepared to face the circumstances
— whatever they may be. While we often cannot control the
survival circumstances in which we find ourselves, it is within
our ability to control our response to those circumstances.
Learning stress management techniques can enhance
significantly your capability to remain calm and focused as
you work to keep yourself and others alive. A few good tech-
niques to develop include relaxation skills, time management
skills, assertiveness skills and cognitive restructuring skills
(the ability to control how you view a situation). 239
CHAPTER 6
By cultivating these skills and attending some survival

training and self-defense classes, you can develop the surviv-
al attitude. The last thing you want is to find yourself in a
life-and-death situation and be overwhelmed by the rush of
emotions.
Remember, the will to survive can also be considered to be
the refusal to give up.
Never, ever give up.
240
AN ESSENTIAL TOOL TO HELP YOU SEE
THE LIGHT OF DAY
By Cade Courtley | Former Navy SEAL

3:00 a.m. — Location: Undisclosed
I’m seated on the deck of an MH-60 Black Hawk. My legs
are hanging out the starboard door. I lean forward into the
night, my weight supported by my anchored harness. The
warm prop wash hits my face as we continue to slowly orbit
the compound 500 feet below.
I’m intently scanning the city of green through my night
vision goggles (NVGs). I train my rifle with infrared (IR) laser
site, providing sniper cover as my team clears the structures
beneath me.
If you own the night — you own the operation.
Early warfare seldom engaged at night. The lack of adequate
vision increased confusion, hampered communication and seri-
ously increased the possibility of fratricide (friendly fire). Only
the most highly trained soldiers with a well-rehearsed plan
could take to the battlefield at night with any chance of success.
But this began to change with the invention of night vision.
Originally designed and used by the Germans in World War
II, it wasn’t until Vietnam that night vision truly proved itself
CHAPTER 6
in combat. Today, night vision is standard issue for most of our

fighting forces.
How It Works
Basically, night vision devices use image enhancement technol-
ogy to collect all available light — including IR, which can’t be
seen by the naked eye — and amplify it so that you can easily
see what’s going on in the dark.
Night vision technology has made enormous advancements
since the German Generation 0 optic. Modern night vision
devices are significantly smaller, lighter, waterproof, more du-
rable and have a far longer battery life. The latest MIL-SPEC
(military standard) Generation 4 night vision goggles boast
beyond an 80,000 times amplification rate, resulting in an in-
credibly crisp image with a 120-degree field of view. And if
you have $65,000, you can own a pair.
So why is it green?
Green presents a night vision device wearer with the most
accurate and user-friendly picture possible. What’s more, be-
cause the eye is most sensitive to light wavelengths near 555
nanometers — that is, green — the display can be a little dim-
mer, which conserves battery power.
Game Changer
During one of the military operations in Mogadishu, Soma-
lia, colloquially known as Black Hawk Down, the use of night
vision goggles changed everything. The amazing pilots of the
Army’s elite helicopter squadron (TF-160 SOAR) — Night
Stalkers and their Little Birds (MH-6) — were able to conduct
nonstop gun runs in support of troops that found themselves
pinned down and out numbered. This gave dozens of Ameri-
can troops the opportunity to get out alive.
But you don’t have to be a member of an elite Tier 1 special
242
ops unit to know that having the advantage in the night could
mean all the difference. Night vision could be extremely valuable:
• When hunting or camping
• In the event of a power disruption during a natural disasters
• During a home invasion
• When you don’t want to give up your position by using a
flashlight
• Or if you a hear a strange noise in your backyard at night.
Choosing the Right Night Vision for You

OK, so you’ve decided to invest in a night vision device. Here
are some things to consider when narrowing down your list:
1. Gain — This refers to the ability to enhance images even
as it gets darker. Typically, night vision falters as the
amount of ambient light dwindles and the viewing dis-
tance increases.
2. Range — To capture objects that are far afield, night vi-
sion goggles need a magnification factor greater than 1x.
A long and powerful lens is required to achieve this. But
unfortunately, long lenses perform poorly in low light.
3. Image Quality — The best night vision images are those
that remain sharp at the center and at the edges. To
avoid blurring and distortion, the goggles must produce
high-definition images with a high resolution.
4. Mounting Gear — Do you want or need the ability to
head mount your night vision so you can be hands-free?
5. Budget — As with most things in life, the more you are
willing to spend, the better product you will get. But if you
keep these other factors in mind, you’ll be able to find a
device that fits your needs without breaking the bank.
243
CHAPTER 6
Here are several options available for civilian use that

I recommend.
• The ATN PVS7-3 is identical
to the AN/PVS-7 — the night
vision goggles issued to the
U.S. Army. It can be used as
a handheld, head-mounted
or helmet-mounted device.
$3300.
•The Armasight Vega is
an affordable and capable
head-mounted Gen 1+ night
vision device. It weighs 0.54
pounds and comes with flip-
up headgear. $300.
• The 6x 50MM Bushnell
Equinox Z is the top model
in Bushnell’s stellar Z Night
Vision line. This night vi-
sion monocular weighs 1.7
pounds and runs on four AA
batteries. $475.
• The ATN Viper X-1 is a small
Gen 1 night vision device for
outdoor enthusiasts. This mon-
ocular not only is lightweight
and compact, but also comes
with a headgear kit. $275.
Only you can decide if night vi-
sion would be a useful addition to
your survival gear. And now that
you know a little bit more about
what to look for in a quality device,
if you do pick up a pair, you can
own the night like a SEAL.
244
5 TIPS FOR SURVIVING WHEN LOST
Imagine you and a friend are enjoying a beautiful hike. Then it

begins to snow and your hiking partner disappears.
Well, that’s exactly what happened to 33-year-old Pavlina
Pizova and her partner Ondrej Petr. Pavlina and Ondrej were
hiking in the New Zealand wilderness when clouds overtook
the area and heavy snow began to fall, making it difficult to see
where they were going.
Ondrej slipped down an icy slope and became trapped be-
tween some rocks. Pavlina carefully made her way toward Petr
before she realized he had died during the fall. She ended up
spending the night out in the freezing conditions next to his
body.
The next day, Pavlina trudged through waist-deep snow to
a hut she knew was nearby to rest and get some supplies. She
ate food other hikers had left behind and then attempted to
hike her way back to safety. But avalanches nearby made it
impossible for her to get very far, so she decided to stay put in
the hut.
CHAPTER 6
Lost and Found

Pavlina survived in that hut for 30 days. She was finally rescued
after her family became concerned that they hadn’t heard from
her. Unfortunately, Pavlina and Ondrej didn’t tell anyone where
they were going and they didn’t have a GPS locator, which pro-
longed the search.
Getting lost in the wilderness can be a terrifying experi-
ence — even without suffering the death of someone you care
about — and I know Labor Day weekend is a popular time for
hiking and other outdoor activities. So today, I want to share
some tips on what to do in case you ever find yourself stranded
in the middle of nowhere.
1. Stay put. Hopefully, you left behind detailed plans of
where you planned to go on your trip. If you did, stop
moving and make a camp with the supplies you have on
hand. The fact is you could walk for days and never find
help. You could end up wandering in circles, wasting
precious energy and supplies. Besides, a search-and-res-
cue team will most likely start from your car and work
their way from there in a specific pattern, which is why
you should stay put if it’s safe to do so.
2. Look for water. Water will quickly become one of your
biggest concerns if you become lost in the wilderness.
Ration the water you do have and be on the lookout for
new water sources. Remember that water flows down-
hill, so go low. Also look for plants or other growth that
are signs of water in the area. And don’t forget to use
your ears and listen for the sound of water — you might
be close to a water source and not even know it. When
you find water, it’s critical that you have the means to
filter it. The SurvFilter has saved my life more than once
in the wilderness — I highly recommend picking up one
of these survival water filters for yourself.
246
Survfilter: http://bit.ly/2gC9GPD
3. Signal for help. Provided you are well-prepared, you
should have the tools and the ability to make a fire. This
is one of the best ways to signal rescuers. The interna-
tional signal for help is based on the number three. If
possible, start three campfires in a triangle pattern to let
people know where you are. Depending on the terrain,
try to start the fires on a high ridge so they can be seen
more easily.
4. Build a shelter. If you brought a tent, a tarp or other
camping gear, set it up before it gets dark. If you don’t
have any gear on hand, make a shelter out of whatever
is available. Frankly, if you get lost in the wilderness,
you need to be prepared to spend a few nights in the
elements, which means having a shelter is critical. I can
assure you from personal experience that sleeping out-
doors without any shelter is miserable and it will make
your situation a whole lot worse.
5. Leave clues. Let’s say you make camp but you have to
hike downhill to retrieve water. You definitely want to
let search parties know where you’re headed in case they
find your camp while you are gone. This can be as simple
as leaving a note with the direction you left to find water.
In addition, you need to ensure searchers in the air can
find you, so you should also make a large arrow out of
rocks or branches pointing in the direction you traveled.
The key to safety is being prepared so you can deal with any
unexpected issues that arise. But if you do ever find yourself
lost and unprepared, remember these five tips to keep safe un-
til help arrives.
247
HOW TO BUILD A SURVIVAL SHELTER
ANYWHERE
For Mike Vilhauer, knowing how to build a shelter in the wil-

derness is the reason he survived for five days in the rugged
Sierra Nevada mountains.
It began as an ordinary fishing trip, but the day took an
unexpected turn as night fell and Mike realized he was lost.
Knowing he was going to have to spend the night in the moun-
tains, Mike decided to make a shelter using pine needles and
willow tree branches to keep warm. The next day, Mike tried
to hike his way back to safety, but no such luck. He was forced
to stop and erect another shelter the second night.
Mike survived for five full days by drinking water from
streams and building shelters to stay warm at night. Even
though he didn’t get much sleep or food during the ordeal,
search and rescue crews eventually found him and he made it
home safe and sound.
The lesson here is that Mike absolutely did the right thing
to stay alive. If he hadn’t had the wherewithal to build shel-
ters for warmth, the story likely would have had a different
outcome.
For this reason, I’m going to teach you how to build simple,
effective shelters in three different types of environments — in
case you ever find yourself stranded in the elements.
In the Woods
A lean-to is one of the simplest shelters to set up in a forest.
The first thing you’ll need to do is find a large tree or boulder.
Then take tree limbs (approximately 6–7 feet long) and put
one end on the ground, leaning the other end against the large
tree or boulder you’ve staked out.
Next, take smaller branches, leaves, pine needles, bark or
anything else you can find and place them on top of the lean-
ing limbs. You’ll need enough to cover all the limbs that are
leaning to protect yourself from the elements.
You should also use leaves, bark or pine needles to cov-
er the ground inside the lean-to. If you sleep directly on the
ground, you will lose body heat.
In the Snow
If you are stranded in the snow, one of the quickest ways to
build a shelter is by making a snow cave. When digging a snow
cave, the most important factor is choosing a safe location.
Ideally, you need to find an area with large snowdrifts, such
as a mountainside. Avoid building a shelter up against a tree
because there are usually air pockets in the snow around trees,
which means the snow won’t be deep enough.
Once you’ve picked out a good spot, start by digging an en-
trance into the cave and then dig up to create a dome shape. In
other words, the entrance should be lower than the rest of the
snow cave. This will help keep warmth inside since you will
need to leave the entrance open for air movement.
249
CHAPTER 6
In the Desert
Desert conditions are typically the most challenging environ-
ments in which to build a shelter. The key is to give yourself
protection from the elements — most importantly, the sun.
One of the best shelter options in the desert is a pit shelter,
which is essentially just a large hole that you can fit your whole
body into. But don’t waste your energy digging one that’s too
large, because you want to keep your body close to the walls of
the pit for insulation.
For the finishing touch, place a tarp, poncho, clothing or
anything else you have over the top of your pit. The more lay-
ers you can add, the better off you will be.
The Bottom Line

I’m sure you’ve heard of the “rules of three” when it comes
to survival. Basically, you can survive three minutes without
air, three hours without shelter, three days without water and
three weeks without food.
In a survival situation, provided that you are still breath-
ing, shelter should be your next priority because hypothermia
and heat stroke can kill you pretty quickly. Once you’ve got a
shelter to protect yourself from the elements, you can tackle
finding food and water and — like Mike — you’ll eventually
make it home alive.
250
THREE SURVIVAL TIPS FOR SENIOR
CITIZENS AND THOSE WITH
LIMITED MOBILITY
By Jeff Anderson | Modern Combat & Survival

I hear it ALL the time…
Bugging out may be the way to go for “young bucks,” Jeff…
but I’m older and I don’t really have any choice but to ride out
a disaster in my home.
Sure, I get it.
I mean a lot of survivalists assume that everyone will just be
able to throw half their house on their back and head off into
the urban wasteland to escape the chaos, right?
But what if you really ARE older… can’t stand or walk for
long periods… use a walker or wheelchair… or just simply
can’t see yourself scaling walls, carrying a giant bug-out bag
and dodging armored vehicles like Jack Bauer?
Or what if YOU can… but you also have to plan for an el-
derly parent or neighbor you watch out for? Well, here are three
survival tips for older people and those with limited mobility:
1. Be Realistic With Your Survival Plan

Are you and your loved ones unable to move over long distances?
CHAPTER 6
If so, shelter-in-place may be your only option if mobility

is a real problem.
This forces you to really put a lot more focus into fortifying
your home against not only storms… but also the aftermath of
them.
Stock up heavily on food and water… have plywood, a
hammer and nails stashed in your garage to board up against
high winds and rain… and jack up your home security (in-
cluding keeping your guns and ammo dry and at the ready
against possible looting).
But be warned… even with a solid shelter-in-place plan,
you may be FORCED to pick up and go if you’re in the path of
a disaster — in this case…
2. Be the First to Go
When you have no other choice but to get out of Dodge, you
absolutely MUST be in that first wave of evacuees.
Your best means of transportation will always be your vehicle.
However… when the SHTF, everyone around you will have
the same idea.
In no time flat, highways, bridges, tunnels, even train routes
will bottleneck and become impassable.
Younger, more agile people can get out of their cars and find
their way to safety easier… but if you — or someone you’re
with — has a harder time being mobile, this makes it all the
more critical you’re ahead of the pack.
Make no mistake… the first to move have the advantage
when bugging out and you need to be able to evacuate your
family in five minutes or less when it’s go time!
And there’s one key secret to doing that…
3. Yes, You STILL Need a Bug-Out Bag!

I know a lot of older people who think they don’t need a bug-
252
out bag for their survival supplies.

Wrong, wrong, WRONG!
Here’s what they just don’t get…
While you may not see yourself strapping on a backpack
and walking through the forest, that’s not really what a bug-
out bag is for anyway.
It’s simply a way for you to pre-assemble all your essential
supplies with you — in an easy-to-carry method — in order
to remain self-reliant if you’re forced to evacuate your home.
That’s it.
If you’re forced from your home, you’re still going to need
clothes, food, clean water, any prescription medications, etc.
— and you can bet that you’re not going to get those things
right away (especially when emergency services are focused
on rescues rather than caregiving).
And look…
If part of your plan is to have someone come and get
you (like a responsible son or daughter or grandchild), then
you simply MUST be ready to go when they pull up in the
driveway.
Remember… every single second counts and if YOU are
the one holding everyone up because you’re trying to think
about what to bring and throwing it all in a suitcase, you put
EVERYONE’S life in danger by not being prepared.
Don’t be one of the clueless “older” people who fail to plan
for a forced evacuation. I’ve seen what happens to the “unpre-
pared” in real-world disasters and crises… and it’s not pretty.
Oh, One More Thing…

If you happen to be someone with an elderly parent or some-
one else you’re responsible for, don’t make the mistake of
thinking they’ll be ready and waiting for you when you arrive
to grab them.
253
CHAPTER 6
I can almost promise they won’t be ready!

It will actually even help YOU survive a crisis if you can
make sure they’re schooled on how to prepare and their sup-
plies are ready NOW instead of trying to pull it all together
at the last second.
254
90 SURVIVAL USES OF PARACORD
As a former CIA officer, I know a thing or two about getting the

most use out of everyday items and using them in ways most
people wouldn’t ever suspect.
It is vital to have this kind of knowledge so that if you’re
ever in a tight spot, you have the tools and the skills to escape
a dangerous situation.
Paracord — a durable lightweight rope about as thick as
your shoelaces — a perfect example.
No one will ever give a second thought to the laces in your
shoes. But when they are made of some of the strongest para-
cord material, they could get you out of a jam… even save a life.
Paracord was originally used in the suspension lines of U.S.
parachutes during World War II, but once in the field, para-
troopers found many other awesome uses for this rope.
And get this… Paracord was even used by astronauts during
the repair of the Hubble Space Telescope.
It’s all because of the way this stuff is constructed. In each
strand of cord, you’ll find seven super-strong strings all woven
together in a breakthrough pattern. Some paracord can hold
up to 550 pounds of tension!
CHAPTER 6
Given my background in the government, I’ve been through

some amazing training. During one particular training event,
we were placed into different scenarios and had to use only the
tools in our environment to escape.
In one scenario, I was gagged, bound with zip ties and
stuffed into the trunk of a car. And just using a length of para-
cord I had laced my boots with, it took me less than 15 seconds
to get out.
If you replace your existing shoelaces with paracord, you
can use the paracord to form a friction saw that will set you
free from the zip ties.
Simply remove the paracord from one of your shoes and tie
a bowline knot around that shoe. Then run the other end of
the paracord through the zip tie and tie another bowline knot
around your other shoe.
Then move your legs as if you are riding a bicycle. The zip
tie should pop right open. It’s that easy!
Paracord is incredible stuff. There are literally dozens of oth-
er potential uses — some of them lifesaving. Which is why I’ve
put together this report — a comprehensive list of practically
every scenario and possible use you can get out of paracord.
Some of these are self-explanatory, while others may need a
little explanation. See below for the 90 other uses for paracord.
Hunting/Fishing
1. Use the inner threads as fishing line.
2. If you have some time on your hands, use the internal
strands to create a fishing net.
3. Make a trotline for fishing. Remove the inner strands,
and then singe the ends of the outer nylon shell. Slide
swivels to the shell and tie an overhand knot on either
side of the swivel. Use the inner thread to make your
drop lines, and then thread your hook.
256
How-to: http://bit.ly/2eFGwi7
4. Weave the inner strands together and construct a gill net.
5. Make traps and snares by tying the inner strands to
branches.
How-to: http://bit.ly/2xa1OiP
6. Create a makeshift bow by attaching some paracord to a
branch. You can create an arrow by shaping and sharp-
ening a stick.
7. Construct a bola by tying a rock to the end of the para-
cord. Use to hunt birds or as an improvised defense
weapon.
Medical Uses
1. Make an emergency tourniquet. Wrap paracord around
the injured limb approximately 2–4 inches away from
the wound to help slow or stop the bleeding. (Don’t ap-
ply directly to the wound.)
2. Use the paracord to weave a net between two long sticks
or branches to make an improvised stretcher.
3. Make a splint by tying straight sticks around a broken
limb.
4. Use the inner threads as emergency suture material.
5. Use it as a sling for an injured arm.
6. Use the inner strands for emergency dental floss.
7. Create a medical ID bracelet by attaching paracord to a
medical identification tag. This should include important
information such as blood type, contacts to call, name,
birth date, etc., in case of an emergency.
Self Defense/Safety
1.
Create a tripwire by stringing paracord around your
campsite to protect against intruders.
257
CHAPTER 6
2. An alternative method to the basic tripwire, make a

tripwire alarm. If you attach some bells or cans to the
paracord, it can also act as an early-warning system.
3. Create makeshift handcuffs.
4. Secure bad guys or intruders to a tree or chair.
5. Make a spear by tying a knife to a branch.
6. Use as an emergency escape rope.
7. Create a makeshift sling with which to throw rocks.
8. Make a gun sling. Loop three strands of paracord through
a swivel. Braid the strands and then attach to a second
swivel. (For extra strength or a wider string, you can use
extra paracord to create a second braid over the first one.)
Melt the ends to seal and attach to your weapon of choice.
9. Keep your gun clean by using it as a bore snake.
10. Wrap around a weapon for a no-slip grip and shock
absorber.
11. Create a bullwhip for defense.
12. Temporarily lock a door with paracord and a paperclip.
How-to: http://bit.ly/2gLzxZa
13. Use it as a rescue line.
14. Tie people together on a trail so that everyone stays
together and so no one gets pulled away.
Clothing
1. Suspend clothes off the ground by making a clothesline.
2. Make an emergency belt to hold your pants up.
3. If a belt doesn’t work, make suspenders.
4. Replace a broken bra strap.
5. Replace broken or missing shoelaces.
6. Repair or create a zipper pull.
7. Hang tools from your belt.
8. Tie around your neck to hang tools from.
9. Create a neckerchief slide.
258
10. Replace damaged or missing drawstrings in packs, bags

and sweat pants.
11. Use the inner strands for emergency sewing thread.
12. Secure a garbage-bag rain poncho around your body to
keep you dry.
General Uses
1. Hang something up off the ground.
2. Secure things to the outside of your backpack.
3. Don’t have keys? Use it to unlock your car. Tie a slipknot
in the middle of the string, work your way inside from
the corner of the door, maneuver your slipknot in place
over the lock and pull.
How-to: http://bit.ly/2w6RZND
4. Secure your boat or skiff to a tree.
5. Make a towline; double or triple up for extra strength.
6. Use it to secure a tent.
7. Create a makeshift lanyard to hold items like keys, a knife,
etc.
8. Rig a pulley system to raise and lower heavy items.
9. Keep rolled-up items secure.
10. Make a sack for carrying groceries or gear.
11. Secure a tarp between trees to stay covered from rain.
12. Tie objects together for easier transport.
13. String together and make a hammock.
14. Create a makeshift ladder by stringing together some
sticks or boards.
15. Tie tall garden vegetable plants to stakes.
16. Have a pet? Make a collar.
17. Already have a collar? Make a leash.
18. Hang a bear bag in trees to keep food away from critters.
19. Tie loose items down so they will not blow away in a
storm.
259
CHAPTER 6
20. Identify members of a group using different-colored

armbands or bracelets.
21. Use it as a workout aid for pullups or situps.
22. Tie a heavy knot in the middle and let your kids use it
for skipping rope.
23. Use it to rappel down a cliff.
24. Tie hair back with a makeshift hair tie or headband.
25. Make yourself a seat by suspending a log off the ground
between trees.
26. Tie onto a sled so you can drag it during the heavy snow.
27. Bundle stuff together.
28. Make a tire swing.
29. Use as a pull cord for a chain saw, boat engine, etc.
30. Tie the ends together and keep the kids entertained by
playing cat’s cradle.
31. Use for barter.
32. Make a bow drill. Get three pieces of wood for the fire
board, spindle and handhold, and use your bow to drill
slowly over tinder until it starts to smoke.
How-to: http://bit.ly/2w6M779
33. Create a makeshift tent by stringing up a tarp to a few
trees.
34. Make different-colored armbands or bracelets and use
to identify members of a group.
35. Quickly climb trees by using it as a climbing rope.
36. Wrap around hands to create emergency work gloves.
37. Use it as a fire starter.
38. Cut up and use as trail markers.
39. Use for cooking by hanging a kettle/pot over a fire.
40. Make a watch strap.
41. Tie knots through it and pull through a hose to clean.
42. Polish your razor by using as a strop.
43. Bundle around firewood to make carrying easier.
260
44. Hang a light over designated areas at night.

45. Make an improvised fuse. Paracord burns easy.
46. Wrap around a Maglite to create a handle and grip.
47. Never lose your gloves again. Tie your gloves with para-
cord and secure to the inside of your jacket.
48. Practice tying lifesaving knots.
49. Secure an animal to a post.
50. Keep kids entertained by using it to make arts and crafts.
I’m sure the list could go on, given a little imagination and
creativity.
The fact is paracord has a multitude of uses and could save
your life in an emergency. That’s why I recommend you keep
this miracle string on you at all times. Whether it be on your
shoes or on your wrist as a bracelet, you’ll get the peace of mind
that comes with knowing you’re carrying an item every single
day that can help you survive the most dangerous situations.
261
BUILD (OR BUY) YOUR OWN SURVIVAL
SHELTER: HAVE A SAFE PLACE TO
HUNKER DOWN WHEN THE SHTF
There’s an old missile silo in Kansas that’s been transformed

into a luxury underground survival bunker for the rich and
famous. The structure can withstand any natural or man-made
disaster.
And with 15 pressurized levels, this bunker boasts every
accommodation — from classrooms to a movie theater to a
heated pool.
The cost? $1–3 million per room.
Most of us probably lack the funds for a luxury survival
shelter, but quality survival bunkers come in a variety of de-
signs at many different price points. Even without all the bells
and whistles, these shelters can still provide a safe place for
you, your family and your emergency supplies.
Before you consider buying (or building) a survival bun-
ker, you first need to ask yourself this question: Do you want
a safe room that is good for a few hours, a storm shelter that
could last a few days or a bunker to last for an extended time?
Your answer will depend on your surroundings, your family
size and your budget.
Let’s take a closer look at each of these options.
Safe Rooms
Safe rooms are typically the most affordable option. They are
usually aboveground — and they’re one of the easiest shelters
to construct yourself. There are also a few reliable companies
that will install a safe room for you in your home or garage.
If tornadoes are a threat where you live, I highly recom-
mend investing in a sliding door. Strong winds could push
heavy objects against the door, blocking your exit and trapping
you inside. A sturdy sliding door will be easier to open against
debris.
Survive-a-Storm Shelters have a variety of safe rooms in dif-
ferent sizes ranging from $4,000–7,000. Depending on where
you live, I recommend the Swisher ESP Safety Shelter. It has a
sliding door and can fit approximately nine people.
Survive-a-Storm Shelters: www.survive-a-storm.com
Storm Shelters
Storm shelters are usually built underground out of cement or
fiberglass, and occasionally steel. Your storm shelter should be
close to your home for easy access — under your garage or in
your backyard.
A storm shelter under your garage will be well-hidden and
easily accessible, but in the event of a natural disaster, debris
from your home or garage could block your exit — just ask the
Longest family.
Josh and Katie Longest of Oklahoma installed a storm cellar
under their garage. In 2015, Josh and Katie fled to their cellar
along with their three children during a tornado. The twister
ripped through their property, scattering debris. In the chaos,
the garage door and rubble from their home fell on their storm
shelter, completely blocking the exit.
After the storm passed, a concerned neighbor rushed over
263
CHAPTER 6
and began removing the wreckage. But once the door was clear,
the Longests were still unable to open the door from the inside.
Their particular shelter had a latch on the outside intended
to keep the door closed when the shelter is not in use. The
storm had closed the latch, preventing the door from opening.
Luckily, the neighbor was there to lift the latch and rescue the
Longests from their storm shelter.
When it comes to storm shelters, I recommend purchasing
a quality underground shelter rather than building your own.
Life Pod Shelters are an excellent pre-made option. This com-
pany offers a four-person shelter for $4,000 or a nine-person
shelter for $8,000.
Lif Pod Shelters: www.lifepodshelters.com
A slightly more affordable alternative is the Allegiant
12-person precast concrete storm shelter for close to $3,000.
The door has two latches on the inside to secure it in place
during a storm.
Bunkers
Bunkers are the superior option when it comes to survival
shelters for your family because they are designed for extended
survival living. While a storm shelter is great in an emergency,
you and your family won’t want to stay in one for very long.
Bunkers are typically built underground with plenty of space
for sleeping and supplies. I’ve seen shelters made from fiber-
glass, culverts and steel. Here’s my advice: Don’t use culverts.
Culverts are designed to transport water — not keep water out
— and often, they are merely crimped together. Steel is the best
choice in my book, but it carries a few risks.
Bunkers made out of shipping containers seem to be all the
rage these days — and they work well if you know what you’re
doing. Shipping containers are not made to support weight or
force from the sides. If you bury a shipping container, it’s crit-
264
ical that you install beams to support pressure from the sides.
You will also need to find a quality sealant to prevent rust.
As with storm shelters, there are companies that build
customizable steel bunkers. Rising S Co. designs, builds and
delivers your shelter — which is convenient for people who
want to protect the privacy of their survival space. Their stan-
dard bunker starts at $40,000, and they offer different options
depending on how many people you’re putting up and how
much storage space you need.
Rising S Co. Bunkers: www.risingsbunkers.com
They also have a luxury bunker that can attach to an abo-
veground safe house. The $8 million luxury bunker can com-
fortably sleep over 30 people and includes a gym, laundry
rooms, a bowling alley, swimming pool, parking, garden space,
media room and large kitchen space.
Regardless of the material you use, it’s important to have
two entrances if you can. Bunkers are made for an extended
stay, but you want an extra way to escape from intruders or if
one exit is blocked. Make sure the doors are high quality and
can be locked from the inside. Avoid doors that are made of
cheap materials or doors with exterior hinges. A waterproof
shelter won’t be worth anything if the door lets water in. You
can even find bulletproof doors if that is a concern for you.
If you want electricity in your bunker, make sure you re-
search solar panels or bikes that hook up to battery chargers.
Look for ways to control the air pressure and filter the air
inside. And don’t forget a reliable water system. If your bun-
ker is suited for a six-month stay, you need to make hygiene
a priority. Rising S has information on each of these options.
I hope this information helps you decide on a survival shel-
ter that best fits you and your family’s needs. However, I still
strongly encourage you to do a lot of research before investing
in one. You don’t want any hidden surprises if one day you
have to bet your life on your choice.
265
PREPPING FOR A FINANCIAL COLLAPSE:
THE BEST WAY TO PRESERVE YOUR
WEALTH
By Byron King
[Jason’s note: My colleague Byron King is a Harvard-trained
geologist and former aide to the United States Chief of Naval
Operations. This “old rockhound” has made frequent appear-
ances in mainstream media such as The Washington Post, MSN
Money, MarketWatch, Fox Business News, CNBC’s Squawk
Box and PBS’ NewsHour. When he talks about gold, I listen.
Here’s his latest analysis on the fate of the dollar and how you
should prepare for an economic collapse.]
We’ll soon experience profound problems with the U.S.
dollar. To prepare you for what’s about to happen, Jim Rick-
ards, economic adviser to the CIA and author of Currency Wars
and The Death of Money, has outlined the five-step sequence
of economic collapse: Repricing, Acceleration, Transmission,
Irrationality and Oblivion.
Of course… bankers and politicians will try to truncate this
sequence so that we never get all the way to the final collapse.
We’ll see several stages of the collapse play out in any event,
because central banks are out of room to steer monetary policy
outside of a very narrow channel.
This will put increased importance on special drawing

rights (SDRs) — a global money created for use by central
bankers — and gold as possible tools with which to truncate
the next collapse.
I expect that many nations will use SDRs as a method to
protect themselves — certainly the U.S. But if you’re not a
country plugged into the central bank, what’s left for us mere
mortals?
Your best option is to use gold.
Gold Abides
Now let’s apply the example of gold moves during a collapse to
the Five Stages model. Begin with repricing. In essence, we’ll
have a market sell-off. People will sell stocks in an attempt to
minimize losses.
Some people will likely sell gold and good-quality mining
shares because they want to book what gains are on the table
and gold is liquid. Expect gold to reprice more or less along
with broad markets.
Then comes acceleration. Repricing becomes even worse as
the downside opens up into a canyon of loss. Gold and shares
will likely sell down more but then find a floor. This is because
there is inherent value in gold — “gold as money” — which
overcomes the desire to sell, sell, sell.
Eventually, acceleration can become transmission. The rush
to the exits jumps from one market to another and then others.
Everyone wants their money back, but the realization kicks in
that it can’t happen.
When reason leaves the scene, we’ll see utter irrationality.
This is when people panic. They will sell everything they can.
And this is when you’ll want to have cash on hand.
You can buy gold and high-quality mining shares for lit-
erally pennies on the dollar. Strange as it may seem, gold and
267
CHAPTER 6
good-quality mining shares will begin to creep back up.

