Well said. Marine vet here, our motto, "If it ain't raining, we ain't training." The purpose of training, is to do it outside of your comfort zone and push yourself beyond your own standards. Pushing yourself to failure is gain. Don't seek perfection, you will never catch it, instead seek excellence.
I like watching these Grunt Proof videos, good information. I’m all for minutemen, militias, etc as long as the training is involving military vets with the non veterans, train with those that have been there and done it. Now this will be hard to grasp for some but if the SHTF, in a years time (give or take) the enemy will cull out the weak in a militia and the militia will be stronger for it. Bottom line, train hard so you will suffer less losses in your group during the culling.
100% on point. Im 38 and overweight at about 350lb. Over the last 6 months i have been going to the gym once a week minimum, haven't missed a week. Put on a fair bit of muscle, feeling a lot better, lost almost 20lb so far. Started hiking/rucking again last week. Did 3.49 miles after getting2in of snow overnight and was 22f. Trying to get out once a week. Pick a day, go regardless of the weather. Great way to shake down your gear. Planning some overnight trips this spring. Hoping to do some multi night trips this summer. My goal is just to be able to get home on foot in case of an emergency from within about a 30mile radius. If im getting after it, you probably can too. Get some!
If it is cold where you are you should check out Tim Ferriss' 4 hour body - Ice Age Chapter on using cold to activate brown adipose tissue. Just a heads up, it will make you hungry. There is an accessory chapter online called 'An Alternative to Dieting: The Bodyfat Set Point and Tricking the Hypothalamus' that might help with the hunger.
Absolutely true. In my pistol classes I tell people, the criminals look for opportunities. They aren’t going to attack you when you look like a predator and have your shit together. It will be the day you didn’t sleep good, you have a headache, your back hurts, and it will be raining. Enjoy and be thankful for training in the worst conditions. Because if you can pass the test at your worst, you will make them fail at their best. Everyone needs to listen to this guy, he speaks nothing but truth!
We've adopted the philosophy already, and it is paying dividends as you say. I'm 68, two knee replacements, and I don't give a sh*t anymore. I train no matter what.
That's awesome! If you can do it on 2 knee replacements, just about anyone can. I've been a life long athlete and fought competitively and received a few serious injuries here and there and I will probably be due for a knee replacement in 15 years or so. If they are still doing them then! I think the world might go to such shit you can't even get a knee replacement in many places.
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”
Most summertime soldiers left cause they had harvest and family that depended on them ,I dnt believe it was cowardice or anything like that ,they loved their country and family enough to fight in the first place,but letting em starve was prolly more than they could bare
@@htchd1htchd149 Complain to the proprietor of the channel. Not me. 1 year of service was required. Not seasonal! Leave was granted to tend crops. Not leave and not return. Crop tending did not take place in the winter time. But spring and summer. Try again.
…”test our friends”, 😂 but true I found out that camping, or rough camping in rain for more than two days will highlight all the gaps or weak spots in the gear and where or how I select a site. Now I think I’ve got it tuned in, but I wouldn’t of known any of it, unless I actually tried it in inclement weather
Yes sir. Thats why i wear my gear as well when i walk my dogs on our 40 acres. I find out the spots that pinch and move or make noise while also learning to move with it on.....im used to the weight of it i wear a 25 pound tool bag everyday building houses😊 thanks foe the info
You are straight up. You don't sell no bullshit and you sure as Hell don't sugar coat nothing. No wonder I love your channel. Keep up the good work Sir.
Im a 51 year old infantry veteran and still go hiking and camping with tents. Rough camping is the most fun. I make a good roast wrap it in foil cook it in the fire and enjoy it with nice cold beer. good times
I work outside every day, regardless of the weather. In the 30 years I spent in the Army, one fact stood constant: We train in all weather, embrace the suck. In fact, we trained in complete crap weather on purpose. My first Plt. SGT used to say, "the rain keeps Charlie's head down.
I frame and side houses. Either i stand in the rain all day and work or my kids dont eat. Whether with rain gear or not its doable, it just makes getting dry and warm that much better when you do😊
Yes. My job is "the suck". But Joe rogan says to make yourself do the hardest stuff first thing, in order to make your day job the easiest thing you do all day.
I was only in the Army for 6 years, but it spoiled me so that I can't work indoors anymore. Through the heat of the summer to the bitter cold of winter I wouldn't have it any other way, though. One of the benefits of working year round in foul weather is that I get to test all of my gear. My kit and layers are all sorted out. What some people imagine conditions being in a "survival" situation is a Tuesday for me.
I enlisted in 1983. The Army was changing from post Vietnam Era, although most of the senior officers and ncos were Vietnam vets. They definitely had a no-nonsense approach to doing things. As I used to tell my soldiers, we make training harder than actual combat so that when the shit hits the fan, you don't lose your shit.
I was a boyscout in the 80-90's. One camping trip a month. Rain, snow or shine. Everything you need in a backpack. All your clothes, poncho, tent, tarp, kitchen stuff. Great lessons for any 12 yr old. We woulda "out camped" half the full grown adults of today easily. Bunch of kids.
Became much more apparent camping with my friends in my 20's. One trip I remember we had on the calender for months. We rolled up after dark. Pouring rain. My buddies... had nothing prepared. I tarped up an area. Put up my tent. Guys were befuddled thinking about going home. I helped them put up their tents in the dark. Built a fire(I brought dry wood). Ended up being a nice weekend. But the lack of readiness was apparent.
Did you ever make Eagle? THAT remains one helluva high honor even these days, and the few Eagles I knew back in my day would have been the kind if guys you wanted covering your back in any situation. Brains, balls and loyalty! (Hey- that might make a good Eagle Scout motto... would look great on a sash!)
@Julian-bq9qv Yup. I dunno if scouts are around anymore. I never hear anything about them. We used to go door to door fundraising. Making our presence known. I still see Girl Scouts selling cookies at the store. I guess they are still around.
Sounds like the Scout troop I was in. Monthly backpack trips in the CA Sierra Nevada Mountains and camping trips in the snow. I made it to Eagle Scout in 1995. I’m currently a Deputy Sheriff here in So Cal. 👍
I work mainly outdoors, northern Alberta in an oil sands refinery, as a refrigeration/hvac mechanic, a lot of what I do is electrical troubleshooting, wiring diagrams, fixing compressors & motors etc, all in temps like -52C (like recently) and +38C etc, and the biggest or hardest struggle I find is thinking clearly, and remaining calm in those conditions. Thinking+problem solving electromechanical faults/failures+repairs. I find that exposure has made training outdoors or camping when it’s shit weather that much easier and forgiving. Lugging a 50 pound tool bag to the top of a structure in the plant at -45 helps a ton for when you’re in nature hiking at -10 haha
Spent several years a field service tech. What I can tell you learning how think and function in that weather is teaching you skills you can’t buy. When you decide working outside is for the birds, you will be light years ahead of your peers in a man indoor plant. You will be the rock star. Because when everyone else is shitting themselves you’re going to be standing there going this ain’t so bad.
i'm in alberta as well , worked the patch around bonnyville for years , living down towards calgary now and hit the mountains as much as possible year round.
@@milldawgj9598same. Spent 3 years on pipeline and then came and did other things, the others don’t have the same sense of awareness & project mission.
Agree. 1.) Assume your adversary is going to take advantage of every thing that sucks to you: night, humidity, cold, hot, wind, hunger, thirst, lack of sleep, a swamp full of mosquitos, a heavy pack 2.) If smart, they'll take advantage of what seems EASY to you: familiar areas, linear danger areas, "lines of drift" (the easiest ways to move through an environment), "handrailing" roads/waterways, etc., higher grounds, natural cover/concealment, resting on Sundays, easy water sources. This doesn't always mean "don't use them", just know that a smart enemy will anticipate your lazy actions or inactions. Being predictable raises your risk of failure.
