OPSEC vs Community Involvement

[Matt In Oklahoma]

OPSEC-not telling everyone everything or anything. All to often I feel that people who want OPSEC withdraw from the community. I don't believe that is needed to maintain OPSEC. You can be active as a school board member, church goer, town committee, reserve officer, volunteer fireman or whatever and still be a survivalist or prepper. I want to survive whatever, yes but I also want to make a better place if I can. There is no reason to tell anything to anyone IMO unless you wish to recruit.
You can not just show up in the smoke of the aftermath and expect to lead or even be excepted by the community if you are not a part of them no matter how many FICTION novels you read from a "guru". I don't care how tight you have you stuff wired if I don't know then you aint squat to me! That's usually the opinion of most though very few will be as vocal as me and their actions or lack of, will reflect this.
Some will say "but I had foresight to prepare", yes congrats, still don't know you and right now with the ash and trash being displayed on TV there is no way I'm gonna let you do anything for me and mine and I am a survivalist. Like it or not right now just as much as back in the late 80s and in between we are considered "nutjobs" because of the actions of the few. We know most of us are not but thats just what is out there and is being vocal.
Some might say" don't care what happens to you and I aint rebuilding nothing just gonna hide, fight and bug-in and stay to myself". Great so day 27 badguys (BGs) show up and you smoke a few and later on month 4, things restore and the law wants answers and they don't know you, are they gonna believe you? Or things like rapes and raids are happening in the community and no one knows you but you seem to have supplies, "hmm I bet they got them when ole Roberts place got hit last week........"
Even just the neighbors, a little goes a long ways to beliefs of others. "He's a hermit, don't even wave or talk to no one and I don't trust him" or "yep he helped me shovel the snow and cleared them tree branches that time... seems to be a decent guys, just keeps to himself".

Dont be "one of them" be one of them and continue life

[1Admin]

Excellent thread, five stars!

And don't kid yourself folks, even when you don't say a lot, you ARE saying a lot via body language, what you try to "hide" from people and what you don't. I've often shown the front area of the building my AE system is housed in to people that were here working that we knew. Why? Cause your taking away the "mystique" of things when you seem like you don't have anything to hide. It usually involves a 5 minute rambling session about how our solar system works, how much money it saves me every year, how I hate the damn power company, hate getting bills, etc. They glance around and listen for a minute or so, then they are bored senseless. You have to have certain folks out, you can either stand over them and do the "don't go in there!" approach which screams "I'm hiding something, something sinister is going on!!" or you can keep some stuff as sterile as you can and play the BS tour guide. Guess what, word gets around. Suddenly your not the "weird guy" but the guy that is a cheap arse that just likes saving money on stuff and has some solar panels no one really understands.

MOST of us can't pull off the "I give a damn about the environment" aka greenpeace type cover. Remember that goes completely out the window at the sight of, implication of, sound of, etc. anything firearms related.

[WiseOwl]

Great points man!

I think about this a lot, as my primary plan is to bug in with maybe a dozen or so friends coming to my house "if" the world turns into a Rawles novel. Will the people in this town I live in, the town of 500-600 folks, that have been here for generations, the wealthy, the dirt poor, the country folks, the iFamilies....will they say "Who Art Thou and What do you think you are doing having those folks with you and all of this stuff and not a part of us"?
I don't know.
I would hope a community would pull together but a community is also full of snakes, worms, mice, rats, donkeys and owls.
Nothing could ever be perfect, civilized or barbaric.

I continue to trust myself, my decisions and my gut. I always remain OPSEC, but I am also a kind, conversational guy. Hopefully those chit chat sessions with folks around town, in the Dollar General, with the cops, with the people....pay off if ever need be.

[610Alpha]

Excellent thread!! The area I grew up in everyone waved at each other as you passed by on the highway...not to and we knew you weren't local. Wave at my neighbors that drive up and down my block...don't know them but I still wave. They see me with the kiddos in the wagon walking around the block.