At some point, there may be capitulation. It’s the last stage:
oblivion. People hate the markets, they hate stocks, they hate
companies and management teams. It’ll be near-impossible to
give away shares for many firms. And gold and well-regarded
mining shares will begin to resurrect from the ashes.
The Bottom Line

Again, we won’t always see every stage play out. Sometimes
bankers and politicians will “successfully” stop financial distress
from escalating. But… this just pushes the problem further into
the future and does nothing to fix the root of these problems.
This means that, eventually, we are likely to see a full-blown
collapse.
When that happens, you’ll want to have physical gold in
your possession — 10% of your investable assets to be precise.
It will be one of the first assets to bounce back.
268
HOW TO STASH YOUR CASH WHEN
YOU’RE ON THE MOVE
Here are eight ways to conceal cash safely and discretely when
traveling:
• Try an ankle wallet. This accessory wraps around your
ankle, making it difficult for pickpockets to access. The
Eagle Creek Undercover Leg Wallet is one brand that can
hold plenty of cash.
Eagle Creek: http://bit.ly/2xa5hhz
• The Shacke Hidden Travel Belt Wallet hangs down inside
your pants. I’ve used this gadget, and it makes it nearly
impossible for anyone to snatch your wallet
Shacke Hidden: http://amzn.to/2gG7gzt
• The Lewis N. Clark RFID-Blocking Hidden Clip Stash
Travel Belt Wallet is a small wallet you clip to your pants.
Plus, it’s an RFID-blocking wallet, so hackers can’t steal
your credit card information
Lewis N. Clark: http://amzn.to/2gMd91M
• Use a hollowed-out ChapStick container to hide extra
cash. Roll up a few $20 bills and stash them inside —
criminals will have no idea the money is there
CHAPTER 6
• You could also use a small pill container that clips to your
keychain. Instead of medication, you can fit a folded $100
bill in there
• If you want to use an “advanced” spec ops strategy, take
some money and put it in a ziplock bag. Fold the ziplock
bag into a small square and duct tape it to the inside of
your leg underneath your clothes
• Here’s another advanced strategy: Wrap two of your fin-
gers together with athletic tape as if you’d jammed them.
Before you start wrapping, put some money between
them. You can easily conceal several bills this way
• Don’t forget about your cellphone case! (Even though I
don’t recommend taking your cellphone overseas, I know
many people do.) Just take off your case, put some money
inside and pop it back on your phone.
A little bit of cash could get you out of a major jam. Be sure
to carry $200–300 — including a $100 bill. Being able to flash
a $100 bill will motivate a lot of people to help you out, no
matter where in the world you are.
270
BUGGING OUT WITH PETS
By Dennis Diaz | Chief Editor, Survival Ready Blog

We have two cats and two dogs in our house. The issue of what
to do with them in case of an evacuation is an important part
of our bug-out plan.
Just like in our household, a lot of people consider their
pets as family members. The thought of leaving one of your
furry friends behind to face whatever is coming is devastating.
It would be an impossible choice for some, which is why you
need to plan ahead.
Let’s assume you are bugging out with dogs. These guys can
certainly carry their own weight and walk along beside you. If
you have a cat (or several cats), you are probably going to have
to carry the little critters — unless they have a mind follow you
of their own accord.
If you plan to go to a shelter, you should know that most
do not allow pets. You could leave them in the car, but that is
rarely a good option. If you decide to head for the hills or if you
have an alternative location lined up, you will be fine to take
your pets.
Here are some steps you will need to take to ensure a smooth
evacuation with your furry friends.
CHAPTER 6
Prepare a Pet Bug-Out Bag

Your pets need their own bug-out bags — or a small section in
your bag — to hold their supplies. You can find backpacks or
saddle bags that are made for medium to large dogs, so they can
carry their own supplies. But only if you will be with your pet
to make sure they don’t get snagged on a branch or a fence, etc.
Your pet’s bug-out bag should contain a small amount of
food and their own water rations. A collapsible bowl will come
in handy for the food and water. A few treats would be a good
idea as well, to summon the animal or settle their nerves. And
a blanket is necessary if you’ll be sleeping outside.
Have Tags, Leashes and Collars

Before the need to evacuate even arises, you should make
sure your pets have collars with up-to-date identification tags.
Leashes for dogs will help you keep them reined in. Have a re-
flective collar on your pet so you can find them at night using a
flashlight. Avoid collars with bells or several metal tags. These
will alert others to your pet’s presence, which might endanger
you if you are trying to stay off the radar.
Pet Documentation
It’s also a good idea to keep vet records in your pet’s bug-out
bag. If you do happen to go to a shelter that accommodates
pets, you may have to prove they are up to date on their vacci-
nations. If you decide to board them while you travel, you may
also need that proof. If you lose your pets, documentation will
also help you prove ownership.
Having your pet chipped will be helpful if your animal is
found by someone who has access to a chip scanner. In a true
SHTF scenario, this isn’t likely, but it never hurts to have your
pet chipped. In certain situations, like after Hurricane Katrina
272
when animals were rescued after some time, there’s often no

way of identifying pets and returning them to their owners.
If your pet is chipped, there’s a greater chance they will be re-
turned to you.
Photos of Your Pets

Keep a print photo of each of your pets with their documentation.
If you lose your pet, you’ll want to have a photo to show people as
you ask around. This will also help you prove ownership should
someone try to claim your pet as their own.
If you pet lands in a shelter and you have no other way
to prove ownership, a photo with you and your pet together
should be enough proof. Keep in mind the importance of hav-
ing physical photographs. A photo on your phone isn’t going
to do you much good if the battery is dead.
Pet Meds
Like humans, pets can get sick. If your pet has a diagnosed
condition that requires medication, pack extra to help them
stay healthy. Flea and tick control medication or collars will
also come in handy, especially if you will be traveling through
the wilderness.
A can of Blu-Kote is a vital part of any pet first-aid kit. If
your pet suffers a laceration or is wounded while you are evac-
uating, this spray is both an antibacterial and healing ointment
in one.
And don’t forget to pack a supply of heartworm medication
as well. Being out in the wild increases your dog’s risk of being
bit by an infected mosquito, which can lead to heartworm.
Pet Carriers
Carriers are typically reserved for cats or small dogs that
slow you down. If you’re traveling by vehicle, keeping your
pet crated will ensure a panicked animal doesn’t make driving
273
CHAPTER 6
hazardous. Pets who are used to their carriers will feel more
secure when they are tucked away inside.
If you are bugging out in a hurry, you can grab a couple of
pillow cases to carry small animals. This will also keep them
from seeing what is happening around them. Pets can get just
as scared as humans, and you don’t want them running off in
terror.
Pets can be your companion, your early warning system,
your source of comfort and your protector. They deserve to be
cared for in the best way possible. Be sure to plan ahead so you
can meet their needs — as well as your own — in a survival
situation. Man’s best friend deserves no less.
274
DITCH THE DEAD WEIGHT BY TOSSING
THESE FIVE NONESSENTIAL TOOLS
A bug-out bag should be unique. Even if you buy a prepared

bug-out bag with all the gear included, you should take the
time to customize it to fit the needs of the person depending
on it for survival.
The reality is there are so many different opinions on what
you should and shouldn’t include in your bug-out bag. That
being said, here is a list of items that, in my opinion, you don’t
truly need and will add unnecessary weight to your bag:
Flare Gun or Signal Kit — Unless you are bugging out on a
boat, you don’t need a flare gun to signal for help. Most likely,
if you’re bugging out, you won’t need to signal for help, be-
cause you are trying to stay off the grid and find safety. This is a
“sexy” item that adds unnecessary weight, and you’ll probably
never use it.
Tool Kit — Some people carry a small tool kit with screw-
drivers, wire cutters, saws, etc. I recommend carrying a multitool
such as one made by Leatherman, which serves many of the same
purposes as its full-size counterparts. In addition, many survival
saws or screwdrivers are cheaply made items from China that
CHAPTER 6
will break easily, which is why I suggest spending your money on

a quality multitool that will hold up.
Sleeping Bag — Even if you buy a lightweight sleeping bag
designed for backpacking, it is still a waste of space. I recom-
mend packing an emergency bivvy. These typically weigh less
than 4 oz., take up very little space and keep you just as warm.
Plus, if you know anything about wilderness survival, you can
cover the ground with leaves, bark and pine needles (duff) to
sleep on, which will help you stay warm.
First-Aid Kit — Let me explain this one. A lot of people
will buy simple first-aid kits that are tiny and lightweight. The
problem is most of these “survival first-aid kits” contain a few
bandages and little else you could reliably depend on to save
your life. I recommend creating your own first-aid kit. Be sure
to include items such as QuikClot and a CAT tourniquet to
stop or control bleeding. Please don’t bet your life on some $8
first-aid kit you grabbed in the Walmart camping section.
Lanterns — I’m shocked at the number of times people
show me the humongous “camping lantern” they’ve put in
their bug-out bag. Look, you really only need a few small flash-
lights and, of course, extra batteries. But don’t go overboard,
because these items quickly add up. If you’ve ever had to move
around outdoors at night, then you know your eyes will adjust
and you can see pretty well without a flashlight.
276
FIVE WEIRD SURVIVAL HACKS USING
HOUSEHOLD ITEMS
1. Plastic Wrap — One of the best things about plastic wrap

is that it is airtight and watertight. Use it to retain body
heat and stay dry during a snowstorm by wrapping your
legs, arms and midsection.
ikewise, this is a great way to waterproof your survival
L
gear. Another use for plastic wrap is building a shelter. You
just need four posts — like trees — and you simply wrap
the plastic around the posts and over the top. Once inside
the shelter, you can use a piece of wrap to seal the entrance.
It can also be used to cover a wound or as a sling for an
injured arm.
2. Soda Can — You can get tons of different uses out of a soda
can after you polish off the bubbly beverage. First, a soda
can makes an easy lamp. Cut one side of the can and pull
it open. Place a small candle in the can and voila! Now you
have a lamp. You can also make an oil lamp using a can.
ill the soda can halfway with olive oil, and then dip a
F
rolled paper towel into the oil and presto! Now you have
CHAPTER 6
an oil lamp. Lastly, using a household polish to buff the

bottom of the can, you can turn it into a signaling mirror.
If you were stranded in your home and needed to alert res-
cuers, this hack would come in handy.
3. Bandana — Bandanas are one household item that literally
has hundreds of uses. One of the best and most obvious
uses of a bandana is as mask. It can protect your face from
smoke, dust and other airborne elements.
nother use is for medical emergencies. You can use a
A
bandana as a sling, tourniquet, bandage or wrap for an
injury. Or you could wrap it around the back of your neck
to prevent sunburn. You can also use it as toilet paper, a
potholder, a rag to clean your eyeglasses or as a sling to
throw rocks — also known as a shepherd’s sling.
4. Mouthwash — When it comes to survival situations, infec-
tions and bacteria are one of the biggest threats you must
address. Surprisingly, mouthwash can serve many purposes
to reduce these risks. First, you can use it as an antiseptic
to clean cuts or wounds. Next, you can use mouthwash to
sterilize your cooking gear, as well as a cleaning solution
around the house. Finally, mouthwash can kill many com-
mon household bugs — even ticks.
5. Pantyhose — If you’ve served in the military, you may be
familiar with some of the many uses of pantyhose. Soldiers
have used pantyhose as an added layer of warmth and to
protect against bugs. Medically, pantyhose can be used as a
tourniquet, as a sling or to secure a bandage over a wound.
And you can use it to remove debris from water. Now, pant-
yhose won’t filter out everything, but it can stop large pieces
of dirt or other particles that could block a filter.
278
MASKING YOUR PREPARATIONS
FROM NEIGHBORS
It can be dangerous to have neighbors see you prepping — you

become a target when something does go wrong, as they will
seek you out for help or try to steal from you — you need to
appear vulnerable and not draw attention.
So what does this mean?
Operational security.
This is a military term, essentially meaning the security
necessary to deny the enemy any useful information about
what you are doing. The key is to avoid suspicion. And I have
a few tips to help you do so:
1. Mum’s the word. Keep your mouth shut. Don’t volunteer
any more information to people than they need to know.
You want to be wary of strangers and be careful not to
reveal too much information that could give them any
intel.
2. Be cautious of technology. Make sure you watch what
you say over text and email. After all, nothing is secure
these days. Don’t send anything that could be perceived
CHAPTER 6
as incriminating, or that could let on as to what your

preparations are.
3. Avoid social media. To an extent, at least. Just because
you are prepping does not mean you should be adver-
tising that through photos on Facebook or Instagram.
The fact is even if you don’t think you are giving away
too much information, many smartphones will attach a
GPS coordinate to the metadata in the picture. Now your
hideaway may not keep you so hidden.
4. Keep the bumper stickers to a minimum. What many
people don’t think about when they add those cute lit-
tle stickers symbolizing their family members and pets
is that now anyone has intel into the members of their
family. And an honor roll sticker? Don’t even think about
it. While you might be a proud parent, this can give away
where your child goes to school and give a little more
insight into where you live. Make sure your car has noth-
ing inside or outside that can help to identify you.
5. Keep your home anonymous. Do you tend to leave your
garage doors open? Or the blinds to the front windows
of your house? These are big no-nos. Not only will the
passerby be able to see what’s inside, but they can even
get a visual on doors and potentially what kind of locks
are on those doors. If the drapes are left open, it would
make it much easier for someone to map out the layout
of your home.
Whether you’re dealing with a natural or a man-made disas-
ter — whether you’re bugging out or bugging in — you need to
have a security plan to protect yourself and your family. When
people are desperate, they’ll do things you never expected.
Like the neighbor down the street who has always been nice
to you. What if he knows you have a ton of survival supplies
280
and comes to take them? Always have a way to defend yourself

no matter the situation. Both an AR-15 and Remington 870
shotgun are good long guns to have on hand for extreme situ-
ations. The next time you are reviewing your emergency plans
and survival gear, take the time to go over these dos and don’ts
with your family. I would hate for a simple mistake to put you
or a loved one in danger.
281
THE NO. 1 WAY TO STORE
EMERGENCY WATER
The water crisis in Flint, Michigan, is a good example of the

catastrophic consequences of a contaminated water supply.
And while this disaster was the result of greed and negligence,
any number of events could disrupt our water supply to dev-
astating effect.
Terrorist groups the world over have long sought to poi-
son water supply systems. There is evidence that as far back as
2002, al-Qaida operatives have been studying plans to poison
water supplies in the U.S.
In July 2002, the FBI arrested Earnest James Ujaama after
discovering documents on how to poison U.S. water supplies
in his possession. The FBI had been investigating Ujaama for
months because they believed he was trying to open a terror
training camp in Oregon. Thankfully, his capture thwarted all
of his plans.
When the Well Runs Dry

Water is one of the most fundamental things you need to sur-
vive. Which means it’s also one of the most important things
you need to stock up on for an emergency.
As a general rule, I recommend storing one gallon of water
per person per day. If possible, I would try to store at least 30
days’ worth of water in your home. With that being said, it’s es-
sential to store water properly. Otherwise, it will be worthless
when you need it most.
I have several friends who tell me they store water in re-
fillable plastic bottles. The problem with this method is cheap
plastic bottles can leach chemicals into the water over time.
I also have friends who store their emergency water in
55-gallon drums. While these drums can hold a large supply
of water, they are impossible to move. If you need to evacuate
your home, you’ll have to leave that drum behind.
Instead, I recommend storing water in a quality contain-
er like the WaterBrick water storage system. These 3.5-gallon
containers are made from BPA-free high-density polyethylene
(HDPE), a food-grade plastic known for its strength-to-density
ratio. They are easily stackable, reducing the amount of space
taken up by multiple bottles or large drums. And coming in
under 30 pounds when filled, transporting WaterBricks is a
piece of cake. (They also have a convenient handle for easy
carrying.)
WaterBrick Storage System: http://bit.ly/2eAPsFg
Water Storage Tips

Remember to store water in a cool, dry place. If you have a
basement storage room, this space would be ideal — it’s where
I keep mine. But you should always store emergency items in
multiple locations. When disaster strikes, there is no telling
what will happen. What if your storage room floods or catches
fire or a beam collapses?
I’m often asked if it’s necessary to treat water for long-term
283
CHAPTER 6
storage. If you are filling your water containers with tap water,
then it’s already been treated to some degree. But to be extra
safe, I recommend adding some type of treatment to your wa-
ter such as Aquamira Water Treatment drops.
Aquamarina Water Treatment Drops: http://bit.ly/2w1YykA
This brings me to the point that even treated water must
be rotated or it will eventually go bad. At the very least, you
should empty and refill your storage containers with fresh wa-
ter once a year. When you rotate your water, look for signs that
the water has gone bad. Check for signs of algae, cloudiness or
discoloration or a foul smell. These are signs you need to rotate
your water more often or perhaps that you need to store it in a
cooler environment.
Now, let’s say you run to your storage room during an emer-
gency, open one of your WaterBricks and a terrible smell wafts
out. This is one reason you should be prepared to extract wa-
ter from other sources. Because WaterBricks are comfortably
lightweight and effortlessly portable, it’s easy to carry one to a
nearby lake or stream to fill up.
The Bottom Line

There are many other reasons why I like the WaterBrick water
storage containers. In addition to their supreme functionality
in an emergency, you can also take them camping, boating or
tailgating. They’re strong, compact and versatile.
Remember, our bodies can survive only a few days without
water. Don’t be unprepared when it comes to water storage.
284
FOUR EMERGENCY WATER SOURCES
IN YOUR HOME
Recently, I had the opportunity to attend PrepperCon in Salt

Lake City. For those who aren’t familiar with PrepperCon, it’s an
expo for survival and preparedness enthusiasts featuring guest
speakers, product demonstrations and instructional classes.
One of the attendees was José Salvador Alvarenga. On Nov.
17, 2012, Alvarenga set out from the fishing village of Costa
Azul, off the coast of Chiapas, Mexico.
Shortly after embarking on what was supposed to a 30-hour
deep-sea-fishing expedition, José’s 24-foot fiberglass skiff was
blown off course by an intense storm, during which he also
lost engine power on his small craft.
Fourteen months — or 438 days — later, José spotted land. He
abandoned his boat and swam ashore, finally ending his harrow-
ing journey at sea. Clearly, this is an incredible story of survival.
Lost at Sea
This courageous fisherman was able to outlast his ordeal by
eating raw fish, turtles, small birds and whatever refuse he
CHAPTER 6
could salvage from the ocean. But what about water? Because
the reality is you can only survive for about three days without
water, and José was adrift for over a year.
Using any container he had on hand, José collected rain-
water to drink — which is certainly a viable option if you’re
desperate. However, it’s definitely not my first option when it
comes to finding fresh water, because it could be contaminated.
If you live near a large industrial plant, for instance, rainwater
could be tainted by noxious chemicals coming from the plant.
So — besides rainwater — here are some other sources for
finding drinkable water during an emergency:
• Fill ’er Up — If you have time to prepare for a disaster,
one of the things I recommend doing is filling your bath-
tubs and sinks with water. If an earthquake breaks water
supply lines or a storm cuts off power to your well, you
could be without water for an extended time. But you
could use the water from your bathtubs and sinks to sur-
vive until you are able to get more
• Pipe Dreams — If your local water supply is no longer
safe, you can still use the water already in the pipes. How-
ever, the first thing you need to do is shut off the main wa-
ter supply to keep contaminated water from entering the
pipes. Next, go to the lowest faucet in your house (such
as one in the basement) and turn the water on. Using a
bucket, catch the water left in the pipes to tide you over
• In Hot Water — Another option to consider is the water
in your hot water tank. Depending on the size of the tank,
you could have 40–60 gallons to use, which could make
a huge difference in a survival situation. Lastly, while it’s
not the most pleasant option to consider, you could also
drain the water from each of your toilet tanks. If your wa-
ter is blue or filled with chemicals, though, I don’t advise
using it for drinking
286
• Outside Chance — Finally, if you’ve been without water

for an extended time and used every possible source inside
your home, you need to be prepared to leave your house
and find water outdoors. Outside sources may include
nearby lakes, streams or drainage ditches. Just be sure to
filter the water before drinking it.
Here are two final pieces of advice. First, while it’s always
advisable to have a backup plan, your primary source of water
in an emergency should be your water storage. Whether you’ve
stocked up on bottled water, filled a few 55-gallon barrels or
invested in WaterBricks (my No. 1 water storage system), you
should have one gallon of water per person per day for 30 days.
WaterBrick Storage System: http://bit.ly/2x7rZqF
Second, if you do have to tap into the alternate water sourc-
es listed above, you need to have a way to filter it so you don’t
get sick. Illness often leads to dehydration, which is a surefire
way to make a bad problem worse. Check out the SurvFilter —
this handy device once saved my life on an overseas mission,
and I would trust my family’s lives with it, too.
SurvFIlter: http://bit.ly/2iY8gDr
Water is the elixir of life. If you haven’t already started
stocking up, I recommend making this your No. 1 prepping
priority.
287
ENSURE YOUR FAMILY’S NOT EXPOSED
TO TOXIC WATER
By now you’ve surely heard about the water crisis in Flint,

Michigan. The city’s tap water was found to contain high levels
of lead, and a state of emergency was declared.
“I just couldn’t believe we were paying to poison our kids,”
declared Flint resident Lee-Anne Walters, expressing the shock
and anger felt by all who live in the city.
Fully 6,000–12,000 children alone were exposed to drink-
ing water with high levels of lead, including Mrs. Walters’ son,
who now has a compromised immune system.
Other symptoms throughout the city include everything
from rashes to hair and vision loss, and many now face the
possibility of long-term disabilities like mental disability.
How did this happen? And most importantly for you, how
can you ensure you and your family never find yourselves in
the same position?
A Failure of Government
Flint used to get its tap water from Detroit. As hard as it is to
believe, Detroit’s tap water was safe and clean.

But in 2014, in an effort to save money, the politicians in
Flint switched to getting their water from the Flint River. Al-
most immediately, local residents began complaining about its
taste and appearance, which ran a murky brown from their
faucets.
The government insisted everything was fine and that the
water was safe for consumption. But as far back as 2011, they
knew the water had issues and needed to be thoroughly treated
before flowing to residents’ homes.
It wasn’t until a local doctor showed that lead levels in chil-
dren had doubled that the government finally admitted they
had a severe problem with the water.
Flint’s water crisis isn’t just a lesson in how corrupt govern-
ments are and the lengths they’ll go to to hide things from their
citizens. It’s also a good reminder that all of us should have an
emergency water filter for our homes to filter out lead.
Camping Water Filters

There are lots of water filters on the market that are great for
hiking and camping. I own several of these filters and keep them
in my bug-out bags in my home and in the back of my cars.
One such filter is the Sawyer PointONE All in One Filter.
The Sawyer is very compact and can filter up to 540 gallons of
water per day, so you never have to worry about clean water.
What’s more, you can screw the Sawyer filter directly onto a
water bottle, making it even more convenient to use.
Sawyer PointONE: http://amzn.to/2wD9d7q
Another filter that I use for hiking and camping is the MSR
MiniWorks EX microfilter. The benefit of this filter is that it
uses a pump. That means you can pump water from hard-to-
reach places when you’re unable to dip your bottle in a river to
get clean water. The MSR will purify 528 gallons of water before
289
CHAPTER 6
you need to change its filter, so it will last for plenty of time.
MSR MiniWorks EX microfilter: http://amzn.to/2gI08q0
You just have to keep in mind that as good as these camp-
ing filters are, they are not designed to filter out lead. After all,
when you’re hiking in the mountains and need to purify water
from a stream, you shouldn’t have to worry about lead in the
water!
Not Your Average Water Pitcher

Many of you probably already own a home water pitcher or a filter that hooks
up to your faucet — maybe even our health franchise’s very own Turapür.
But while these filters are good at turning safe tap water into more healthful
water, you should also own a filter that will get rid of lead in the event your
water supply becomes contaminated.
For this purpose, I recommend the ZeroWater pitcher.
The ZeroWater looks very similar to other water pitchers, but it is the only
pitcher certified by NSF International to reduce lead. (NSF is an independent
organization that tests and certifies products.)
The ZeroWater pitcher works by using five different processes to ensure you
have clean drinking water.
The first layer is activated carbon that reduces chlorine and other unwanted
tastes that are in the water. Next, an ion exchange process removes lead,
mercury, and other dangerous toxins.
The three final processes further filter the water to make sure that the TDS
level (total dissolved solids) of the water is 000. Basically, the FDA says that
TDS levels in purified water must be between 000–010 ppm; otherwise, you
can’t call it purified water.
ZeroWater Pitcher: http://amzn.to/2wDLbsS
I certainly hope you or I won’t ever have to deal with lead in our water. But
by purchasing the Zero Water, you can rest assured that at least you’ll be
able to filter it out in the event the government is covering something up in
your town.
290
10 FATAL MISTAKES TO AVOID WHEN
STRANDED IN AN EMERGENCY
ROADSIDE SITUATION
Life-threatening situations happen in every corner of America,

in all types of conditions, in remote areas and metropolitan
areas, in all types of weather.
As a former CIA officer, it’s my business to be prepared to
handle life-threatening situations. And I take my responsibility
to protect my wife and three children very seriously.
While violent crimes grab most of the headlines, few peo-
ple realize you’re much more likely to find yourself stranded
on the side of the road than you are to be murdered, raped,
robbed or assaulted.
Over 30 MILLION Americans find themselves stranded on
the road in their cars each and every year. That’s more than 25
times the number of victims of violent crimes.
Every time you drive, you are operating in a dangerous en-
vironment. It’s not just in blizzards or cold weather climates,
either. You could be stuck in the desert or on a desolate stretch
of highway.
No matter where you are — from the blizzards of Buffalo to
the deserts of California or the flash floods of the southeast —
CHAPTER 6
when you are behind the wheel of a car, your life is on the line.
In fact, more than one out of every six licensed drivers will
be stranded on the road this year. So it’s almost certain you,
your spouse, a child, a sibling, a parent or a close friend will
be stranded on the road at some point in the next 12 months.
Sadly, hundreds, perhaps thousands, of helpless, stranded
motorists die needlessly each year because they’re unprepared.
If you’re serious about doing everything you possibly can to
protect your family in an emergency situation, this may be the
most important message you’ll ever see.
You’ve taken a wise first step to protect yourself and your
loved ones from an unfortunate tragedy that needlessly claims
a number of lives each year. There are a few common mistakes
you need to avoid in an emergency roadside situation. Making
these mistakes has cost thousands of stranded motorists their
life. Which is why I’ve outlined them for you here — so you
know exactly what 10 Fatal Mistakes to Avoid:
1. Leaving Your Car

