Questions for a Survival Instructor

S

Sidewinder

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Jun 2, 2001
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This weekend I have the opportunity to attend an Outdoor Safety and Survival course. Supposedly, the instructor is an Ex US Air force Global Survival Instructor. I think the course covers the basics (fire building without matches or lighter, shelter building, mindset, edible plants, water sources, navigation, signaling, first aid and getting found)

I would like to come up with some good questions to ask him. So, if you were taking this course, what would ask? (I will of course ask him about his knife preferences!)


Thanks!

S.
 
Wow what a question a question about questions.

Well look at it this way there are no exact questions you can present IMO untill you have seen what they have covered and did not cover. A general rule to follow in these cases thought is be fare and let the instructor follow their course of action no need to ask a question before they are done because they might be getting ready to cover that exact topic they just haven't got to it yet.
Do make sure he explains his reasoning though it is the equivalent to being able to drive a car and being able to explain how it works. To truely understand and form a good base of knowledge you need to know why things work the way they do. Some people simply do things because they know they work but understanding why they work the way they do leads you into areas where you can adapt concepts and creat alternative solutions which is important in survival and surprisingly enough usefull in life.
As well you will learn by how the instructor handles questions such as this wether or not they are the real deal.

As for the knife question it is not the knife in your hand but the knowledge behind the hand that uses it.
The one thing that kills me is people will strap a knife makers knife to their hip and think the buck stops there I don't care who makes the knife their abilities stop at the knife and unless they want to walk into the bush with you then you better learn to use what they made.
 
What is a "Global Survival Instructor" ?

Have fun... I'm certain you'll learn a great deal.

ROn
 
Having been in a weak-hand only situation before, ask if they teach or test that ability in their classes.

Most seem to assume that you will have your strong hand available. Not always the case.

A simple tumble can change everything.

Good luck, and let us know the verdict....
 
I would be curious about substitutes for soaps in a long term situation. Soaps for hygiene (body, hair), soaps for detergents, soaps for dental health.
 
I'd like to hear his thoughts on water rationing. That has sparked some debate here in the past. Mac
 
pict - Excellent question. I've often wondered about that myself

Myakka - The instructor's name is Gene Ward, I posted a link to his bio above.

S.
 
pict said:
I'd like to hear his thoughts on water rationing. That has sparked some debate here in the past. Mac
Click to expand...

It's been my experience that you don't ration water. You FIND water. There's a myriad of methods to find or generate it. Bottom line is water is your weakest link. If you don't have water, for goodness sake, don't eat. It takes 33oz. of water to digest 4oz. of food. And if you don't digest it, it just sits there and makes a plug....Very bad.

As far a s questions to ask...just listen to him. You'll come up with questions as he talks about the subject.

The Air Force has a good survival program. They actually have to go through a bunch of hoops, and a lot of training to convert to that specialty, then they stay in that specialty the rest of their careers. In fact, all branches of the military coordinate and trade notes when it comes to their respective school. A lot of my required reading to get qualified as an instructor was Army or Air Force material.
 
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