What Skills Can You Offer ?

How are you preparing
janso

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by janso »

Good topic.......... although its easy to look at what we can do now and applying the same skills without the modern tech or practice. This is no way a dig at anyone, probably more of a reminder for myself whilst thinking about the skills I offer! I have had the opportunity :lol: :lol: to have cycled through quite a few lines of employment over the years so its easy to say I'm skilled in X, but if X hasnt been practiced for a while 'skill fade' will start which really reduces the knowledge of that skill or abilty.
I suppose the easiest thing is to look at the skills I've acquired from day 1, year 1 (well maybe a few years later!) and moving forward.

Most areas of the building trade but basic electrics and plumbing. A good working knowledge of building with timber to include carpentry and joinery.
Butchery of most animals to include bird, game, fish and beast. Funny, I'm not the most accomplished when it comes to fishing either inland or off the coast!
Fairly competent gardener to include a working knowledge of 'growing my own' but more practice needed on maintaining the annual growth of fruit and veg.
A very basic understanding of beekeeping in both theory and practice.
A good understanding of farming with prior experience of basic veterinary skills.
Bucket loads of knowledge with regard to military skills, security and management of both.*
Fairly long experience of driving in various conditions with most transport other than HGV and motorbikes... which maybe is an area that I should look at even if its just the cbt? Basic mechanical and repair skills.
Good working knowledge of boats both under sail and power.*
Good working knowledge of most outdoor sports including bushcraft.*
All aspects of expedition work.... I lie..... I havent done enough on polar expeds!*
Good working knowledge of first aid, advanced first aid and emergency care.*
Good working knowledge of all areas of search and rescue, mountain rescue, beach lifeguarding including the use of search dogs. Basic knowledge of disaster management.*
Sports coaching specialising more on the personal fitness and implementation of training programmes for individual sports, i.e., triathlon, surf kayaking, surfing and mountain biking.*
Bucket loads of man management skills inc leadership, safeguarding, conflict management and resolution and NLP coaching.
Cooking skills with associated knowledge of dietary and nutritional needs.
Basic sewing and embroidery ;) but good with cordage!!
Currently, teaching is my vocation in life for over 16's, I also help to deliver various courses to different organisations ........ both are in the above subjects with a * with a basic ability of geography, geology, hydrology and beach topography.

Quite a bit me thinks......... but looking at from a prepping point of view... not all of it would probably be applicable or cater for the very basic needs to long term survival. There are areas that I do want to become more proficient in and completely new topics that I will need to learn to become more self sufficient, i.e., milking animals, better animal husbandry, canning, more able at electrics, mechanics and basic engineering.

Is there no end to what we should learn? :lol: :lol:

Based on what I have typed...... is their a certain role that we should consider making for ourselves if we were in a PSHTF situation and looking at belonging to a community? Maybe this could roll into a fresh topic... where do we see ourselves within a community, i.e, the role(s) in which we would excel based on our working knowledge/ :idea: :idea:
Red Doe

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by Red Doe »

Based on what I have typed...... is their a certain role that we should consider making for ourselves if we were in a PSHTF situation and looking at belonging to a community? Maybe this could roll into a fresh topic... where do we see ourselves within a community, i.e, the role(s) in which we would excel based on our working knowledge/
Good idea, though having said that I don`t think I`d be any good in any role except maybe group butcher/skinner/tanner or weaver. I definately would not do any work with kids as I can`t manage them at all, haven`t the patience. :oops:
I`m not bossy enough to be a leader of any sort (despite how it looks on here :P ) and am naturally solitary, but... I could teach poaching to folks. :D
I often wonder, being a fan of disaster movies, if the cliche of the survival group would be true in real life.... the leader, the angry man who argues over who should be leader, the screaming, crying wifie who needs babied everywhere, the religious type who blames it all on the devil, the troublemaker who refuses to take orders and puts the group in danger many times (and I lose count of the times I watch a film and say "He`s the sh*t stirrer, shoot him now! :lol: )

I do think group dynamics in any post-disaster situation would be a problem...most folks fall into two groups...those that don`t like being bossed around but could in reality use a good leader who knows what he or she is doing, and those who think they are natural leaders and try to do the bossing. :D

*wanders off to be solitary hermit again.... :D *
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scoobie
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Joined: Fri Nov 26, 2010 11:38 pm

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by scoobie »

Erm good post,here goes mine

Electrical and electronic repair or modification
Anything mechanical including anything with an engine
Shooting air/smallbore/fullbore rifles and optics setup
Radio communication HF/VHF/UHF
Anything computer related which probably wouldn't be much good in a SHTF situation!
General construction/building
Basic plumbing
Welding gas/stick/mig
Pyrotechnics and ignition systems
Cooking
Sewing

Could really do with learning some outdoors type skills I think!
By failing to prepare, you are preparing to fail - Benjamin Franklin
Attack Warning Red

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by Attack Warning Red »

Skills eh? Well, I am pretty skilled at what I do for a living and my hobbies, but they'd be USELESS in a post-SHTF world. :roll: Some things I'm good at though:

Navigation - map and compass, have been doing it for over 20 years since I was a kid in the mountains and wilderness. I also seem to have a natural compass, and if I arrive somewhere on a cloudy day I usually know where north is... :tinfoil

Endurance - not really a skill, but throughout my life I've proven to myself that I can just keep going. Have walked and cycled great distances and despite how bad the weather or how much I ache, I just keep going without complaint.