Many people think that the best thing to do while stranded in
your car is to get out and look for help. But this couldn’t be
more dangerous.
Your vehicle is your best protection against the elements,
like sun, wind and exposure. The best thing you can do is re-
main in your vehicle, where rescuers are most likely to find
you.
The Los Angeles Times reported a story in August 2016 of
what they said appeared to be “the second heat-related fatality
in Death Valley National Park” that year.
Las Vegas resident Linda Pi-Wei Hung was on her way to
Fort Irwin. After not being heard from for a few days, county
and federal search teams used two helicopters and scoured the
desert looking for a sign.
292
Hours later, Hung’s vehicle was found along a lonely dirt

road. It’s been speculated that Hung’s vehicle got stuck in the
sand, so she left her vehicle and started walking across the hot
desert. Rangers speculate that Hung’s vehicle got stuck in the
sand while she was attempting to turn around, so she began
walking across the baking desert to find help.
According to the Los Angeles Times, the high that day was 113
degrees, and Hung appeared to have died from heat exposure.
This is just one example of why you should remain with
your vehicle.
Johnathan Doerr, a 19-year-old man from Tooele, Utah,
went missing in January 2017. Fox 13 News reports the man
was on his way to a job interview but was reported missing
after he never showed up. His body was found days later about
a mile off the highway.
Johnathan’s car was located and appeared to have gotten
stuck in the snow. Since he was nowhere to be found, the po-
lice speculated that the man had left his vehicle and went to
search for help on foot.
According to Fox 13 News, police said it “appears the man
died of exposure” to freezing temperatures.
Believe me, it’s much safer to stay inside your car than it is
to go exploring outside. “Abandon your car only as a last re-
sort. A single person walking through the snow is much harder
to find than a stranded vehicle,” advises Allstate.
2. Your Car Is Not Visible

This is extremely important to remember. If your car isn’t in
plain sight, the chances of someone spotting you to help are
slim to none.
Husband and wife Cecil Knutson and Dianna Bedwell found
that out the hard way. According to The Independent, the pair
became lost shortly after leaving a casino while looking for a
shortcut to their destination.
293
CHAPTER 6
The paper goes on to explain how they were ultimately led

off the beaten path and became stuck in California’s high des-
ert. The couple, both diabetic, were found by off-road drivers
two weeks after they had gone missing. Ms. Bedwell was barely
holding on, but still alive. Her husband was not as fortunate.
Ms. Bedwell had informed authorities that she and her
husband were looking for a shortcut when they got lost in
a rough area, their vehicle hidden by trees and surrounding
brush. Police stated that “the trees made the car invisible to
helicopters that were conducting aerial searches.”
You need to make sure that your car is as visible as possible.
How can you make your vehicle easy to find?
Keep a piece brightly colored, reflective ribbon in your
emergency travel pack. Hang it from your window, or if you can
get to your antenna, tie it to that. Any piece of brightly colored
cloth or material that is easy to see will suffice in this situation.
If there is no rain or snow in the forecast, you could also open
the hood of your car. This is recognized as a universal distress
signal and will help to make you and your vehicle more visible.
Your emergency flashers will also be a good way to signal
for help. I would recommend that you only turn on them on if
you hear any approaching vehicles or movement outside, in an
effort to conserve your battery.
If it gets to be dark out and you can run the engine at night,
listen again for movement outside and potential rescuers. You
might consider turning on the interior lights, as passersby
might be able to catch a glimpse of the glow from a consider-
able distance.
3. Not Knowing Where You’re Going

If you don’t know where you are going, you make yourself
much more susceptible to getting lost. And if you are lost, your
chances of surviving instantly get worse.
294
Take another look at the story above. Cecil Knutson and

Dianna Bedwell got lost trying to take a shortcut home. Had
they been prepared with a map or GPS, they might have seen a
different outcome.
ABC News reported a similar situation that happened to
James and Kati Kim and their family…
The family was seeking a shortcut when the situation got
out of control and took a turn for the worse.
James was driving and had missed a turn due to the snow
making it hard to see. At a fork in the road, he failed to see a
sign that would point him in the correct direction and then
turned the wrong way.
Lost and in bad weather, the family decided to call it a night
and try their luck in the morning. They parked the car and fell
asleep, only to wake up to more snow and their vehicle now stuck.
The family was stranded for seven days when Mr. Kim
decided to leave the vehicle and walk to get help.
Help finally arrived to Mrs. Kim and the two children on
day nine. However, Mr. Kim was found two days later, dead in
a lake 17 miles from the vehicle. (I want to again stress No. 1
on our list — don’t leave your vehicle.)
Like Cecil Knutson and Dianna Bedwell, the Kims were just
looking for a shortcut on their long drive. Their Saab station
wagon got stuck in snow on a side road as they tried to find
their way.
It’s very important to know where you are going. And if
you don’t, be prepared with a map or a GPS navigation system
and take the necessary precautions. Don’t use back roads to
save time or avoid traffic unless you’re absolutely positive you
know where you’re going.
Stay on main roads when you can. This way, if anything
happens, more people can spot you. Also, main roads are the
first areas that rescue workers will reach in emergencies. Don’t
take shortcuts if you don’t know where they lead.
295
CHAPTER 6
4. Not Having a Backup Battery or Power Source

Nearly everyone has a cellphone these days, which is a great
item to keep on you in the case of an emergency. However, a
cellphone will only last you so long.
When your battery dies, you will essentially be cut off from
any communication with the outside world. You won’t be able
to call 911 or text someone for help.
That’s why it’s crucial to have a backup battery or power
source in the cabin of your car. Just think of the many ways
this small device could save you from hours or even days of
desperation. You could recharge the battery on your cellphone
in just a few minutes.
And even with a small amount of charge, you could call
911. The GPS function on the phone could help rescue work-
ers pinpoint your exact location and dig you out of whatever
sticky situation you are in.
Yet with a dead phone and without a way to recharge the
battery, you might freeze to death. Having a battery charger in
the trunk won’t be much help, because even if you could dig
your way to the trunk, it’s highly unlikely you would be able to
open the trunk, considering it will be buried under several feet
of wet, heavy snow.
The battery charger alone could help you escape in min-
utes, instead of hours. And those critical few minutes could
easily be the difference between life and death — especially in
subzero temperatures.
5. Not Clearing out the Exhaust Pipe

Carbon monoxide is an odorless, poisonous gas that can kill
you. So it’s crucial you make sure your car’s engine can breathe
properly.
Snowy weather is a prime time when a mistake can be made.
The Associated Press released a story about an eastern
296
Pennsylvanian man who was trapped in his running car by a

snowplow deluge. Authorities suspect he was trying to dig out
his car and was either taking a break in the car with the motor
running or trying to get out of the area when a plow came by
and buried the car, thus blocking the exhaust and preventing
him from getting out.
The man was pronounced dead less than an hour after he
was found. He died of carbon monoxide poisoning.
If you find yourself stuck in the snow, it’s crucial that you
make sure you clean out your tailpipe. However, winter weather
is not the only time your exhaust pipe might be blocked.
A story surfaced of five Florida children who were in a truck
that was stuck in the mud with smoke billowing inside… the
children all unconscious.
WJHG/CNN reported that several hunters were on a hunt-
ing trip when they found the truck stuck in a mud hole, the
vehicle’s tailpipe covered and the children all poisoned by car-
bon monoxide.
Luckily, the hunters showed up in time and freed the chil-
dren and performed CPR until paramedics arrived. Aside from
being a little shaken up, the children left in good health.
While that story had a happy ending, there are so many
more that don’t. The ugly truth is that carbon monoxide poi-
soning can be deadly in as few as five–15 minutes.
If you are ever stranded with your vehicle and the engine is
on, make sure your exhaust pipe has a clear path and has room
to breathe, or the repercussions could be deadly.
6. Not Having a Blanket or Any Items to Keep You Warm

Freezing cold temperatures can lead to hypothermia — a
dangerous condition that can quickly kill you.
So if you are stranded in your car for an extended period in
freezing temperatures, you’re going to need something to keep
you warm.
297
CHAPTER 6
I recommend a Mylar survival blanket. This waterproof,

heat-reflective blanket is constructed of durable, insulating
Mylar — a breakthrough material designed by NASA for space
exploration. This high-tech space blanket is thin and flexible
and could save your life in an emergency situation.
Mylar helps keep you warm in several ways. First, it stops
evaporative heat loss. When your sweat evaporates, it uses en-
ergy from your body and lowers your body temperature.
Mylar slows down the process of evaporative heat loss by
increasing the humidity of the air next to the skin.
The space blanket also reduces convective heat loss. Cold
air or wind causes convective heat loss, and the blanket forms
a strong barrier between you and the cold air that lowers your
body temperature.
Finally, we lose body heat through radiation — the heat
simply radiates off your body. A Mylar blanket keeps you warm
by reflecting 90% of your body heat back to you.
Plus, Mylar space blankets are super-small and lightweight.
And it’s multifunctional, too…
In addition to serving its main purpose as an emergency
blanket, it can also be used as emergency shelter by creating a
tent or tarp. The material is waterproof, so it will protect you
from rain or wet snow.
If you suddenly find yourself trapped in a freak blizzard,
you could use it to heat your car by covering the windows of
your car to reflect body heat back into the car.
The space blanket can be used to reflect heat either toward
you or away from you. If the sun is bearing down on you while
you’re stranded, you can cover the windows with the Mylar
blanket to reflect heat away from the car to keep you cool.
Because the surface of the Mylar space blanket is so shiny,
it also creates an excellent distress signal that’s easily visible to
passing motorists and rescue teams and from the sky.
So the Mylar blanket could keep you warm while also sig-
naling for help.
298
7. Not Having a Full Tank of Gas

When the weather is bad or you’re driving for extended periods
of time, make sure you start with a full tank of gas.
In really hazardous winter weather, the effects of the storm
can last several days or more. So the more gas you have the
better in case you become stranded.
You’ll need it to help you stay warm, to make sure your fuel
lines don’t freeze, to keep your cellphone battery charged and
hopefully even to have enough gas left over to leave after the
storm, if needed.
You’ll want to run your engine and heater for about 10 min-
utes every hour to keep you warm while also conserving fuel.
I’d also recommend keeping a window cracked while the en-
gine is running to get some fresh air and eliminate the possibil-
ity of carbon monoxide poisoning.
8. Not Having Light

Darkness is extremely dangerous in an emergency roadside
situation. Without light, you’ll have a difficult time finding
anything after the sun sets.
Another vehicle could collide with your car, causing it to
burst into flames. And in the worst-case scenario, you could
get run over by an oncoming car whose driver can’t see you.
I recommend keeping a flashlight in the car. The one I rec-
ommend is the SEAL Torch 2000.
With its XML-T6 LED bulb, the SEAL Torch 2000 is more
than 11 times brighter than a traditional light. This allows you
see absolutely everything. And that’s critical at night during a
roadside emergency.
The telescoping lens gives you the power to dial in the
accuracy for a super-tight, nearly blinding beam. Or you can
zoom back and cast a wide net to assess the entire situation.
And the SEAL Torch 2000 is practically indestructible, too.
299
CHAPTER 6
It’s made from super-strong metal designed to take a beating —

not some cheap plastic like ordinary flashlights.
This incredible tool also has an SOS feature that allows
you to send a distress signal that can be seen for miles. And
with its specially designed muzzle edge, you can break your
windshield to escape your car if necessary.
The SOS feature could been very valuable to a stranded
motorist. You could shine the light of the SEAL Torch 2000,
which would definitely stand out in the dark.
And using the SOS feature at night, it’s much more likely
someone would see your distress signal and rescue you sooner.
You could even use the SEAL Torch 2000 as a weapon
should you encounter anyone who tries to do you harm while
you’re stranded on the side of the road.
There simply is no other emergency tool quite like this on
the market.
SEAL Torch 2000: http://bit.ly/2wDa4F0
I want you to be completely prepared for anything that
could happen during a roadside emergency, and as you can
see, this spectacular piece of equipment can save your life in
many ways.
9. Not Being Prepared With an Emergency Kit

An emergency kit could save your life. As you can see in the ex-
amples above, you could recharge your cellphone, keep yourself
warm or signal for help with the Mylar blanket and more.
It should be small, compact, designed to easily fit in the
cabin of your car — not in the trunk — and packed with life-
saving items, including:
• Athree-foot-long strip of bright orange ribbon to use as a
visual distress signal
• A first-aid kit packed with everything you’ll need to take
300
care of small scrapes or even bigger wounds

• Duct tape. After food and water, duct tape is so versatile it
could be your most valuable asset in an emergency. Use it
as an emergency Band-Aid, to tape broken fingers togeth-
er, to mark a trail (so you don’t get lost or so a rescue team
can find you), to leave notes to help rescue personnel find
you and more
• Rain gear in case you’re stuck in a torrential downpour…
when you’re wet, your body heat drops more than when
you’re dry
• Waterproof matches so you can start a fire in any situation
to provide heat or light or to cook food and boil water
• And all the items mentioned above...
It’s crucial you be prepared with an emergency car kit in the
event of an emergency. So whatever situation you find yourself
in, you’ll have the peace of mind knowing you’ve got all the
equipment you’ll need to survive until help arrives.
Life-threatening situations happen in every corner of Amer-
ica in all types of conditions, in remote areas and metropolitan
areas and in all types of weather. And most people are terribly
unprepared for even the most common crises.
You can hope and pray that you and your family never find
yourself in an emergency roadside situation without the sur-
vival equipment and supplies that could save your life. Howev-
er, hoping is not a good strategy when your life is on the line.
Especially when you know that more than one out of every
six American drivers is going to be stranded on the road at
some point in the next 12 months.
If you or a family member is suddenly stuck in an emergen-
cy roadside situation, you need to have the survival supplies
and equipment that could save your life.
The only responsible thing you can do to protect yourself
301
CHAPTER 6
and your family from tragedy is to be prepared for unexpected

events like these.
By familiarizing yourself with these 10 fatal mistakes and
how to avoid them, and by investing in a well-stocked emer-
gency pack, you’ve taken necessary precautions to keep you
and your family safe from sudden tragedy and possibly even
death.
302
YOU CAN’T DRINK GOLD
Four men were chosen for an incredibly important — and dan-

gerous — intelligence mission. The region of the world they
were headed to was so hostile to the United States they couldn’t
fly into the country.
Instead, they had to be dropped into a neighboring country
and hike to their final destination. Because they would be hik-
ing for several days and needed a significant amount of gear, a
support team dropped packages they could pick up at strategic
points along the way.
The men had specifically requested a water bladder (similar
to a CamelBak) so they could stay hydrated in the desert they
were hiking through. This posed a bit of a problem. The sup-
port team was concerned that when the water bladders were
dropped they would explode and damage sensitive equipment
that was also included in the drop package.
One support team member came up with the bright idea
to include gold bullion in the package instead of water. They
figured that with the gold the four operatives could purchase
all of the water they needed.
CHAPTER 6
What the support team member failed to realize is that

these operatives were hiking through the middle of nowhere.
It didn’t matter if they had thousands of dollars worth of gold
bullion — there wasn’t anyone around to trade it with. Fortu-
nately, the intelligence operatives ended up OK, but I’m willing
to bet that they had some choice words for the support team
when they made it back to base.
So here’s the bottom line: Yes, it’s important to have gold
and silver bullion as part of a preparedness plan. But it should
come only after you’ve put together all of your other survival
supplies.
You first need to ensure that you have food storage (at least
one month), water storage (at least one week) and bug-out
bags in your home and in the back of your vehicles.
After all, if a crisis occurs and people are desperate for food
and water, they’re not going to care that you’ve got a shiny gold
coin. They’re going to care about keeping food and water on
hand to take care of their family.
So please, don’t fall into the trap that you can buy your way
out of an emergency situation and that you don’t need to both-
er to prepare ahead of time.
I can tell you as a father of three young children that there’s
no amount of gold in this world that’s going to get me to sell
my food or water storage and watch my family suffer.
304
PAYING, TRADING AND BARTERING IN
A CASHLESS WORLD
When the lights go out for a long time, your cash will be worth-
less to most people.
Just three weeks into a crisis, Bill Gates could stroll into
anybody’s home with a wheelbarrow of cash and nobody would
sell him a thing — not water, not canned goods, not even a few
tomatoes growing in their garden.
Cash would no longer have a value. Which is why you will
need a store of items that people NEED in order to survive,
which you can pay, trade and barter with.
That could mean more tangible forms of payment such as
water, gasoline, alcohol, food and more.
So in order to help prepare you for this type of emergency,
I’ve put together this report. Read on for my list of valuable
items that you should stock up on in the event your cash will
no longer be any good…
Basic Communication and Negotiation

First and foremost, you need to figure out what you want and
CHAPTER 6
what you currently have in stock.

Value in a cashless world is typically determined by utility,
usefulness and rarity (or difficulty to obtain/make), so keep
that in mind.
When determining what you can trade for the item you
want, find out what the other person needs — the more in
need of something they are, the more it is worth to them, and
the more easily they will make the trade. However, the item
you are trading with must not exceed the value of the item
you’re getting in return
It would be inconceivable to assume society as a whole
would throw off its sense of justice in a cashless world. Fairly
quickly in this situation, some kind of either improvised or
variation of an existing justice system would emerge, probably
with qualified overseers to settle disputes.
For this reason, it would be foolish to make any transaction
without proof of that transaction. All transactions — no matter
how small — should be set in writing and dated, with three
copies (for you, the person you’re trading with and some kind
of authority that keeps records). You should also have a neutral
third party witness the transaction and sign the agreements
with you (not much different than a notary).
The Most Valuable Items to Stock

Bullets: Ammo is easy to stock up on as long as you choose
the calibers that are most common, such as the .22, .22lr, .223,
.308, 9mm and 12 gauge shells.
Since the government is making it tougher and tougher to
buy guns and ammo, get it while you can. It’s likely you will be
able to sell it to people who have run out.
Bonus if you can make ammo yourself with a press!
Metals: Metals like copper, steel, iron, rebar, etc., are used in
multitudes of things, like electronics, appliances, infrastructure
306
and buildings. They are easy to find and will be useful for barter.
Tools and building supplies: Items like wood, nails, ham-
mers, saws and other general fix-it tools will be in high demand
after a collapse. You could even use your tools and barter simply
with your skills to build shelters or for repairs, etc.
Flashlights: When the lights go out, people are going to
be looking for a way to see. And after the sun sets, there will
be complete darkness without an artificial light source. Flash-
lights and lanterns will be a necessity for anyone who doesn’t
have light.
Batteries: A no-brainer. If you have devices like radios,
flashlights and walkie-talkies, you will want to have batteries
on hand. And if others have those devices on hand, chances are
they will need batteries at some point as well.
Rechargeable batteries: While batteries are a great item
to have on hand, rechargeable batteries should have a higher
value, because you get more use out of them. I like the Pana-
sonic eneloop rechargeable batteries. These batteries come
pre-charged from the factory, so you can immediately put
them to use. Also, they can be recharged up to 2,100 times.
You could keep these charged and easily sell them for goods
and services, even recharging them every so often at a cost.
Water: You need to prepare for the thing that will kill you
first. You need water for staying hydrated as well as cooking
food to stay nourished and healthy. This will be a high-value
item to anyone who has run out, as you can only survive with-
out water for a few days.
Sugar: Stockpiling sugar is wise because it can be used in
a variety of different foods and can help you keep your energy
up. It will also help you to make comfort foods during hard
times, which people might be desperate for in a desperate time.
Rice: Rice is a great source of carbohydrates, is high in
calories and protein and has essential vitamins and minerals.
Specifically, whole grain rice, as it has a longer shelf life. It’s
307
CHAPTER 6
easy to make and makes an easy item to barter.

Clothing: If you’re smart, instead of throwing away old
clothes (or giving them to charity, which isn’t a bad idea, but
that’s not the point), you can recondition and keep them for
after the collapse. With so many preppers focused on food and
water, few of them think that that old pair of jeans will ever
be useful. It’s very likely that clothing factories from China are
going to ship them to the U.S. anymore.
Alcohol: This is good to have on hand because it has mul-
tiple uses. You can drink it, use it for cooking and even use it
for hygienic purposes such as cleaning a cut or wound. Even if
you don’t drink alcohol, it could be a crucial item in bartering.
Knowing how to make it is even better.
Cigarettes (and other tobacco products): Vices are vices.
And this one happens to be addictive. Although rather expen-
sive, you can buy these in bulk and be sure that they will be a
hot commodity for barter with any nearby smokers.
Medical supplies: This is something you want to put a
high price on. Getting meds will be hard if not impossible, so
you don’t want to just give them away, though that may be the
right thing to do. Consider stockpiling the following:
• Ibuprofen
• Benadryl
• Bandages of all shapes and sizes
• Gauze and surgical tape
• Vinyl gloves
• Cotton balls
• Rubbing alcohol
• Aspirin
• Antibiotic cream, etc.
Tip: If you stock up on first-aid supplies to barter with (or
simply to hand out freely to people in need), consider the ge-
neric name brands as a way to save money. For the most part,
308
many generics do just as well as the more expensive brand

names (unless, that is, we’re talking about survival gear –— a
good piece of gear that has a lifetime of use is worth the price
paid, specifically if it doesn’t break or rip on you).
With the increase in both natural and manmade disasters,
improving your first-aid skills should be a priority. To be clear,
first-aid preparedness should go beyond just having a first-aid
kit. You should have some basic training along with the prop-
er medical supplies. Many local colleges offer first-aid courses
that will teach you CPR along with other basic first-aid skills
— skills that are essential in any survival situation.
Food: Food, like water, is a necessity for survival. In a sur-
vival situation, anyone who runs out of food risks starvation.
Food is a great item to store in a barter economy, specifically
canned and freeze-dried foods, because they have a long shelf
life (especially foods like eggs, which can easily be dipped in
wax and kept for years)
Seeds: Gardening is another great skill to hone. You can
grow your own food and trade the fresh-grown food. I would
recommend planting heirloom or non-GMO seeds — since
those seeds can be saved and replanted from year to year.
This is the type of skill you should practice now, even if you
don’t need the food to survive. You never know when that will
change, and the experience will be invaluable.
Salt/pepper/other spices: These items, while great for sea-
soning food, are also very important for preserving perishable
food items like meat. Salt is particularly versatile, as it can be
used for cleaning and medicinally.
Copper wiring: This is an extremely useful item, as it
is used in power generation, transmission and distribution,
telecommunication, electronics and electricity. Because of its
range of uses, it’s a good item to have in place of money
Oil and gasoline: Fuel is a great item to have for barter be-
cause it powers essential items such as generators and vehicles.
309
CHAPTER 6
If someone needs power or is trying to get from Point A to Point

B, they will likely put a high value on both gasoline and oil.
Finally, use your skills. Whether it be cooking, home de-
fense, fixing things, medical skills and more… these could al-
ways be useful in a crisis for not only you but others. Why not
use them to your advantage?
Any of the items listed above will be as good as gold.
Most people think in terms of preparing for what they
need… they don’t think about what happens when they need
to go “shopping” in a society that doesn’t trust the value of
cash.
That’s why I’ve provided you with the Paying, Trading and
Bartering in a Cashless World. So you are fully prepared to
survive in an environment where cash no longer has a value.
310
AN EMERGENCY STOCKPILE EVERY
HOME NEEDS
“Your dad’s in jail,” my mom told me as tears streamed down

her face. “I need $1,400 to bail him out, and if I don’t get the
money within the next two hours, he’ll be there for the entire
weekend.”
I was 7 years old when those words left my mother’s mouth,
and I remember her frantically making phone call after phone
call trying to come up with the money. After all, she got the call
from my dad in the evening — the banks were closed, and this
was long before there was an ATM on every street corner.
Fortunately, one of our family friends happened to be a rich
Italian couple that literally kept thousands of dollars stuffed in
their mattress. When my mom called and told them she needed
to borrow $1,400 immediately, they said it would be no prob-
lem at all. She quickly drove over to their house and picked up
the cash, and I stayed there while she and another family friend
drove down to the Washington, D.C., jail. Thanks to their kind-
ness, my dad didn’t have to spend the weekend in jail.
So why was my dad thrown in jail? A misunderstanding,
really. Earlier that day, he and a business partner attended a
CHAPTER 6
meeting in D.C. When they got back from the meeting, there
was a boot on the business partner’s car for unpaid parking
tickets.
This partner decided it would be a good idea to try to re-
move the boot, but while he was doing so, a police car hap-
pened to be passing by. When the police stopped to ask him
what he was doing, the partner proceeded to scream and yell at
them. Obviously, this didn’t go over well, and both my dad and
his business partner got arrested.
The following Monday, all charges were dropped. But re-
gardless of the happy ending, this is one of the moments in life
that I’ll never forget.
It’s also one of the reasons I believe it’s incredibly import-
ant to always have a stash of emergency cash on hand. Life is
unpredictable. You never know when this emergency cash will
help get you or a family member out of a jam, or when it will
save your life by keeping you clothed and fed.
Be Your Own Bank

Here’s what I recommend:
• Have enough cash on hand to cover one month of living
expenses. This is different for everyone— some folks may
need $3,000 to survive for a month, while others need
$10,000. Determine what’s realistic for your family
• Don’t keep it all in $100 bills. You want to have a few bills
of each denomination, with the majority of your mon-
ey being in $20s. This will make it easier to spend if an
emergency does arise
• Don’t keep it all in one place — split the money up in var-
ious places around your home. Keep half in the basement
and half in the attic, or even half at your office, if that’s a
safe option.
312
Get Creative When Stashing Your Cash

Wherever you decide to store the money, it’s critical that it isn’t
easily accessible or identified. Never keep your emergency cash
stored anywhere in a master bedroom — that’s the first place
criminals go when they break into a house.
Instead, get creative. For example, you could keep the
money in a small fireproof safe inside a box in your attic that’s
marked “old clothes” or “sewing materials.” If you enjoy camp-
ing like I do and have a ton of camping gear stored in a closet,
you could use a stainless steel water bottle to store your cash.
Of course, the more creative you get, the safer your cash
could be. For instance, I know one fellow who has a gun safe
where he keeps an old gun, about $100 worth of cash, and
some worthless jewelry. This is his de-
coy safe, and he’s not going to be too
upset if a burglar pops this open.
His real safe full of guns and cash
is buried in a floor safe in his home.
He uses something similar to the Sen-
trySafe 7250 Waterproof Floor Safe,
which I recommend.
SentrySafe 7250 Waterproof Floor Safe:
http://amzn.to/2xLAZ1s
Another of my favorite options is to
hide your cash in plain sight by using a wall safe that’s dis-
guised as a picture frame or an electrical box.
However you decide to store your cash is, obviously, up to
you, but the most important thing is that you start building
up your emergency stash today. If one day you turn on the
news and discover the banks are closed and ATMs have run
dry, you’ll be grateful that you planned ahead.
313
FOUR COMMON SURVIVAL MISTAKES
AND HOW TO AVOID THEM
In this newsletter, we’ve discussed many, many things you

should do in preparation for an emergency, the moment a crisis
occurs and in the aftermath of a disaster.
But just as important as the shoulds are the should nots.
So here’s a list of four common mistakes that could put your
life at risk when disaster strikes. If you ever find yourself in a
survival scenario, these are four things you DON’T want to do:
1. Don’t rely on social media. While social media is a great
tool for sharing photos and funny anecdotes, I wouldn’t put
too much trust in the accuracy of information people post in a
crisis situation.
When someone posts unverified information and three of
their friends share it, then three of each of their friends share
it and on and on… the spread of misinformation is difficult to
stop.
The fact is false intel can get you killed.
Too many people trust everything they see on social media.
Always be sure to verify the veracity of what you read online,
no matter who posted it.
2. Don’t change your emergency plans. If you and your

family have an emergency plan in place, stick to it. If you’ve ar-
ranged to meet at your child’s school, then head to your child’s
school when the stuff hits the fan. In my family, not only do
we have a designated meeting spot, but we have a backup spot
as well.
Unless there’s an insurmountable reason — the roads are
blocked or a bridge is washed out — you must remain calm and
stick to your plan. When disaster strikes, too many people forget
all their preparations and just wing it. This puts you and your
loved ones in unnecessary danger, so don’t abandon your plan.
3. Don’t underestimate the situation. Don’t be that person
who drives through a flooded road because the water doesn’t
look that deep only to watch your car get carried away. In any
type of survival situation, be extra cautious. Never underesti-
mate the strength of Mother Nature, and always err on the side
of prudence.
4. Don’t just focus on food. Obviously, you need to eat to
survive. That said, some people focus so much on food storage
that they forget other necessities.
Our bodies can go without food for longer periods than
without water. And if you live in a colder climate, warmth is
an important consideration. I have many friends that are guilty
of this, and I’m always reminding them to be well-rounded in
their preparations.
In addition to food, make sure you have water storage, wa-
ter filters, medicine, medical supplies, clothing and shelter.
Do or Die
Now that we’ve got several don’ts out of the way, let’s revisit
some of the dos. Here are the four most important things you
should do before and during a survival situation:
1. Do plan and practice. When it comes to survival gear,
315
CHAPTER 6
people often forget to familiarize themselves with the ins and

outs of all their gear so they know how to use it in an emer-
gency. Learn how your gear works and be sure to test it period-
ically. This may seem basic, but remember, during a stressful
situation, you won’t have time to figure out your equipment.
Believe me, if you knew all the prep work that spies do
before going on an operation, it would make your head spin.
After all, if an operation fails, people may die. The same could
be said in an emergency, so it’s important to know your gear.
A good way to bring the whole family up to speed is to take
your gear camping. Once, my family lived off of survival food
— you know, the kind that comes in pouches — for an entire
week to make sure we liked it and our kids would eat it. The
food wasn’t too bad, the kids ate (almost) everything and now
we all know what we’re in for.
2. Do make friends. Use your skills and supplies to help
others, because they may also be able to help you. Let’s say
your neighbor is a paramedic and you have an extensive col-
lection of guns. You could strike a deal to help each other in a
crisis, trading protection for first aid.
Basically, people have a better chance of getting through
dangerous situations together. I realize that the movies make it
seem “sexy” to be a lone wolf. But in real life, you’ll be much
more successful if you’re willing to work with others.
3. Do immediately set up communications. In an emergen-
cy, you need to stay on top of the latest information. This why
I recommend having an emergency radio and knowing how
to use it. A great inexpensive radio for listening to news and
weather is the Sony ICF-S10MK2 pocket AM/FM radio.
“People have a better chance of getting through dangerous
situations together.”
You should also have a two-way radio to communicate with
friends and family. A two-way radio allows you to check in
with your loved ones and see if they’re able to report any useful
316
information. Just be sure everyone knows which channel to

use ahead of time.
4. Do maintain security. Whether you’re dealing with a nat-
ural or a man-made disaster — whether you’re bugging out
or bugging in — you need to have a security plan to protect
yourself and your family.
When people are desperate, they’ll do things you never
expected. Like the neighbor down the street who has always
been nice to you. What if he knows you have a ton of survival
supplies and comes to take them?
Always have a way to defend yourself no matter the situa-
tion. Both an AR-15 and Remington 870 shotgun are good long
guns to have on hand for extreme situations.
The next time you are reviewing your emergency plans and
survival gear, take the time to go over these dos and don’ts with
your family. I would hate for a simple mistake to put you or a
loved one in danger.
317
NINE SURVIVAL MYTHS THAT ARE
DOWNRIGHT DANGEROUS
By Robert Blaze | Contributor, Survival Ready Blog

Survival and preparedness reality shows are both good and bad.
On the one hand, they bring awareness to important topics such
as being ready for disasters. On the other, they propagate a lot of
myths to satisfy and delight some of their less informed viewers.
Myth: The most important thing in a survival situation is
finding food and water.
Well, it depends. The rule of threes states that shelter is the
most important thing. However, I lean more toward the “What’s
going to kill you first?” approach. For example, if you have a
wound that could get infected, then access to clean water and
medical supplies is your top priority.
And in situations where there’s a chance your core body tem-
perature will be affected, then shelter should be your first priority.
Shelter is more than just unpacking your tent. You also
have to find the right place to camp to avoid floods, wild an-
imals and people. You have to build it in such a way that it
protects you from the elements and keeps you warm and dry
throughout the night.
Hypothermia will kill you a lot faster than lack of food.