I went to PLDC with a dude who was 11B back in 1994. We did an FTX over the weekend and that grunt knew his shit. I learned a lot from them over the years-
Awesome!! I've even gotten in the habit of making it suck at home (an advantage of being single), no A/C in the summer - in my house or car - and keeping the window open in my bedroom at night. Letting my body acclimate to the seasons makes my time outdoors so much easier. Even simple things to increase the suck of life like a cold shower every morning. I have definitely figured out who I can rely on by the ones that back out of something as simple as a day shooting in the sandpit because it' "too hot"....
Hobby historian here, bad weather favors the the attackers and is an active detriment to defenders. Doing the stuff in bad weather is the same as slightly stacking the cards in your favor. Personally I am skeptical of those with nice gear but will not even flat range if its going to rain. Compensating lack of skill by gear has made a new class of individual and that is the loot drops. I think my weaknesses are fitness is on the low side, low on conflict ammo, long term self sustained food is lacking etc. Good video we really do need to actually pause and think about our own weaknesses and work on ourselves.
When one was in the military and where makes all the difference, other than two weeks every year I sat behind a desk pounding a typewriter in a nice warm office and when we were out in the field when we returned the armor cleaned our weapons when we turned them in, I field stripped and cleaned my m16 once when it was issued, had a m14 in basic and much preferred it to the m16. Last time I was in a tent was when our jeep club went to an off-road park, and we set the tent up on a trailer for the night. That said I have gear and know how to use it which is half the battle anyway.
Most folks just are plain afraid of being uncomfortable. 11 year army veteran. Panama to Alaska. Ranger. I survived it . Just gotta learn to say fuck it and drive on. You'll feel better and more confident after each and every time!
I help a few friends of mine by training them. I was an Airborne Ranger (Bco 2/75) in the 80s. I was voluntold to go to Central America while in Q course. I was attached to 7th group. These are my bona fides. I train these folks. The first time we were supposed to go camping, I had a ranger roll, old LBE with my butt pack with food and a water filter. One of them came with a Kifaru pack that weighed something like 80 -90 ibs; for a three day outing. They had no idea. Before we started, when I saw this guys stuff, I let him start off. As we started “the hump” I whispered to him ounces are pounds. About 20 minutes in, the complaining started. We hid the pack and the majority of the stuff way off trail. Poncho, liner, some food, firs & first aid kit was all i had. I;ve taught them to deal with the weather, terrain and swamps around here. I know many people that don’t
Unusual question from an outsider: why so many people in US military use term "bona fide" in some weird meaning? In fact, many latin words are used in different meaning. "Alibi" comes to mind. What's the deal with all that faux latin?
Absolutely! Before I was a Ranger, I trained to be one, I slept outside, I hiked, I camped, I practiced Wilderness Survival, and I trained in various martial arts and with melee and ranged weapons. Over 20 years I trained- from 1998 to 2022. I saw rain as opportunities to test out new waterproof gear, how well my insulation layers worked, how quickly I could get my tarp up, and practiced wet weather fire craft. I have always enjoyed being outside, and rolling around in the muck Rambo style - got plenty of it during Survival School. I’m sorely saddened to know that my profession doesn’t work or live like that . . . Aragorn set standards WAY too high. I moved out of California so I could experience winter’s bite- and in New England- We get nor’Easters regularly. I love the cold. I love the snow, I LOVE WINTER CAMPING AND BACKPACKING, and I am a sucker for wool. There hasn’t been a winter yet since I moved here that’s dropped below -12 in my area. But I still absolutely agree with conditioning during in-climate weather conditions! I may have been over qualified for my job - but I feel like I’m still training for something. . . . Bigger.
One thing I always do is train in adverse elements. My friends and I regularly go shooting in the rain, the wind, and the 120+ degree heat in AZ. I intentionally go camping in bad weather as well. You’ll never know what you or your equipment is capable of if you don’t challenge it in less than ideal conditions.
@@huwhitecavebeast1972Not necessarily. We do have what’s called Monsoon season, when it does actually rain, it just dumps. I mean dumps! Complete torrential downpour in a short time span, causing flash floods, and certain parts of the city that are lower like interstates will flood a bit do to an overburdened drainage system which is actually very robust and built into the city engineering because it’s so flat in the Phoenix valley. Besides a few months of on and off of that mixed with giant dust storms like the middle east, heat and extremely intense UV exposure from the sun are the main concerns. Shade is your best friend.
100% on taking your "go bag" for real backpacking trips. Not military here, but I find that spot on for prepping. learned that I sucked big time at starting fires in damp conditions, knowing how to layer in wet weather, and other important stuff
Even 10 years ago, the landscape was completely different. It's amazing and we owe a big debt to channels like yours and others who push physical and mental fitness so hard over the Instagram gear. I think the biggest weak spot in our community isn't training but in mission. I don't mean "Training for an assault" or "Getting familiar with radios." I mean why are we doing it? For me, my mission is the preservation and enrichment of my faith, people, and culture, in honor of my patrimony, for my posterity. That is why I train, that is why I am taking my fat ass to the gym for 15+ hour gym weeks, and that's why I'm embracing the suck and seeing rain not as a deterrence, but as a challenge.. Because it's going to get worse and I want my faith, people and culture to come out the other side. Heritage Americans can burn themselves alive for the left and still be damned for being white. That's modern America, and the traditional mission of our movement is not deep enough to stop anti-Christian, anti-White, and anti-American hatred that is spreading.
I will go to the range in terrible weather. Rain ,snow, cold,low light, wind. The only other person i will ever see there is the local class f champion. Its amazing how much harder it is to shoot accurately in wind and rain. I also made camo cardboard cutouts and put them in the brush to see if i could hit them . Good luck.
I’ve trained LARP in heat of 112 and got heat exhaustion. I learned to drink more water than usual. Then LARP’d in winds and gust, dirt everywhere! I wore a skimask and hat. Missing my targets a lot, had mocos running down my face lol. It was fun and learned what to expect
Did a snow ruck this year for the first time in single digit Temps, battled ice and snow on another ruck. Pushing for different weather training this year and embracing the suck
My heaviest level of sustainment (ruck) contains all I need for comfortable cold sleeping in winter. If it's a permissive environment, I have hammock and tarp. If it's non permissive, ground matt and top quilt, if I dropped my ruck, all i carry is a poncho. Cold, but mostly dry. If sleeping isn't possible, gonna scrub that mission! Nice thing about being small, you plan your own mission and can frag-0 them as needed😆 Adapt, be ready to.
Former infantryman here. People hate training in inclement weather because it sucks. I am going to do what I planned regardless of the weather otherwise it won't get done.
It's fixing to piss down rain right now and I am off work, putting my pack on my back and going on a four mile run. Like you said spent most my time soaked to the bone, hot as hell, or freezing hahaha very few oops were ideal early spring or early fall ideal weather, and it sucked haha
On point on this topic! I come from a climbing/mountaineering background and our version of "Embrace the Suck" was called "The Art of Suffering"... Shitty weather happens, it's how you deal with it that makes the difference. The more time spent doing your thing in adverse weather conditions the less it bothers you. Keep preaching the good word!
Yep, gotta do the things all conditions and times of the year. Planning with your people is another story lol, but that doesn't dissuade me and a couple of my guys who tend to be more time-flexible. Excellent talking points brother.
What I took away from the Bundeswehr, which is underfunded and mostly has equipment from the 70s and outdated training, was the mindset. I like it when it really sucks, it's raining, I love it, it's cold, I love it, I'm wet, my legs are sore and I have to walk the last 7km to camp, I love it. The most important thing is to be mentally and physically resilient.
It's looking like we the people need to start getting ready, the situation in Texas could get out of hand real quick because the States are real about this and things could get crazy fast
I'm fairly physically fit for a 63 year old. 6'. 215 lbs. I do exercise but now I'm old and I have some health problems. I know I would not be of much use charging up a hill during an assault or going on a 5 mile with my loaded ruck, In fact for the most part I'd very likely be a liability. But I don't want to cower in the corner of my bedroom when things go bad. But I still enjoy your videos.