I also have lots of little prepper and outdoor skills. I'm pretty good a lighting fires using what's around - something I picked up in my scouting days. I can gut a fish. I can cook on a tin can. I can build a bivvy. I can collect rainwater or condensation.
lisaloolibell

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by lisaloolibell »

oh god this is a hard one

Cooking
Baking
I used to be able to knit but my nanna said I was cac-handed whatever that is?
Get on well with people of all ages and all abilities from all walks of life and tend to fall into the role of counsellor/peacemaker
Ive always done voluntary work while those around me cant understand the concept of doing something without being paid for it.
I did do a first aid course but cant remember most of it.

Ive got a lot to learn. :)
Carrot Cruncher

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by Carrot Cruncher »

I bags Janso as my "phone a friend" :D

The topic is a good one and one that has concerned me for a while. As a truck driver for the last 10 years, unless I buy a team of oxen it's pretty much a useless skill. I made it a goal for this year to learn some skills that will come in usefull ...but I haven't got very far yet

At the moment my usefull skills (and i'm struggling here) would be

Can drive anything from a motorbike to an Artic
Archery
Navigation
Basic mechanics
Fishing (in progress)
Veg Growing (in progress)

What I plan on learning this year is Radio Communications, Basket weaving (must be a handy skill), and Foraging. All relatively cheap to learn the basics.

About the only other "skills" I could offer at the moment are flexibilty and the ability to get along with people, and not being afraid of hard work I suppose.
maryb

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by maryb »

Another one with no very specific skills but I like to think I'm reasonably competent at most domestic things. I can knit, sew, and cook/bake/preserve. I get quite focused and highly effective when there's a real need.

My real skill in the family is reading the instructions. Because of that I have become family IT support, for example. But that's probably not a skill that would be very useful.

DH is very good at DIY and woodwork
preppingsu

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by preppingsu »

I think the thing here is many of us are saying we are not afraid of hard work and that will be an essential skill post tshtf. If there are a few people with brilliant skills then I would be happy to be a labourer/scivvy while learning the skill for the benefit of my family and the community.
I also think whatever skill we have it should not be exclusive - we will have to share what we know, teach others and be adaptable.

My god, Gnole, teenagers with guns, now that really scares me!!!!!!!!!! :o
counsellor

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by counsellor »

What a good thread red doe

And from what I’ve seen so far you are all welcome

As for me
Fix it man (mechanical maintenance engineer)
included motors, plumbing, basic electrics, really bad welding, basic building, roofing,
driver of cars, vans, mini digger etc
Navigation micro & night (built in compass)
Basic first aid
Therapist / shrink - loss and grief (death) relationship
Rotten shot with long-bow crossbow air rifle and shotgun
Fire lighter, Bush-craft
Calm in a disaster, Damage management, (flood and fire) good building knowledge
Grump old man :oops:
Chainsaw carpenter
Bicycle expert
Good at blaming my tools for not working well
Never finishes a job completely
Crap at cooking and food prep
Good at drinking wine
:D :D
janso

Re: What Skills Can You Offer ?

Post by janso »

preppingsu wrote:I think the thing here is many of us are saying we are not afraid of hard work and that will be an essential skill post tshtf. If there are a few people with brilliant skills then I would be happy to be a labourer/scivvy while learning the skill for the benefit of my family and the community.
I also think whatever skill we have it should not be exclusive - we will have to share what we know, teach others and be adaptable.

My god, Gnole, teenagers with guns, now that really scares me!!!!!!!!!! :o

I think this really speaks volumes here Su............ Its nice to think that we would have a huge range of skills that would keep us going through both the short and long term needs but I personally think we can never become 'expert' at everything. Ideally, each person would have a skill set that they can offer and apply for positive use, but this doesnt mean that someone with no skills is of NO use. If they are wiling to learn and put in both the effort and hard work, they can learn off others. This would effectively mean two people with a shared skill that offers more flexibility to a group. Those who only know a basic skill can be coached by those who know more. Knowledge is not a secret!

There are obvious skills that would lend themselves more readily for a SHTF scenario, but I dont believe that skills outside of this are useless. There are obvious skills that are transferable throughout jobs; the ability to listen to others, apply positive critique and offer help, guidance and support are just as useful. If a skill cannot be passed on to others then it really is of no use if others cannot apply it for future or communial means. Yes, computers and technology may not be of any use, but the ability to catalogue information accurately and concisely would still be needed. The ability and interest in number crunching would still be of use Im sure.

CC, thanks for your comment but im afraid you'll have to share me with everyone else who needs a hand!! :lol: