Thoughts on Discipline and the Guerrilla, by ‘Mike’

I very recently had the pleasure of attending NC Scout’s Scout Course. It was an incredible opportunity, not only for the training value, but to meet all the amazing people who came out to train together. It was an incredible group of individuals, tied together by a love of freedom and a willingness to train.
During the course I had several comments on the fact that I kept my carbine slung or within arms reach the entire time, even while eating or relaxing by the bonfire. The most frequent question I got was “Is that a Marine thing to do?” To which the answer was, to an extent, yes., but it got me to thinking. As I drove home after the course, I thought to myself about why I have that habit. Further, I wondered: why must it be a “Marine thing” and not also a “guerrilla thing”?
Admittedly, this is something that the Corps has engraved into my skull since boot camp. Every time I’ve been to the field, at least 3 times a day a Gunnery Sergeant or Lieutenant would check to make sure everyone had their weapons with them, and God help the poor soul who let Gunny find his rifle left unsupervised in a Humvee. It seemed a bit tedious, but looking back I see why we did it, and why I continue to maintain the habit.
The first reason I keep my rifle with me always in the field is weapon and gear accountability. My rifle is my most precious possession in the field. To quote the fabled Rifleman’s Creed, “my rifle is my best friend, it is my life. I must guard it, as I also guard my life.” My rifle is the means by which I protect my life, my brothers in arms, my family, and my freedom. I want to ensure that I always know where my rifle is, as well as my other force-multiplying tools. Y’all who were with me on the Scout Course don’t know this, but I always had my NVG on me as well, either in its pouch on my belt or in my cargo pocket.
The second reason was that having my rifle on my person helped foster a mindset of perpetual readiness. I was confident that, no matter where I was, if an unexpected threat were to arise, I was ready and able to meet it. Just the fact that I was wearing my rifle reminded me to be aware of my surroundings and subconsciously heightened my alertness. I would argue that this is even more important for the guerrilla than for the Marine, because there is no safe “rear area” for him. The guerrilla is always behind enemy lines, always surrounded, always under threat. It is thus especially important that he maintain a perpetual state of readiness.
Finally, keeping my weapon slung was an exercise in personal discipline. Discipline goes a long way towards affecting the success of armed groups. Having the self discipline not to smoke in a tactical environment can mean the difference between living to fight another day or getting your head shot off by a sniper who zeroed in on the glowing ember. Having the discipline to pack up your sleeping roll and shelter when you get up keeps you ready to grab your pack and go if your base camp comes under attack. And, in this instance, having the discipline to keep my rifle with me at all times ensures that I am ready to meet any threat that suddenly arises.
Self-discipline is a skill that must be practiced daily in order to make it a habit. You can practice discipline daily in a number of ways such as making your bed, brushing your teeth, and reading your Bible daily. If you practice exercising discipline often, eventually it becomes habit, and it will be easier for you to apply that discipline to areas such as the examples above to help you return home in one piece after the coming troubles.
Try this little exercise. If you keep a gun for home defense, try setting an alarm for random times during the day, and every time it goes off think to yourself, “If someone were to bust down my door right now, what would I do? How fast can I get to my weapon? Better yet, is it in reach?” You’ll be surprised how quickly you develop a tactical mindset and start wargaming your house.
In summary, I believe that those of us preparing for the fight ahead should seek to establish habits that encourage a warrior’s mindset and nurture our self-discipline. Prepare your minds now for what lies before us, we are running out of time. While you’re at it, read through the Rifleman’s Creed a time or two, and think about how it may very soon apply to all of us free Americans.

Hold your loved ones close, keep your heads on a swivel, and your rifle within reach.

– Mike

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About the Author: NC Scout

NC Scout is the nom de guerre of a former Infantry Scout and Sergeant in one of the Army’s best Reconnaissance Units. He has combat tours in both Iraq and Afghanistan. He teaches a series of courses focusing on small unit skills rarely if ever taught anywhere else in the prepping and survival field, including his RTO Course which focuses on small unit communications. In his free time he is an avid hunter, bushcrafter, writer, long range shooter, prepper, amateur radio operator and Libertarian activist. He can be contacted at [email protected] or via his blog at brushbeater.wordpress.com .

29 Comments

  1. Matt Bracken December 22, 2020 at 08:45

    “Gear adrift, looks like a gift.”
    (Old USMC saying.)
    There was once a very unpopular Navy SEAL mustang LT who let himself become separated from his rifle on the gator freighter his platoon was riding across the Atlantic. One of his platoon saw the rifle on deck unwatched, and dropped it right over the side of the ship, also unobserved. Big problem for the unpopular LT to explain how he lost his rifle.
    No shit, that is a true sea story I heard about from back in the 1980s. Not my platoon, not my ship, but the word got around about what happened.

    But on a less humorous level, the point of the essay is well taken. A guerrilla is always in enemy territory, behind the lines, and must be ready for a raid by security forces 24/7. If the first hint of a raid is the sound of motors, or shadows moving in the woods, or even rounds snapping past, if you have to waste the first 30 seconds just getting back to your rifle, you are probably screwed.

    And this is another reason I prefer a very basic 2-point sling. I adjust it so that I can slip it around to very comfortable muzzle-down carry on my back for walking around camp. In this position you can do most functions of life, with both hands available, the rifle out of the way, but you can bring it back to the front for firing in about 3 seconds. Comfortable and snag-free 2-point slings are super important, and always having your rifle attached to your body is one of the most important reasons.

    • StormN December 22, 2020 at 09:16

      I don’t like carrying muzzle down but I do see the value.

      • Johnny Paratrooper December 22, 2020 at 10:56

        The natural point of balance of the weapon forces it to point downwards.
        Why would you waste your time and energy fighting gravity only to aggravate yourself?

        There are muzzle covers designed for the barrel of your weapon.
        https://www.amazon.com/Muzzle-Cover-Cap-Black-5-Pack/dp/B009PSZJ8Q

        You should have 25-50 of these. They pop off the end of the weapon when firing in an ambush. Remove before firing if you want an accurate first round shot.

        • StormN December 23, 2020 at 10:57

          Thanks for the link. I can mod’ it to hook around my front sight. On my shotgun I use something like that from the hardware store as a dust cover. I also use earplugs as dust covers on my rifles. Out in the field I guess they’ll do in a pinch too.

      • Matt Bracken December 22, 2020 at 11:03

        Muzzle down across your back means you can swing it to the front in 2 seconds. But if you have to climb over a fence, up a tree, or along a cliff ledge, it has to be on your back. Also, muzzle down on the back means the barrel won’t snag on branches or overhangs. You can slide through obstacles with your hands free.

        • American Yeoman December 23, 2020 at 08:57

          That’s one of the things I learned early on from Run and Gun competitions. If you are actually going to move quickly with the rifle, it pretty much has to be slung across your back, other wise you are trying to hold it to keep it from swinging everywhere and it throws off your balance. It’s very difficult to navigate obstacles- do a rope climb out of a creek bed (actual stage) etc…The only other practical way to carry it would be to have it in your hands but that severely limits what you can do in terms of obstacles.

        • SOG December 23, 2020 at 09:26

          and remember Gents, Kyle Rittenhouse maintained control of his rifle when tripped and struck because of his two point sling. Modernize your rifle for today’s fights, Vickers Blue Force, Haley strategic, Trex arms, helikon have great modern adaptations of two point slings some with QD sets that can turn them one point if needed.

          https://www.helikon-tex.com/en_eur/zw-rfs-po-two-point-carbine-sling.html?usa-shop=US

          https://www.blueforcegear.com/vickers-sling

          https://haleystrategic.com/catalogsearch/result/?q=sling

          • NC Scout December 23, 2020 at 09:41

            Trex arms is a poser. Nothing more than a rich kid with bullshit videos and passes hideously bad information off.

            The guy is not worth anyone’s time. He’s literally worse than Cory and Erica (for those that remember those two).

        • StormN December 23, 2020 at 10:39

          Extra thanks for those last 2 sentences.