[EX121]

Once again an excellent post. If I can add to it I would even say it should be part of your preps to get to know the local LE so they do know who you are. Most small/rural places need volunteers, Search & Rescue, CERT, etc. Even though I don't tell folks what or how much I prepare, I know from conservations who are like minded and if things really fall apart, who can possibly be counted on. Also the local Sherrif & some Deputies know me. I think this will help in a local diaster or a more long term WROL scenario.

[Grand58742]

Funny I was just discussing this at work the other might when I found a guy who described himself as a cross between a survivalist and a prepper. His words, not mine. But anyway, he stated he liked to 'lay low and not be seen.' So the question is, when does one stop lying low and bet involved? there's more to it, but I'm posting from my phone and trying to type out a decent reply isn't easy lol

[xdpatriot]

Great stuff!

[Matt In Oklahoma]

When I say "I don't care how tight you have you stuff wired if I don't know then you aint squat to me!" let me give you an example of why so you dont think i'm just being harsh, suprised Nat Geo didnt find this one too

http://www.lies.com/wp/2002/06/08/ex-convict-impersonates-special-forces-officer-at-bridge-collapse-site/

http://articles.latimes.com/2002/jun/08/nation/na-impostor8

he pulled this off for DAYS and ran the operation for HOURS

So the question is, when does one stop lying low and be involved?

For me it was after I had kids where communtiy involvement was no longer optional and after I settled down from forced moves every 2 years and could actually be a part of something and saw oportunities to use my skills and knowledge to build something better in my OWN country for a change. I see no reason not to be a part of stuff and allow FEAR to take over or use this title as a copout to just not be involved or responsible for my own community where I live. I hear alot of weapons experts on the net and yet every year we have to beg for enough volunteers to help teach kids to shoot, why? If you dont have personality to deal with kids no problem, load mags, set targets, be a safety officer and watch the line, run a paint, load clays into the thrower etc. can but use them ninja skills you tout and make something better that day in your community and maybe tonight when you turn on the tv there wont be an "accidental" child shooting another. When you leave no one will know you prep so opsec intact right?

[Hidden Agenda]

Once again an excellent post. If I can add to it I would even say it should be part of your preps to get to know the local LE so they do know who you are. Most small/rural places need volunteers, Search & Rescue, CERT, etc. Even though I don't tell folks what or how much I prepare, I know from conservations who are like minded and if things really fall apart, who can possibly be counted on. Also the local Sherrif & some Deputies know me. I think this will help in a local diaster or a more long term WROL scenario.

That is exactly the approach I have taken. I have been a volunteer, working side by side with the Sheriff and his Deputies, local police, fire-rescue and emergency management for nearly a decade now. Being on a first name basis with the local elected officials, cops and rescue folks certainly seems to lend to the "he's a good feller" mentality..especially when they remember you as one of the guys who spent 6 hours in the freezing cold floodwaters to rescue that family a few years back.

Do a few a those public servants know I'm a prepper...yep..'cause some of them are in my MAG.

[monkeybird]

As usual Matt you're absolutely right. I'm heavily involved in my community, when you entire family lives in an area it's hard to not to be. I've found that it's really not that difficult to share prepping information. I live in a hurricane 'friendly' zone, so discussing preps is natural. Recently I mentions a large water barrel I'd purchased. My friends were interested, after all it's perfect in a hurricane.

I'm a member of a woman's organization which is heavy into community support and involvement. Recently, our local sheriff came and taught a concealed weapons class and shooting lessons. Guns have become a very open and common topic of discussion among many of the ladies. By being involved, you get to know folks you may need to work with someday. After all, "No Man is an Island."

Perhaps it's because I live in a very conservative town, or maybe it's this moderate size, I couldn't imagine being a recluse.

[goatlady]

Absolutely correct outlooks here, folks. If you do not blend in with the locals NOW, you wil not be able to blend in later. Hiding in plain sight is always a good idea. There will come a time when "strangers" will not be viable/alive. Engaging/participating in community activities now does not give away OpSec and personal stuff, just shows you care about your community and in return they will care about you if needed.

[gunfreak]

I laugh at this natgeo preppers show with all the info these people are spilling out. Saying that they have this many guns within reach. Not good man.