Your body will last for days, even weeks, without anything to
eat. But if you’re wet and unable to get yourself dry and stay
warm… you won’t last long.
Myth: Starting a fire is easy.
The bow drill method, using dryer lint as tinder, using a ferro
rod… there are many ways to start a fire. And many of them
are depicted in YouTube videos that make starting a fire seem
really easy. But is it?
If you’re in a damp environment, or if the wood isn’t dry
enough or simply isn’t the right kind, you could end up wast-
ing your time and energy.
Some people might argue that starting a fire is not difficult.
Anyone can start a fire with a lighter in seconds, and most
preppers have at least two–three in their survival bags, not to
mention blast matches and even steel wool and a 9-volt battery.
But if your primary methods don’t work for any reason, you
could be in serious trouble.
Myth: Eating snow will keep you hydrated.
In reality, your body will have to spend a great deal of energy to
warm that snow before it can utilize it. It’s much better to melt
the snow into water and then drink it. You should also filter it
with a bandana and purify it if you have the means. Rainwa-
ter and water resulting from melting snow is typically safe to
drink, but the cleaner the better.
Myth: Water from a cactus is safe to drink.
Water from cacti is very acidic and could cause you to get sick,
especially if you drink it on an empty stomach. This doesn’t
mean you’ll die, but it won’t make the survival situation any
more pleasant for you or your kidneys.
319
CHAPTER 6
Myth: You need to boil water for X minutes to kill pathogens.

According to the Wilderness Medical Society, which is quoted
by a number of survival blogs and articles (including Princ-
eton’s website), all pathogens will be killed by the time the
water comes to a rolling boil, even at high altitudes.
Myth: Alcohol warms up your body.
Quite the opposite. Alcohol will make you feel warmer by
sending more blood to your skin. However, this blood has to
come from someplace else, which means your internal organs
will receive less blood and your body temperature will drop.
Myth: Drinking your own pee is a good idea.
Don’t do it unless you’re an astronaut with access to NASA’s
Water Recovery System or you really, really need to. Just like
salt water, urine will dehydrate your body even more.
Myth: Making shelter is all about the roof.
Not really — there’s a lot more to it. You need protection from
ALL the things that can harm your body one way or another:
damp soil, wind, critters. Plus, your shelter needs to keep as
much heat in as possible to keep you warm.
For survival purposes, a bivy bag, may make for a better
shelter than hanging a tarp over a few branches. You should
also consider how to insulate your shelter, whether it’s with
aluminum foil, leaves, moss or other materials.
Bivy Bag: http://bit.ly/2wBwbNJ
Myth: You can suck the venom out of a snake bite.

Not a good idea, even if you’re Rambo. You should either have
a snake bite kit and the knowledge to use it, or, even better,
seek medical attention immediately. Never suck the venom
out, because you’ll not only further damage the wound, but
poison yourself as well.
320
The big takeaway here is that you can’t learn real survival
skills from reality television. But the more you read and learn
from reliable experts, the better prepared you’ll be. Knowledge
trumps tools and gear every single time.
321
10 SIMPLE DIY FIRE STARTERS
By Anthony Urso
Fire is one of the most important components to survival. It
provides heat, cooks your food, purifies your water and gives
you an overall sense of comfort. Without fire, you would strug-
gle to survive without electricity and the modern conveniences
we have become accustomed to.
Because fire is so important, it is crucial you have at least
two ways to start a fire in your bug-out bag and emergency
survival stash. Fire-starting materials are typically very light-
weight and small enough to fit in the glove box of your car, in
a pocket of your purse or even in a shaving kit.
“Fire is so important, it is crucial you have at least two ways
to start a fire in your bug-out bag.”
If you like being crafty or don’t want to spend the money
on fire starters you buy in the stores, here are some ideas for
making your own:
1. Cut up strips of old cardboard you probably have lying
around. Dip the strips in wax and let them dry. Pop them
in a sandwich bag and add them to your emergency gear.
The coated cardboard will burn nice and slow. This is

ideal when you are trying to get a tinder bundle going
and don’t want it to burn out in a quick few seconds.
2. Put a bunch of your junk mail through a paper shredder.
Place the shredded paper in a bag and toss it in your bug-
out bag. You can also coat the paper shreds with melted
candle wax for added burn time. The next time you burn
a candle, save the wax for your DIY fire-starting materials.
3. Buy a bag of cotton balls and a jar of petroleum jelly
(Vaseline). Use a knife or ice pop stick to spread petro-
leum jelly on a cotton ball. Place the gooey cotton balls
in a sandwich bag. You can make the cotton balls easier
to light by adding a couple drops of lighter fluid to each
cotton ball. The petroleum jelly will add several min-
utes of burn time to the cotton ball, which will give you
enough time to get a tinder bundle burning.
4. Save your egg cartons and shred some more of those old
bills and junk mail you don’t want. Stuff each slot with
shredded paper. You can also use old sawdust. Melt can-
dle wax and pour it over each wad of paper or sawdust in
the egg carton. Allow the wax to dry. Cut the carton into
individual slots and store in a plastic bag.
5. Save your orange peels the next time you buy oranges.
Allow the peels to dry thoroughly. Once completely dry,
store in a plastic or paper bag. The natural oils in the
skin are excellent for starting a fire.
6. Buy a pack of cotton makeup remover pads. Dip each
pad in melted wax and allow to dry. When you need to
start a fire, tear the cotton discs in half or enough to ex-
pose the cotton fibers and light with a match. The wax
coating will slow down the burn and give you plenty of
time to get a healthy fire going.
323
CHAPTER 6
7. Create decorative fire starters out of pine cones. Wrap

twine or use candle wick material around the base of the
cone. Put the cone in small bowl so that it is standing up-
right. Melt wax in a double broiler and pour the wax into
the bowl, covering the bottom portion of the pine cone.
Wait about five minutes for the wax to harden and then
pull the cone out of the bowl. The pine cones will burn
nice and slow for several minutes. These are best stored
away in your home’s emergency supplies.
8. Fill a small jar with rubbing alcohol and drop in used
corks. You can often find corks at thrift stores or in bulk
at various craft stores. When you are ready to start a fire,
put your cork in the tinder bundle and light a match. The
alcohol will immediately spark, and the cork will burn
for about a minute. You can remove the corks from the
alcohol solution after a few days and store in plastic bags
or old medicine containers to keep in your bug-out bag.
9. Dry bundles of herbs from your garden. You can trans-
form your fire starter into something pleasant and aro-
matic. Place a few of the herbs on a piece of newspaper.
Roll the newspaper up and around the herbs. Twist the
ends to form what resembles a piece of wrapped candy.
Put the newspaper bundle in the middle of a pile of twigs
and light it.
10. Combine cedar shavings (which you can buy at any
pet store) with cupcake liners. You can pick up a bag
of old candles at most thrift stores to waterproof your
fire starters. Use a cupcake pan and line each slot with
a paper liner. Fill the liners with shavings. Melt down
the old candles and pour the melted wax into each cup-
cake liner. Allow the wax to dry and you have quick fire
starters for under $10.
324
PROTECT YOUR DIGITAL MEMORIES
FROM A BLACKOUT
Almost every facet of our modern society depends on electricity

being always available. If you’ve been prepping for any stretch
of time, then you’ve probably heard of an EMP, or electromag-
netic pulse. These large releases of energy are caused by solar
flares that are discharged by the sun but can also be triggered by
detonating a nuclear weapon in the atmosphere.
A strong enough EMP could wipe out all electronics that ha-
ven’t been shielded. Supply chains would fail, food would spoil,
we wouldn’t be able to purify or pump water on a large scale,
and many other electricity-dependent systems would falter.
The solution to protecting your electronic devices is to
build what’s called a Faraday cage that has enough layers of
protection to negate the effects of an EMP and protect your
devices. Fortunately, a Faraday cage is relatively affordable for
anyone who wants to play it safe and protect, say, their hard
drive full of family photos, a flash drive full of professional
documents, and so forth.
Here’s how you can build your own Faraday cage and save
your treasured electronics.
CHAPTER 6
Required Materials:
• Heavy-duty aluminum foil
• Plastic wrap, such as Saran, or plastic bags for each elec-
tronic item
• Pieces of cloth for wrapping items
• A cardboard box (the amount you’ll need depends on
what all you’re protecting)
• A galvanized steel trash can (optional: for storing a large
amount of items).
How It’s Made:

1. Wrap an item that you want to protect in cloth. This
keeps the item from making contact with the aluminum
foil and prevents sharp corners from piercing the foil.
2. Wrap the device in plastic wrap or place it into a plastic bag.
3. Wrap the plastic-covered item with at least three layers of
foil. Ensure that the device is covered well by each layer.
4. Put the foil-wrapped device into your cardboard box.
5. Wrap the entire cardboard box in two layers of aluminum
foil. (Having more layers means having more protection.)
6. S tore the wrapped box off of the ground.
7.
(Optional: Line your galvanized steel trash can with
cardboard and then place your wrapped items into it. Be
certain that the foil is not touching any metal and that
the lid fits tightly to the can.)
Power Your Essential Devices After an EMP

The aftermath of an EMP is a frightening picture to imagine.
The devices that still work after an EMP will eventually lose
their charge, and with the entire electric grid annihilated, it
326
will be hard to keep vital communications devices, and possi-

bly your freezer, running.
Only a generator that is powered by a free, highly available
type of fuel will keep your power running indefinitely. That’s
why we’ve researched and designed the perfect solution: the
Power Whisperer, a quiet, portable, solar generator that is re-
sistant to EMPs.
Power Whisperer: http://bit.ly/2wBChxw
[Jason’s Note: For more from Lee, visit
www.independentlivingnews.com]
327
MY TOP MUST-HAVE SURVIVAL TOOLS

In the SEAL teams, if you don’t have the right gear — you don’t
come home.
It might be as simple as the extra pair of AA batteries
wrapped in tape that made all the difference on a mission in
Iraq. Or that one extra quart of hydraulic fluid that kept my
teammate’s heavily damaged helicopter airborne until he was
able to safely land it in Afghanistan. Then there’s the 5 oz.
self-applied tourniquet that has saved thousands of lives over
the last decade.
The right tools make all the difference. But what are the
“right” tools?
Well, they vary — depending on your geographic location,
the operational environment (hostile/permissive), local laws,
weather and the situation.
I understand that’s quite a lot of factors to consider when
equipment shopping. So where should you start?
Here are five pieces of gear I never leave home without.
You’ll notice there are a few common elements between these
items. They are all:
1. Small and lightweight.

2. Durable.
3. Capable of performing multiple functions.
4. Easily carried on the body.
I’ve had to rely on each of these tools in many different
situations, and I can personally attest to their efficacy and life-
saving abilities.
Not only do I cover how each of these tools comes in handy
in critical circumstances, I give specific recommendations for
the brands I carry. Take a look below.
1. Watch With GPS: My preference is the Garmin fenix,
a rugged, multisport timepiece with GPS
navigation, altimeter, compass and ba-
rometer — in addition to all of the basic
functions of a watch. The extra features
help you navigate in unfamiliar territory.
This watch also has a great “back track”
feature. If you get lost, you can simply fol-
low your path back to where you started.
The altimeter is a great tool for knowing your position and
telling others where you are, and the barometer will keep you
ahead of the game if the weather starts to change. The light on
the watch can be used for signaling when attached to a small
piece of rope and spun over your head. In the SEAL teams, we
called this move a “buzz saw” and used it for signaling aircraft.
2. Tactical Rigger’s Belt With D-Ring Buckle: I wear the
Elite Survival Systems Cobra Tactical Rigger’s Belt. More than
just keeping my pants up, this belt has a heavy-duty quick-re-
lease buckle that allows me to remove it quickly and use it as
a weapon. The D-ring can
be used for emergency de-
scent from a high point,
used to anchor someone
else or as an attachment
329
CHAPTER 6
point to keep someone

close in a low-visibility
situation.
3. Multitool: You get a
lot of bang for your buck
with a good multitool.
You can cut with it, make repairs with it, even fight with it.
I prefer a more robust set of pliers than the needle nose vari-
ety that comes on many brands, including the collapsible “fist
pack” size, which is why I carry the Gerber Flik Multi Tool
everywhere I go.
4. Water Filter: You can go weeks without food, but you
will only survive a few days without water. In a survival situa-
tion, you can’t always expect clean water to be easily available,
which is why I recommend the SurvFilter 300. This device
uses nanotechnology to filter approximately 300 gallons of
pure water — directly from streams, puddles, lakes and more
— before needing to be replaced. Independent testing proves
this filter effectively removes 99.9999% of contaminants — in-
cluding viruses and chemicals.
SurvFilter 300: http://bit.ly/2hNPjxE
5. Butane Lighter: There are several reasons you may need
to start a fire — to keep warm, cook a meal or perhaps signal
someone — and you can’t count on a disposable lighter when
that time comes. I carry the Ultimate Survival
Technologies Delta Stormproof Lighter. It’s wa-
terproof with the cover closed, and the flame
is capable of withstanding winds of up to 80
miles an hour without going out.
By amassing this quintessential collection
of gear, you will be more prepared to handle
any crisis situation and make it home alive. So
pick these items up today and be a survivor,
not a statistic.
330
FROM GETTING LOST IN THE
WILDERNESS TO ECONOMIC COLLAPSE,
A QUALITY KNIFE COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
In 1985, two friends by the names of Joe Simpson and Simon

Yates decided to climb the Siula Grande, a harrowing, ice-cov-
ered, 21,000-foot mountain in the Andes.
They successfully reached the top of the mountain and be-
gan their descent feeling as though they’d accomplished their
goal — until a horrible blizzard set in. To ensure they didn’t
lose each other, they tied themselves together with a rope and
began the treacherous descent.
As they were carefully making their way down the moun-
tain, things went from bad to worse. Simpson fell and shattered
his leg bone into several pieces. Not willing to leave his friend,
Yates was determined to get both of them to safety. He attempt-
ed to lower Simpson over the edge of a cliff, since Simpson
was unable to rappel down himself. However, due to the brutal
snowstorm, things didn’t go as planned and Simpson found
himself hanging in midair as Yates anchored him from above.
After multiple attempts to lower Simpson down, Yates be-
gan to lose strength and knew that he would soon be dragged
over the cliff to his own death. At that moment, Yates did the
CHAPTER 6
unthinkable and cut the rope that was holding his friend. In
what can only be called a miracle, Simpson survived the fall
into an ice crevasse and was able to hike several miles on his
broken leg back to base camp.
Later, when the friends united, Simpson told Yates that he’d
made the right decision and he would have cut the rope too.
This is an incredible tale of survival. Beyond the sheer brav-
ery it took, if the men hadn’t been prepared with a knife, they
both could have ended up dying.
While I realize you probably won’t be scaling an ice-covered
cliff anytime soon (I know I won’t) I’d like to share with you
the key qualities you should look for when choosing the fac-
tors that make up the ultimate self-defense and survival knife.
After all, you never know when you’ll need to rely on a knife,
whether it’s during a natural disaster or in the midst of some
type of urban crisis such as an economic collapse. And the fact
is if you do find yourself in a critical situation and you don’t
have the right knife on hand, you may not make it out alive.
This is why when push comes to shove, the knife you have
with you needs to include the following...
1. Fixed Blade — Every day, I carry a folding knife clipped
to my pants pocket. I use this knife to open the mail and
to open all of the boxes I get from Amazon. But other
than these purposes, I would never want to put my life in
the hands of a folding knife. This is because a “folder” is
not built for prying or for intense force, and it will snap
off at the pivot point under significant pressure. A fixed-
blade knife is much stronger and more reliable.
2. High Quality — For certain things in life, I’m very cheap.
But not when it comes to my survival gear. After all, I’d
never want to find myself stranded in the woods with a
$20 knife I purchased at Wal-Mart, because, as the say-
ing goes, you get what you pay for. A quality fixed-blade
332
knife is going to cost a few hundred dollars and is worth

every penny if it gets you safely back to your family.
3. Tang — You want the steel of the blade to run from the tip
of the knife all the way through the bottom of the handle.
This is called full tang. In cheap knives, the blade stops
where it enters the handle, which is why you can find cer-
tain knives with hollow handles. The problem with this is
the same problem of having a folding knife, in that, under
duress, the blade will snap off at the handle.
4. Size — Paul Hogan’s famous line in Crocodile Dundee as
he draws his huge knife in front of a potential attacker is
“That’s not a knife… THAT’s a knife!” While big knives
look cool in the movies, they are not ideal for a surviv-
al situation. First, a huge knife isn’t easy to conceal, so
you’ll have a hard time carrying it without drawing atten-
tion to yourself.
lso, big knives weigh a lot more, so if you have to carry it
A
while hiking several miles, it won’t exactly be comfortable.
The ideal size knife is 8–10 inches in overall length, which
allows you to do a number of tasks without running into
problems because the knife is too big or too small.
5. Straight Edge — You want your knife to be a straight
edge and not serrated. Believe me, I know serrated edge
knives look cool, but they have very few practical uses
and are much tougher to sharpen.
6. Steel — Knives are made of numerous types of steel, which
is why some knives cost $20 and others are hundreds of
dollars. Because the type of steel determines the strength
of the blade, the ability to hold an edge, and how easy a
knife is to sharpen, you only want to go with a quality
steel. These include steels such as S35VN, D2, and AEB-L.
7. Torture-Tested — I want to make sure any knife I may
333
CHAPTER 6
have to bet my life on has passed a series of torture tests.

A few such tests include slicing through a tire, being
hammered into a cinder block, cutting through a piece
of metal, and how far it can slice through a piece of beef.
If a knife fails these tests, it’s better to find out now than
when it really counts.
8. Ease of Use — In a crisis situation, you never want to
complicate things. In other words, you don’t want a knife
with a ton of bells and whistles (built-in flashlight, fish-
hooks, etc.) that can get in the way or slow you down.
You want a knife that you can easily deploy and quickly
use if the need ever arises.
9. Sheath — No knife is complete without a quality sheath.
The fact is if you can’t draw your knife from the sheath, or
if the knife falls out because the sheath is flimsy, it doesn’t
matter how good of a knife you have. I personally prefer
plastic injection-molded sheaths that hold the knife snug
but also allow for quick draws. In addition, I like sheaths
that are versatile and can be worn vertically, horizontally,
inside the waistband, and outside the waistband on the
hip.
I certainly hope you never find yourself in a survival situ-
ation, but if you do, you’ll be glad you have a knife that meets
the criteria above.
334
SEVEN WAYS YOUR BELT CAN
KEEP YOU ALIVE
Unless I’m swimming, I always have a belt on. In addition to

supporting the firearm I often carry, a good-quality belt has a
number of uses:
1. Make a tourniquet. If there’s an active shooter situation
and somebody has been seriously injured, you can use a
belt as a tourniquet. Just make sure to pull it very tight.
Another medical use for a belt? Use it as a sling for an
injured arm.
2. Secure doors. In an active shooter situation, a belt can
also be used to tie and secure doors shut so nobody can
access a room or hallway.
3. Defend yourself. The belt I wear has a heavy buckle made
of solid brass. It can be used for self-defense. I’ve even
used it to break a car window.
4. Sharpen a knife. If you carry a knife and need to sharpen
it, you can use a leather belt for stropping the blades.
5. Build a shelter. A belt can be used to make a shelter by
securing pieces of wood together.
CHAPTER 6
6. Carry important items. Certain belts have pockets in

them where you can carry matches, a utility blade and
money, among other things.
7. Give a lift. A belt can be used as a towrope in emergency
situations. (Yes, I’ve personally used a belt to tow another
car.)
336
HOW TO SURVIVE NORTH AMERICA’S
MOST DANGEROUS ANIMAL ATTACKS

As a lover of the great outdoors, there’s hands down no place
I’d rather live than the United States. From the lush forests of
Appalachia to the frozen tundra of Alaska, this is a vast land of
incredible geographical diversity.
You can be hiking in the desert heat of Arizona’s Apache
Wash Trail on Monday morning… and seeking shelter from a
blizzard at 11,500 feet in a cave on Mount Rainier, Washing-
ton, on Friday afternoon. And no matter where you hang your
hat, you’re never more than a few hours’ drive from sleeping
beneath the stars… pristine hiking trails with sweeping views
from a time before man… or one of the 59 National Parks that
cover more than 84 million acres of land across the United
States and American territories.
In fact, it’s so easy that some folks forget that these are still
wild spaces, filled with wild animals who consider this land
their territory (and rightly so). Most are more than happy to
steer clear of you. But if they feel threatened or they feel the
need to protect their young, they will attack.
CHAPTER 6
If that happens — and you find yourself unarmed in a life-

or-death situation —you need to know how to react.
General rule for wild animals: If they are with their
young, they are extremely dangerous. Steer clear and under no
circumstances approach an unattended baby animal.
I’d like to tell you that there’s one catch-all technique that
will allow you to escape any animal attack. But the reality is that
every species is different, and what will work against a brown
bear will get you killed if you’re dealing with a black bear.
Fortunately, there are straightforward techniques for dealing
with most wildlife threats — it’s just a matter of knowing them
and putting them into action. Listed below are the strategies
for surviving America’s most dangerous animal attacks — in-
cluding techniques for defending yourself against a wild ani-
mal being sighted more and more in human neighborhoods and
against the most dangerous nonhuman mammal in the U.S.
Read on…
Black Bears
Black bears are the small-
est of the North American
bears, but the males can
still weigh in at almost 500
pounds. They are swift
— reaching speeds of 35
mph over land — and are
powerful climbers.
Until recent years, the North American black bear posed
little threat to your average camper or homeowner. Their
population had been severely diminished by habitat loss and
overhunting, so face-to-face encounters were rare.
But in the last decade or so, the population has rebound-
ed and continues to grow. There’s now an estimated more
338
than 800,000 bears across the United States, Canada and even
stretching down into Mexico.
As the bear population booms — and their habitats continue
to shrink — homeless bears are moving into human-populated
areas in search of new territory. We’re already seeing more of
these bears — in and out of their natural habitats — and attacks
are increasing.
Just yesterday morning — as I was putting the finishing
touches on this very section of your special wilderness survival
guide — a 19-year-old boy was dragged out of his sleeping bag
by a black bear in Boulder County, Colorado.
The bear sunk his teeth into the teenager’s skull and dragged
him 12 feet away before he was able to pry himself free. Ex-
perts say this was a predatory attack, and the bear was intent
on killing and eating him. Luckily, the young man was a wil-
derness survival teacher and knew exactly how to deal with a
black bear.
Identify: Black or dark-brown fur with light-brown fur
around the muzzle. Tall, rounded ears. No shoulder hump.
Avoid: Despite their size and strength, black bears are easily
startled and would rather avoid direct conflict. If you are in
black bear country and suspect they are close by, make noise.
Bang pots, blow a whistle or shout out. This will usually get
them to clear out before you approach.
If you spot a bear that doesn’t see you, especially if it’s rum-
maging through a garbage can or eating, give it a wide berth.
When camping, make sure your foodstuffs are secured
away from your tents. Black bears can climb trees, but if you
suspend food supplies in a satchel tied to a thin branch, they
won’t be able to reach it. If you are camping with dogs, make
sure you place bells on their collars. It’ll make it easier to keep
track of your dog and the constant noise is a great way to keep
bears away.
Survive: If you come face to face with a black bear, don’t
339
CHAPTER 6
run or try to climb a tree. Black bears will easily out-climb

you and you’ll be trapped. Instead, keep a calm demeanor and
move slowly and confidently.
Pick up small children and animals so they don’t make for
easy targets. Stand as tall and squared off as possible to show
your size. If you are in a group, move together to make a pack
with arms in the air and yell. Be loud and wave your arms
about. Make sure the bear has an escape route so it doesn’t feel
trapped and forced to fight.
A bear will test you and make a false start to see if it can
make you run. Stand your ground. If the bear thinks for a mo-
ment that you’re going to flee, it will charge.
When you’re hiking or camping in bear country, you should
always have a canister of bear-repellent spray within arm’s
reach. I recommend Counter Assault Bear Deterrent. This is a
concentrated pepper spray, supersized and highly compressed
to reach greater distances. Bear sprays are designed to be car-
ried in an easy-to-wear holster on your belt and should not be
buried deep in your backpack.
Counter Assault Bear Deterrent: http://amzn.to/2x6TGjr
It’s worth noting that there are some drawbacks to bear
spray, but it is without a doubt the most effective way to repel
a bear attack. Some folks recommend spraying the bear when
it’s about 40–60 feet away, but if you shoot it at the bear from
too far away, you’ll only make it angrier.
Depending on weather conditions, the repellent can
disperse at this range and not affect the bear. Wait until it’s
about 25 feet away and then spray a six-second blast in its
face. This will maximize the effects of the spray and give you
enough time to readjust for wind and get off another blast be-
fore it reaches you.
Note: Be careful not to spray downwind. This is a good way
to spray yourself and have to fight a bear blind.
340
Of course, with black bears moving into more populated

areas — scrounging in suburban garbage cans and bird feeders
— it’s becoming more and more likely that you’ll encounter
one of these bears somewhere you don’t expect it… and you
won’t have any bear repellent with you.
In this instance, if a bear attacks, your best chance of sur-
vival is to fight back. Use anything you can get your hands on
as a weapon — rocks, sticks, fists, even biting. Aim your blows
at the bear’s eyes and snout. It might seem hopeless, but if a
black bear sees that their victim is willing to fight to the death,
they’ll usually just give up and flee.
Brown Bears
Brown bears — including the
subspecies of grizzly and Ko-
diak bears — average between
500 and 800 pounds, but the
males can weigh up to a thun-
dering 1,700 pounds. This
puts them comfortably among
the largest land predators on
the planet.
The brown bear isn’t as prevalent as the black bear and
tends to avoid heavily populated or urbanized areas. They have
been known to raid barns and garbage dumps when food is low
— a dangerous trend because they can associate humans with
food and lose their natural fear of people — but you’re most
likely to encounter a brown bear in the wilderness of Alaska
or northwestern Canada. There is also a small percentage of
brown bears in Montana, Yellowstone National Park, Utah and
some parts of Washington.
While the majority of fatal black bear attacks are executed
by hungry males in search of food, most brown bear kills are
341
CHAPTER 6
carried out by mothers protecting their young (as mentioned

earlier). Thanks to their size, strength and powerful claws, a
brown bear can easily disembowel a fully grown man in a direct
confrontation. So you’ll need a completely different strategy to
deal with them.
Identify: Medium to dark-brown fur. Distinct shoulder
humps. Short, round ears. Long, pale claws.
Avoid: Talking, singing or wearing bear bells on your packs
will signal to bears to steer clear of you. Given enough notice, a
bear will want to avoid an encounter as much as you do. If you
accidentally sneak up on a grizzly — and they haven’t seen you
— it’s time to beat a stealthy retreat. The last thing you want to
do is surprise a mother with her cubs.
Survive: While brown bears are larger and more unpredictable
than their black cousins, bear-repellent spray is still effective. In
fact, it’s even more effective than a firearm. According to research-
ers in the U.S. and Canada, bear-repellent spray is effective 92% of
the time, compared with 67% for guns. That’s a big enough differ-
ence to keep me reaching for my spray every time.
If the bear continues to come at you, hit the dirt, leave your
pack on and play dead. Lay on your stomach with your hands
clasped behind your neck. Spread your legs to make it harder
for the bear to turn you over. Remain still until the bear leaves
the area. Most brown bear attacks are defensive and they will
leave you alone if you assume a submissive position. Fighting
back usually increases the intensity of such attacks.
The bear can linger nearby for as long as 20 minutes. During
this time, attempt to conceal your hyperventilation and control
your body so you’re in a state of complete stillness.
If the bear continues to attack after you submit, you are the
victim of a rare predatory assault. Your only option is to fight
for life. Use whatever you have at hand to hit the bear in the
face. The same goes for a brown bear that attacks your camp or
stalks you — it’s likely they’re starved, desperate and hunting
you for food.
342
The Bear Survival Motto: If it’s black, fight back. If it’s