This video was very timely, I’m taking my boys out for some grunt rucking and camping this weekend for this very thing. It’s fixing to rain and snow while we’re out in it, but I’m going to be teaching the boys to be okay with being uncomfortable, land navigation, camo utilization, setting up poncho shelters, building fires in wet environments, etc.
My wife and daughter benefitted greatly from backpacking. From motivation to be in shape, to appreciating beauty for beauty's sake, to understanding one's own limitations, to acknowledging to power of preparedness. That all is premium, but you get to top it off by spending time together, telling stories, talking real without distractions.
3 months ago, Christmas eve. The boys and I went on a trip to train. Long story short by the end of the three day trip we had no sleep (got covered in spiders) and we woke up at 3AM after a little sleep, our shelter flooding (Dug a pit in the sand and filled it with coals to keep warm but the tarp had a hole and I woke up shivering from a soaked sleeping bag in 30F weather) and now we're all wet. No light, no trail, 3 miles to walk in briars, covered in sand and we're all soaked and can't see eachother from pitch black night AND super rocky terrain. 5 hours in that hell but we made it and would go again any day. Train in the suck, you'll hate it in the moment but at the end be glad and have awesome memories with the boys
Agree, it's very good to be ready for any weather, even if you don't like it. with that said I support anyone who is into training or the gear, even if they aren't at that stage of it. I've gone from the only go do it in the good weather guy to no I wanna get used to this in the bad weather even if it sucks and it will lol.
I have a group that does all this. Several prior combat arms in the group, and we have trained all the battle drills besides #5 per the ranger handbook. Excellent group of guys and im very blessed.
Civilian here, I always thought that I was challenging myself in training. Literally not once have I considered training in the rain. Thank you for letting me know that I'm soft. Something so obvious as training in shitty weather never, not once, crossed my mind. Haven't heard any of the other cool guy channels talk about it either. Thank you for sharing🤝
Great message man. I try encouraging people to get out in “sucky” weather too. One of the points I make is that not as many people will be out in those conditions so you’re likely to be left alone. I know that encouraging people means more people could be out in those conditions but that just means if you run into someone on a rainy day, they’ll most likely be someone that can hang. Type 2 fun kind of people are the best.
One of the best videos I have seen! Short ,sweet and to the point! I tell my friends all of the time You gotta train in the rain or when the hard times come you are going to feel the pain.
When I was in Wolf Scouts, they were already in the process of effeminizing the Boys Scouts. Now, Boy Scouts has been destroyed and converted into the DEI Scouts. Ironic that Girl Scouts is still allowed exist as a separate private institution.
Agreed. This year I made a commitment to train in the snow. I am trained and fit, and this was still a massive wake up call for every aspect of my preparations: fitness, water incursion, maneuvering and concealment. Everything was a thousand times more difficult. But next winter I will be better than I was this winter, and so on.
Agreed completely. Backpacking with minimal gear, in non optimal weather is obviously a bigger test than a bill drill. None of my friends want to try out the backpacking piece lol
I thought you were absolutely on point. Well said and thanks for encouraging us to get the suck on! Why I love running the most when it’s 110 degrees outside…..it sucks!
I was a young man once... and did what you're talking about. Now I'm old, and people don't listen. This is well said. This is some excellent advice. Listen my friends.
I'm an AK guy. If theres a blizzard out there I'm legally bound by the AK union to go out there and larp the hell out of that snow like its Siberia. Besides, can shoot tracers and not worry about starting a wildfire.
You point out a pervasive American mindset that goes far beyond even this 'community'. I personally see mountains of ppl who equate having stuff with doing things. A guy buys a bow and shoots it once thinks he's an archer, another buys a canoe and talks about the trip he is planning but will never take, yet another buys a brand new bike when he retires and never puts more than 200 miles on it. Beliefs don't make you right, healthy, or strong only actions can do that.
I remember taking a Thunder Ranch class over a decade ago and we received all kinds of weather during those three days: sunshine, drizzle, rain, hail, and then snow. Glad I packed a fleece hoodie and a soft shell hoodie on that trip!
I'd like to say thank you. A lot of retired military kind of look down on civilians that want to train and learn. Some of us was "disqualified" for not disclosing twice having lung surgery before he was 19. 😇 However, thanks for sharing your knowledge sir.
80% of the population doesn't even have woods like that. I do, many square miles of it, the problem is that in the east, it is almost all private land, and when Bubba is out there, he is 13 Busch Lights deep on an ATV and just can't wait for a confrontation.
Scotland here. We can’t train in anything other than bad weather… but i actually seek high wind and rain when Ruck running. Excellent video, new sub brother 🫡
I've said this since our group formed four years ago. I'd set up training or even meetings and as soon as the weather wasn't perfect most wouldn't show up. They got weeded out pretty fast because I made it clear that if we have to go active either because the sheriff called us out again or things went south in society it's not going to happen only when weather's perfect. I live in central Texas where it gets extremely hot specially in the hill country where all the granite just radiates heat back even through the night. If you aren't willing to train in the bad weather you surely won't fight in it. My next training will be a weekend hike up the local river. The dry part of the bed goes from soft sand, mud to boulders and granite uplifts plus you have to cross the river several times to navigate up river to avoid trespassing. You will have ankle deep to over your head crossings and could be some pretty swift currents depending on where you cross and how much rain we've had. For me this addresses two big issues, physical fitness and proper packing of gear to keep it dry during deep water crossings. You're going to work every muscle in your body walking, climbing and swimming with a full ruck. And if the ruck is packed right things that need to be kept dry will be and create flotation during deep crossings. We'll see how many show up because it'll be rain or shine cold or hot. Unless they're expecting a lot of rain then for safety reasons it'll get canceled, this river is known for flooding with just a few inches of rain and can sweep a person away fast but that's the only reason I'd cancel.
I did a 2 mile hike, slept with Temps down to 27f, and hiked next day. Being in my 50s, and with metal from broken bones. I survived. Friends think I'm stupid but I do it, to test myself. And your right, most don't want to push themselves like we do. Keep up the great work 👍
Did 2024 Ham Radio Winter Field day in Halsey, NE. ( Bessy Forest Ranger District ) on Battery power 20/40/80m AM SSB Phone. Wife and I rucked in, setup camp and worked radio for the event, the two nights dropped to 15F. We had the whole entire national forest to ourselves the rangers didn't even work on the weekend. No one camps in cold conditions!! 🤣 We learned a heck of a lot environment wise! More importantly, Sheels was so far above our budget, the majority of the gear we had was 90's surplus. Now she can't wait to go again and to be honest I spent most the time just sulking in the silence of nature. Everything Beeps! There was no beeping.
As someone who knows nothing about the military, barely getting into guns, and taking myself more seriously. These videos are very valuable and worth their content in gold.
Excellent video - and I think a great side benefit, you find out what gear works in the suck too. Optics, bags, weather gear etc - unless you use it in the rain/snow/heat/wet places you don't KNOW how it works or not or if it works well enough. Test and push yourself sure but T&E that gear too. "Can I set this up with cold, wet hands? Are the buckles too small, does it not do what they claim?" etc.
I freaking love this video. Just been in a kinda readiness exercise and I failed in the small basic things. You just have to experience things to really learn.
Exactly, the fight doesn't come at 70 degrees weather and daylight. It comes when you're hot, cold, wet, tired, and often at night. If you're only a fair weather fighter, you'll be a quick combat loss.
At 67 I daily carry a sidearm and a 25 pound (roughly) pack three miles on the average. Missed only six days this year. I also work in the garden, have planted fruit trees, berry bushes, and a grape vine that all require additional work.And I do some snow clearing for neighbors. I'm out with wind chills in -40, rain, snow, heat index over 100. I've done 6 1/2 mile days at my age. I'm sure I could do longer or heavier or both if needed. When I was young I backpacked all over new england and did some solo minimal gear trips. If I can do this daily at 67 the rest of you guys can do it once in a while.
