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Interview: The Retreat’s BadVooDooDaddy……
Those who have hung around the halls here at ModernSurvivalOnline Institute for Preparedness Studies(M.I.P.S.) are likely familiar with the name….BadVooDooDaddy. This fine gentleman often comments on posts and engages in discussions providing his expert analysis and dazzles us with his vast knowledge.
OK – I am laying it on pretty thick.
BadVooDooDaddy is the owner of the website – The Retreat – Preparedness, Survival, and Just Plain Old Life. I have corresponded with BVD for quite a long time and have valued his opinion and respect him for his service to this country and the knowledge he shares with others. There are but a rare few preparedness sites that I frequent due to limited time on my part and The Retreat is one of them.
BVD granted me my interview request….and here are the results:
What is the reason for your interest in preparedness?
The reason I prep is for my family and their well being and safety. I want to make sure that I give them every chance at surviving what ever might come our way. I live in a heavy earthquake zone and we are way over due for a huge one. Prepping has brought me and my kids a lot closer together because we get to spend more time with each other working on these things. I also prep because I have lost all confidence in our government to do much of anything at all. I know that they will not be there for me when I need the help so I will make sure to help my self. I get a sense of self pride in the fact that I am slowly becoming more and more self sufficient every day.
Do you have any hobbies or interests that your readers may be surprised about?
One hobby that I have that people might find surprising is that I love to grow flowers. I really like tulips and roses and raise many of them in my front yard.
Currently – what are your SHTF concerns you consider when prepping?I am most concerned about an economic collapse of the banking system. I can see it happening all around me and it is like watching a horror flick in slow motion. Our country has become so in debt that there is really no way we can ever fix it and the Fed can only try propping it up for so long and then it has to come crashing down.
You have not made it much of a secret your thoughts on the government and politics. For those that may not be familiar with you – can you summarize your opinion for them?
I have lost all faith in the fact that our current government and also in the government we have had for the past 40 years. They are unable to come to an understanding with each other over even the simplest things. We have sent them to Washington to do a sacred job and to put our interests before their own personal interest. This has not happened for quite some time now.
You served in the military. I am very grateful for your service. Can you tell me a little of your military background and experience?
I served our country for 25 years in the Army. I was first trained in communications but found it too boring and went on to Ranger school and then followed that up with being selected for Army Special Forces Training. I completed the Q course and trained as a Team weapons specialist. I worked as an operator for 15 years. When I could no longer physically handle this job I went on to become a Communications Warrant Officer. I worked on repairing FM radios for field use and vehicle and also Aircraft use. As a COMM Warrant Officer I was assigned to a Combat Aircraft Brigade. We had both Apache attack helicopters and Black hawk support aircraft in our group. We served in both Afghanistan and Iraq on multiple occasions. These were just a few of the combat tours I would serve while in the Army. I retired in 2006. I would gladly do it all over again if given the chance.
In the past few years have you had any situations which your prepping came in handy?
I had an experience where I was very glad to be a prepper. As you know the economy has sucked pretty bad since 2008. I got laid off from a large Electronics retail company with no notice. I was out of work for over a year. If it were not for my preps and some of the money I had saved for exactly this reason I would have been in a very big predicament. The best thing I ever did was getting totally out of debt and cutting up all my credit cards. I have not looked back since.
A topic that frequently is discussed in forums relates to the ability for a single person, or family – to make it in a SHTF/WROL situation. Some feel that in order to survive you must be part of a large group. Do you have an opinion on the single family versus “survival group” scenario’s?
Well I feel that more is always better but only to a certain point. I don’t want to be a part of a huge group because there are to many unknowns in a large group. A group consisting of a few families that have had experience with each other and have similar goals when it comes to survival is always going to be better than a single family trying to do all the things it takes to survive for an extended time. Going it alone is suicide. You will never make it on your own for very long before someone get to you.
Favorite color? My favourite color is deep purple.
Favorite pistol? My favourite pistol will always be the model 1911 colt .45.
Favorite rifle? My favourite all-around rifle is the Remington 700 SPS Tactical in a .308 cal with a leupold Mark 4 scope. It can really reach out and touch someone from quite a distance. When it come to a semi-auto rifle it wall always be the SKS. They are built like tanks and almost never break down. They are also pretty cheap and I can get more ammo for it that way.
How much does your bug out bag/get home it/survival kit weigh?
I have trimmed my Bug-out-bag down to 12 pounds believe it or not. I have been trimming it down constantly over the past few years. I can’t carry all the stuff I used to. I have also went with ultra-light equipment where ever possible. It is a bit more expensive but I like the weight difference that it gives me.
Why did you create The Retreat?
I started my blog with the idea that I was given training and knowledge to survive and thrive in any situation and in any location in the world. People can use that information in their own situations and hopefully that knowledge will keep them alive. I also like sharing my love for the outdoors and for the skills it takes to over come bad situations. I hope that I can give my readers something they can use. I also learn more from them than they probably learn from me so it is a win-win situation. I have also met some of the coolest people while writing my blog.
Thanks BaddVooDooDaddy!!!
- Rourke
© 2012, ModernSurvivalOnline.com. All rights reserved.
2012-09-04 03:16:49
Source: http://modernsurvivalonline.com/interview-the-retreats-badvoodoodaddy/
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