The Dirty Dozen rules for successful militia organizations: 1. We are not ‘the infantry’! NEVER fight like the infantry! It is OK to think like the infantry ONLY when looking for a way to defeat them! Remember, infantry battles require lots of collateral support (artillery, mortars, and large supply ammo/people to shoot it, etc.) and we don’t have that. If you fight a ‘standup fight’ with the infantry you (most likely) will die in large numbers. 2. A corollary to the first rule: TRAIN AS YOU INTEND TO FIGHT, and make sure that those who act as your OPFOR (opposing force) during training, think and act as the other side would. 3. Everyones a guerrilla. Fight to win. Do the unexpected. Think of Sun Tzu. Everyone is a rifleman first (or “rifleperson” for all you PC types) and will be armed, and fight, as the mission requires. 4. Everyone has a part in the success of the mission! If you are in a support or defense role and not ‘on the line’ you still are in the game and your performance counts. 5. The highest survivability in ‘front line’ combat is in small, well-trained teams that know and execute the assigned mission. Deploy your units utilizing their smallest components, while insuring that all small-unit actions are coordinated with other teams in the unit. Learn to use these smaller teams as ‘force multipliers’ when the action gets hot, and teach them to communicate effectively in the field for survivability. 6. Assure that each team understands the assigned mission, and that they have the training and equipment to accomplish that mission. Help everyone to get up to speed and squared away. Each member of the team should know their role and at least the role of another on that team. Cross train as needed to accomplish this. 7. Speak the ‘other’ local languages. Lets face it, not everybody speaks English in this country. Time to learn at least one of the ‘other’ predominate languages in your area of operation. It could save your butt some day and at the least you will get the right food at the drive through. 8. Foster ‘esprit de corps’ by forming special teams (only as needed). Remember, this is not accomplished by giving out ‘cool hats’ to everyone in the unit! Also keep in mind; if everybody could have gotten into the unit then it would have been called “Normal Forces” not Special Forces! Make them earn it and make it a mission you need done. 9. Every organization needs leadership that is compatible with that organizations mission. There are crisis leaders and non-crisis leaders! Don’t put a person who is a great fire team leader in a support role and expect them to excel right away! Set expectations and help them understand/accomplish the mission. 10. The militia is a voluntary organization like no other! In the Army you only volunteer once (when you enlist) and then you have to show up for training or go to jail. In the militia you must MAKE YOURSELF do the job as needed; this is called DISCIPLINE. Recognize this when you see it and reward it! 11. Plan to train a lot of folks who ‘see the light’ AFTER the SHTF! If we turn them away they will go somewhere and it may be to the other side! View you current staff/members as the ‘seed corn’ for Americas future units. They will be the ‘squared away ones’ who will do the teaching and lead the masses. 12. Be creative in your training. Make it as fun but realistic as possible. Talk about the ‘what ifs’ with you team AND their families. No one will want to fight if they think their families are in jeopardy when they are in the field! Make an action plan to involve and protect your entire militia family.
Posted on: Wed, 13 Nov 2013 15:18:30 +0000