It's cold AF today, and raining (PNW). Got off work put my plate in my backpack, tossed my poncho over me and rucked on a very popular trail that during the "nice days" has insane amounts of people. Not a soul to be found. I love it, and I'll be right back out there tomorrow.
I'm from Canada so I don't know if this applies in the USA but I got a free miners license. I can be in the wilderness, carry, and camp anywhere. If I run into a ranger or other type of inspector official, I show them my miners license and they can't say shit. Year around. Creeks and rivers are low at the end of summer so I will be out in the fall and winter as well. 3 days and 2 nights are the limit for this old man but I have to carry prospecting tools as well. JUst a thought.
I think many don't train in the suck because many of us over 50 grew up in the suck with no a/c and little heat in the winter. Personally I've always embraced the suck, but maybe it's because my father took me fishing in sucky rainy weather and hunting in freezing temperatures. I've taken all my children tent camping (3-14 days) & hunting(12-14 hrs/day)with minimal equipment, cooking on the fire even in the rain. I've always felt they should learn basic survival skills. When my son & youngest daughter was older we went hiking over the weekend. Personally I trained with my firearms year round and in the worst weather because of two reasons, shtf isn't going to happen on the nicest days, and the range is cleared so I don't have to wait on others to change out my targets or train in the way I need to. Usually spending 2-6 hrs at the range when I go using multiple firearms, situations and distances.
Exactly what the community needs to hear. Exactly why we go out in the mountains every month,No matter the conditions. I enjoy this season because it requires that people alternate gear for the conditions.Summer people struggling with how much water to carry or have ready. Keep up the great work💪
Hi I was also in Ramadi, in 2003. I agree if we can’t train together then we are responsible for our own Basic Training. Get fit, shoot straight, learn first aid, land navigation. All good starts.
What you said makes sense!! I am a retired Army vet, had the “luxury” of retiring early thanks to getting hit in Iraq, but enough about that! We do need to know how and when to use what equipment and know which of our friends know their stuff as well!
I’m an avid backpacker, I’ve learned how to improvise in more ways than I can count and being days away from your car and no cell service feels very free. Appalachian mountains is a good place to vet some friends.
Totally agree with you.i waight training 3 times a week .the worse the weather the better.just like deer hunting in the coldest weather.i mean like ice hanging on face . absolutely we go out miles for towns .and the weather really doesn't matter . thank you like your show it's appreciated.
Ya as a 10yr Cav Scout I can tell you what you are addressing is extremely important. All the gear is nice but you have to be able to carry it for distance, sometimes you have to carry it at a very fast pace because your life depends on it. Just is what it is. Discipline, that is what you need, you have to be able to force yourself to do things that you dont want to do, what you are afraid of doing. To be able to keep going when your brain is trying to tell you to quit. Standing there bent over weasing out of breath is a good time to get yourself detected and engaged. Nuff said.
Florida local here. If I waited on the nice weather to ruck or hike I’d never get to. It sucks but it’s great to test equipment and skills. Something I hadn’t tried before 2 years ago was starting a primitive fire during a TORRENTIAL downpour.
Like pretty much everyone I have ever known I don't like training in less than good conditions but I DO IT! After I train in harsh conditions I always feel like I've accomplished something a little more and that feels good. I think I get more out of it. I also actively train to deal with problems actively by creating scenarios that make things more challenging. NOTHING ever goes exactly as planned so train for that.
You hit the nail on the head, I live in the great PNW, if you are afraid of some rain you shouldn't be here. I have found that long extended backpacking trips will definitely flesh out your gear and skills. Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain, the more skills you have the less stuff you need.
I’m fixing on going to Mark Twain national Forest next week and I’m going to spend two weeks out there out of my backpacking pack without resupply. It’s gonna be freaking awesome. A lot of extra weight for two weeks worth of food for me and the canine but it will be worth it the sucker the training is the better off you are also Mark Twain national Forest in Missouri. You can do pretty much what you want I’ll be in full gear as well but I won’t be near the recreation areas and camp sites and what not I’m going to bushwhack at the whole time
Well put. I know many people who I’m sure genuinely wish to be about this lifestyle but they are all talk. When it comes down to it, every excuse in the book comes out to avoid it. So yeah, 100% agree.
Is there a hand raising emoji???? lol. Absolutely! I would have to say the most interesting weather environment I was in during training was during a damn high wind advisory. Holey moley was that interesting!!! I also know how much frigid cold my fingers can handle until I am useless for anything but observation behind my precision rifle. Or how difficult it will be to run your weapon's functionality during that cold. O GOSH, and cleaning and drying ALL of your gear in your kit after lots of rain and mud. ugh!!!! But LETS GET IT ON!!!!!!
Funny, my boys and i had a range day planned, and rain came up on the forecast. The immediate reaponse was, " we train in the rain", and a round of reminders that our kits should include items for every conceivable scenario....first aid, thermal regulation, shelter, water, food, etc. Even if youre just going to the corner store. I second the backpacking as training. You learn alot when you have to adapt with only what you carry and know
Never been in the military, but I spent 25 years as a lineman in the field working in the worst weather conditions you could imagine, it’s not everybody. It does get you prepared for what’s going to happen possibly, did I mention also own a big generator.
Intentionally went camping twice with my larp gear in the middle of winter (well recently towards the end due to time). I agree in larping in bad weather is important so you know where your kit can fail.
Well said. Marine vet here, our motto, "If it ain't raining, we ain't training." The purpose of training, is to do it outside of your comfort zone and push yourself beyond your own standards. Pushing yourself to failure is gain. Don't seek perfection, you will never catch it, instead seek excellence.
If it ain’t raining it ain’t training
Perfection is not obtainable, but if we chase perfection, we CAN catch exellence. Vince Lombardi
Learning how to suffer was the best thing I learned in the Marine Corps.
Rah
I like watching these Grunt Proof videos, good information. I’m all for minutemen, militias, etc as long as the training is involving military vets with the non veterans, train with those that have been there and done it. Now this will be hard to grasp for some but if the SHTF, in a years time (give or take) the enemy will cull out the weak in a militia and the militia will be stronger for it.
Bottom line, train hard so you will suffer less losses in your group during the culling.
100% on point. Im 38 and overweight at about 350lb. Over the last 6 months i have been going to the gym once a week minimum, haven't missed a week. Put on a fair bit of muscle, feeling a lot better, lost almost 20lb so far. Started hiking/rucking again last week. Did 3.49 miles after getting2in of snow overnight and was 22f. Trying to get out once a week. Pick a day, go regardless of the weather. Great way to shake down your gear. Planning some overnight trips this spring. Hoping to do some multi night trips this summer. My goal is just to be able to get home on foot in case of an emergency from within about a 30mile radius. If im getting after it, you probably can too. Get some!
Keep it up my Friend
✌🏾
good job, man! keep going
Stay motivated hard charger! You got this!
You've definitely got the right mindset , attitude and heart ! Godspeed brother !
If it is cold where you are you should check out Tim Ferriss' 4 hour body - Ice Age Chapter on using cold to activate brown adipose tissue. Just a heads up, it will make you hungry. There is an accessory chapter online called 'An Alternative to Dieting: The Bodyfat Set Point and Tricking the Hypothalamus' that might help with the hunger.
Absolutely true. In my pistol classes I tell people, the criminals look for opportunities. They aren’t going to attack you when you look like a predator and have your shit together. It will be the day you didn’t sleep good, you have a headache, your back hurts, and it will be raining. Enjoy and be thankful for training in the worst conditions. Because if you can pass the test at your worst, you will make them fail at their best. Everyone needs to listen to this guy, he speaks nothing but truth!
My wife thinks I’m nutz. I go the range when time permits no matter the weather. It separates good gear from shit real fast.
