CONTACT! A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival
Revised and Expanded Second Edition
by Max Velocity
ISBN-13: 978-1478106692
Publisher: CreateSpace www.createspace.com
Publication date: 2012
Sid’s R.E.A.D.Y. SCALE 1=Low 5=High
Readability: Literary style and ease of assimilation
Educational : Utility of the information
Accuracy: Fact or conjecture, opinion or consensus.
Detail: Depth of information. Are the nuts & bolts of the concepts present?
Yes Factor: Overall rating
The author Max Velocity (not his real name) is an ex-U.S. and U.K. armed forces member. He served with British Special Operations Forces. Per the authors bio: The author served on six operational deployments, including to Afghanistan immediately post-9/11, and also a tour training and selecting recruits for the Regiment. In explaining what the Parachute Regiment is, it is easiest to compare it in role to the 75th Ranger Regiment, although it is of course its own unique and elite force. He retired from the British Army in 2003. Following retirement, the author spent five years serving as a security contractor in both Iraq and Afghanistan. This included working on contract for the U.S. government in Iraq– a year of which was based out of Fallujah, the rest variously based out of Baghdad and country-wide. He also spent two years working for the British government in Helmand Province and Kabul, Afghanistan. These roles were operational security roles that included exposure to multiple different training methods and operational schools of thought, as well as both high profile and low profile mobile operations across Iraq and Afghanistan. The author then joined the U.S. Army and trained as a Combat Medic and Civil Affairs Specialist. He is a U.S. citizen and lives in the United States.
CONTACT! Offers the novice both basic and advanced military-based strategies for enhancing survivability in a post-event or societal collapse environment. This book is not suitable for children, due to theme. This is the second edition, revised and expanded with numerous blog posts that embellish the material from the first edition. There is considerable discussion across the Internet, blogs, and forums as to the utility of these techniques, tactics, and procedures (TTP). There are those that firmly believe that all one needs to do for training is to attend and participate in an Appleseed Course or take a Tactical Firearm Training course to learn advanced firearm handling, target acquisition, shooting on the move, et cetera from Front Sight, Thunder Ranch, Gunsite Academy, Vickers Tactical or any of the hundreds of trainers around the U.S. Proponents of each are adamant in their defense of their chosen path. Others still will stand by their years of experience hunting and strongly feel that’s all they need come SHTF. My thoughts are that all of the above methods have their benefits, and one would be well-served to take advantage of them all. However, to discount the value of the TTP’s in Contact! would be, IMHO, a prime example of the Dunning-Kruger Effect or as they say, “You don’t know what you don’t know”.
Now here’s the clincher, just reading this book in no way, shape, or form is enough. You actually need to get up out of your chair, step away from the computer, and take a Combat Rifle course from one of the fine instructors out there. Max Velocity and John Mosby are couple of solid trainers who really care about getting you, the patriot/prepper/American, up to speed. So, read the book already and GitSum !
Readability= 5 A very well-written text with numerous illustrations, which greatly enhance the understanding of the concepts. If you have never served in the Armed Forces, I would suggest keeping a running list of the military acronyms used throughout the book, or refer to lists that have been compiled in the past, such as the Survival Blog Glossary I’d recommend creating your own to help in the memorizing process. “Recce” (pronounced: r?ki, as in Wreck – E) is British slang for reconnaissance and is used frequently in the book.
Educational= 4 The author has put together a well thought out text on military strategies, both offensive and defensive, that was palpable and concise. Realize that some of the material cannot truly be implemented, without having squad-level numbers of personnel available to you, as the average reader with a family to protect. However, having a basic introduction to all of the techniques described in this book may serve you well in the future. Initially, post-collapse, the more complex activities might not be on your list of “things to do today,” but as time passes and the situation evolves/devolves they very well could be important skills. Granted, much of this information is available in the U.S. Army’s Ranger Manual or Military Operations in Urban Terrain (M.O.U.T.) Manual and other military texts, the author has put together some excellent information for the amateur survivalist or the seasoned, quiet professional in a manner that is much more assessable to the average untrained person. Regardless of whether you and your family can implement these defensive and offensive maneuvers is not relevant. Knowledge of what types of offensive engagements you may be subjected to can help you prepare to defend your retreat/home and family/group. In medicine, doctors miss more by “not looking” than by “not knowing”. In conflict, failure comes by not looking AND not knowing. The knowledge in this book can prove instrumental to your survival.
Accuracy= 4 The strategies and techniques contained within this reference are based off of sound military concepts and have proven effective for decades. The author, having served in both the U.S. and U.K. armed forces brings a wider perspective to the subject manner.
Detail= 4 Both offensive and defensive maneuvers as well as techniques for hardening vehicles and buildings are discussed. Mounted and Unmounted (in a vehicle or on foot) operations are explained in detail with many illustrations that are very useful. Practicing these techniques with a team is catamount to the learning process, and the author reinforces this throughout the book. As it goes with “The best laid schemes o’ mice an’ men”, individual results will vary.
Yes Factor= 5 I would encourage adding this book to your library of essential texts. It was a very enjoyable read, and I realized many misconceptions I personally held relating to what I would do in many SHTF scenarios. I see now that many of my preparations are inadequate and, perhaps, were ill-conceived in the first place. When a book inspires me to take positive action, I feel it was money well spent and time properly invested. Time is short folks!
Take care and God Bless. – Sydney