brown, lay down.
Important: When camping, make sure you place any food
with odor well away from your campsite in a bag that is sus-
pended from a tree.
Mountain Lions
Mountain lions — also known
as pumas or cougars — are
primarily nocturnal predators
with a diet of mostly deer and
elk. But if you’ve ever worked
on a farm in mountain lion
country, I’m sure you’ve seen
what one of these fellas can do
to your livestock.
Chances of seeing a mountain lion in the wild are slim.
They operate at night and move silently. They have an aversion
to humans, but it’s wise to stay aware of a predator that can
leap upward of 18 vertical feet.
Identify: Tawny to light cinnamon in color. White chest
and underside. The backs of the ears and the tip of the tail are
black. Much larger than a bobcat or lynx.
Avoid: Mountain lions stalk their prey, waiting for the ideal
moment to pounce. Travel in groups of two or more and make
a lot of noise. Lions are more likely to attack you if you’re hik-
ing solo. Do not let small children or animals wander on their
own. A mountain lion will identify this as easy prey straying
from the pack.
It’s good practice when hiking to “watch your six.” Look
behind you every six steps and even the stealthiest predator
will have a hard time sneaking up on you.
If you encounter mountain lion kittens, leave the area
343
CHAPTER 6
immediately. The same goes for a fresh animal carcass. Moun-

tain lions will often return later to feed on their kill.
Survive: If you encounter a lion, face it and appear as large
as possible by raising your arms or holding objects that make
you appear large like an open coat. Don’t take your eyes off the
animal, expose your back or run. This will trigger their preda-
tory instincts to pursue and attack.
If the cougar starts to act aggressively, shout, wave your
arms, throw things. Like most wild animals, mountain lions
will only get in a fight if they know they can win (or they’re
protecting their young). They won’t know what to make of un-
expected behavior like this and will likely retreat. Give the lion
an escape route. If it thinks it’s trapped, it will have no choice
but to attack.
If you are attacked, stay on your feet and protect your neck
— lions recognize this as a vulnerable spot and will deliberate-
ly attack it. Fight back aggressively with fists, sticks, rocks —
anything you can get your hands on. Lions have been known
to retreat when their prey fights back. If a lion has you in its
grip, strike at its eyes. This will cause the lion to loosen its grip.
Alligators
Florida is home to an esti-
mated 1.3 million of these
fearsome apex predators. The
average size of an adult male
is about 11 feet, but gators
continue to grow as they age.
A grandfather alligator can
grow up to 15 feet and there have been instances where they’ve
grown to a full 19 feet.
Gators are ambush hunters, remaining camouflaged in the
water with only their eyes peering above the surface. They lie
344
in wait until something swims or walks by and then lunge for-

ward at high speed. Using their powerful tails, gators are ca-
pable of launching their bodies up to 5 feet out of the water,
extending their kill range to beyond the water’s edge. Once a
gator pounces, it drags the prey underwater to drown it before
resurfacing to feed.
The good news is that most gators have no interest in killing
humans and don’t consider them prey. But they can oftentimes
mistake humans and small children for their usual prey when
swimming in murky waters.
Identify: Alligators can stay submerged for 20–30 minutes
at a time, making them extremely difficult to spot. Sometimes
you’ll see a loglike shape with a small pair of eyes just above
the surface of the water… but chances are they’ll see you be-
fore you see them. That’s why it’s important that you stay
vigilant around inhabited waters.
Avoid: Make lots of noise. If alligators know humans are
ashore, they’ll be sure to stay away. Keep small children and
dogs away from the edge of the water — alligators might mis-
take them for their natural prey. Don’t swim in low-visibility
conditions like brackish water or at night. Stay well away from
the water’s edge in unfamiliar areas and gator-infested waters.
If you spot an alligator, do not approach or feed the alliga-
tor. This will teach the alligator to not be afraid of humans and
put others at risk.
Survive: If you encounter an alligator, your first instinct
should be to run. Most humans can easily outrun a gator on
land, and at a distance of about 25 feet, they’re no longer a
threat.
If the alligator grabs you in its jaws, thrash about violently
and make as much noise as you can. Splashing and screaming
can disorientate the animal and force it to let you go. Gators
are not used to grabbing something as big as you. If you put up
a big struggle, you can force the gator to let you go and retreat.
345
CHAPTER 6
If you survive an alligator attack, seek medical attention im-

mediately. Their bites are extremely dangerous due to the rep-
tile’s sheer bite force and risk of infection. Even with medical
treatment, an alligator bite may still result in a fatal infection.
Wolves
The American gray wolf
is typically nonaggressive
toward humans. They in-
stinctively fear us and 99%
of the time would rather
steer clear of us entirely.
They are, however, a dan-
ger to livestock and small animals and have been known to
attack when starved, desensitized to humans or rabid.
Often, predatory attacks are preceded by a period of cohab-
itation with humans. If humans feed the wolves — intentional-
ly or by leaving food unattended outdoors — wolves gradually
lose their natural fear. Once this happens, an attack can come
at any time. The problem is usually isolated to the wolves in a
local area. After a successful attack, they will continue their at-
tacks until all the desensitized wolves have been exterminated.
The majority of victims of predatory wolf attacks are chil-
dren under the age of 18 or, in some cases, small women. The
victims are repeatedly bitten on the head and face and are then
dragged off to be eaten somewhere safe.
Because of their size and strength, wolves with rabies are far
more dangerous than other animals with the condition. Bites
from rabid wolves are 15 times more dangerous than that of a
rabid dog, and wolves are capable of traveling large distances and
infecting many animals and people in a short amount of time.
Identify: Grizzled gray coats. Large nose pad. Much broader
and blockier than a coyote. Low-pitched, drawn-out howls (a
346
coyote’s howls are short and sharp). Tracks are almost identical
to your average dog tracks but almost twice the size.
Avoid: Hike in groups to avoid being outnumbered by a
large pack. Keep dogs leashed at all times. Don’t leave food
out for wolves or attempt to feed them in any way. If you spot
wolves who seem comfortable around humans, report them to
authorities immediately.
Survive: Recognize the signs of aggression — barking,
howling, raised tail. Stand confidently, stay calm and make
yourself as large as possible.
Do not run. Back away slowly. Try to put a large rock or tree
at your back so the pack can’t circle you. If one of the wolves
attacks, fight with all your strength. Demonstrate that you’re a
dangerous target and the pack will no longer see you as prey
and move on.
Dogs
You might be wondering what
“man’s best friend” is doing on this
list of deadly wild animals. Your
dog is probably a well-trained, af-
fectionate and loyal creature. But
I’m afraid this isn’t always the case.
With 89.7 million dogs living in the United States, they
can’t all be “good boys.”
The truth is you’re far more likely to be attacked by a dog
than any of other animals on this list. Dog bites send more
than 350,000 victims to U.S. emergency rooms annually. That’s
more than 950 per day on average. In 2016, 41 of those attacks
were fatal.
I am a true believer in the old saying that “there are no
bad dogs, just bad owners.” Most dog attacks occur because
of inadequate training and poor containment. However, the
347
CHAPTER 6
overwhelming majority of fatal attacks (77%) are committed

by just two particularly dangerous breeds — pit bulls and Rott-
weilers. Pit bulls killed 254 Americans between 2005 and 2016
— about one death every 17 days.
Insurance companies will often raise a homeowner’s pre-
mium if any of the following dogs — regardless of the dog’s
individual temperament or training — are known to be on
the property: Akitas, Alaskan malamutes, bulldogs, mastiffs,
chows, Dobermans, German shepherds, huskies, Presa Canar-
ios, Rottweilers and pit bulls.
Dogs & Children: It’s estimated that someone is bitten by a dog every 75
seconds in the United States. More than 80% of the time, the victim is a
child. Sometimes dogs who were thought to be dependable and safe have
been known to react aggressively toward infants.
Dogs have been a part of our culture for so long that it’s easy to forget they
were once wild animals — just as wild and dangerous as any of the other an-
imals on this list. Since their domestication, they’ve lost their fear of humans
— but at their core, they are still guided by their primal survival instincts.
Nearly all canine species — including dogs — abide by a pack rule of hier-
archy and dominance. They follow a dominant leader, are deeply territorial
and are loyally devoted to the pack. Because of their size, children are rarely
considered leaders to be feared or followed. For this reason, small children
should never be left alone with any breed of dog. And their play should be
monitored carefully.
Avoid: Never purposely aggravate or tease a dog. Dogs that

are regularly chained and confined are usually more aggressive
and should be avoided. It’s unwise to assume that only certain
breeds are dangerous. Just about any dog can cause injury.
When approached by a potentially dangerous dog, don’t look
it in the eye, as it may consider this a threat. Do not smile — the
dog will think you are baring your teeth aggressively at it. Control
your fear. Stand firm, remain calm and do not move suddenly. Do
not run, as this will activate the dog’s prey-chasing instinct.
348
Observe the animal’s body language. A growl or bared teeth

are obvious signs of aggression. But a more subtle indicator is
the position of the dog’s head. Low is submissive, high is on
alert. But if the head is level with its body, then it is preparing
to attack or fight.
It is best to turn sideways so that you are not directly facing
the dog and watch the dog through your peripherals. If the
dog is still approaching, loud commands, such as “down” and
“stay” could halt its approach. But don’t point your finger or
expose your hands.
Slowly back away from the animal, making no sudden move-
ments or changes in posture. Once a sufficient gap has been es-
tablished, get to a place out of the sight line of the animal.
Survive: If the dog attacks, you must gain immediate control
of the encounter and subdue the animal. The most effective
way to do this is to get the dog on their back.
When they bite, dogs will grip tightly with their teeth and
try to tear flesh by shaking their head aggressively. You’ll want
to protect your face, throat and chest. If you have time, wrap a
jacket or extra layers of cloth around your arm and offer that
to the attacking dog. It may sound counterintuitive, but once
the animal has you in its grip, you can easily use this to your
advantage.
If you don’t have time to prepare, keep your vulnerable ar-
eas, inner thighs and groin protected. Try to kick the dog in the
throat, nose and the back of the head. This will stun the dog
and give you time to get away. If the dog is going to bite, best
that it gets a hold of your outer leg, where the skin is thicker.
If the dog sinks its teeth into you, turn on the animal and
drop your full weight onto its body. Slam your knees — or
crash down with your elbows — directly onto its body. Try to
land on its ribs — which break easily — and strike at its head,
especially at the back of the neck or at the base of the skull.
If you have one at hand, use a towel, coat or shirt to cover
349
CHAPTER 6
the dog’s head, which will subdue them and give you time to
escape. If available, a blast of cold water from a hose or even a
bucket of cold water thrown into its face will disorient the dog.
If you’re attacked by multiple dogs, don’t try to subdue each
dog with your body weight as you would during an attack from
a single dog. Dogs work in packs, and this will make you more
vulnerable. Instead, attempt to strike at each approaching dog’s
nose or eyes, or grab one of their limbs. If the dog pack senses
a more formidable adversary from the onset, the dog pack’s
instinct will often make them back off and retreat.
After the attack: You’ll need to determine whether an at-
tacking dog has rabies or a history of aggression. Call the po-
lice or the local animal control unit and try to find out who
owns the dog and its history of inoculations.
Seek medical attention for your wounds. Dog bites tear the
skin and often require stitches. A dog’s mouth — contrary to
popular myth — has a lot of bacteria that can cause serious ill-
ness if a wound is unattended. If you haven’t had a tetanus shot
in the past five years, you may require additional preventative
tetanus treatments.
America is home to some of the world’s most deadly land
predators… but that shouldn’t stop you from enjoying every-
thing this country’s incredible wilderness has to offer.
Keep in mind the tips provided in this guide and remember
— they want to avoid conflict just as much as you do. Travel in
groups. Make some noise. Stand tall and confident.
350
AIRLINE SURVIVAL GUIDE
When faced with the worst, It’s not just the gear you have that
matters. It’s your willpower.
In 1971, a 17-year-old girl and her mother were on a Christ-
mas Eve flight to visit family. Suddenly, a bolt of lightning
struck their plane, causing it to spiral out of control toward
the ground. When the plane crashed, it killed 91 people. The
sole survivor was the 17-year-old girl.
Alone deep in the jungles of Peru, this young woman re-
fused to give up, despite the fact that she had several broken
bones. Fortunately, her father had taught her several survival
skills, which she used during her 10-day ordeal in the jungle
until she was rescued.
“While gear is incredibly important, the No. 1 factor in sur-
vival is your will to tough it out no matter what.”
Thanks to these skills, she knew to pour gasoline on her
maggot-infested wounds to bring the maggots to the surface
so she could more easily remove them. She also knew to find
and follow a river, which led her to a remote village where
three men helped save her. Years later, her remarkable story
CHAPTER 6
was turned into a documentary called Wings of Hope.

A lot of people believe there’s no hope in surviving a crash,
but there are definitely things you can do to prepare ahead of
time to give yourself the best possible odds of surviving.
For instance, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA)
has discovered that the people most likely to survive a crash sit
within five rows of an emergency exit. A lot of people die from
fire and smoke inhalation after a crash since they can’t get to
an exit quick enough.
Luckily, most airlines allow us to book our flights on the in-
ternet and select our seats. When booking your flight, be sure
to select seats within five rows of an emergency exit.
The FAA also uncovered that most plane crashes occur during
the first three minutes of a flight and the last eight minutes of a
flight. This means you should keep your shoes on and the head-
phones off during takeoff and landing so you’re as prepared as
possible in the event something horrible does occur. But even
if you’re 100% alert and sitting in the exit row itself, you could
survive the crash and end up stranded in a remote wilderness.
If that happens, the gear you have could mean your sur-
vival. The last time I flew, I had in my pocket my cellphone,
Tactical Pen, paracord key chain with my keys on it, lock pick
set, credit cards, cash, bobby pins, hair barrettes, steel wool,
and a small tactical flashlight. In a crash, you’ve got to assume
the only gear you’ll be able to access is the gear on your body.
The batteries in the flashlight and in the cellphone can be
used to start a fire. Touch the two ends of the battery with a
gum wrapper or steel wool, which will ignite. You could also
light the cash in your pocket to get a fire gang. To help build a
shelter, you could use the paracord from the keychain or your
shoelaces to tie sticks together. The Tactical Pen — a self-de-
fense tool suitable for taking on planes — could be used for
self-defense if you came across some unfriendly critters while
attempting to make your way to safety.
352
Tactical Pen: http://bit.ly/2gH9dPI

And while gear is incredibly important, the No. 1 factor in
survival is your will to tough it out no matter what. When I was
with the agency, I saw guys who were a lot stronger than I fail
because they didn’t have the mental toughness to keep going.
You’ve got to dig deep and not give in no matter what. If the
resilient 17-year-old girl had given up on day nine, she hadn’t
kept going, she would never have been rescued on day 10.
The bottom line is to put the odds in your favor of surviving
a plane crash, choose the right seat on a plane, have some gear
on your body, and promise yourself that you’ll never give up.
353
HOW TO SURVIVE WHEN DISASTER
STRIKES ON THE WATER
Tens of thousands of boats go under every year — this number

includes at least four large ships every week. So before you
decide to cast off, there are several things you should do to
ensure your safety and increase your chances of surviving a
nautical emergency.
Before You Head Out

I truly believe that the key to survival is preparation! This
couldn’t be truer when it comes to boating activities. As al-
ways, situational awareness is key:
1. Inventory safety equipment. Are there enough life vests
and/or life preservers so that everyone on board will have
access to one? Are they in proper working order or have
they seen better days? Water (especially salt water) is very
tough on ALL equipment. You DON’T want to find out
the life vests are totally worthless when you most need
them. Additional items that should be on every boat are
fire extinguishers, flares or some kind of signaling device
and a VHF marine radio. And I always say IF it takes a

battery, it’s going to take a sh*t exactly when you need it,
so have backups.
2. Locate the emergency supplies. Are they under seats or
in compartments? Are they easily accessible? Are you on
a larger vessel that has lifeboats or rafts? Where are they
located? You should identify at least two locations for
these lifeboats, preferably in different parts of the ship to
give you options if you can’t get to one of them.
3. Know your exits/evacuation route. If you are on the in-
terior of a ship, be sure to plan your evacuation route.
Again, have at least two options, preferably in opposite
directions. Realize that one of the most dangerous and
common boating accidents is an engine fire. Since the
engines are located at the stern (rear) of the boat, avoid
going that direction when you evacuate.
It Happened: You Are Taking on Water or the Boat

Is on Fire
Time for a “threat assessment.” Immediately abandoning the
vessel you’re on isn’t necessarily the right answer:
1. Do you think you can keep the vessel afloat by plugging
the breach? Often, this will be enough to get you back
to shore/dock. This can be done with patch kits or you
can improvise using wetsuits, life jackets, etc. Your only
goal is to stop the leak or at least slow the flow of water
so you can remove it (manually or using bilge pumps)
faster than it is entering the vessel. This is key because
most shipwrecks (nearly 64%) take place within sight of
a dock or land.
2. If there is a fire, can you extinguish it rapidly? Remember
that boats have fuel on board and this situation can turn
very bad very quickly.
355
CHAPTER 6
3. If abandoning ship is the best option, remember that

you are now going to be dealing with issues like pos-
sible drowning, exposure (hypothermia or heat stroke),
dehydration and starvation on the open water. Not to
mention wildlife.
You’ve Decided to Get Off: Before Hitting the Water

Before you jump into the water, there are several things you
should do to improve your chances of survival:
1. Ensure you have properly donned your life jacket. ALL
straps should be buckled or tied.
2. Try to communicate to anyone you can reach with the
VHF marine radio about your situation. In U.S. waters,
channel 16 communicates directly with the Coast Guard
as well as other boats in the area to send out a MAYDAY.
Give the following information. Repeat it THREE TIMES:
• Who you are
• Where you are
• The condition of the vessel
• And what you plan to do.
3. Get any supplies that are buoyant and will not hinder
you in the water, including bottled water and signaling
devices — basically, anything that will aid your survival
efforts.
Abandon Ship
Once you decide to leave the ship, you should first attempt
to do so in a life raft or boat. Your priority is to get away from
the sinking vessel as quickly as possible. A large, sinking ship
creates powerful downward suction that has the ability to pull
you under if you are still nearby.
356
If you are going into the water and a life boat isn’t an option,
be sure to:
1. Put on several layers of clothing, which will provide
additional thermal protection.
2. Find a clear landing zone. If you can, enter upwind to
keep clear of smoke, fumes and fire.
3. Keep your feet and knees together, cross your arms over
your chest and tuck your chin.
And most importantly… never enter the water headfirst!
357
WHAT DO YOU DO WHEN A BOMB
EXPLODES?
It’s tough to wrap my head around it at times, but the fact is

we live in a time when — without hesitation — a terrorist will
detonate a bomb at a concert filled with children.
You can never take your safety for granted, and you need
to know how to react if, heaven forbid, you find yourself in a
situation like the one that just took place at the Ariana Grande
concert in Manchester, England, 2017.
So here are some quick tips if you ever see that day…
• Whenever you go to a big event, always identify two ex-
its upon arrival. This takes only about 30 seconds to do,
but very few people make the effort to do this. This way,
you have an alternative escape route if something hap-
pens that blocks one of your exits. For example, at the
Ariana Grande concert, the bomb went off near the arena
entrance, which meant you didn’t want to head in that
direction. Instead, you would quickly move to the second
exit you previously identified to get out of the area as
quickly as possible
• If an explosion goes off in your vicinity, quickly scan

the room. While the inevitable panic ensues, you need
to keep your wits about you and take a second to make
sure the exit you’re heading to is safe. You don’t want to
be rushing to a place where a guy with an AK-47 is wait-
ing to mow people down. I realize keeping your cool is
difficult to do when you’re scared and confused, but it’s
crucial that you can immediately assess whether you’re
heading in a safe direction
• Most of the time, it’s not a good idea to follow the crowd. If
the bomber has a secondary device, they’re going to place
it at the most likely exit people will be rushing toward.
So if you see everyone running in a certain direction, you
probably want to head the other way. Think about crowd
mentality — people will blindly follow the herd without
thinking. This is another reason why following the crowd
is often a bad idea. Most people have no idea why they are
going where they’re going, except for the fact that every-
body else is headed that way
• In the event you suffer a serious injury and are bleeding,
be sure to apply pressure to the wound and seek medical
attention as soon as possible once you’ve gotten to safety.
While these tips may seem simple, they can and have saved
lives. Whenever you’re out and about — at a shopping mall,
concert, marathon or night club — please be vigilant.
359
MAKING YOUR OWN BUG-OUT BAG
COULD SAVE YOUR LIFE
Your phone rings and startles you awake. You look over at the
clock… it’s 2:37 a.m.
When you pick up the phone, the caller confirms your iden-
tity with a predetermined challenge question and, upon hearing
your correct response, tells you to be on-site in 10 minutes.
You immediately roll out of bed and hurry over to your
closet to grab the bag that you always keep packed and ready
in case you receive this type of call. As soon as you’re dressed,
you rush out of the house and begin to drive to the airfield.
The entire way there, you try to keep your cool. There’s no
way of knowing if this is a training exercise or if you’re about
to head overseas because of a terrorist event. The only thing
you do know for sure is that the bag sitting in your back seat
has critical items to keep you alive for a few days in case this
turns out to be a real mission.
Upon your arrival, you quickly find out this is not a training
exercise — rather, a foreign country has taken hostile action
towards a U.S. target. You’re sent overseas, and as soon as you
touch down in the foreign country you get to work and are
able to eventually complete your mission and gather vital intel-

ligence for your country.
None of this success would have been possible if you
weren’t prepared with the right gear and were able to vacate
your house in 10 minutes or less.
This scenario is something that most members of the CIA,
NSA and DIA are familiar with. Even if the stakes in every-
day life aren’t quite as high, I’m a firm believer that everyone
should have a “bug-out bag” in their home that allows them to
vacate in no more than 10 minutes.
A Universal Lifesaver: The Bug-Out Bag

A bug-out bag is a bag full of gear that allows you to survive
for at least 72 hours during an emergency situation. Some
people call it a “72-hour kit” or an “escape bag” or a “get out
of dodge bag.”
It doesn’t matter what you call it as long as it contains the
proper gear to keep you alive.
After all, you might not be getting a call from headquarters
to be on site in 10 minutes, but you may hear of a fire or other
natural disaster barreling down on your home and you need
to get out fast. If you do find yourself in such a dire situation,
here are the items I recommend you keep in your bug-out bag.
Before we dive in, a note: Keep things as simple as possi-
ble. You don’t need 749 different items for your bag, and you
definitely don’t want your bag to weigh a ton, since you don’t
know if you’ll be carrying it on foot.
Ideally, you want your bag to weigh 25 pounds or less.
The 10 Necessities
Let’s take a look at the most important items to include in a
bug-out bag.
361
CHAPTER 6
1. Three days’ worth of clothing. This means shirts (include

one with long sleeves), socks, underwear, a pair of pants
and a jacket.
2. Clean water and a filter. The DATREX emergency water
pouches work well. You’ll want to put at least four of
those in your bag. As for the filter, consider the LifeStraw
or the Sawyer PointONE All-in-One filter.
3. Quick and easy food. I recommend adding one of the
Datrex 3,600 calorie emergency food bars. They’ll last
you for five years, and I can tell you from personal ex-
perience they actually don’t taste that bad. In addition to
the food bars, I would throw in at least two of the MET-
Rx Big 100 meal replacement bars, which will definitely
fill you up if you have to rely on them.
4. Emergency tube tent. Now we’re getting into the “surviv-
al” territory. If you can’t find a building in which to take
cover, you’ll need to provide your own shelter. Look for
a tent that doesn’t weigh much and won’t take up much
space in your bag. Coghlan’s makes a great tube tent that
comes in a pouch as small as a poncho. You can get it for
under $10 on Amazon.
5. High-quality poncho. When you’re in a dire situation,
you could use a poncho for shelter. Make sure it’s high
quality — don’t spend 99 cents on a plastic poncho that
will easily get holes torn in it. Instead, spend a few more
bucks (about $12) and get something along the lines of
the Frogg Toggs Ultra-Lite Poncho.
6. Fire starters. Get a Bic cigarette lighter from a gas station,
and also include some Swedish FireSteel. FireSteel was
originally developed for the Swedish military. It can pro-
duce a spark over 5,000 degrees Fahrenheit and can be
used in any type of weather at any altitude. If you have
362
the FireSteel along with the Bic lighter, you’ll be all set if
you need to build a fire to stay warm or cook some food.
7. An encrypted USB drive. This will allow you to safe-
ly store copies of your driver’s license, passport, bank
account and stock information. The USB drive I use is
the IronKey, but there are several companies that make
encrypted drives.
8. Extra cash. You’ll also want to have some cash sealed in a
Ziploc freezer bag. At a minimum, I’d have $100 in cash
in $20 bills but if you have $300 in $20 bills even better.
9. Tactical flashlight. Get a small tactical flashlight from a
quality brand such as SureFire or Fenix.
10. Quality fixed-blade knife. Unless you’re going some-
where where it’s illegal, you always want a good knife
with you and the one I use is the NOC Knife.
These are the necessities for a simple bug-out bag that in-
cludes what you need to survive.
You can certainly add more luxury items and get as creative
as you wish, but don’t get carried away — remember, “Ounces
equals pounds, and pounds equals pain.” Even if all you in-
clude are the contents above, you’ll be good to go in a crisis
situation should you have to vacate your home in minutes.
363
TOMAHAWKS: AN UNDERRATED SURVIVAL
TOOL EVERYONE SHOULD HAVE
I carry a lot of survival items with me, but one of the most im-
portant is often overlooked. It’s not food, water, a compass, or
even a gun.
It’s a small tool that I once used to free my family from a
snow bank after a vehicle crash. On another (and less serious)
occasion, I used it to chop through drywall in my new house,
allowing my wife to see a priceless fireplace that the previous
owner had covered up.
The trusty tool I’m talking about is a tomahawk. The reason
I love the tomahawk is because it’s so versatile. It can be used
for cutting up wood for kindling (starting a fire), self-defense,
and even hacking your way out of a vehicle.
Because of its variety of uses, Special Forces soldiers are
known to carry a tomahawk when they deploy overseas.
My three favorite tomahawks are the American LaGana Viet-
nam Tactical Tomahawk, the Browning Shock N’ Awe Tomahawk,
and the Micro Hawk. But for everyday use, I’d recommend the
Micro Hawk, which is the smallest of the three. I carry it in my
car at all times, and it’s so compact I can store it in my glove box.
American LaGana Vietnam Tactical Tomahawk:

http://amzn.to/2eFMumI
Browning Shock N’ Awe Tomahawk:
http://amzn.to/2eFEKRM
Micro Hawk: http://bit.ly/2eBbx6D
You see, different sized tomahawks have different applica-
tions. I like the Micro Hawk for everyday use because it weighs
less than 12 ounces and it’s only 7 inches long. The size and
weight make it an ideal tool for camping or hiking, but also for
self-defense purposes.
365
CHAPTER 7:
EMERGENCY MEDICINE : THE

BASICS OF FIELD MEDICINE
DOCTOR’S ORDERS: 10 MUST-HAVE
MEDICAL ITEMS FOR YOUR BUG-OUT BAG
By Dr. Omar Hamada | United States Special Operations Physician

72 hours.
In the event of a disaster, that’s how long emergency services
say you should be prepared to wait for help. It could be more,
it could be less. But if your bug-out bag has enough food and
water to last you 72 hours, you should be in good shape…
That is, of course, unless you or a loved one is injured.
When push comes to shove, you could probably go a day or
two without food or water. But if a falling sheet of metal punc-
tures your leg — and you’re bleeding out — you don’t have 72
hours for someone else to come to the rescue.
You need to act fast… and you need the right equipment to
do it.
I’ve seen too many bug-out bags where first aid is treated
as an afterthought. I’m talking about back-crippling 50-pound
bags, packed with everything but the kitchen sink… and a $5
first aid kit thrown on top.
As a husband and father of four children, I value prepared-
ness above all else. I’ve created a survival pack — fully equipped
with the necessary medical supplies — for each of my family
CHAPTER 7
members. I know the importance of being properly prepared

and can rest easy knowing that my loved ones are safe when a
disastrous event strikes.
Don’t get me wrong, I understand the need to save space in
your bug-out bag. But a Band-Aid and a cleansing wipe just ar-
en’t going to cut the mustard when there’s a broken limb, open
wound or the threat of serious infection.
That’s where the tools listed below come into play.
Proper first aid is an integral part of your bug-out bag. A
potentially lifesaving kit will take up minimal space and weigh
just a few pounds extra — packed right, you’ll barely notice it.
Below are my 10 Must-Have Medical Items for Your Bug-
out Bag and where to find them…
Trauma Kit
Use this trauma kit to quickly control bleed-
ing at the scene of the accident. Each kit
comes with bandage materials, bleeding
treatment supplies, duct tape, a triangular
bandage, wound care and instructions for
trauma and accident management. The pack-
age is durable and waterproof — perfect for
outdoor survival situations.
$20–40; http://amzn.to/2xLzIYn
Tourniquet
I recommend including a high-quality tourni-
quet you can apply with one hand. One of the
best and easiest to use is the SWAT-Tourniquet.
It can be used as a pressure dressing or all-pur-
pose wrap, but is primarily used as a tourniquet
to control heavy bleeding. And it’s easy to use:
368
EMERGENCY MEDICINE: THE BASICS OF FIELD MEDICINE
Simply stretch the tourniquet out, wrap it above the wound

and tuck it into itself.
$12–20; http://amzn.to/2w21bCZ
SAM Splint
The SAM Splint provides comfortable
support for any fractured or injured
limbs. It’s made from a thin core of
high-quality aluminum alloy posi-
tioned between two layers of closed-
cell foam. The product is versatile due
to its moldable nature, can be reused
and is 100% waterproof.
$12; http://amzn.to/2wDvf9W
Sunblock
Sawyer’s sunscreen lotion features a nongreasy
“breathable matrix” formula that penetrates
deep into your skin. This guarantees optimal all-
day sun protection from a single application —
perfect if you’re stuck on a roof in hot weather
or exposed to the elements. It’s waterproof and
sweat resistant, so it’s ideal for any excessive
physical activity.
$7–10; http://amzn.to/2w1NjsE
Insect Repellant
Ben’s Repellent Spray protects you from harmful insects such
as mosquitoes, ticks, fleas and even chiggers and midges. The
product’s formula provides lasting 10-hour tick protection and
369
CHAPTER 7
13 hours of mosquito protection. The spray is

unscented and a must-have for every camper,
hunter or backpacker.
$8; http://amzn.to/2vHF7lQ
Skin Glue
New-Skin is an antiseptic
liquid bandage for hard-to-cover cuts and
wounds. It dries rapidly to form a water-
proof protective cover. It keeps out dirt
and germs while sealing in moisture and
letting your skin breathe.
$7–23; http://amzn.to/2iZ3Hc0
Suture
The Oasis Skin Stapler drasti-
cally reduces surgery time in
an emergency. Its slim, light-
weight design handles like a
well-balanced, precision instrument, but it’s suitable for even
the tightest of budgets. Easy to use and constructed with
high-quality materials, the stapler comes preloaded with 35
sterile staples.
$15; http://bit.ly/2xLy5Ki
Bandages
The Lifeline 121-piece kit is a real first-
aid kit. Stocked with a comprehensive
assortment of 121 pieces, including
bandages, gauze pads, towelettes, adhe-
370
sive tape and cotton tip applicators. Everything is stored in a

hard-shell foam case with clear plastic pockets, making it easy
to find what you need in an emergency. The package comes
with a carabineer ready to be clipped on a backpack or belt.
$30; http://amzn.to/2wBlgnp
Betadine
Betadine Solution is an invaluable
tool for defending against topical in-
fections. Its active ingredient (10%
povidone-iodine contained) fights a
broad spectrum of pathogens. You
can count on it for effective protection against bacteria, viruses,
fungi, spores, yeasts, and protozoa.
$10; http://amzn.to/2gIp4xn
Survival Saw
Sumpri’s pocket chain saw is light-
weight, versatile, flexible and com-
pact. It can cut through a three-inch
branch in less than 10 seconds and is
perfect for quickly creating an impro-
vised splint or walking stick. It’s made
of strong, heat-treated steel and comes
with a compact belt loop pouch to store your chain saw.
$13–20; http://amzn.to/2gHha7B
Always remember, preparation is the No. 1 factor for sur-
vival in an emergency situation.
Bolster your bug-out bag with these 10 medical items and
you’ll have the tools to deal with life-threatening wounds and
injuries — quickly and easily — and get the time you need to
reach a fully equipped medical facility.
371
HOW TO STAY CLEAN AND HEALTHY
WHEN THE SHTF

In the course of my medical career, I’ve seen many people who
don’t take very good care of themselves because they feel fine
— until they don’t, and then it’s too late.
It’s the same thing in survival. So many people don’t prepare
for disaster while things are going well — they have running
water and electricity, stores are full of food and the pumps are
full of gas. Then suddenly there’s no water or electricity, store
shelves are empty and pumps are dry and people panic as they
realize that the infrastructures they once depended on so heav-
ily are gone.
Believe it or not, one of the most difficult things to manage
in times of disaster is hygiene — unless you are proactively
prepared. Luckily, this preparation is pretty simple and only
requires minimal supplies:
• A shovel
• Lime/ash
• Unscented bleach
• Bladders or jugs
• Soaps.
With regards to survival hygiene, I recommend focusing

on three primary things: waste disposal, water and personal
hygiene.
Easy as 1, 2, 3
If plumbing is down and you lose access to running water, it
is very important to go to the bathroom away from your living
space. Find a place about 50 yards from your living quarters
and far from your water supply. Bury excrement in a shallow
hole using your shovel and top it with lime and/or ash to con-
trol the smell and speed up decomposition.
To obtain water for drinking, washing and other personal
uses, it is best to find running water (like a stream or brook)
and use a quality water filter. If you cannot find running water,
use whatever body of water is available.
If there is a lot of sediment, let the water settle for an hour
or two before filtering to help preserve your filtration system.
Make sure your filter is capable of filtering out most bacteria,
parasites, protozoans, viruses and fungi.
Today, most filters you find at reputable outdoor stores are
sufficient. However, for extra protection, consider adding a
one-quarter teaspoon of bleach per gallon of water or boiling
it for 10 minutes. You could also add iodine, with the under-
standing that iodine makes water look and taste awful.
Finally, when it comes to personal hygiene, remember that
it is hard to smell yourself. If you are cohabitating with oth-
ers, be considerate and bathe or shower at least twice per week.
Remember though that hygiene is not only for the benefit of
others, but it also helps prevent disease and keeps you healthier.
One Sin to Avoid

One thing that has taken our world by storm that I’m not too
crazy about is hand sanitizer. Although it’s good to have some
373
CHAPTER 7
around, don’t go overboard with it.

Your immune system, just like your muscular and cardio-
vascular systems, needs to be worked out daily. If your hygiene
is over the top and you overuse hand sanitizer constantly, you
are practically killing your own defenses. It’s perfectly OK to
let your body exercise its ability to fight off infection by not
using hand sanitizer — except in certain instances.
As I’ve said before, the most important aspect of survival
is staying healthy. If you take care of your body by practicing
good hygiene, your body will take care of you.
374
SURVIVAL A TO ZZZZ

I’ll sleep when I’m dead!
That was how I used to respond when people questioned
how hard I worked.
Now we know that sleep is essential to living — and living
well. It is during the seventh and eighth hours of sleep that the
brain functions best to repair and rehabilitate.
Without enough sleep our immune system weakens, our
memory fails, our emotions become more fragile, our think-
ing gets muddled, our reaction time slows and our fine motor
skills suffer.
Recently, I was talking to Jason and Cade about this —
we’ve all got our stories.
On a protective detail while seriously sleep deprived, Jason
saw threats that weren’t there. He began to question whether or
not he should engage and shoot these hallucinations. He also
recalls once seeing a tripwire on the ground after hiking for
hours on end — but there was no wire.
During Hell Week, Cade remembers being so utterly ex-
hausted that he began to hallucinate visions of three 747s
CHAPTER 7
crashing into San Diego Bay while rowing around in his

250-pound Zodiac.
His six boat mates — who all had experienced their own
sleep-deprived hallucinations — laughed when Cade tripped
out and began screaming that they should row over and help
out the crashed aircraft.
As a doctor, I also experience sleep deprivation. However,
at 50 I can’t handle it as well as I did when I was 25. Back then,
it would take a couple of days of little or no sleep before I felt
“off.” Now, after one three-hour night, I’m sluggish, irritable,
slow and clumsy.
My point is this: The No. 1 thing you can do to improve
your odds of survival — whether on the interstate or off-road
in the wilderness — is to make sure that you get an adequate
amount of quality rest on a regular basis.
If you’re having trouble falling asleep or sleeping through
the night, talk to your doctor. Your life really does depend on it.
376
HOW TO BEAT THE HEAT AND
AVOID DEHYDRATION

The most important aspect of survival is... staying healthy.
Without your health — your ability to breathe, eat, move
freely and enjoy life — you aren’t living, you are merely existing.
And without your health in a survival situation, you will most
likely succumb to the situation you are trying to survive.
Believe it or not, the single most important part of main-
taining your health and surviving is staying hydrated.
Bodies of Water
Our bodies are 60% water. It’s in our cells, our blood vessels,
our bones, and it surrounds our brain and spinal cord. Water
is essential to life for the proper functioning of all our systems.
The problem is that it is VERY easy to become dehydrated,
because so few of us drink the amount of water we need. In
fact, most of us live in a continual state of mild dehydration
because of all the soda, tea and coffee we drink.
Without proper hydration we get headaches and walk
around fatigued, grumpy and irritable. It’s amazing what good
water does for you.
CHAPTER 7
In order to tip the balance in a positive direction, it’s a good

idea to drink approximately one ounce for every kilogram of
body weight every day. An easy way to estimate that is to take
half your weight in pounds and subtract 10%.
Let’s say you weigh 200 pounds. One half of that is 100.
Subtract 10% and you’ve got 90 kg. So ideally, you’d want to
drink about 90 ounces of water a day.
In a stressful survival environment, your hydration needs
will increase. A good rule of thumb here is to drink enough
water that your pee stays clear. The darker your urine is, the
harder your kidneys are working to concentrate urine so your
body holds onto precious fluids. And remember, by the time
you’re thirsty, you are already dry.
Do As I Say, Not As I Do
Here’s a slightly embarrassing personal story. You know, we’re
all “invincible,” right? We’re hard and we keep pushing through
any barriers or obstacles.
Well, when I was with 20th Special Forces Group, we were
doing a land navigation exercise at Redstone Arsenal, Alabama,
in July. It was HOT. And I was young and stupid.
The older guys told us to make sure we had water before we
started the exercise. But I figured I was smart and in shape and
would complete the course in no time since I had “superior”
land navigation skills.
I bet you can guess what happened. I got lost. I thought I
was dying of thirst. I didn’t know how to get back. I had no
water. I saw a dirty stream and actually thought for a second
about drinking a little water after filtering it through my shirt
(this is not a good idea).
Thankfully, I wasn’t as lost as I thought — I was just hot,
tired and dehydrated. Soon I was able to pick up my bearings
again and finally get back to base.
378
Lesson learned.
So remember: ALWAYS take water. ALWAYS have a good
water filter with you. And ALWAYS stay hydrated.
379
ENSURING YOU & YOUR FAMILY WOULD
SURVIVE AN 8-WEEK QUARANTINE
Dr. Ian Crozier walked into the room wearing a Tyvek suit,
mask, rubber boots, goggles, and multiple layers of gloves. He
was surrounded by people on death’s doorstep with blood and
vomit littering the floor. Each day, he’d try everything he could
to save his patients, but the mortality rate was incredibly high.
One day, the doctor began feeling sick himself. Tests showed
that he too had contracted the Ebola virus he had been fighting.
He was immediately flown from Sierra Leone to Emory Univer-
sity Hospital, in Atlanta, where his chances of survival were slim.
Incredibly, after spending 40 days in the hospital, Dr. Cro-
zier recovered, although long-lasting symptoms of the disease
plague him to this day. He’s one of the few people who’ve been
on the brink of death yet survived the virus outbreak that killed
an estimated 12,000 people and infected thousands more.
The fact is the majority of these deaths occurred in West
Africa. We are very fortunate to live in the United States, where
pandemics such as the bird flu or Ebola don’t usually affect us.
Our top-notch medical care and sanitation keep diseases from
quickly spreading.
However, pandemics have affected the world since the be-

ginning of time and all of us need to give some thought to how
we can protect our family if an outbreak does come to our
town. The best way to do this is to ask yourself the following
question: Will I be able to shelter in place for up to eight weeks
if a pandemic hits my area?
By “shelter in place,” I mean quite literally to survive in one
place, most likely your home. Believe me, I know the thought
of having to stay locked in your house for eight weeks isn’t
very appealing, but if your town is getting ravaged by a virus,
you’ll do whatever you need to in order to survive. And quar-
antining you and your family in your home will likely give you
the best chances of making it out alive.
Of course, you’ve got to have the correct supplies in your
house to survive for eight weeks. Let me share with you the
short and simple list I use for my own family.
First, you need enough food and water for two months.
Even if you’re not worried about a pandemic, I think it’s a good
idea to have several months of food and water on hand for any
type of crisis situation.
I get my food from the LDS Cannery because this food
comes in No. 10 cans and has a 25–30-year shelf life. There are
plenty of other places online where you can get long-term food
storage, so choose whatever suits you best.
LDS Cannery: http://bit.ly/2w2c2wE
As far as water, I use the 7-gallon Aqua-Tainers to store two
months of water in my basement. I know plenty of people who
use the 55-gallon water drums, but I prefer the 7-gallon con-
tainers because they’re easier to move around.
Aqua Tainers: http://amzn.to/2eYOF1s
In addition to food and water, you’ll want to get a box or
two of N95 respirator masks. Although you shouldn’t be leaving
381
CHAPTER 7
your house in the event of a pandemic, you may need to go into

your yard, and every time you leave your house, you definitely
want a mask on.
You’ll also want to get a box or two of Nitrile surgical gloves.
If you plan on touching anything that may have a chance of con-
taining the disease, you’ll obviously want your hands protected.
Don’t forget to stock up on antibacterial soap so that your
family can wash their hands several times a day. Also, have plen-
ty of bleach on hand so you can constantly sanitize surfaces.
Other items you should seriously consider having at home
include plastic sheeting, so you can create an isolation room in
your home if a family member becomes infected, and duct tape
to seal the plastic. Also get Tyvek suits for family members,
goggles, prescription medications, and lots of contractor-grade
trash bags for waste removal.
As I mentioned above, this is a simple list and is, obviously,
not all-inclusive. You can certainly add convenience items such
as board games or toys to keep people entertained. But if you
only have the list above, which isn’t terribly hard to assemble,
you’ll be leaps and bounds above everyone else if a deadly virus
does end up crippling the United States and the city you live in.
382
50 SURVIVAL USES OF
A MYLAR BLANKET

During my 14 years in the U.S. Army, I learned a thing or two
about staying alive when things go south — and the impor-
tance of having the right equipment in an emergency situation.
For 10 of those years, I served as a flight surgeon and diving
medical officer for the world’s most elite fighting force — the
U.S. Army Special Forces.
My men and I had access to the highest-quality equipment
on the planet: top-of-the-range night-vision goggles… bleed-
ing-edge weaponry… a vast web of communication channels…
But one of the most valuable tools in our arsenal was a low-
tech item carried by all my combat medics on every mission
— the Survival Blanket.
You might laugh, but this blanket is a versatile, lightweight
piece of equipment with dozens of uses in a combat or emer-
gency situation. In fact, most folks who own one of these don’t
realize even half of the potentially lifesaving applications it has.
Let’s say that you’re an operator on the ground in Afghan-
istan, spending days at a time roughing it in harsh mountain
territories. There are no Humvees… no mess tents… and no
CHAPTER 7
cot to lay your head at the end of a long, hard day. The hot mid-
day sun is a baking 90 degrees F on average. And overnight,
it’s not uncommon for temperatures to drop to below freezing.
I don’t need to tell you how dangerous exposure to these
extreme temperatures can be. But if you have a mylar survival
blanket you’ll be a step ahead of the game.
At night, by simply wrapping yourself in your blanket, you
can easily create what’s known as a “passive warming system.”
It may be thin and flexible, but it’s lined with a layer of vapor-
ized aluminum — making it an excellent thermal reflector. It
traps and returns 90% of your body heat, keeping you warm
for hours without batteries, fire or any other source of heat.
During the daytime, an inside-out blanket makes for ex-
cellent shelter. You won’t want to actually wrap yourself in the
blanket — because it will form an airtight seal and conserve
unnecessary heat — but rigged to a couple of branches with
some paracord or duct tape, it will reflect heat better than any
tarp or canvas.
But a mylar blanket does much more than just regulate
body heat. In fact, it’s not uncommon in an emergency situa-
tion to use two or three blankets at once — maybe creating a
waterproof shelter with the first, while lining your boots and
gloves with another for an extra layer of insulation.
That’s the beauty of these blankets. They are so light and
small, carrying six of them won’t increase the weight of your
rucksack by more than a pound. So why wouldn’t you always
carry at least one?
In my experience, the old saying “No plan survives contact
with the enemy” has proven to be true time and time again.
That’s why you need to equip yourself to deal with the unex-
pected. And when weight and space matters, you want to get
the most practical uses out of every piece of gear you can. And
I’m not just talking about military missions.
If you’ve ever taken a camping trip with the family only
384
for it to rain nonstop for the entire trip… got lost while hunt-
ing and found yourself in the woods after dark… or spent a
cold winter night at home without electricity… then you know
what I’m talking about.
In each of these situations and many more like them, your
Special Forces Survival Blanket can be used in dozens of ways
to make you more comfortable and safe, and to use in poten-
tially life saving ways.
Shelter
1. Use your blanket as a sleeping mat or ground sheet. It
will keep out the damp on those cold nights and prevent
loss of heat through a dirt floor.
2. Create a waterproof shelter. With some paracord or duct
tape, you can suspend the blanket between two branches
and shelter yourself from the rain.
3. Shade yourself from the sun. The reflective properties of
the blanket make it much cooler underneath its shade
than in the sun.
4. Use as insulation in a makeshift shelter. A structure of
sticks and branches lined with the blanket will have in-
creased protection against wind, water and sun.
5. Boost a light source. For extra light, position the blanket
behind candles or lanterns to reflect the light back into
a room. You’ll be surprised how much brighter you can
make it with this simple trick.
6. Make your own cord. By cutting your blanket into strips
and twisting them together, you can create a piece of cord
with a higher tensile strength than a single strip. You can
use this cord to lash together your shelter.
7. Hang the sheet behind your campfire. Its reflective sur-
face will reflect the excess heat back toward you and keep
you warm on even the coldest night.
385
CHAPTER 7
Communication
8. Signal for help. The blanket’s reflective properties make it
the ideal signaling device. It can be used as a giant signal
mirror. Or you could string it up — not too tight, not too
loose — so it flutters and shimmers in the wind.
9. Turn your blanket toward the sky and it becomes a res-
cue beacon alerting airborne aid to your location. Cut
the blanket in three and use the pieces to spell out SOS.
10. On the move? Cut the blanket up into strips, tie them
to branches and use the easily spotted, reflective pieces
as trail markers.
11. Leave a message. If you have a permanent marker, you
can tear off a small square of your blanket and leave a
message that won’t be washed away in the rain.
Medical
12. Make a sling. For a simple, durable sling, simply cut a
long, wide strip from the blanket. Gently loop it around
the broken arm and tie behind the neck.
13. Use it as a tourniquet. Cut the blanket into even strips
and twist to make a durable piece of cord. Tie it above
the wound, closer to the body than the joint.
14. Make a splint. In the event of a broken finger, use a strip
to tie the injured finger to a healthy one. Broken limbs
can instead be lashed to a sturdy, straight branch.
15. Make a compression bandage. A strip of the blanket
can help stop bleeding by tightly securing an absorbent
piece of cloth or fabric over the wound.
Food
16. Catch rain. Thanks to its waterproof qualities, the blan-
ket makes an excellent rain catcher. Dig a small hole in
386
the ground and place your blanket over it to collect rain

to replenish your water supply.
17. Catch fish. Cut off small pieces of the blanket to create a
shiny lure for catching fish. Small rocks can be wrapped
in pieces of the blanket and tied to a makeshift line to
weigh it down.
18. Cook food by creating a DIY solar oven. Using soil or
rocks, build a semicircular mound facing the sun and
drape the blanket over it, with part of the blanket lining
the ground in front. Place small pieces of food on the
blanket in front of the semicircle and leave until well
cooked. Slivers of meat rather than chunks will cook
more quickly and thoroughly.
19. Cook food over the embers of a fire. Thanks to your
blanket’s heat-resistant properties, you can use it as a
foil to cook food on, once the flames have died down.
Mylar melts at 254 degrees C (489 degrees F), so there
is no fire danger.
20. Use it to make a bear cache. Wrap your food in the blan-
ket, tie it off with a piece of rope or paracord and toss
the rope over a high branch. Hoist it up high, out of the
reach of bears and other critters, and tie it off.
21. Protect your survival garden. Keep your garden healthy
and productive by draping the blanket on top of it in
extreme conditions to combat heat or frost.
22. Keep the birds away from your veggie patch. Tie small
strips of your blanket to your bushes. The shimmering
reflections and constant movement will keep birds off
your vegetables and fruit bushes.
23. Use it for hunting. Tear the Survival Blanket into strips
and braid a net with the pieces. Use the net to trap rab-
bits, birds and fish.
24. Collect drinking water from snow. Place small amounts
of snow in a divot on the blanket. The sun reflecting off
387
CHAPTER 7
the surface will melt the snow, which can be collected

with a funnel for drinking water.
25. Boil water. Line a hole in the ground with the blanket
and fill with water. Heat rocks over a fire and drop care-
fully into the water. The heat will be transferred from
the rocks into the water and boil it.
26. Cut into 10-inch squares and then tie off the ends to
make small pouches to carry nuts, berries or other
small items.
Clothing
27. Keep your legs insulated and dry. Cut up the blanket
to make makeshift gaiters. Wrap the piece around your
legs and secure with duct tape.
28. Create a makeshift poncho. Cut a hole in the center of
the blanket, stick your head through and wear it to stay
dry.
29. Evade thermal imaging. Covering yourself with your
Survival Blanket will prevent thermal imaging devices
from picking up your heat signature.
30. Make waterproof shoe covers. If it’s raining and you
don’t have proper footwear, cut the blanket in half and
tie it around your shoes to prevent wet feet. Use duct
tape or a piece of cord made from strips of the blanket
to tie off the shoe covers.
31. Dry your damp clothes. After washing and drip-drying
your clothes, lay your Survival Blanket on the ground
and place your damp clothes on top. The blanket will
reflect the sun’s heat into your clothes and dry them
faster than a traditional clothesline.
32. Use as a windbreaker. If you have a broken jacket zip
or find yourself in the elements without a jacket, wrap-
ping the blanket around you will cut the chill and keep
388
the rain and wind out. The blanket is so thin it can even
be worn under your jacket for extra warmth.
33. Repair your clothes. Patch holes and tears in your gear
with small squares of the blanket.
34. Fight off frostbite. Cut off pieces of the blanket to line
boots and gloves. This can be a critical move in an ex-
treme low-temperature emergency situation. Your fingers
and toes are the most susceptible parts of the body to
frostbite. Hesitation could mean losing them entirely.
35. Keep your pants up. If you’re stuck in a survival sit-
uation for a prolonged length of time, you may find
yourself losing weight… and your pants falling down.
Make a belt by twisting some strips of the blanket to-
gether and looping it through your pants.
36. Keep your gear dry when you’re on the move. If your
pack isn’t waterproof, line the inside of it with the blan-
ket to keep your clothes and supplies dry.
37. M ake a DIY wilderness refrigerator. You can easily cob-
ble together a makeshift refrigerator by wrapping food
inside the blanket, tying it off and then placing it in a
cool stream or creek.
Comfort
38. Keep the sun off your neck. Affixing a strip of the blan-
ket to the back of a baseball cap or hat will keep the hot
midday sun off your neck and stave off sunstroke.
39. Build a windshield. Your Survival Blanket isn’t just wa-
terproof; it’s also wind resistant. String it up to use as a
shield to keep the wind off your shelter, keep a campfire
lit or give you the elbow room to do tasks that require
a steady hand.
40.
Wrap yourself up and stay warm. This is one of the
most common uses of the Survival Blanket, but its value
389
CHAPTER 7
shouldn’t be underestimated. Your Survival Blanket’s in-

credible heat-saving properties have saved countless lives.
Note: It’s important to remember that the blanket doesn’t
create heat, only conserves it, so the sooner you wrap up,
the more heat you’ll conserve.
41. Make a pillow. Stuff your blanket with soft items such
as clothing or leaves and ball it up to use it as a pillow.
Your neck will thank you in the morning.
42. Stay safe and warm while you sleep. Layering the blanket
in your sleeping bag will add an extra layer of warmth
and prepare you for those sharp temperature drops in
the middle of the night.
43. Keep the kids warm. If you have young kids in cold
temperatures, it’s a good idea to line their car seats with
the blanket to give them an added layer of protection
and warmth. Remember your car seat may be heated,
but theirs isn’t.
Miscellaneous
44. Make a flotation device. Your blanket is waterproof. If
you tie off the ends and fill the blanket with air (like a
parachute), you can create an improvised flotation de-
vice in a fix.
45. Make a backpack. Turn your blanket into a horseshoe
pack by rolling up your equipment inside it and tying
it off.
How-to: http://bit.ly/2x7aeHW
46. Make rope. The tensile strength of this blanket is sur-
prisingly strong. Cut it into strips and braid into a rope.
It’s a little slipperier than regular rope — so don’t go rap-
pelling down any cliffs with it — but is strong enough
to be a valuable tool in a survival situation.
47. Clean up. In a fix, you can cut a small piece of fabric
390
from your blanket and use it as a rag to clean up.

48. Drop anchor. You can turn your blanket into an anchor
simply by filling it with sand, snow or dirt and tying off
the end.
49. Protect your devices from an electromagnetic pulse
(EMP). In the event of an EMP, which would shut down
all electronics in its blast radius, devices stored in a bag
made from your Survival Blanket would be protected.
50. Use as dry storage. During a hurricane, snowstorm or
even rain shower, you can wrap up your supplies and
clothes in the blanket and keep them dry until the bad
weather passes.
These are 50 of the ways your Special Forces Survival Blan-
ket can come to the rescue in a survival situation. But this is
just the beginning. I’m hearing reports of new and incredible
uses every day.
Is it any wonder that the Green Berets carry this lifesaving
medical tool with them everywhere they go? It’s no exaggeration
that this device could save your life or the life of a loved one.
I recommend that every single American keep at least one
of these Survival Blankets in their house — preferably in their
bedside drawer for easy and rapid access.
Personally, I keep one in my bug-out bag and a spare in my
car. That way I’m prepared for emergency wherever it happens.
391
FOUR STEPS TO SURVIVING
A GLOBAL PANDEMIC

The Hong Kong flu. The Asian flu. The swine flu. The bird flu.
H5N1 influenza. Ebola.
These are scary, life-threatening diseases you hope you only
ever read about but never experience. Unfortunately, these are
all recent pandemics that have ravaged communities and killed
tens of millions of people.
Every year, doctors stress the importance of getting a flu
shot, but — for one reason or another — 50% of us don’t.
We think the shots will give us the flu (they can’t), or that
they don’t cover the right strains (sometimes that’s true) or
that they contain unsafe heavy metal additives (the single-dose
vials don’t).
Up to 20% of Americans will get the flu every year. Approx-
imately 200,000 of us are hospitalized with the flu annually,
and up to 50,000 people die from flu-related complications
every year.
People over the age of 65 account for 90% of these deaths.
An Ill Wind Is Blowing

The severity of viral illnesses goes in cycles. Over the past few
years, we’ve had relatively mild cases of the flu, and the num-
bers above reflect these milder variants.
Now, I don’t mean to scare you, but we’re due for a much
worse cycle — a worldwide pandemic that could circle the
globe in a matter of hours. Think of the movies Contagion,
Outbreak or I Am Legend.
How do prevent you and your family from becoming a sta-
tistic? I recommend following this four-step process:
Stay Healthy — To keep your body in optimum shape, fo-
cus on the easy-to-remember concept of the three-legged stool:
• Get enough sleep every night
• Eat a vegetable-based, Mediterranean-style diet
• And maintain an active lifestyle — one where you are get-
ting at least 150 minutes of vigorous exercise every week
(amounts to 30 minutes a day, five days per week).
Other things you can do to keep disease at bay are to make
sure the “big three” are running on all cylinders. This means
maintaining your immune system, limiting oxidative stress and
promoting anti-inflammation. If you take care of your body,
your body will take care of you.
Get Your Shot — Let me be clear: You can’t get the flu from
the flu shot. It’s impossible. The flu shot uses a “killed” virus.
If you come down with flu-like symptoms, that is simply your
immune system reacting to the vaccine as it builds the antibod-
ies that will protect you against the real thing.
Avoid Infectious Exposure — If you don’t want to get the
flu, NEVER touch your face unless you’ve just washed your
hands. You may also want to consider wearing a mask in public
places where you might encounter large numbers of possibly
infected people. If you have to fly, consider using a personal
space air purifier. Look for one that uses the same technology
393
CHAPTER 7
NASA used in the space shuttle program and currently uses on

the International Space Station — like this one from Vollara.
See Your Physician — Visit your doctor and get on an anti-
viral as soon as you notice any symptoms or have a known or
suspected exposure. If you think you may be getting sick or if
you have a known exposure, you have 48 hours to get on the
antiviral drug Tamiflu to reduce the severity of the disease. If
you move too slowly, this medicine won’t be able to change the
course of your infection, because the life cycle of the virus in
your body will have progressed too far for the drug to be effec-
tive. So the key is to act fast.
If you follow these four steps, your body will be much bet-
ter prepared to fend off the flu or bounce back quickly if you
do indeed contract the disease.
Here’s to your best health!
394
HOW TO AVOID TICKBORNE DISEASES

There are over 800 species of tick, and these nasty little blood-
suckers make excellent carriers of many dangerous diseases.
If a tick bites you, you may end up with Lyme disease,
Rocky Mountain spotted fever, ehrlichiosis, babesiosis, relaps-
ing fever, Q fever, tick paralysis, tularemia, Colorado tick fever
— even a red meat allergy! And that’s not all. There are many
other illnesses and viruses that can be transmitted to humans
and animals by ticks.
Here are some interesting tick statistics:
• Less than 2% of ticks actually carry disease
• Less than 50% of people who come down with a tick-
borne illness can recall being bitten
• And a tick must usually be attached for at least 24 hours
before transmitting infection. In summary, ticks are bad
players that you need to stay away from if at all possible.
This means:
•
Avoid wooded and brushy areas — especially April–
September. If you are hiking, stay on the trail
CHAPTER 7
• Wear long-sleeved shirts with long pants and tuck your

pant legs into your boots
• Treat your skin with repellant that is at least 20% DEET
• Treat your clothing with permethrin
• Conduct a full-body tick check before you turn in for the
night
• Lastly, wash your clothes in hot water and dry them in a
hot dryer.
If a tick has bitten you, don’t be overly concerned. If you’re
worried, consider prophylactic treatment with doxycycline. If
you develop a fever and a rash, seek immediate attention from
your physician.
396
THE VIABILITY OF VETERINARY
MEDICATIONS

You may have heard that one very effective way to procure
and stockpile prescription medicines for the rainy day is to
use veterinary medications meant for horses, cattle, dogs, cats
and fish.
Well, you heard right.
These meds are relatively cheap, readily available and easy
to find at your local co-op, Walmart or veterinarian.
What I’d like to do in this article is give you a down-and-
dirty guide to help you prepare for the possibility of being
unable to get your prescription and over-the-counter (OTC)
medications during a crisis.
Take Two and Call Me in the Morning

Before we get started, allow me to briefly discuss the differ-
ences between medications that are packaged for human use
versus those that are labeled, “For veterinary use only. Not for
human consumption.”
First, focus on the generic or common name of the drug —
not the trade or brand name. The various formulas of a given
CHAPTER 7
drug may differ a bit in the delivery systems, binders and addi-
tives, but the actual active drug is pretty much the same regard-
less of the formula or supplier.
The main differences you need to pay attention to between
drugs labeled for human use versus veterinary drugs are the
dosages and quality control standards to which the drugs are
produced.
Quality controls determine the purity of the active drug, the
actual amount of the active ingredient in each pill or capsule
versus what is stated on the packaging and the sterility or clean-
liness of the production process. Veterinary processes are quite
a bit looser than the processes used in production of drugs for
human use. That’s one reason for the price differential.
However, in general, there shouldn’t be that much of a
difference in topical medications (those placed on the skin),
drugs that are orally administered or those that are adminis-
tered in the form of a suppository. Where I’d be careful is with
injectable drugs or those you put in your eye.
So let’s divide this up into three sections — OTC medi-
cations, your daily prescription medications and prescription
medications to be used as needed. Make sure to store whatever
medications you want to stockpile in a cool, dry, dark place
in order to maximize the life of the medication. I recommend
replacing your stock within two years of the expiration date.
OTC meds are easy. Go to your local pharmacy or grocery
and buy supplies of
• 200 mg ibuprofen (Motrin, Advil, Nuprin)
• 500 mg acetaminophen (Tylenol)
• 25 mg diphenhydramine (Benadryl)
• 325 mg acetylsalicylic acid (aspirin, Bayer)
• 2 mg loperamide (Imodium)
• Bisacodyl (Dulcolax)
• Melatonin
398
• Steroid creams
• Yeast medications
• Whatever else you think you may need.
To procure an extra store of your regular prescription meds,
ask your physician for a prescription for your second home,
a stockpile or a long trip you wish to take. Most doctors are
fine providing this with the understanding that your insurance
company probably won’t pay for it.
If your doctor isn’t comfortable writing an extra prescrip-
tion, in the event of a crisis, consider cutting your dose in
half temporarily to double the time you’ll have at least some
medication available. (Even better, do your best to get healthy
and see if you can wean off any of your medications by losing
weight, exercising, improving your diet, etc.)
The other thing you might consider is purchasing and stock-
piling veterinary equivalents of the same medications you take.
Just know that not everything is available. For example, you
are going to have a hard time finding statins for animals, but
you should be able to get blood pressure medications, insulin,
seizure meds and select others without too much of a problem.
Finally, here are some prescription meds that are always
good to have on hand in the event of an emergency: Tamiflu,
antibiotics, antifungals, non-narcotic pain medications. Some-
times, as above, you can get your physician to write you pre-
scriptions for these without too much trouble.
If not, you can look for appropriate veterinary equivalents.
One example that seems to be all the rage is fish antibiotics
such as Fish Mox. Just remember, if you are allergic to the
human form of amoxicillin (which is a semi-synthetic form of
penicillin), you will be allergic to the fish form of amoxicillin
— it’s the same drug!
As we wrap up, I also suggest considering alternative, holis-
tic, naturopathic remedies — such as essential oils, herbs and
the like — for certain conditions.
399
CHAPTER 8:
SURVIVAL AND SPY

TRAINING : THE NEXT LEVEL
FOR EVERYDAY GEAR,
LEAVE THIS PIECE BEHIND
They look cool. But when it comes to survival gear, should a

bulletproof vest make the cut?
As I learned while I worked for the government, when it’s
100 degrees outside, the last thing you want to do is wear a
bulletproof vest. They’re heavy, and in the heat you feel like
you’re baking inside. But it’s a much better alternative to get-
ting shot.
In fact, I remember one instance when I had to draw my
gun and convince the fellow staring at the wrong end of my
barrel to do exactly as I said. Thankfully, he listened, but I
was still grateful to be wearing a vest that protected my vital
organs that day.
These days, I rarely wear a bulletproof vest unless I’m go-
ing to an extremely dangerous country.
In my regular day-to-day life, you won’t find me wearing
one. However, I often get questions from people asking if they
should buy a bulletproof vest to have on hand for home de-
fense or some type of end-of-the-world scenario.
Honestly, I’m not a huge fan of bulletproof vests for home
CHAPTER 8
defense. During a home invasion, things happen quickly. You

will rarely take the time to put on a vest. Instead, you should
be spending the precious seconds grabbing a gun and getting
your family into a safe area of the house.
However, I am a fan of having a bulletproof vest for bigger
crisis such as an economic collapse. In a crisis event, you may
have to go get milk or gas — if looters are doing crazy things,
you may not want to leave the house unless you’re protected.
If you do decide to get a bulletproof vest, I recommend a
Level IIIA. The National Institute of Justice (NIJ) rates the
different protection levels of vests, and Level IIIA means the
vest can stop up to .44 Magnum. In other words, it stops
pistol rounds but not rifle rounds. In the U.S., almost every
police officer is wearing a Level IIIA vest, and you can easily
buy them online from places such as BulletBlocker and Infi-
del Body Armor. If you do wish to get a vest that stops rifle
rounds, you’ll want a Level III, which you can also get from
the companies above.
402
7 TIPS TO ENSURE YOUR NEXT
INTERNATIONAL VACATION IS CAREFREE
The ground beneath me started to shake and I thought my

heart was going to burst from my chest. I started running like
my life was on the line — because it was.
I turned to look back and finally saw the 2,400-pound
beasts emerge from around the corner. I kicked it into high
gear as I felt them getting closer.
Suddenly, someone elbowed me and another person shoved
me and chaos ensued, as nobody wanted to get mowed down
by the animals.
I was able to fight my way out of their path, and ended up
pinned against a concrete wall as the bulls rushed past me.
It was an incredible adrenaline rush.
Running with the bulls in Pamplona, Spain, had been on
my bucket list for a long time. However, now that I’ve done
it, there’s not a chance in you-know-where that I’ll do it again.
In fact, the day after I ran with the bulls, a Frenchman was
gored to death — one of 15 people killed since 1910.
Because this is such a dangerous activity, I did a significant
amount of research before heading to Pamplona.
CHAPTER 8
I read almost every book and

article imaginable. I knew the
best places to begin the run and
the places to avoid. And I knew
exactly what to do if I tripped
and fell to the ground during the
run. (Lie flat on your stomach
and cover your head. Never at-
tempt to stand up, because that’s
when people get gored.)
In addition to all of the plan-
ning and research I did to ensure my wife didn’t end up a widow,
I also made sure I was properly prepared to travel internationally.
Even if you have no desire to fly to Spain to run with the
bulls, there are a few vital things you should do every time you
travel overseas.
Make sure you have a valid passport. According to the State
Department, only 36% of Americans do. My wife and I always
ensure our passports are up-to-date, just in case.
I certainly don’t plan to flee the country (and I hope my
wife doesn’t, either), but a passport is a good form of “insur-
ance” that everyone should have, even if you aren’t planning
on going overseas anytime soon.
Also, don’t forget to memorize your passport number. This
eliminates the need to pull out your passport when you are
required to fill out paperwork and reduces the chance of a
criminal seeing your American passport and targeting you.
Once the details of your trip start coming together, scan all of
your important documents onto an encrypted flash drive. (I use
the IronKey flash drive — http://amzn.to/2vHKTE3 for details.)
This includes copies of your driver’s license, passport, travel
insurance information, hotel and airline reservations, and emer-
gency phone numbers for family as well as the U.S. Embassy
wherever you are going.
404
SURVIVAL AND SPY TRAINING: THE NEXT LEVEL
Having these documents on file ensures that you will be

able to contact your loved ones and get home safely in the
event that you are robbed or a more serious emergency takes
place. Make sure to continually add documents to this flash
drive as you further plan your trip.
“I always spend the extra money to stay in a decent hotel
overseas to ensure that I’m in a safe environment.”
Be careful when it comes to choosing your hotel. Do plen-
ty of research, and don’t be cheap. Here in the U.S., you and
I can stay at a Motel 6 and it’s no big deal (if you don’t mind
bedbugs).
But if you stay in a dumpy hotel overseas, you could be
putting yourself in serious danger. I always spend the extra
money to stay in a decent hotel overseas to ensure that I’m in
a safe environment.
I’d also recommend using a website like hotels.com to read
reviews and see pictures of any hotel you’re considering.
Airbnb has become increasingly popular lately, but I’d per-
sonally advise against it. Remember, Airbnb is not a hotel, and
unlike checking into a Marriott, you’re never 100% sure what
you’re going to get. Your safety is far more important than to
take this type of risk, so avoid apartment-sharing companies
and spend a little extra money to book at a real hotel.
Check the State Department website (http://bit.ly/2gBEq30)
for any current travel warnings that may impact your trip. There,
you’ll see a box on the right side of the page that allows you to
enter the name of the country you are traveling to.
You’ll also find contact information for the U.S. Embassy
and Consulates in the country you’re visiting. Definitely write
this information down and add it to your encrypted flash drive.
Most of us do plenty of research on the places we want to
go when travelling to a new city or country. But it’s just as im-
portant to spend some time researching the places you should
avoid.
405
CHAPTER 8
You need to know if you shouldn’t leave your hotel at night,

or what sections of the city should be avoided after dark. One
good place to find such information is the “Stay Safe” section
of Wikitravel.org. Simply type in the place(s) you plan on vis-
iting and scroll down toward the bottom of the page.
Be particularly aware of pickpockets, which are a thousand
times worse overseas than they are here in the U.S. Never carry
money in your back pocket, and be sure to get a special travel
wallet.
I don’t recommend using a wallet that hangs around your
neck. Those are too obvious and thieves deal with them all
the time.
Instead, I recommend getting a travel wallet that wraps
around your ankle or your thigh. There are also options that
secure to your belt and hang down inside your pants. (Check
out the Shacke Pocket Vault, as an example.)
Shacke Pocket Vault: http://amzn.to/2xLJCJy
Also, don’t keep all of your eggs in one basket. I realize
some people may think it’s overkill, but I always carry two dif-
ferent travel wallets in two different places for an added secu-
rity measure.
Don’t carry a purse. In a lot of places in Europe, criminals
will cut the purse strap and be off and running with your purse
before you know it. These criminals often work in two-man
teams. One person will come to distract you — by offering to
sell you something or offering to help you read a map — and
the second man will come by and cut the purse strap or pick
your pocket. Instead, use a travel wallet like the ones I de-
scribed above.
Be careful when it comes to taxis. Never, ever take a “ghost”
taxi. What I mean by that is an unmarked car that’s not sitting
at the taxi stand. Often in foreign countries, drivers will offer
to help “save you money” and skip the taxi lines, but they can’t
406
necessarily be trusted. Stick to officially marked cabs, even if

they’re more expensive.
I’d also warn against using Uber. (Personally, I advise against
Uber even in the U.S. — just Google “Uber attacks” and you’ll
see why.) Instead, have the hotel you’re staying at call a taxi for
you or ask them to recommend a taxi company. When the taxi
comes, you should already have your route planned out so that
you can tell the taxi where to go. That way you’ll avoid being
ripped off by taking the long way in an unfamiliar city.
I know this checklist might sound intimidating, but it’s the
best way to ensure that a trip overseas goes well and that you
and your family remain safe.
Most of us live in safe and comfortable areas where we don’t
have to give much thought to our everyday travels. Going over-
seas requires proper planning, but doing so pays off.
If you follow this advice and have good situational aware-
ness, you shouldn’t have any issues at all.
407
THE ART OF SUCCESSFULLY BRIBING
THE POLICE IN A FOREIGN COUNTRY
I was in a foreign country, standing in front of two police offi-

cers with my hands on the back of my head, fingers interlaced.
And I was sweating.
I was traveling with someone who had just gotten us in a
jam. I was furious — I could have killed them for doing some-
thing so stupid — but I had to remain calm.
Then one of the officers grabbed me and told me he was
taking me down to the police station.
Needless to say, going to jail in a foreign country is pretty
much the last thing you want to do. But by following the exact
same advice I’m about to share with you, I was able to get out
of the jam and leave the area safely, even though my wallet was
left a little lighter.
Before I continue, I want to make it clear that I’m talking
about using bribery, but only in the direst circumstances. I
would never condone bribing the police here in the U.S. because
it would not end well for you — in fact, you’d likely go to jail.
However, if you’re in Mexico and you have to bribe the po-
lice in order to keep yourself out of a Mexican prison, then I’m
all for using a well-placed bribe in order to keep you safe.

The scenarios in which you may have to bribe the police
overseas can vary. Maybe you’re legitimately pulled over for a
moving violation. Or maybe some corrupt cops see that you’re
an American and simply want to hassle you. Whichever situa-
tion you find yourself in, here is…
The “Right” Way to Bribe the Police

Even though we’re talking about bribery, you would never, ever
say anything like, “Officer, what’s it going to cost me to get out
of this?” You would also never whip out a huge wad of cash
and start peeling back bills while looking at the officer.
While some officers are absolutely corrupt, they’ll still be
royally ticked off if you make it clear you are trying to bribe
them. Instead, what you want to do is play the dumb and apol-
ogetic American.
Be as nice as you can be, and apologize over and over for
your mistake. Then say the following key words:
“I am so sorry, and I’m sure there’s a fine I have to pay for
this. How do I go about paying it?”
This is exactly what I did in my situation. The police officer
told me there was a $50 fine and I could just take care of it with
him. So I handed the officer $50 and was able to go on my way.
Little did he know I would have paid a heck of a lot more than
that to get out of there.
The good news is even if the police officer won’t take any
cash from you, it won’t appear as if you’re trying to bribe him.
If you ask him if there’s a fine to pay and he says yes and tells
you that you have to go to the courthouse or somewhere else to
pay it, then at least you’ll know what you have to do.
Hopefully, you never find yourself overseas in a situation that
requires you to “pay a fine.” But if you do, you now know what to
say to get on your way and keep yourself out of any foreign jails.
409
FIVE TIPS FOR A SAFE
TRIP OVERSEAS
Imagine you’re on your dream vacation basking in sunshine

and admiring the view of a beautiful lakeside resort. Needing
to go back to your room, you grudgingly tear yourself away
from your spouse with the promise that you’ll be back in five
minutes.
Arriving at the door to your room, you insert the key card
and turn the handle. It doesn’t budge. You give it another go,
but it’s still locked. Confused, you try several more times, but
no luck. Then you head down to the front desk and explain
something is wrong with your door. The receptionist tells you
there’s nothing they can do to help you get back into your
room. They’re powerless.
Sound far-fetched?
Well, it’s exactly what happened to guests at the luxurious
Romantik Seehotel Jaegerwirt in Turrach, Austria.
Total Takeover
It all started when the hotel received an email one morning
demanding a ransom of $1,800 to be paid by the end of the day
or the amount would double. It turns out hackers had infected

the computer system that controls the electronic door locks
with ransomware.
Guests started to complain that their key cards weren’t
working and — with the hotel at full capacity — the manager
decided to pay up. The ransom was paid in Bitcoin, making
it virtually untraceable. The hacker made off with the money
scot-free.
According to the Justice Department, ransomware attacks
averaged 4,000 per day in 2016. This number will continue to
increase because the crime is so difficult to prevent. And since
enough people choose to pay the ransom, it’s worth the mini-
mal effort for hackers.
The criminals behind these attacks usually don’t ask for
large amounts of money. But they’re smart and they know that
a service business, like a luxury hotel, would be willing pay a
few thousand dollars to keep their guests happy.
While it doesn’t sound like the guests themselves at the
Seehotel Jaegerwirt were in any danger, it’s easy to see why
criminals target hotels for all sorts of nefarious activity. Tour-
ists stand out and frequently make easy targets for con artists.
Checking In?
Next time you plan a hotel stay, remember these specific safety
measures to help you avoid being a victim:
1. Research the hotel. I don’t mean you should check if the
hotel serves a complimentary breakfast or has a fitness center.
What I mean is if you were at home when disaster struck, you
would (hopefully) have a plan to defend yourself or flee if need-
ed. When you stay in a hotel, you should familiarize yourself
with the hotel and the surrounding area ahead of time in case
of an emergency.
411
CHAPTER 8
Always carry important contact numbers for family and

local law enforcement — and the U.S. Embassy if you are
traveling abroad. Also, never stay at a cheap motel, especially
overseas. In the U.S., a cheap hotel may get you bedbugs, but
overseas, it may get you kidnapped or killed.
2. Always get an extra key. When checking into a hotel, al-
ways request two keys — even if you’re by yourself. Criminals
will often hang out in hotel lobbies looking for easy victims to
attack or rob. If they overhear you say you only need one key,
they’ll know you’re alone. This is especially critical for women
who travel solo.
3. Stay between the third and sixth floors. Always book a
room on or above the third floor and on or below the sixth
floor. Most crooks target lower floors because they’re easier to
rob and make a quick escape. If a criminal has to run down
dozens of flights of stairs, their chances of getting caught in-
crease.
If you stay higher than the sixth floor, you might end up
stranded if there’s a fire. In the U.S., most firetruck ladders
don’t reach past the sixth floor.
4. Keep your plans to yourself. When checking in, don’t
talk about how you will be gone all day sightseeing or how
you are going to spend a fortune on a once-in-a-lifetime expe-
rience. The last thing you want to do is broadcast if your room
will be empty or if you have a lot of money.
Once, a buddy of mine went over to Russia to fly a MiG
fighter jet. He told everyone he met about his exciting excur-
sion. Later, he realized he was being followed by a couple of
unsavory Russian characters and had to hire two bodyguards
for the rest of his vacation.
5. Never trust a hotel safe. Don’t leave jewelry, passports,
money or any other valuables in the safe in your room. These
safes usually have combination locks, and you never know
who has access to the combination. In fact, most hotel safe
412
thefts are inside jobs, so keep your valuables with you or find a
better place in the room to hide them.
One trick you could use: Bring Gorilla Tape with you and
tape your valuables to the underside of the couch or night-
stand. You could also take off the cap of the curtain rod and
hide your valuables inside the hollow part of the rod.
Staying in a nice hotel should be a relaxing experience for
you and your family. By implementing these five safety tips,
you will be better protected wherever you may be staying — at
home or abroad.
413
TRAVEL ADVISORY: LEAVE THESE
ITEMS AT HOME
Finland’s version of the CIA — called Supo, short for Security

Police — recently advised its citizens not to take cellphones,
tablets, laptops and other devices when traveling overseas.
Frankly, I’m surprised more governments haven’t done the
same.
When I travel overseas, I never take my cellphone. Instead,
I buy a cheap flip phone and an international SIM card that
allows me to make calls all over the world. I never take my
laptop either. Instead, have a cheap notebook that I can use to
send and receive email.
The reason you don’t want to take your devices overseas is
because foreign governments love to steal Americans’ informa-
tion any chance they get.
The French government, for example, is notorious for
sneaking into Americans’ hotel rooms and copying all of the
information off their devices. The Russian and Chinese gov-
ernments, to nobody’s surprise, also do the same.
And you can’t trust hotel room safes because government
employees have the keys to those and can easily access them
when you’re not in the room.
So if you have any important information on your phone or

your computer — or even just personal information you’d like
to keep private — don’t take these items with you when you
travel.
415
HOW TO SELL LIKE A SPY
Whether you’re looking for a raise or need to convince your

spouse to let you buy a new TV, these four tactics can help
you out.
“Armando” sat across the restaurant table from his target.
Both men were dressed in fine Italian suits and were enjoying
a meal that would end up costing around $1,000 for just the
two of them.
But Armando didn’t mind the price. He’d been working the
target for months and knew the man had vital information that
would benefit the U.S. government. Armando had decided he’d
offer the target money in exchange for information. If things
went wrong, Armando could be exposed as a spy and could
end up in prison, facing torture and even death. But if things
went right, Armando would secure a highly prized foreign as-
set that could provide the U.S. with vital intelligence for years
to come.
As the meal wound down, it was time for Armando to make
his move. He looked the target directly in the eye and thanked
him for his friendship over the past several months. Armando
stated he’d like to learn more about the target’s profession and
that he’d like to give the target some money for his help. He
told him to spend the money on his beautiful mistress.
You see, Armando knew the target didn’t have much money
and had a mistress that required a lot of upkeep. As soon as Ar-
mando said these words, a smile came over the target’s face and
he reached over to accept an envelope containing $3,000 in
cash. From then on, the target continued to provide Armando
with very sensitive information about his country.
Armando would end up being one of the most successful
intelligence officers ever. He never got caught as a spy, and he
never had an asset turn him down.
So how did Armando obtain such a perfect track record? In
the intelligence business, it’s called the “art of elicitation.”
In the workaday world, it’s simply referred to as sales.
Four Tricks to Getting What You Want

When you are a spy trying to get an asset to give you infor-
mation, what you’re really doing is trying to sell them on the
benefits of working with you.
All of us sell, in one way or the other, every day of our lives.
Even if it’s not in your job, you are “selling” every time you try
to convince someone of something.
So here are a few tips and tricks that spies use to make the
ultimate sale:
• Spies do deep research to find a target’s vulnerability. They
spend months researching and getting to know the person
before making any type of pitch to them. A really good spy
will know the target better than the target knows himself.
It’s important to know what angle will make the target
bend to what you want. When selling something, make
sure you know exactly where your target’s weakness lies
• Spies know how to control their emotions. You have to
417
CHAPTER 8
be able to look a terrorist in the eye, agree with him and

smile. That could be because you know that he’s low on
the food chain and you’re really trying to get to his leader.
You’ve got to pretend to be his friend in order to get to
the person you’re really going after. The same applies in
everyday life. Don’t let your emotions or your opinion of
someone get in the way of what you want. If they can get
you there, work with them
• Never forget the words “Give to get.” There’s a reason Ar-
mando was taking the target to a $1,000 meal that night, and
had taken the target to several meals before that. Armando
wanted the target indebted to him. In the end, the target felt
as though he owed him something because Armando had
been so generous in paying for all of their outings. Don’t
be afraid to go out of your way to help someone out if you
think they could help you down the line
• Always develop a reason to meet again. When trying to
recruit someone, you certainly don’t pitch them on the
first outing, just like you don’t ask someone to marry you
on the first date. To build a solid relationship, you always
need to plan ahead and find an excuse to get together
again. If you’ve done your research and know their hob-
bies, play to those — ask, “How’d you like to go fishing
next Saturday?” If someone views you as a friend, they’re
more likely to help you.
In the spy world, these tactics are used in manipulative
ways for the benefit of our country.
In our world, I hope you’re not manipulating anyone but
instead using these tactics for good. For instance, you can do
deep research on someone to truly get to know them and un-
derstand them better. You can give things to a person to do
something nice for them without seeking something in return.
If more of us spent the time to do this, I imagine we’d be
happier and have more successful lives.
418
YOUR CRASH COURSE IN AIR
TRAVEL SURVIVAL
Although air travel is widely considered the safest way to trav-

el (based on miles traveled), it is estimated that 30% of those
who have died in airplane accidents did so because they failed
to respond better.
What has killed more SEALs than anything else (by a wide
margin) are helicopters — I often thought it was the most dan-
gerous part of the job.
Think about it: A team of men in full gear… crammed into
a small space… flying around in a machine that has a ton of
moving parts… only to slow down like the giant target it is
when it’s most vulnerable (during takeoff and landing).
Unfortunately, helicopters are a necessity of war. Just like
commercial airliners are a necessity of travel.
Here is a checklist you can use before boarding your next
flight that may save your life:
Pre-Flight
• What to wear: Wear long pants, a long-sleeve T-shirt and
sturdy, comfortable, lace-up shoes
CHAPTER 8
• High heels will slow you down, and they are not allowed
on the evacuation slides
• You can cut your feet on glass or get flammable liquids
on or in your shoes if you wear sandals or flip-flops — so
don’t.
Where to Sit
• Most often, the initial impact of a plane crash is surviv-
able. The key to staying alive is how quickly you can get
out
• When you book your flight, get seats as close as possible
to an exit
• Passengers in the tail of the aircraft have 40% higher sur-
vival rates than those in the first few rows.
On the Plane
• Make a mental note of every exit as you pass it
• Once you get to your seat, immediately identify the two
closest exits. Study the door and make sure you know
how to open it
• Make your evacuation plan, visualize it — even rehearse it
if you feel the need. DO NOT open the exit doors during
this rehearsal.
Be Ready
• Whenever the plane is below 10,000 feet (normally during
the first five and last 10 minutes of the flight) you should
be in “full alert” mode
• Press pause on the movie you’re watching, take out your
earbuds and pay attention. You need to be prepared to
respond quickly to any emergency condition.
420
Impact — Brace Yourself

• If you know the plane is going to crash, brace yourself.
The sudden deceleration will cause you to be thrown for-
ward. If you’re already in contact with whatever it is you’ll
hit, the possibility for injury is greatly reduced
• The secondary brace function is to stop your limbs and
head from flailing about, hitting things during the violent
motion of the crash. This is why you wrap your head in
your arms and tightly clasp your hands together
• If there is not a seat in front of you — or it is not within
reach — lean forward, place your chest on your thighs
and put your head between your knees. Grab each ankle
with the opposite hand, or place your hands behind your
head to protect the back of your neck
• Your feet should be flat on the floor and farther back than
your knees to avoid sustaining any injuries. You’ll need
your feet to be intact to aid in your swift evacuation.
Post-Impact — GET OUT

Congratulations, you survived the impact! But it ain’t over ‘til
it’s over…
Fire — and more commonly smoke and noxious fumes —
is responsible for a large percentage of crash fatalities. This is
why you need to be ready to spring into action. It’s time to en-
act your evacuation plan:
• Exit the airplane as quickly and calmly as possible. If
there is fire or smoke, you will have no more than two
minutes to save your life
• The closest exit may not be the best — it could be blocked
with debris or there might be a fire waiting outside. If this
is the case, move to the second exit you identified earlier
• DO NOT TRY TO GET ANYTHING YOU BROUGHT
421
CHAPTER 8
WITH YOU! Always life before property

• Secondary explosions are likely so once you are outside,
move swiftly away from the plane. You want to gain the
greatest possible distance from the crash site, preferably
500 feet upwind, and wait there.
It’s important to remember these critical safety tips the next
time you book a trip. I want you to reach your final destination
as a survivor, not a statistic.
422
THREE TRAITS TO LOOK FOR IN
A PERSONAL PROTECTION AGENT
by JAVELIN | Ex-CIA Operative

Recently, I went on a two-week trip with a group of seven in-
dividuals. Unfortunately, this was not a vacation for me. I was
hired as a bodyguard to protect this group during their travel.
This was no ordinary protection gig. Five out of the seven
members of the group were teenagers. To make matters even
more challenging, three of the teens were female, which makes
for an obvious target when traveling in Europe.
The reality is this job would typically require three body-
guards — but that wasn’t an option in this case.
A One Man Show

During our European excursion, the group visited some of the
finest restaurants and shopping establishments I’ve ever seen.
The teenagers wanted to have an enjoyable vacation with lots
of shopping and sightseeing. They never wanted to stay in one
place for very long (which is why it would have been ideal to
have two more protection agents working with me).
Since I was alone, I made sure always to remain behind the
group, following at a safe distance — not too far, but just far
CHAPTER 8
enough — so that I could keep my eyes on everyone. I was also

constantly scanning our entire surroundings for anything out
of the ordinary that would indicate a threat.
While shopping one day, a man approached the group as we
were walking and tried to grab one of the teenage girls. I had
seen him coming and before he was able to lay a finger on her,
I grabbed his wrist and twisted it downward while shoving him
against a wall.
His eyes widened and he immediately said, “Oh, sorry, sor-
ry...” as he backed away and hurried off. I returned to the group
and we continued down the street.
Take the High Road

I’m sharing this experience to point out that this is the type of
situation where some bodyguards would have beat the guy up
or caused a scene resulting in the arrival of police.
Don’t get me wrong — of course I wanted to kick the crap
out of this guy. But when it comes to providing personal secu-
rity, you can’t just go around throwing punches. This was one
of those times when I determined the best course of action was
to resolve the threat quickly and quietly and move on with my
group.
After all, the touchy-feely guy could have been a diversion
— criminals abroad often work in pairs. As a one-man opera-
tion, I needed to neutralize the first threat as fast as possible so
I could make sure there wasn’t another threat ahead.
But thankfully, the rest of the trip was rather calm, and I
made sure everyone returned home from their European jaunt
safely.
The Right Person for the Job

Now, I realize most of you won’t be hiring a personal protection
agent anytime soon, but you never know. And if you ever find
424
yourself in need of some muscle, you should know there are

certain character traits that make an effective bodyguard.
Here are three things I recommend you look for in the per-
son you’re trusting to keep you and your loved ones safe:
Street sense — Bodyguards must know how to blend in and
handle themselves tactfully in any environment, as well as be
smart with their actions. Like in the story above, you want
someone who can see, hear and feel the danger before it hap-
pens. They should also have the ability to defuse the situation
with a variety of tactics.
Government training — A bodyguard always needs to be
a step ahead of the criminals. This is why, ideally, you should
look for a bodyguard who was trained by the government and
has worked in the field. In other words, you want someone
with training in skills such as counter surveillance and rapid
threat assessment — even someone who has been trained to
handle kidnappings. Obviously, I am biased, but I believe for-
mer CIA officers make the best protective agents.
Combat skills — Since there are a lot of places where you
can’t carry a gun, you need security who is trained in multiple
forms of self-defense. For example, I couldn’t carry a gun while
in Europe; however, I always had a knife on me (sometimes
two knives, depending on where we were going). And I’m very
skilled in the martial arts.
Even if you never have the need to hire a bodyguard, I rec-
ommend strengthening some of these attributes in yourself.
You probably can’t join the CIA, but you can work on your
street sense and learn a few combat skills so you’re better able
to protect yourself and your family.
425
HOW TO SURVIVE A RIOT
What should you do if a riot erupts in your town? How do you

protect yourself if you suddenly find yourself surrounded by
angry rioters?
Here’s how to make sure you make it back to your home
safe and alive:
1. Always carry some type of weapon on you. Most rioters
are cowards. So if they approach your car and start rock-
ing it or try to drag you out, you’ll want to be armed and
prepared to preserve your life.
y weapon of choice is a gun. Rioters attempting to car-
M
jack you will likely have a change of heart when they
find themselves staring down the barrel of a gun.
I t’s important to note you should draw your gun only if
you are in fear for your life. But if 50 people were sur-
rounding your car trying to drag you out, I’m pretty sure
you would be.
2. Pretend to agree with the enemy. I think it’s fair to say
that rioters are punks. But it might save your life to pre-
tend that you support their cause. Because the worst

thing you can do is start mouthing off to a large crowd of
rioters when you’re outnumbered 100-to-1.
I n the intelligence business, sometimes you have to work
with the enemy to get to the boss who’s higher up the
chain of command. I remember one time a buddy of
mine working with a terrorist told me, “I would smile
and agree with him, but I really wanted to put a bullet in
his head.
3. Don’t end up by yourself until it’s safe. When mob men-
tality takes over, the crowd tends to attack anyone who is
alone. Why? Because — similar to what I discuss above
— the pack assumes that a person who is by themselves
is against them, or otherwise they’d be rioting too. So
don’t immediately separate from the group… unless
you’re sure you can get to safety without being cornered.
4. Keep a 72-hour kit in your trunk. Riots are unpredict-
able. You never know if you’ll have to leave your car or
vacate your home and flee to a remote area. This is why
I recommend that everyone have a simple 72-hour kit
stored in their trunk. If you ever have to escape with-
out warning, you’ll have three days of food and water on
which to live.
5. Don’t show your wealth. I’m a big believer in living below
your means and not flaunting your wealth by showing
off material possessions. I myself live in a modest house
and drive a 2009 truck with 170,000 miles.
oncealing your affluence is especially important if you
C
ever find yourself in the middle of a social breakdown.
People driving Ferraris or wearing Rolexes or showing
any opulent sign of wealth will have huge targets on
their back.
427
CHAPTER 8
6. Always have a paper map in your car. You and I both

know we live in a world where most people are com-
pletely dependent on technology. But wireless systems,
including navigation, can easily go down, leaving you
stranded in a bad situation. You should always keep a
physical map in your car as a backup. It could come in
handy if you are looking for an alternate route to escape
a riot and get home safely.
Remember, every instance of rioting is different. In some
cases, it might be appropriate to draw your gun to defend your-
self. In others, you may need to pretend to join the masses for
a bit, until you can safely get out of Dodge. And sometimes it
makes most sense to run like wind.
In any case, if you take a few of these simple precautions
and keep a level head, you will be better prepared than most
to stay out of harm’s way in this violently unpredictable — and
increasingly common — situation.
428
FOUR REAL-LIFE NINJA SKILLS
YOU CAN USE TODAY
By Jeff Anderson
A lot of people dismiss the ninja as some fantasy warrior BS
that’s only for Hollywood.
Big mistake.
The ninja were not a myth — they really did exist, and still
exist today.
In fact, I’ve known a few real ninjas in my life and trust me,
there’s a LOT more to their skills than just sinking a throwing
star into someone’s forehead from 100 yards away (which is a
myth by the way).
They’re skilled at everything from surviving in the wild
(alone)… to hand-to-hand combat… bladed weapons… even
psychological warfare!
You see, “Nin-Ja” actually means “enduring person”, or
“one who endures” — in other words, a ninja is an elite sur-
vivalist of the highest order, one that could teach the rest of us
a thing or two.
Here are four real-life ninja skills you can use today:
CHAPTER 8
Become Invisible
The ninja didn’t walk down the middle of the street dressed in
a mask and full black bodysuit (actually, they didn’t wear black
to begin with, but more on that in a minute).
Instead, they would study the dress, walk, mannerisms and
even talk of the people they were hiding among — the “grey
man” if you will — and you’d never even know they were right
next to you because true camouflage is really about blending
into your environment, right?
So how are YOU blending in these days?
Do you blend into your surroundings (even urban)?
Or do you wear “tactical” clothing… gun-focused t-shirts…
an NRA or “Infidel” hat… a “We Don’t Dial 911” sign on your
front door… or have a firearms-related bumper sticker on your
truck?
If so, you’re telegraphing to others your level of prepared-
ness… and should re-think how you project yourself.
Better to be a silent warrior. (Speaking of…)
Walk Silently
The ninja were masters at moving without their enemies even
knowing their presence.
They understood how the human body interacts with its
environment to create sound that could give away (or hide)
their presence.
Likewise — even in your own home — if you were to get
out of bed to investigate a bump in the night, do you know
how to tread so lightly that you won’t be heard if there’s actual-
ly someone in your house?
First, it helps for you to test this out in the middle of the night
(when everything is quiet) and walk through your home, taking
note of any creaks and bonks you may not have noticed before.
Plus, the ninja used a “stealth walk” where they put their
430
weight on the outer edges of their feet to muffle the sound.

Practice this step in gravel or sand to really get it down…
and then in your own home at night.
Blend into the Night

Not only were the ninja able to blend into the local population
in broad daylight, but at night, they were masters of being a
true shadow warrior and as invisible as the darkness itself.
Hollywood dressed them in black, but in reality, the color
black tends to stand out more in darkness.
Instead, dark blue clothing becomes virtually unable to
view at night because of the way the eyes pick up specific col-
ors — blue being the hardest.
Personally, I carry a super lightweight dark blue windbreak-
er in my EDC “bag of tricks” (it literally zips inside of itself to
only six inches and weighs nothing).
Whether I want to travel unnoticed at night or if I felt I was
being tailed, I can quickly pull out my windbreaker… throw it
on… and instantly I’ve not only changed my disguise, but also
made myself invisible in darker shadows.
Train in Secrecy
Because so much of the existence of the ninja’s skills depended
on no one noticing their presence or intentions, they would
train in complete secrecy.
Likewise, I personally like to train very realistic and have a
private range I go to for my firearms training where I can pretty
much do anything I want — without anyone looking at me with
my shotgun or AR-15 and thinking I’m some kind of nut job.
Same goes for all my other training — I like to keep my
skills unknown to others around me.
Frankly, this mystery tends to make my friends think I’m
way more “badass” than I probably am…
…and I like it that way!
431
AVOID FALLING FOR THIS DEADLY
PRANK CALL
I will slit your throat from ear to ear if you do not listen to every
word I say.
Do exactly what I tell you. Do not hang up the phone. Do
not go to the window.
I know where you are, and if you do not cooperate, I will
kill you.
This may sound like the beginning of a movie starring Col-
in Farrell, but it’s exactly what happened to a Utah man named
Bob M.
Bob was recently in Chihuahua, Mexico, on a business trip
when the phone in his hotel room rang. When he answered,
the person on the other end said they had a gun. They said
they knew what hotel room Bob was in and threatened to shoot
him if he tried to run away. The criminal told Bob they would
torture, dismember and kill him unless he listened to every
word they said. Then they began making demands.
For the next 18 hours, Bob spoke with the criminal and fol-
lowed their instructions to the letter. At one point, they ordered
him to leave his room and go purchase a disposable cellphone
from a nearby store. While he was going to the store, Bob no-
ticed a man sitting in the park across from the hotel that he
believed was one of his captors.
Eventually, Bob was freed by Mexican police and was able
to drive to El Paso, Texas, where he flew home. When he was
interviewed, Bob was quoted as saying, “The whole thing could
have been a movie.”
A Very Real Threat

What Bob endured is becoming more common throughout
the world — especially in Mexico — and it’s called virtual
kidnapping.
Here’s how it works: Criminals attempt to extort a ransom
from you without actually taking a hostage or even seeing you
face to face. In Bob’s situation, he never saw his kidnapper,
even though he was on the phone with them for around 18
hours. But they had clearly done surveillance on Bob and knew
enough information for Bob to be concerned and take their
threats seriously.
In September, a woman in Farmersville, Texas, sadly fell
victim to a virtual kidnapping and actually paid the ransom.
Sally Council received a phone call from a man she didn’t
know, who claimed to have kidnapped her daughter. Sally heard
screaming in the background and what she believed was her
daughter’s voice yelling, “Mom! Please! I’ve been kidnapped,
and they’re going to kill me!”
The man on the phone told Sally that unless she did exact-
ly what he told her, they would kill her daughter. While she
stayed on the phone with the kidnappers, Sally drove to an
ATM and withdrew an undisclosed amount of cash. Then she
drove to a Western Union and wired the money to a Mexican
address.
After Sally paid the ransom, she was told to wait in the
433
CHAPTER 8
parking lot of a Daylight Doughnuts until her daughter ar-

rived. While she was waiting in the parking lot, Sally called
her daughter’s cellphone and realized the kidnapping was fake.
Thankfully, her daughter was safe.
A week later, a husband and wife from Torrance, California,
wired $3,000 to a Mexican number after receiving a phone call
from a man who asked, “Did you kiss your daughter today?”
This man claimed he was part of the Mexican mafia and or-
dered the Torrance man and wife to do exactly as instructed or
they would never see their daughter again. Meanwhile, their
daughter was in class at the local college — perfectly safe and
oblivious to her parents’ panic.
In early October, Wendy Mueller of Leesburg, Virginia,
received a similar phone call from a Mexican number. These
criminals claimed they had abducted Wendy’s daughter and
demanded ransom. They scammed her out of $10,000 before
Wendy received a text from her daughter and realized that she
was safe all along.
Setting Up the Con

Each of these instances shows a common method of executing
a virtual kidnapping scam: calling someone and claiming to
have kidnapped a loved one. The victim is instructed to make
a ransom payment immediately by wire transfer. Often, the
criminals will use threats to keep you on the phone with them
until the payment has been made so you don’t contact the per-
son who was supposedly kidnapped and expose the scam.
The caller might also tell you they are a member of a drug
cartel — or even a police officer — to scare you out of contact-
ing local authorities. The callers try to instill fear and panic in
you, which they hope will lead you to make a hasty decision
and pay the ransom without question.
Clearly, criminals who attempt these types of kidnappings
434
are intelligent enough to research their victims — even use

surveillance. In Bob’s case, we know they had someone watch-
ing the hotel from the park. Who knows why they picked Bob
to extort (fancy clothes, fancy car, fancy watch?), but I’m sure
it had something to do with being an American businessman
in Mexico.
In the case of Sally Council, she believes the criminals knew
about her and her daughter because she had been recently in-
volved in a car accident and shared personal details with the
other driver. All these thieves need is a little bit of information
— and they can turn it on you in a hurry.
In fact, many criminals learn about their victims through
social media, where it’s easy to gain enough intelligence that
people will believe what they say. Be careful of sharing infor-
mation about your loved ones on social media — that informa-
tion could be used against you in a virtual kidnapping.
Separating Fact From Fiction

If you ever receive a phone call like the one Bob (or Sally or
Wendy or the Torrance family) received, here are a few things
to keep in mind.
First, is the call coming from a strange area code? Accord-
ing to the FBI, many of these phone calls come from numbers
in Mexico, Puerto Rico and foreign countries.
Second, does the caller insist on keeping you on the line?
If so, try to find another phone and call the loved one whom
they claimed to have kidnapped. The best thing to do is try to
verify that your loved one is safe while keeping the kidnappers
happy.
Third, and one of the most important things you should do,
is tell the kidnapper you want to speak to your loved one. De-
mand proof of life or you will not pay the ransom. I know this
sounds like something straight out of a Hollywood movie, but
435
CHAPTER 8
if your loved one were actually kidnapped, wouldn’t you want

to know they were still alive before paying a ransom?
If the criminals allow you to speak to the kidnappee, ask
them questions only your loved one would know. For exam-
ple, you could ask the name of the last movie you saw together,
or what present you gave them last Christmas. Try to ask as
many questions as possible to verify you’re actually speaking
to your loved one. Don’t ask anything a third party could easily
find out from social media or a quick Google search.
Unfortunately, criminals are always coming up with new
scams and new ways to steal from us.
They know that using the people close to us is an easy way
to fool us into making an emotional decision. If you ever find
yourself in a virtual kidnapping, stay calm, pay close attention
to the voice on the phone and take the steps discussed above
to verify if it’s an actual kidnapping or just a scam.
436
SIX TIPS FOR STAYING SAFE DURING
THE HOLIDAY SEASON
1. Keep a 72-hour kit in your trunk. Many people travel long

distances by car for the holidays, so make sure you have at
least one 72-hour kit in your trunk. If you get stuck in the
snow or the mountains, you’ll want a minimum of three days
of food and water to give you time to stay alive while you’re
waiting to be rescued.
2. Install a VPN client on your portable device. If you’re
on an airplane or in a hotel, don’t get on public Wi-Fi without
using a virtual private network (VPN). A VPN encrypts your
information so you can surf the internet without the fear of
being hacked. Check out TunnelBear, which is the VPN I use.
3. Avoid overcrowded places. In other words, don’t inten-
tionally put yourself in a potentially dangerous situation where
fights are likely to break out. Yes, that means the mile-long line
for a Black Friday sale. The latest Pokémon toy is not worth
getting trampled for, no matter how much your grandkids will
love it.
4. Never give out personal information over the phone. If
CHAPTER 8
someone calls you asking questions, hang up and find the com-
pany’s main number and call them to verify if it was a legitimate
person who reached out to you. Scams increase significantly
during the holiday season because people are in a more generous
mood, and criminals know to take advantage of this.
5. Don’t post travel plans on social media. Don’t broadcast
where you’re headed for Thanksgiving or Christmas or how
long you’ll be gone. Criminals browse Facebook to ascertain
who won’t be home for the holidays. If they know your home
is going to be empty for several days, it makes a perfect target
for a break-in.
6. Be aware of your surroundings. This is true in any season.
Make sure you’re not being followed when exiting the shopping
mall with your hands full of expensive gifts. Criminals case the
entrances to malls and will follow you to your car to rob you —
or worse. When you leave the mall, keep your head up and on
a swivel, scanning your surroundings. If you see anyone behav-
ing suspiciously, wait for them to leave or ask security to escort
you to your car.
438
WHY THE U.S. SHOULD TAKE
NORTH KOREA SERIOUSLY
by JAVELIN | Ex-CIA Operative

One of the last top-secret projects I worked on was out of Asia.
My mission was to gain intelligence on one of the most secre-
tive nations in the world: North Korea. My cover was as the
CEO of a boutique travel agency that catered to wealthy people
who wanted to travel to North Korea.
What made this operation especially challenging was that I
couldn’t risk entering North Korea myself. So I tracked down
North Korean refugees in Japan who could help me gain the
intelligence I needed regarding the North Korea’s weapons ca-
pabilities.
I ended up working with a North Korean freedom fighter
with Japanese papers who could enter North Korea via the Chi-
nese border. The North Korean-Chinese border is somewhat of
a no man’s land where drug smugglers routinely cross back and
forth, which is why my source was able to traverse it.
It didn’t take this freedom fighter long to figure out that
I wasn’t just a travel agent, but he understood the information
I needed from him and was willing to help me.
CHAPTER 8
Based on the intel we gathered, we learned that North Korea

has possessed nuclear weapons capabilities since 2002. They
acquired the necessary information from Iran, China and Rus-
sia by proxy through Cuban operatives.
So when you hear reports that North Korea is getting close to
having the ability to launch a nuclear weapon, that’s a bunch of
crap. We know they’ve had the capability for the past 15 years.
However, North Korea lacks a delivery method for launching
a nuclear weapon, which is the purpose of their recent tests.
A Disturbing Lack of Intel

As I’ve mentioned before, past presidential administrations
have been reluctant to help intelligence operatives successfully
gather information on our enemies, so some of our knowledge
regarding the North Korea’s capabilities is outdated.
In fact, very little intelligence work has been carried out in
North Korea since my last operation, which was a number of years
ago. Frankly, the Democrats have destroyed our ability to collect
intelligence information, so we are stuck playing catch-up.
The scary thing, in my opinion, is North Korea probably
has the capability to deliver a nuclear weapon to the West
Coast of the United States (not just Alaska), although I believe
the chances of this happening are low.
You see, Kim Jong Un isn’t a maniac like most people as-
sume. He’s a smart, educated man. He wants a relationship
with the U.S., but he doesn’t want to look weak. He wants the
U.S. to come to him and build the relationship on his terms,
but he is clearly going about it the wrong way. If Kim Jong
Un attacked the U.S., our government would respond with
massive military force and annihilate North Korea’s capital in
addition to blanketing the country with Tomahawk missiles.
Why So Serious?
The question I’ve been building up to is why should we take
440
North Korea so seriously?

First, while I believe North Korea could strike the West
Coast, the fact is they probably couldn’t do so accurately. They
may aim for a major city, such as LA, but the missile could
end up in the desert hundreds of miles away. I believe we have
the defensive capability to shoot down any long-range missile
from North Korea, but that’s not a theory I’d like to test.
Second, there is no question North Korea could successful-
ly strike Seoul, South Korea, with the basic weapons and artil-
lery they have near the border. Who knows what can of worms
an attack on their southern neighbor would open.
Americans should remember that even if the chances of a
nuclear attack are slim, everyone needs to be prepared. These
preparations should include water and food storage, as well as
a bunker or safe house in case of a nuclear missile strike.
The reality is one mistake during a missile test — or even
errant artillery fire from the North Korean border — could lead
to a major military conflict. While it’s probable that North Ko-
rea lacks the guidance systems to accurately deliver a nuclear
attack, we are dealing with a leader who may not care where
the missile lands as long as he gets the attention he wants.
441
PLAY IT COOL WITH THESE
SUMMER SAFETY TIPS
There’s nothing quite like exploring the American wilderness

in the summer. But it’s important to stay safe even when you’re
enjoying yourself. Remember these simple safety tips to avoid
ruining your fun in the sun.
• Share your plans. Whether you are going on a three-day
hike or a walk around the block, you should tell someone
you trust where you are going and what you are doing.
That way, if something goes wrong and you don’t return as
expected, they can raise the alarm and get you help. This is
especially important if you are going on an extended trip.
• Drink up. When spending time outdoors, try to drink wa-
ter every 20 minutes. This is critical if you are hiking or
doing any kind of strenuous activity. Also, watch out for
signs of heat stroke if someone in your group isn’t feeling
well — dizziness, lack of sweating, muscle weakness and
hot, dry skin. And don’t forget to carry a quality water
filter with you in case you run out of water and have to
drink from a pond or stream.
• Check your car. Before you embark on a family road trip,

always make sure your car is mechanically sound. This
includes checking the tires, belts and hoses and making
sure you have a fully packed survival bag in the car for
each member of your family. Even if you never need to
use your survival supplies, you should be prepared in
case of an emergency.
• Be wary of scams. During the summer, you see an increase
in the number of door-to-door salesmen. While some of
these people may be from legitimate companies, be extra
cautious. Never invite a stranger into your home. If you
aren’t interested, say so through the door — don’t even
bother opening it. Often, these people are actually crimi-
nals looking to case your home.
• Clean up your yard. The thing about summer is that kids
are out of school, and frankly, they are bored. So whether
it’s bored kids or a career criminal, when your trees ar-
en’t trimmed and your yard is strewn with tools and toys,
people will take that as a sign that no one is home. So —
while it’s not the most fun summer activity — clean up
your yard and eliminate places for bad guys to hide.
443
SEAL SURVIVAL SECRETS
FOR THE ROAD

It’s not a matter of if, but when…
There are more than 200 million vehicles on the road in the
United States, all operated by individuals with varying degrees
of alertness and skill. The chance of getting into a car accident
at least once in your life is estimated to be over 95%.
Approximately 43,000 Americans are killed on our nation’s
roadways each year, and another 100,000 become permanently
disabled due to car accidents.
The work I did in Iraq involved a lot of high-speed driv-
ing. We rarely wore seat belts, because the idea of having to
quickly evacuate the car and getting caught up in the seat belt
was a nightmare. Hell, with all of the gear we wore, it was hard
enough to get out as it was.
But when I learned that the leading cause of injury in the
crew I was working with was from automobile-related acci-
dents, I went against the “trapped” fear and started making
my men strap in anytime the speed of the vehicle was over 35
mph. It paid off and saved lives.
Ride or Die
Here are some other driving safety tips you should regularly
employ to stay safe on the road:
1. Be mindful of the airbag. In early car models, airbags
were so strong that they could cause decapitation if they
malfunctioned. Airbags are designed to sense sudden de-
celeration and impact and inflate at a speed of 200 mph
— as fast as a shell fired from a sawed-off shotgun.
oday, airbags are still powerful, but they are far more
T
sensor-regulated.
ecause accidents aren’t planned and an airbag is de-
B
ployed on impact, I recommend driving with your hands
at the 4 o’clock and 8 o’clock positions on the steering
wheel, rather than the standard 2 and 10. This will pro-
vide a clear path for the bag to release without sending
your arms and hands into your face. Also, do not place
any object on top of the air bag enclosure, or you may end
up eating it
2. STAY AWARE. Multitasking while driving should be il-
legal. Period. So many auto fatalities could have been
avoided if the driver was simply paying attention
3. Respond quickly. If you see that your car is about to be
hit, try to respond with decisive maneuvers, but do so as
smoothly as possible. You don’t want to 360 the steering
wheel or slam on the brakes, which may result in the car
going out of control.
he goal is to access the options rapidly and make a de-
T
cision that will minimize damage. For example, avoiding
a head-on collision might require you to veer off the road
or accelerate. Every scenario is different, but if you re-
main calm and focused, you will make the best decision
445
CHAPTER 8
4. Control braking. There are certain braking techniques

that are proven to help you maintain maximum control.
Most cars these days have an anti-lock brake system
(ABS) that regulates brake fluid and prevents the brakes
from freezing up if pressed firmly.
I f your car lacks antilock brakes, then pumping the brake
pedal will prevent lockup and allow you to retain control
of your vehicle. Slamming on the brakes will cause your
car to skid, and the result of the accident is far more like-
ly to be a less favorable outcome
5. Steer smoothly. If you jerk the steering wheel quickly,
even when driving at normal speeds, it will also cause
the vehicle to skid, and it will often spin in the opposite
direction
6. Speed up. Sometimes you may need to accelerate while
you weave through obstacles or steer out of the path of
an oncoming car to avoid an accident
7. Follow the skid. In the event you blow a tire during the
incident, do not slam on the brakes. If the car begins to
skid, your instincts will falsely tell you to turn the steer-
ing wheel in the opposite direction. In fact, it’s best to
turn the wheel toward the direction of the skid to regain
control
8. Always leave yourself an out. This is sure easier said than
done when you’re in gridlock on the 405 in Los Angeles,
but always try to maintain a “buffer” of distance between
your vehicle and the next. A good rule of thumb is you
should be able to see the back tires of the car in front of
you. This will give you the option if you need to take an
aggressive defensive action to escape the situation
9. Arm yourself. I recommend is keeping a Glock .40 and
canister of bear spray in your driver’s-side door panel.
446
It’s amazing how these items can de-escalate a road rage

scenario.
If you keep these nine safety tips in mind, you’ll feel much
more confident behind the wheel, and you’ll be more likely to
walk away from an accident.
Remember, I want you to be a survivor, NOT a statistic.
447
HIT THE ROAD SAFELY WITH
THESE IMPORTANT REMINDERS
According to the Harvard Health Watch, the average American

spends an hour and 41 minutes driving every day. Because we
spend so much time in our cars, here are seven safety tips to
keep you from being vulnerable in your vehicle:
• Always carry a bug-out bag or 72-hour kit in your vehicle.
Whether you become stranded in a snowstorm, require a
first-aid kit when you’re out and about or need to flee un-
expectedly, having this gear readily available could save
your life.
• Don’t leave anything personal or identifiable in plain sight.
Be aware that passersby can see everything in your car. So
don’t leave papers with your name on them or hang your
work badge from the rearview mirror. Criminals will look
for information they can use to steal your identity — or,
perhaps worse, stalk you. And obviously, don’t leave any-
thing expensive in plain sight, like a GPS or a guitar case.
That’s like painting a big, fat target on your car.
• Remember that movement saves lives. When you get in
your car, don’t sit there and rifle through your purse or
check your email. Instead, you should immediately begin
driving. People who sit in their vehicles not paying atten-
tion are sitting ducks.
• Pay attention to vehicles following you. When you leave
work or a shopping center, always be aware of who’s be-
hind you. Sometimes criminals watch people get into
their car with valuables and follow them home to commit
a home invasion. If you are suspicious of a vehicle behind
you, make a few turns to see if the car continues to fol-
low you. If you are indeed being followed, don’t go home.
Drive straight to the nearest police station.
• Always lock your doors. No matter where you are or how
long you will be away — or even if you’re standing right
next to your vehicle but aren’t in it — always lock your
doors. Increasingly, criminals are stealing items while
people are pumping gas. They’ll usually distract you by
asking a question while their accomplice grabs things
from your car.
• In parking garages, park as close to the payment booth as
possible. These areas usually have more surveillance cam-
eras and more people around, which helps deter criminals.
Thieves prefer to avoid being seen doing their dirty work.
• Make your car look protected. In the same way I encourage
you to get an alarm system for your home, I also recom-
mend getting one for your vehicle. And if you don’t have a
car alarm, buy security stickers to put on the window. This
will convince a criminal to look for an easier mark.
449

Alone and Unafraid

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alone and Unafraid

Uploaded by

Document Information

Copyright

Available Formats

Share this document

Share or Embed Document

Sharing Options

Did you find this document useful?

Is this content inappropriate?

Copyright:

Available Formats

Alone and Unafraid

Uploaded by

Copyright:

Available Formats

Copyright © 2018 by Laissez Faire Books

All rights reserved.

· The Single-Best Way to Help You Detect Lies

· Safeguard Your Secrets Against Data Theft

· Your Step-By-Step Guide to Surviving a Break-In

· Why “Self Defense” is a Sham

· The Ultimate Guide to Home Defense Guns

· How to Endure a Blackout

· Doctor’s Orders: 10 Must-Have Medical Items for Your Bug-out Bag

· For Everyday Gear, Leave This Piece Behind

SPY TECHNIQUES : COVERT

We’ll call her “Lindsay.” She was a young woman, about 25

Establishing a Base Line

After several of these questions, I was able to determine her

My Two Favorite Questions

To Get the Truth, Ask a Presumptive Question

us were in elementary school, we would steal candy from the

Versatility of Presumptive Questions

In 1989, an American by the name of Kurt Muse was living in

The FBI’s Secret Weapon

How to Be a Professionally Trained Hostage

pulling up corners of the carpet, and spending a lot more time

Modern cellphones are incredible communication tools. But

Your Mission, Should You Choose to Accept It…

you just found out he’s giving a presentation at a conference.

The Versatility of a Good-Quality Radio

A couple years ago, while teaching a seminar in Las Vegas, a

Turn Your Smartphone Into a Motion Detector

Download Presence: www.presencepro.com

In the nicest way possible, I pointed out that she probably

it’s also very easy to keep yourself undetected, and it requires

Disappear Like Jason Bourne

If you’re really worried, the best way to ensure your phone

Designed to Trap Criminals at Home and Abroad

Keeping Us Safe… or Tracked?

In the U.K., facial recognition technology called NeoFace

Disappear in Plain Sight

noticeable to the naked eye. The lights will be apparent only

Each day when I leave to go to my office and when I return

The Long Way Round

A Hard Act to Follow

In that case, you’d want to drive naturally and do nothing

I was 30,000 feet in the air on my way overseas. I was going

Escape and Evasion Belt:

I wouldn’t hang a razor blade or anything sharp using

Upgraded Hotel Safety

GE Door Stop Alarm: http://amzn.to/2wFhc5q

3. One of my favorite ways to conceal gear on my body is by

escape and evasion gear. Your chosen method should vary

By JAVELIN | Ex-CIA Operative

Start With a Blank Slate

Change Your Stripes

Keys? Check. Wallet? Check. Phone? Check. Gun? Knife?

have a folding knife clipped to my pants pocket. It might

in cash on me — with one $100 bill — every day.

By JAVELIN | Ex-CIA Operative

And they wanted names. First, I found a list of railgun experts

Keep Your Friends Close

op deadly weapons to use against the world.

The Bottom Line

3. One of my favorite ways to conceal gear on my body is by