Bingo. One thing I would say is cut out the drugs/bad habits. Being caught with your pants down and you are inebriated is a very bad thing.
We've adopted the philosophy already, and it is paying dividends as you say. I'm 68, two knee replacements, and I don't give a sh*t anymore. I train no matter what.
That's awesome! If you can do it on 2 knee replacements, just about anyone can. I've been a life long athlete and fought competitively and received a few serious injuries here and there and I will probably be due for a knee replacement in 15 years or so. If they are still doing them then! I think the world might go to such shit you can't even get a knee replacement in many places.
Ditto. 65 years old, one new knee, spinal fusion, still hiking through town with my ALICE gear.
Bravo Sir. Me 69 y. Same here.
Out fucking standing sir!
Bro ur 70. Go sit at home on whats left of ur retirement 😂😂
Thomas Paine had a term for them. "Summertime Patriots'. Once fall came or late fall, they went home. Sad.
“THESE are the times that try men's souls. The summer soldier and the sunshine patriot will, in this crisis, shrink from the service of their country; but he that stands by it now, deserves the love and thanks of man and woman. Tyranny, like hell, is not easily conquered; yet we have this consolation with us, that the harder the conflict, the more glorious the triumph. What we obtain too cheap, we esteem too lightly: it is dearness only that gives every thing its value. Heaven knows how to put a proper price upon its goods; and it would be strange indeed if so celestial an article as FREEDOM should not be highly rated.”
The Crisis. @@ClodiusP
Thomas Paine had a country, we don't. This is an economic zone, there is no country, and we're the virus in the new body populi.
Most summertime soldiers left cause they had harvest and family that depended on them ,I dnt believe it was cowardice or anything like that ,they loved their country and family enough to fight in the first place,but letting em starve was prolly more than they could bare
@@htchd1htchd149 Complain to the proprietor of the channel. Not me. 1 year of service was required. Not seasonal! Leave was granted to tend crops. Not leave and not return. Crop tending did not take place in the winter time. But spring and summer. Try again.
Lord, protect me from my friends; I can take care of my enemies
…”test our friends”, 😂 but true
I found out that camping, or rough camping in rain for more than two days will highlight all the gaps or weak spots in the gear and where or how I select a site. Now I think I’ve got it tuned in, but I wouldn’t of known any of it, unless I actually tried it in inclement weather
Cheers to that Brother!!!
Yes sir. Thats why i wear my gear as well when i walk my dogs on our 40 acres. I find out the spots that pinch and move or make noise while also learning to move with it on.....im used to the weight of it i wear a 25 pound tool bag everyday building houses😊 thanks foe the info
@@hughjunit2503 yes, keep testing, that’s how we get better
Won't know until you try. Personally I find it fun, beats sitting in the house over the weekend
I concur, test and refine
You are straight up. You don't sell no bullshit and you sure as Hell don't sugar coat nothing. No wonder I love your channel. Keep up the good work Sir.
Im a 51 year old infantry veteran and still go hiking and camping with tents. Rough camping is the most fun. I make a good roast wrap it in foil cook it in the fire and enjoy it with nice cold beer. good times
I work outside every day, regardless of the weather. In the 30 years I spent in the Army, one fact stood constant: We train in all weather, embrace the suck.
In fact, we trained in complete crap weather on purpose. My first Plt. SGT used to say, "the rain keeps Charlie's head down.
I frame and side houses. Either i stand in the rain all day and work or my kids dont eat. Whether with rain gear or not its doable, it just makes getting dry and warm that much better when you do😊
I was stationed in Alaska in the infantry it was all about embrace the suck lol
Yes. My job is "the suck". But Joe rogan says to make yourself do the hardest stuff first thing, in order to make your day job the easiest thing you do all day.
I was only in the Army for 6 years, but it spoiled me so that I can't work indoors anymore. Through the heat of the summer to the bitter cold of winter I wouldn't have it any other way, though. One of the benefits of working year round in foul weather is that I get to test all of my gear. My kit and layers are all sorted out. What some people imagine conditions being in a "survival" situation is a Tuesday for me.
I enlisted in 1983. The Army was changing from post Vietnam Era, although most of the senior officers and ncos were Vietnam vets. They definitely had a no-nonsense approach to doing things. As I used to tell my soldiers, we make training harder than actual combat so that when the shit hits the fan, you don't lose your shit.
I was a boyscout in the 80-90's. One camping trip a month. Rain, snow or shine. Everything you need in a backpack. All your clothes, poncho, tent, tarp, kitchen stuff. Great lessons for any 12 yr old. We woulda "out camped" half the full grown adults of today easily. Bunch of kids.
Became much more apparent camping with my friends in my 20's. One trip I remember we had on the calender for months. We rolled up after dark. Pouring rain. My buddies... had nothing prepared. I tarped up an area. Put up my tent. Guys were befuddled thinking about going home. I helped them put up their tents in the dark. Built a fire(I brought dry wood). Ended up being a nice weekend. But the lack of readiness was apparent.
Did you ever make Eagle? THAT remains one helluva high honor even these days, and the few Eagles I knew back in my day would have been the kind if guys you wanted covering your back in any situation. Brains, balls and loyalty! (Hey- that might make a good Eagle Scout motto... would look great on a sash!)
@Julian-bq9qv Yup. I dunno if scouts are around anymore. I never hear anything about them. We used to go door to door fundraising. Making our presence known. I still see Girl Scouts selling cookies at the store. I guess they are still around.
Sounds like the Scout troop I was in. Monthly backpack trips in the CA Sierra Nevada Mountains and camping trips in the snow. I made it to Eagle Scout in 1995. I’m currently a Deputy Sheriff here in So Cal. 👍
Same! Loved it. Every month rain or shine! Troop 473
I work mainly outdoors, northern Alberta in an oil sands refinery, as a refrigeration/hvac mechanic, a lot of what I do is electrical troubleshooting, wiring diagrams, fixing compressors & motors etc, all in temps like -52C (like recently) and +38C etc, and the biggest or hardest struggle I find is thinking clearly, and remaining calm in those conditions. Thinking+problem solving electromechanical faults/failures+repairs.
I find that exposure has made training outdoors or camping when it’s shit weather that much easier and forgiving. Lugging a 50 pound tool bag to the top of a structure in the plant at -45 helps a ton for when you’re in nature hiking at -10 haha
Spent several years a field service tech. What I can tell you learning how think and function in that weather is teaching you skills you can’t buy. When you decide working outside is for the birds, you will be light years ahead of your peers in a man indoor plant. You will be the rock star. Because when everyone else is shitting themselves you’re going to be standing there going this ain’t so bad.
i'm in alberta as well , worked the patch around bonnyville for years , living down towards calgary now and hit the mountains as much as possible year round.
@@milldawgj9598same. Spent 3 years on pipeline and then came and did other things, the others don’t have the same sense of awareness & project mission.
That's incredible man.
Agree.
1.) Assume your adversary is going to take advantage of every thing that sucks to you: night, humidity, cold, hot, wind, hunger, thirst, lack of sleep, a swamp full of mosquitos, a heavy pack
2.) If smart, they'll take advantage of what seems EASY to you: familiar areas, linear danger areas, "lines of drift" (the easiest ways to move through an environment), "handrailing" roads/waterways, etc., higher grounds, natural cover/concealment, resting on Sundays, easy water sources. This doesn't always mean "don't use them", just know that a smart enemy will anticipate your lazy actions or inactions. Being predictable raises your risk of failure.
I went to PLDC with a dude who was 11B back in 1994. We did an FTX over the weekend and that grunt knew his shit. I learned a lot from them over the years-
Holy crap, that was blast from the past. Thanks. PLDC, FTX, ...throw in a few more!! Lol
Awesome!! I've even gotten in the habit of making it suck at home (an advantage of being single), no A/C in the summer - in my house or car - and keeping the window open in my bedroom at night. Letting my body acclimate to the seasons makes my time outdoors so much easier. Even simple things to increase the suck of life like a cold shower every morning. I have definitely figured out who I can rely on by the ones that back out of something as simple as a day shooting in the sandpit because it' "too hot"....
