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I just read in an older thread that one condition a prepper had for taking in others was that they also stand guard duty. Years back a bunch of us met together once a year to learn and practice survival skills. The first year we set out sentries to stand guard at night just as we would in a SHTF situatiion. What an eye opener! Most complained that their two-hour watch was too long, they were cold, they were scared, they were sleepy, they were ...? I think you get the point! Any who smoked couldn't do without lighting up on their two hour shift even though they'd been briefed on how far you can see and smell a cig. at night. They talked and joked and made enough noise to wake the dead when on shift and when changing shifts. Some abandoned their posts due to boredom. The next night they shelved the idea of standing guard.
Ragnor Benson mentioned in one of his books that the only reliable people he found to stand guard at night were widows who'd lost spouses and children to war. The only people we had that stood watch reliably (with the exception of one person) were veterans and some of them couldn't resist smoking on watch. It was a frustrating situation and I learned right away who I'd want watching my back while I slept.
If you haven't stood guard at night, try it. If a person wants to join my group I want to see them on post at night. No other thing on those campouts separated those who were mostly talk from those who were serious about survival as quickly as standing one, two hour, watch in the woods at night. If they do well the first night keep it up for a week. By the end of the week you'll know who you can trust with your life and who you can't.
Ragnor Benson mentioned in one of his books that the only reliable people he found to stand guard at night were widows who'd lost spouses and children to war. The only people we had that stood watch reliably (with the exception of one person) were veterans and some of them couldn't resist smoking on watch. It was a frustrating situation and I learned right away who I'd want watching my back while I slept.
If you haven't stood guard at night, try it. If a person wants to join my group I want to see them on post at night. No other thing on those campouts separated those who were mostly talk from those who were serious about survival as quickly as standing one, two hour, watch in the woods at night. If they do well the first night keep it up for a week. By the end of the week you'll know who you can trust with your life and who you can't.