  2. Matt Bracken December 22, 2020 at 08:52

    Along with keeping your NVG in a pocket at all times, (great idea), I’m reminded that way back in the day we put a lot of thought into a mini-survival kit that would fit inside a waterproof soap dish or candy or tobacco tin. This stayed on us no matter what, so even if we had to flee into the woods wearing only our pants, we’d have basic survival supplies to assist during E&E.

    Here is a cool link to start you toward building your own SAS-style micro survival kit. The image showing what can fit in the tiny tin is awesome.

    https://www.cadetdirect.com/sas-survival-kit

    • wwes December 22, 2020 at 11:27

      Thanks for the link to the survival kit layout, I was looking over it, and that site has some other good info as well. And the survival kit layout that you linked is downloadable as a PDF too.

  3. Anonymous December 22, 2020 at 09:27

    4.5

  4. Anonymous December 22, 2020 at 09:41

    5

  5. American Yeoman December 22, 2020 at 09:52

    Discipline for me is working out. I don’t enjoy it. Period. My daily work does not require much physical exertion. Working out for me is purely a preventative health measure and it ensures I can carry out “field tasks” in the event things go kinetic. Those things though are “prospective” and maybe “speculative”…going to the gym every day at 5 AM is very here and now…. In all honesty, some days, the warm bed wins, but more often than not I am lifting to the Wolfe Tones or other Irish Resistance music…..

  6. Johnny Paratrooper December 22, 2020 at 10:53

    You should tie your weapon to you using 550 cord.
    Preferably, you should have a small, but strong and effective, carabiner that can be removed if you need it.
    When you march around the woods at night, being tired and exhausted, you are gonna lose your weapon.
    YOU CAN’T LOSE IT IF IT’S TIED TO YOU.
    If you think I’m wrong, you haven’t done a single land navigation course at night.
    If you send 100 people into the woods at night for a 8 hour land navigation course, 1 of them is coming back missing a rifle.
    Also, if you get knocked out, or someone tries to remove the weapon from you, they can’t.
    You should tie the line long enough to switch shoulders, but short enough that your weapon cannot be turned around on you.
    Also, when sleeping, you can tie your weapon to yourself. So it doesn’t get snatched up while you are sleeping.

    • anonymous December 23, 2020 at 07:29

      Good tip that biner idea. I keep a Leatherman multi-tool handy when doing fence work like that, but never thought to use the same idea for a long arm. Pistol / revolver lanyards go waaay back.

      Thanks.

    • Mike December 23, 2020 at 09:36

      I respectfully disagree, for a few reasons.
      First, I see this getting in the way a lot. Getting in and out of vehicles, for one, your “rifle cord” will get snagged on anything and everything. For this reason I don’t use a sling in vehicles. Walking around in the woods, too, it will get snagged on every branch and bush you brush up against, especially at night. If it’s not long enough to be turned around on you, it’s also not gonna be long enough to freely maneuver the weapon when you are crawling through brush or getting up and down to bound while under fire. And if someone wants to take your weapon while you sleep, all they need to do is have a pair of scissors or a knife. (That’s one reason why when I sleep with my rifle, it’s not just in reach, it’s in my sleeping bag.)

      Second, everything you’re suggesting can be done by having a good sling, as Matt Bracken said. Wearing the rifle makes it easier to always have it with you, and the sling frees up your hands to do other work without setting it down. Tying it to yourself is unnecessary.

      • Johnny Paratrooper December 23, 2020 at 17:17

        You should tie your weapon to yourself. Just the same way as pistols have lanyards.
        MACV-SOG, SF, and 82nd(The unit I was in) ties their weapons to themselves.
        SFAS Candidate? Guess what, you are gonna tie your weapon down like the cadre says.
        The Green Monster eats everything, Including your weapon.
        https://fieldcraftguide.com/dummy-cord-it-tie-down-anything-you-dont-want-to-lose/

        • NC Scout December 23, 2020 at 17:19

          You tie down sensitive items. NODs, radio, optic and laser on the weapon (to the weapon).

          I’ve NEVER tied down a damn weapon to myself. That’s what the two point sling is for.

    • StormN December 23, 2020 at 19:28

      I’ve been hesitating to add anything especially since I don’t have outside-the-wire experience. I was in a situation were those going on guard duty were instructed to set their long-arms to one side so as not cause visitors discomfort. This one Vietnam veteran with his ‘safari jacket’ type uniform ignored the ‘instruction’ and held is rifle at port arms. No one ‘corrected’ him.

      These posts have given me lots of food for thought. Previous to this thread I had decided that aside from the ‘hasty sling’ support for sniper-type fire and long patrols, the otherwise garbage-catching sling’s purpose was mostly for non-emergency use to free up your arms for labor duties, allowing you to keep your rifle somewhat available. I was thinking that with the threat of enemy contact, pushing your way through bushes and doors, crawling prone, etc. rifle at hand would seem to be the right place – the sling would just be a nuisance, catching on shit.

      BTW, I have gone with a simple 2 point sling and the shirt in my ‘minute-man’ gear bag is a polo shirt because the collar can protect from chaffing the neck. I’m thinking to reinforce it with some cloth or Gorilla tape.

      • wwes December 24, 2020 at 09:47

        StormN,
        When I took the scout course a couple of weekends ago I had a GI web sling (like is made for a Garand) on my carbine. It’s a great sling for target shooting because you can detach it from the buttstock and cinch the loop around your bicep for support. I discovered it was too short, even fully extended, to keep it looped around my chest. I had to wear it looped over my neck like a necklace. You’re spot on about it chafing your neck, it was more uncomfortable than the reins around my neck when I used to plow with a mule. I was wearing an Army surplus multicam blouse, and keeping the collar flipped up helped a lot.

      • Mike December 24, 2020 at 10:35

        I had never thought of the polo shirt, but you’re right, it does make a lot of sense. Thanks for the tip!

  7. wwes December 22, 2020 at 11:40

    Mike,
    Thanks for the article, there is some awesome advice in there that I plan to work on implementing in my own life. If you don’t mind sharing, what kind of sling were you using on your rifle? I need to put something a little different on mine, the GI web sling I had on it is great for the range, not so great for carrying all day, as I found out.

    Mike is an awesome guy, and I was blessed to get to be in the same class training with him a couple of weekends ago. I know I asked him quite a few questions about setting up gear, and other pointers, that I had never been taught since I have zero military experience. He had the patience of a saint, even when asked questions constantly, and was never short or rude. Just like the other folks who trained in that class, I’m glad he’s on our side of the wire as a true patriot.

    • Mike December 23, 2020 at 09:21

      Hey Wes!
      Thanks for the kind words! I was using a Vickers Tactical 2-point sling with QD swivel mounts, same model as I was issued. It has a blue tab quick-adjust buckle that allows me to adjust the tension of the sling on the spot, so I can go from rifle tight on my chest to loosened sling for combat use in an instant. It’s also incredible for stabilizing the rifle for longer-distance shots in any firing position. Hope this helps!

      • wwes December 23, 2020 at 13:19

        Mike,
        Thanks for the info! I already have a Vickers sling, I didn’t realize that was what you were using. It is the one that was on the 300 blackout pistol. It’s a little long for the pistol, and the web sling is a little short for the carbine, so it sounds like a swap might be in order.
        Again, thanks for all of the information you gave me, and I hope you have a wonderful and merry Christmas!

  8. Garry F. Owen, Trooper December 22, 2020 at 14:49

    In the Old Testament book of Judges, one of the ways Yahweh helped Gideon pare down his recruits was a snap test during a rest break while training. 1 in 10 maintained alertness and control of their weapons. They were the ones who were in a daring commando raid against superior numbers.

  9. SOG December 23, 2020 at 18:15

    I feel you on the poser factor however his gear is pretty decent. I don’t have slings just his holster. i dont endorse his range theatrics, literally just spoke to another CAG guy about his videos today, we were talking about NODS and shit. his range stuff has no tactical applications he is choreographing every video, its not real world applicable.

    I do have Vickers and Haley slings which are great, Kyle Lamb makes some good kit as well.

    • NC Scout December 23, 2020 at 19:12

      I run a very old VTAC sling. They’re all essentially the same thing, with a few differences here and there. But two points are the lone way to go.

  10. That dude December 23, 2020 at 19:20

    Dont bad mouth Erica, she was hot. Thats what matters.

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