Hobby historian here, bad weather favors the the attackers and is an active detriment to defenders. Doing the stuff in bad weather is the same as slightly stacking the cards in your favor. Personally I am skeptical of those with nice gear but will not even flat range if its going to rain. Compensating lack of skill by gear has made a new class of individual and that is the loot drops. I think my weaknesses are fitness is on the low side, low on conflict ammo, long term self sustained food is lacking etc. Good video we really do need to actually pause and think about our own weaknesses and work on ourselves.
Good point man. I’ve done training in very brutal weather conditions.
When one was in the military and where makes all the difference, other than two weeks every year I sat behind a desk pounding a typewriter in a nice warm office and when we were out in the field when we returned the armor cleaned our weapons when we turned them in, I field stripped and cleaned my m16 once when it was issued, had a m14 in basic and much preferred it to the m16. Last time I was in a tent was when our jeep club went to an off-road park, and we set the tent up on a trailer for the night. That said I have gear and know how to use it which is half the battle anyway.
"All that is necessary for evil to triumph is for good Men to do nothing."
Thanks for all you do. "Stay Strong, Chase Excellence Brothers."
- Godspeed
Most folks just are plain afraid of being uncomfortable. 11 year army veteran. Panama to Alaska. Ranger. I survived it . Just gotta learn to say fuck it and drive on. You'll feel better and more confident after each and every time!
I help a few friends of mine by training them. I was an Airborne Ranger (Bco 2/75) in the 80s. I was voluntold to go to Central America while in Q course. I was attached to 7th group. These are my bona fides.
I train these folks. The first time we were supposed to go camping, I had a ranger roll, old LBE with my butt pack with food and a water filter. One of them came with a Kifaru pack that weighed something like 80 -90 ibs; for a three day outing.
They had no idea. Before we started, when I saw this guys stuff, I let him start off. As we started “the hump” I whispered to him ounces are pounds. About 20 minutes in, the complaining started. We hid the pack and the majority of the stuff way off trail.
Poncho, liner, some food, firs & first aid kit was all i had. I;ve taught them to deal with the weather, terrain and swamps around here.
I know many people that don’t
Unusual question from an outsider: why so many people in US military use term "bona fide" in some weird meaning? In fact, many latin words are used in different meaning. "Alibi" comes to mind. What's the deal with all that faux latin?
Absolutely!
Before I was a Ranger, I trained to be one, I slept outside, I hiked, I camped, I practiced Wilderness Survival, and I trained in various martial arts and with melee and ranged weapons. Over 20 years I trained- from 1998 to 2022.
I saw rain as opportunities to test out new waterproof gear, how well my insulation layers worked, how quickly I could get my tarp up, and practiced wet weather fire craft.
I have always enjoyed being outside, and rolling around in the muck Rambo style - got plenty of it during Survival School.
I’m sorely saddened to know that my profession doesn’t work or live like that . . . Aragorn set standards WAY too high.
I moved out of California so I could experience winter’s bite- and in New England- We get nor’Easters regularly. I love the cold. I love the snow, I LOVE WINTER CAMPING AND BACKPACKING, and I am a sucker for wool.
There hasn’t been a winter yet since I moved here that’s dropped below -12 in my area. But I still absolutely agree with conditioning during in-climate weather conditions! I may have been over qualified for my job - but I feel like I’m still training for something. . . . Bigger.
One thing I always do is train in adverse elements. My friends and I regularly go shooting in the rain, the wind, and the 120+ degree heat in AZ. I intentionally go camping in bad weather as well. You’ll never know what you or your equipment is capable of if you don’t challenge it in less than ideal conditions.
Does it rain much in AZ??
@@huwhitecavebeast1972Not necessarily. We do have what’s called Monsoon season, when it does actually rain, it just dumps. I mean dumps! Complete torrential downpour in a short time span, causing flash floods, and certain parts of the city that are lower like interstates will flood a bit do to an overburdened drainage system which is actually very robust and built into the city engineering because it’s so flat in the Phoenix valley. Besides a few months of on and off of that mixed with giant dust storms like the middle east, heat and extremely intense UV exposure from the sun are the main concerns. Shade is your best friend.
100% on taking your "go bag" for real backpacking trips. Not military here, but I find that spot on for prepping. learned that I sucked big time at starting fires in damp conditions, knowing how to layer in wet weather, and other important stuff
Even 10 years ago, the landscape was completely different. It's amazing and we owe a big debt to channels like yours and others who push physical and mental fitness so hard over the Instagram gear.
I think the biggest weak spot in our community isn't training but in mission. I don't mean "Training for an assault" or "Getting familiar with radios." I mean why are we doing it? For me, my mission is the preservation and enrichment of my faith, people, and culture, in honor of my patrimony, for my posterity. That is why I train, that is why I am taking my fat ass to the gym for 15+ hour gym weeks, and that's why I'm embracing the suck and seeing rain not as a deterrence, but as a challenge.. Because it's going to get worse and I want my faith, people and culture to come out the other side.
Heritage Americans can burn themselves alive for the left and still be damned for being white. That's modern America, and the traditional mission of our movement is not deep enough to stop anti-Christian, anti-White, and anti-American hatred that is spreading.
Thanks for the wakeup call without being disrespectful. Motivational, well received and appreciated.
I will go to the range in terrible weather. Rain ,snow, cold,low light, wind. The only other person i will ever see there is the local class f champion. Its amazing how much harder it is to shoot accurately in wind and rain. I also made camo cardboard cutouts and put them in the brush to see if i could hit them . Good luck.
I’ve trained LARP in heat of 112 and got heat exhaustion. I learned to drink more water than usual. Then LARP’d in winds and gust, dirt everywhere! I wore a skimask and hat. Missing my targets a lot, had mocos running down my face lol. It was fun and learned what to expect
Did a snow ruck this year for the first time in single digit Temps, battled ice and snow on another ruck. Pushing for different weather training this year and embracing the suck
My heaviest level of sustainment (ruck) contains all I need for comfortable cold sleeping in winter. If it's a permissive environment, I have hammock and tarp. If it's non permissive, ground matt and top quilt, if I dropped my ruck, all i carry is a poncho. Cold, but mostly dry.
If sleeping isn't possible, gonna scrub that mission! Nice thing about being small, you plan your own mission and can frag-0 them as needed😆
Adapt, be ready to.
Former infantryman here. People hate training in inclement weather because it sucks. I am going to do what I planned regardless of the weather otherwise it won't get done.
You'll be the only one out there.
The feds stay in on rainy days their Soyboys melt.
It's fixing to piss down rain right now and I am off work, putting my pack on my back and going on a four mile run. Like you said spent most my time soaked to the bone, hot as hell, or freezing hahaha very few oops were ideal early spring or early fall ideal weather, and it sucked haha
On point on this topic! I come from a climbing/mountaineering background and our version of "Embrace the Suck" was called "The Art of Suffering"... Shitty weather happens, it's how you deal with it that makes the difference. The more time spent doing your thing in adverse weather conditions the less it bothers you.
Keep preaching the good word!
Yep, gotta do the things all conditions and times of the year. Planning with your people is another story lol, but that doesn't dissuade me and a couple of my guys who tend to be more time-flexible.
Excellent talking points brother.
What I took away from the Bundeswehr, which is underfunded and mostly has equipment from the 70s and outdated training, was the mindset.
I like it when it really sucks, it's raining, I love it, it's cold, I love it, I'm wet, my legs are sore and I have to walk the last 7km to camp, I love it.
The most important thing is to be mentally and physically resilient.
Very encouraging. I am 66 and for past 14 months I have been doing all that and more...like cold water plunges in 39 deg.
Thanks!
