Survival Retreat Consulting: How to Lead your Family to a Secure Homestead in Rural America, Part Four – Retreat Security and Defense
How to Lead your Family to a Secure Homestead in Rural America, Part One – Introduction
Introduction to Retreat Security and Defense
The chance that one would need to use deadly force during good times on a rural property is extremely low compared to an overpopulated sanctuary city. While a major societal changing event is possible, the probability is very low, as is the chance that a retreat would need to be defended against multiple threats. However, most preppers make the defensive aspect of daily life and that of the retreat into fun and exciting tasks for the whole family. There is incredible enjoyment in watching family members learn vital skills in the areas of communications, field medical and firearms use that they can carry throughout their lives.
Operating and defending a property during a collapse requires a large amount of trained personnel. The number, abilities, and mindset of retreat members must be accounted for. It is up to you, the retreat owner to determine the physical condition, abilities, skillsets, and mindset of your retreat members and ultimately, defenders to plan a defense
Retreat Security: Having the ability to remotely monitor multiple areas of your property, including inside structures, from anywhere in the world is essential for Retreat Security. There are numerous systems available to suit various budgets, such as the lower-end ARLO and similar units that work with wifi and Starlink to provide real-time updates regardless of the owner’s location. With the proper alert settings, you can stay informed about any suspicious activity even while away on a trip to town or vacation right from your phone. These systems can also function in the event of compromised internet or satellite uplinks (while you are at your property) and integrate seamlessly with alternative power sources.
Defensibility: There are two basic strategies that can be employed to defend the property; passive defense (deterrents such as location, terrain, obstacles) and active defense (actual tactical operations). The type of defense employed is dependent on the retreat structure(s), location, terrain, and number, abilities, and mindset of the defenders.
There are however some factors to keep in mind.
- Age and physical condition of the retreat defenders.
- Number of dependents, young children, special needs, or elderly.
- Experience in survival skills; medical, mechanical, hunter/trapper, farmer.
- Number of military, police, or EMS veteran’s in-group.
- Firearms, tactics and trauma medical proficiency of group members.
- Mental resiliency of members.
- Number of members with actual combat experience (military, contractor or police).
- Total number of members available at one time for an active defense.
Actual combat operations (full scale retreat defense) is not to be taken lightly.
What to expect once you make it to the retreat and everyone is settled in may be different than you think. Here are a few thoughts and tips on overall defense of the property.