Skills: Spot check +2

I was recently challenged to look at my skill set and actually rate myself on my chances of survival in an outbreak (specifically a level 4 outbreak) and why. Before offering you my skill set I want to share an interesting quote with you that sums up my thoughts on the matter:

"A human being should be able to change a diaper, plan an invasion, butcher a hog, conn a ship, design a building, write a sonnet, balance accounts, build a wall, set a bone, comfort the dying, take orders, give orders, cooperate, act alone, solve equations, analyze a new problem, pitch manure, program a computer, cook a tasty meal, fight efficiently, die gallantly. Specialization is for insects."  by Robert Heinlein~ May 8, 1988 died while taking an afternoon nap

This is quite personal information so I put it forward as a tool to use to think about a list of skills you may have. Lists like these can be important in a pinch because it lets you know what areas you may need to focus on building up. It also shows you what skills you lack and either need to learn or find someone who has those skills and it also has you prepared to offer what you have to a group.

I think of it almost as a resume but remember it is mostly for yourself so it is important to be honest and look at areas that need growth. (Which I will do at the end.)

Combat:
Training in ten martial art/close-quarters-combat styles
Six years of street fighting (unarmed, knifes, handguns)
Four years of firearms training (rifle, handgun and assault rifle)
Studied many forms of armed and unarmed combat and military tactics
Competence in speedball and paintball at a national level

Survival:
Five years in Scouting and three years in Cadets
Lots of winter camping
Experience with ropes, lean-tos, lures, bait, fishing, traps, fires, boats.
A range of camping/solo wilderness survival experience.
First-aid: including experience re-setting major bones, dealing with hypothermia, exhaustion, large cuts, extreme blood loss, multiple fractures
Canadian Military Field first aid training
Standard Red Cross first aid training
Above average cooking experience
Small amount of construction experience (building and repairing houses/small buildings)
Small amount of mechanical experience (repairing cars and vans)
Some experience hunting small game/birds
Small amount of experience farming: both vegetables and animals (pigs, chickens, cows and horses)

Group/leadership:
Own and operate a small company
Working in higher levels of managing small teams in a national company
Constantly creating and producing new works
A spiritual and emotional stronghold and leader
Experience leading small groups from children to adults in various activities and situations
Small experience leading trained soldiers
Experience leading hundreds of campers for days at a time
Very personal and easy to work with
Large social network (can call in favors or skilled co-survivors)
Training in verbal defense and mental health first aid
Strength in setting and accomplishing useful goals either personally or for a group
Strong dream builder and goal achiever
Trained with business owners and multi-millionaires on personal development and growth

Miscellaneous:
Basics of driving a large truck (non-practical)
Basics of flying a helicopter (non-practical)
Lots of experience with personal and small group boats
Competent swimmer
Extreme self-discipline
Some experience rappelling from helicopter and rooftop
Some experience free-running up buildings
Moderate experience scaling buildings and walls
Moderate skill at rock climbing
Can run at an average pace for 80 minutes
Can run at a very fast pace for 14 minutes
Can bench 135lbs.
Small amount of experience with welding
Small amount of experience with farm vehicles (driving and repairing)
Moderate experience horse riding (with saddle)
Small amount of experience with bypassing locks/obtaining vehicles
Large amount of experience entering buildings and areas unnoticed
Small amount of experience repairing and programing computers and video game consoles
Moderate amount of experience as a writer studying a varied range of topics
Very observant and careful listener

I believe I would have a moderate to high chance of survival given my wide range of skills. But of course the true point of this list is obvious, to look at places I have to improve still:

• Experiencing other cultures and survival in climates other then the Canadian winter (-60 C with snow and winds) and summer (+20 C.)
• Always more to learn about hand-to-hand combat.
• Can always use more practise with different types of firearms.
• Fast running time and physical strength.
• Experience hunting, especially large/wild game.
• My mechanical and construction experience, while it exists, is somewhat lacking.
• My solo survival skills have not been tested in a long time.
• Zero experience with large boats should be fixed.
• Also zero experience with flying planes.

I believe my large amount of actual hands-on experience in dangerous situations and my calm nature and natural leadership skills will give me an edge when the inevitable occurs.

Stay vigilant, may the infection never reach you, and those close to you have the resolve to do what is needed should you be so unfortunate, Mike D.