It's looking like we the people need to start getting ready, the situation in Texas could get out of hand real quick because the States are real about this and things could get crazy fast
Too bad Abbot is a WEF stooge. All the troops at the border are for optics.
I kinda think its a ploy or something. Especially when migrants seem to just be able to walk up the fence a mile and cross. Idk maybe I'm off.
Your videos, among others, have been invaluable to our militia here, thank you!
I live in the Appalachian mountains. If I didn’t train in crappy weather, I’d never train.
I'm fairly physically fit for a 63 year old. 6'. 215 lbs. I do exercise but now I'm old and I have some health problems. I know I would not be of much use charging up a hill during an assault or going on a 5 mile with my loaded ruck, In fact for the most part I'd very likely be a liability. But I don't want to cower in the corner of my bedroom when things go bad. But I still enjoy your videos.
This video was very timely, I’m taking my boys out for some grunt rucking and camping this weekend for this very thing. It’s fixing to rain and snow while we’re out in it, but I’m going to be teaching the boys to be okay with being uncomfortable, land navigation, camo utilization, setting up poncho shelters, building fires in wet environments, etc.
My job requires me to work in ALL weather types. From stifling heat to torrential thunder storms to blizzards. I do the same with my training.
My wife and daughter benefitted greatly from backpacking. From motivation to be in shape, to appreciating beauty for beauty's sake, to understanding one's own limitations, to acknowledging to power of preparedness. That all is premium, but you get to top it off by spending time together, telling stories, talking real without distractions.
3 months ago, Christmas eve. The boys and I went on a trip to train. Long story short by the end of the three day trip we had no sleep (got covered in spiders) and we woke up at 3AM after a little sleep, our shelter flooding (Dug a pit in the sand and filled it with coals to keep warm but the tarp had a hole and I woke up shivering from a soaked sleeping bag in 30F weather) and now we're all wet. No light, no trail, 3 miles to walk in briars, covered in sand and we're all soaked and can't see eachother from pitch black night AND super rocky terrain.
5 hours in that hell but we made it and would go again any day.
Train in the suck, you'll hate it in the moment but at the end be glad and have awesome memories with the boys
Agree, it's very good to be ready for any weather, even if you don't like it. with that said I support anyone who is into training or the gear, even if they aren't at that stage of it. I've gone from the only go do it in the good weather guy to no I wanna get used to this in the bad weather even if it sucks and it will lol.
I have a group that does all this. Several prior combat arms in the group, and we have trained all the battle drills besides #5 per the ranger handbook. Excellent group of guys and im very blessed.
Civilian here, I always thought that I was challenging myself in training. Literally not once have I considered training in the rain. Thank you for letting me know that I'm soft. Something so obvious as training in shitty weather never, not once, crossed my mind. Haven't heard any of the other cool guy channels talk about it either. Thank you for sharing🤝
Great message man. I try encouraging people to get out in “sucky” weather too. One of the points I make is that not as many people will be out in those conditions so you’re likely to be left alone. I know that encouraging people means more people could be out in those conditions but that just means if you run into someone on a rainy day, they’ll most likely be someone that can hang. Type 2 fun kind of people are the best.
One of the best videos I have seen! Short ,sweet and to the point! I tell my friends all of the time You gotta train in the rain or when the hard times come you are going to feel the pain.
I'm amazed how many have never been Boy Scouts. I know pre-teen boys that have endured austere conditions that 20-30 yr old men would cry over.
When I was in Wolf Scouts, they were already in the process of effeminizing the Boys Scouts. Now, Boy Scouts has been destroyed and converted into the DEI Scouts. Ironic that Girl Scouts is still allowed exist as a separate private institution.
Agreed. This year I made a commitment to train in the snow. I am trained and fit, and this was still a massive wake up call for every aspect of my preparations: fitness, water incursion, maneuvering and concealment. Everything was a thousand times more difficult.
But next winter I will be better than I was this winter, and so on.
Agreed completely. Backpacking with minimal gear, in non optimal weather is obviously a bigger test than a bill drill. None of my friends want to try out the backpacking piece lol
One of your better post ups. You tone, topic and approach all on point. You only grow when you are uncomfortable in life, fitness, training and work.
I thought you were absolutely on point. Well said and thanks for encouraging us to get the suck on! Why I love running the most when it’s 110 degrees outside…..it sucks!
I was a young man once... and did what you're talking about. Now I'm old, and people don't listen. This is well said. This is some excellent advice. Listen my friends.
Agree 100 friend.
Thank you for your content
I agree. If the weather would be "bad" more often around where I am, specifically when I'm not working, I'd get out in the shit more.
I'm an AK guy. If theres a blizzard out there I'm legally bound by the AK union to go out there and larp the hell out of that snow like its Siberia. Besides, can shoot tracers and not worry about starting a wildfire.
Some of the best fun I've had is larping in bad weather. Beats moping around indoors in front of a screen.
You point out a pervasive American mindset that goes far beyond even this 'community'. I personally see mountains of ppl who equate having stuff with doing things. A guy buys a bow and shoots it once thinks he's an archer, another buys a canoe and talks about the trip he is planning but will never take, yet another buys a brand new bike when he retires and never puts more than 200 miles on it.
Beliefs don't make you right, healthy, or strong only actions can do that.
I remember taking a Thunder Ranch class over a decade ago and we received all kinds of weather during those three days: sunshine, drizzle, rain, hail, and then snow. Glad I packed a fleece hoodie and a soft shell hoodie on that trip!
I'd like to say thank you. A lot of retired military kind of look down on civilians that want to train and learn. Some of us was "disqualified" for not disclosing twice having lung surgery before he was 19. 😇 However, thanks for sharing your knowledge sir.
80% of the population doesn't even have woods like that.
I do, many square miles of it, the problem is that in the east, it is almost all private land, and when Bubba is out there, he is 13 Busch Lights deep on an ATV and just can't wait for a confrontation.
Scotland here.
We can’t train in anything other than bad weather… but i actually seek high wind and rain when Ruck running. Excellent video, new sub brother 🫡
I've said this since our group formed four years ago. I'd set up training or even meetings and as soon as the weather wasn't perfect most wouldn't show up.
They got weeded out pretty fast because I made it clear that if we have to go active either because the sheriff called us out again or things went south in society it's not going to happen only when weather's perfect. I live in central Texas where it gets extremely hot specially in the hill country where all the granite just radiates heat back even through the night. If you aren't willing to train in the bad weather you surely won't fight in it.
My next training will be a weekend hike up the local river. The dry part of the bed goes from soft sand, mud to boulders and granite uplifts plus you have to cross the river several times to navigate up river to avoid trespassing. You will have ankle deep to over your head crossings and could be some pretty swift currents depending on where you cross and how much rain we've had.
For me this addresses two big issues, physical fitness and proper packing of gear to keep it dry during deep water crossings. You're going to work every muscle in your body walking, climbing and swimming with a full ruck. And if the ruck is packed right things that need to be kept dry will be and create flotation during deep crossings.
We'll see how many show up because it'll be rain or shine cold or hot. Unless they're expecting a lot of rain then for safety reasons it'll get canceled, this river is known for flooding with just a few inches of rain and can sweep a person away fast but that's the only reason I'd cancel.
I did a 2 mile hike, slept with Temps down to 27f, and hiked next day. Being in my 50s, and with metal from broken bones. I survived. Friends think I'm stupid but I do it, to test myself.
And your right, most don't want to push themselves like we do.
Keep up the great work 👍
Appreciate your perspective, I generally don’t want to go train in crappy weather, I’ll be sure to change that
Did 2024 Ham Radio Winter Field day in Halsey, NE. ( Bessy Forest Ranger District ) on Battery power 20/40/80m AM SSB Phone. Wife and I rucked in, setup camp and worked radio for the event, the two nights dropped to 15F. We had the whole entire national forest to ourselves the rangers didn't even work on the weekend. No one camps in cold conditions!! 🤣 We learned a heck of a lot environment wise! More importantly, Sheels was so far above our budget, the majority of the gear we had was 90's surplus. Now she can't wait to go again and to be honest I spent most the time just sulking in the silence of nature. Everything Beeps! There was no beeping.
