| Often people simply do not have the necessary | | | | knowledge to can or dehydrate foods, and metal |
| funds needed to purchase survival retreats so the | | | | workers or machinists. |
| next best thing is to join some sort of organized | | | | To prepare yourself personally for acceptance in |
| group. Naturally, nothing in life is free and you will | | | | the group you should get into good physical shape. |
| need to pay something for the benefits of | | | | Learn some basic first aid or CPR before the |
| belonging to this group in one way or another. If | | | | emergency situation occurs. Most cities have |
| you are lacking the necessary funds needed then | | | | inexpensive or free classes readily available. Know |
| perhaps your payment may be in the form of | | | | how to safely shoot and care for various kinds of |
| skillful labor. | | | | firearms. Try to learn how to drive a selection of |
| Any type of survival group will require certain | | | | different vehicles ranging from automobiles to |
| trades and skills in order to allow it to function | | | | motorcycles. Take a class on how to read a map |
| properly. No one man is capable of performing | | | | and use a common compass. If time permits you |
| every skill that would be needed when the balloon | | | | may wish to become a licensed ham radio |
| finally goes up therefore it would be beneficial for | | | | operator. Learn how to use various pieces of |
| you to develop a desired job skill. | | | | communications equipment. Go hunting, fishing and |
| Skills can be divided into two separate types, | | | | trapping with an experienced outdoorsmen so |
| those which require prior training and those that | | | | that you can become knowledgeable about these |
| are labor intensive. Usually the labor intensive is | | | | outdoor activities. Pay close attention to his |
| more hands on work then educational skills. | | | | lessons on tracking the game. Visit often with |
| Samples of hands on labor type categories would | | | | your local farmers and you may want to |
| be childcare workers who can baby-sit the group's | | | | volunteer some of your time to helping them in |
| children while the other perform some sort of | | | | exchange for learning some valuable farming skills. |
| productive work. Farming would be another labor | | | | These skills should include growing the food, |
| intensive skill. Do not forget that if you possess | | | | collecting seeds, dealing with insect pests and |
| knowledge of animal husbandry or agriculture you | | | | ultimately storing the food for later use. Learn |
| are sure to be more valuable to the group then | | | | what ever you can about small farm animals such |
| those that are merely food pickers. | | | | as chickens, cows, goats, horses, pigs and rabbits. |
| Other types of skills that would be needed in such | | | | Take a short course on foraging so that you can |
| an alternative environment would be ammunition | | | | collect plants in the wild for not only food but also |
| reloading experts, gun repair technicians, computer | | | | medical applications. Your local college is likely to |
| and electronics repairmen as well as ham radio | | | | offer you some interesting classes in carpentry |
| operators, Construction workers and tradesmen | | | | which is always a valuable skill to have under your |
| of all kinds will be in high demand, Butchers, candle | | | | belt and in your survival resume. Lastly make sure |
| makers, dental and medical professionals, fire | | | | if you can possibly do so get involved in some |
| fighting professionals, experienced fishermen and | | | | self defense classes. |
| hunters, herbalists, people with food processing | | | | |