As someone who knows nothing about the military, barely getting into guns, and taking myself more seriously. These videos are very valuable and worth their content in gold.
Excellent video - and I think a great side benefit, you find out what gear works in the suck too. Optics, bags, weather gear etc - unless you use it in the rain/snow/heat/wet places you don't KNOW how it works or not or if it works well enough. Test and push yourself sure but T&E that gear too. "Can I set this up with cold, wet hands? Are the buckles too small, does it not do what they claim?" etc.
I freaking love this video. Just been in a kinda readiness exercise and I failed in the small basic things. You just have to experience things to really learn.
100% agree. That's how I learned my eotech sucks in the rain if you let the lens get rain on it. Now I carry a cloth with my kit.
Exactly, the fight doesn't come at 70 degrees weather and daylight. It comes when you're hot, cold, wet, tired, and often at night. If you're only a fair weather fighter, you'll be a quick combat loss.
At 67 I daily carry a sidearm and a 25 pound (roughly) pack three miles on the average. Missed only six days this year. I also work in the garden, have planted fruit trees, berry bushes, and a grape vine that all require additional work.And I do some snow clearing for neighbors. I'm out with wind chills in -40, rain, snow, heat index over 100. I've done 6 1/2 mile days at my age. I'm sure I could do longer or heavier or both if needed.
When I was young I backpacked all over new england and did some solo minimal gear trips.
If I can do this daily at 67 the rest of you guys can do it once in a while.
I live in the pnw and train all year as well as ruck. Got some good guys down to do the same. I'm glad to have them to keep me sharp.
Well said, I’m not a vet but I’ve made it a point to never cancel a trip due to weather unless it endangers my life (sub zero temperatures mostly)
It's cold AF today, and raining (PNW). Got off work put my plate in my backpack, tossed my poncho over me and rucked on a very popular trail that during the "nice days" has insane amounts of people. Not a soul to be found. I love it, and I'll be right back out there tomorrow.
Absolutely True! Know who you can depend on, before you need to depend on them!!
Amen! And, I actually love inclement weather. I'm never hiding inside when it's raining.
I'm from Canada so I don't know if this applies in the USA but I got a free miners license. I can be in the wilderness, carry, and camp anywhere. If I run into a ranger or other type of inspector official, I show them my miners license and they can't say shit. Year around. Creeks and rivers are low at the end of summer so I will be out in the fall and winter as well.
3 days and 2 nights are the limit for this old man but I have to carry prospecting tools as well.
JUst a thought.
Interesting, I am going to see if there is a USA equivalent.
In the Land of Freedom no one is telling you to go home. Public land is open to everyone.
I think many don't train in the suck because many of us over 50 grew up in the suck with no a/c and little heat in the winter. Personally I've always embraced the suck, but maybe it's because my father took me fishing in sucky rainy weather and hunting in freezing temperatures. I've taken all my children tent camping (3-14 days) & hunting(12-14 hrs/day)with minimal equipment, cooking on the fire even in the rain. I've always felt they should learn basic survival skills. When my son & youngest daughter was older we went hiking over the weekend. Personally I trained with my firearms year round and in the worst weather because of two reasons, shtf isn't going to happen on the nicest days, and the range is cleared so I don't have to wait on others to change out my targets or train in the way I need to. Usually spending 2-6 hrs at the range when I go using multiple firearms, situations and distances.
Exactly what the community needs to hear.
Exactly why we go out in the mountains every month,No matter the conditions.
I enjoy this season because it requires that people alternate gear for the conditions.Summer people struggling with how much water to carry or have ready.
Keep up the great work💪
Hi I was also in Ramadi, in 2003. I agree if we can’t train together then we are responsible for our own Basic Training. Get fit, shoot straight, learn first aid, land navigation. All good starts.
What you said makes sense!! I am a retired Army vet, had the “luxury” of retiring early thanks to getting hit in Iraq, but enough about that! We do need to know how and when to use what equipment and know which of our friends know their stuff as well!
Totally agree with this. I am even guilty of this at times myself. Thanks for the time you put into making this.
I’m an avid backpacker, I’ve learned how to improvise in more ways than I can count and being days away from your car and no cell service feels very free. Appalachian mountains is a good place to vet some friends.
Totally agree with you.i waight training 3 times a week .the worse the weather the better.just like deer hunting in the coldest weather.i mean like ice hanging on face . absolutely we go out miles for towns .and the weather really doesn't matter . thank you like your show it's appreciated.
Ya as a 10yr Cav Scout I can tell you what you are addressing is extremely important. All the gear is nice but you have to be able to carry it for distance, sometimes you have to carry it at a very fast pace because your life depends on it. Just is what it is. Discipline, that is what you need, you have to be able to force yourself to do things that you dont want to do, what you are afraid of doing. To be able to keep going when your brain is trying to tell you to quit. Standing there bent over weasing out of breath is a good time to get yourself detected and engaged. Nuff said.
The only time we stopped training in the 90s and early 2000s at ft Stewart was during a lightning storm
I don't remember the last time I was hiking in a blizzard that I thought I have my gear dialed
Florida local here. If I waited on the nice weather to ruck or hike I’d never get to. It sucks but it’s great to test equipment and skills. Something I hadn’t tried before 2 years ago was starting a primitive fire during a TORRENTIAL downpour.
Like pretty much everyone I have ever known I don't like training in less than good conditions but I DO IT! After I train in harsh conditions I always feel like I've accomplished something a little more and that feels good. I think I get more out of it. I also actively train to deal with problems actively by creating scenarios that make things more challenging. NOTHING ever goes exactly as planned so train for that.
You hit the nail on the head, I live in the great PNW, if you are afraid of some rain you shouldn't be here.
I have found that long extended backpacking trips will definitely flesh out your gear and skills. Ounces equal pounds, and pounds equal pain, the more skills you have the less stuff you need.
I’m fixing on going to Mark Twain national Forest next week and I’m going to spend two weeks out there out of my backpacking pack without resupply. It’s gonna be freaking awesome. A lot of extra weight for two weeks worth of food for me and the canine but it will be worth it the sucker the training is the better off you are also Mark Twain national Forest in Missouri. You can do pretty much what you want I’ll be in full gear as well but I won’t be near the recreation areas and camp sites and what not I’m going to bushwhack at the whole time
Well put. I know many people who I’m sure genuinely wish to be about this lifestyle but they are all talk. When it comes down to it, every excuse in the book comes out to avoid it. So yeah, 100% agree.
Is there a hand raising emoji???? lol. Absolutely! I would have to say the most interesting weather environment I was in during training was during a damn high wind advisory. Holey moley was that interesting!!! I also know how much frigid cold my fingers can handle until I am useless for anything but observation behind my precision rifle. Or how difficult it will be to run your weapon's functionality during that cold. O GOSH, and cleaning and drying ALL of your gear in your kit after lots of rain and mud. ugh!!!! But LETS GET IT ON!!!!!!
I love rain and being in it. The wind and falling trees are challenging but stay clear of falling objects
Funny, my boys and i had a range day planned, and rain came up on the forecast. The immediate reaponse was, " we train in the rain", and a round of reminders that our kits should include items for every conceivable scenario....first aid, thermal regulation, shelter, water, food, etc. Even if youre just going to the corner store.
I second the backpacking as training. You learn alot when you have to adapt with only what you carry and know
Never been in the military, but I spent 25 years as a lineman in the field working in the worst weather conditions you could imagine, it’s not everybody. It does get you prepared for what’s going to happen possibly, did I mention also own a big generator.
Intentionally went camping twice with my larp gear in the middle of winter (well recently towards the end due to time). I agree in larping in bad weather is important so you know where your kit can fail.