Contact: Second Edition – Feedback Request
I have been working on a second edition of ‘Contact: A Tactical Manual for Post Collapse Survival‘. It will include a smart looking new cover by Tony Mauro, who did the cover for Patriot Dawn as well as a couple of Rawles’ books.
Here is the current book:
Before I finalize the updated manuscript, I would like to get some constructive feedback from those who already have a copy and have read Contact.
I have expanded the book by approximately 200 pages. I have done that by doing the following:
1) Expanding some of the detail, in terms of description, details and diagrams, for TTPs such as contact drills. My reasoning here is that when I originally wrote the book, it was a general manual. Since then, I have been training people at my site and I have seen what is useful and what is not, and what needed more detail in the book. I have evolved as a trainer. For example, the new version includes a blow by blow of the drills that I teach on my CRCD class, so you can replicate them if you either did not attend, or wish to refresh your memory when training others some time after a class.
2) I have peppered the book with some of my better and more informative blog posts edited a little and placed in the book where they best shed more light on the subject at hand. I have decided to keep them separate as individual blog essays rather than try and merge them into the text, because the blog posts tend to have their own flavor. It is manly this style that I wanted feedback on; some of the more recent copies of Contact already had the update with some blog posts added, and I want to see how people feel about that style?
The blog posts bring in a more informal flavor and an alternative to the straight-up text of the manual.
As the manual evolves to the second edition, it still includes all the original basics on prepping and family defense, but it has undoubtedly taken on a slant towards Resistance operations, to back up the novel ‘Patriot Dawn: The Resistance Rises’. When I first wrote Contact, I was a little hesitant about the full political side/fighting tyranny etc. I have also evolved my views on that since then.
That leads me to one final question: I have included some of my blog posts such as the one on HIT teams (no knock raids – ‘The Home Invasion Dilemma‘)). The book does reach a fairly wide audience and I don’t want to scare them all off – do you feel it is a good idea to keep that sort of comment in there, or leave it out? I feel pretty strongly about the subject, so I am not sure I am being entirely objective by keeping it in there.
Now the project for the second edition of Contact is largely out of the way, I am fully engaged in writing the sequel to Patriot Dawn. Jack and his Resistance Company are rolling again. I am calling the book: ‘Patriot Rising: The Storm Rages.’
Feedback appreciated.
Live Hard, Die Free.
MV
Your proposed additions sound useful, and I look forward to the second edition.
The HIT section is a judgment call. You could pose it as a violent home invasion by a gang (just wearing black clothes and shiny badges), but that might defeat the purpose of mentioning it in the first place. If you are taking a resistance-slanted approach, put it in there, IMO. If staying “prepper” focused, leave it out. Sounds like you have an approach in mind, however…
Still, there have been violent home invasions occur where the intruders posed as police to gain initial submission and the initiative… One never knows.
I look forward to the second edition.
Max, when I first read that specific blog, I was a little put off by it because I am currently in law enforcement. I do not agree that all folks in law enforcement are cut from the same fabric. Just like I don’t believe all soldiers are cut from the same fabric. WE are all human. Some might act like animals, but WE are all human. I do however think that blog should be included in the new version because it is relevant. It unfortunately is a reality people should consider and it falls within the topic of your book! I have read Contact and am re-reading it again. I am concerned about where our country is heading just like you and wish to learn as much as I can before it falls completely apart. I agree that police SWAT teams are often made up of under qualified, under trained individuals. I’ve actually witnessed that personally. I have also witnessed media reports of those teams conducting business in a way they did not sign up for (Door to door warrantless searches for Dzhokhar Tsarnaev). We all need to be punched in the face at times and this is why you putting that in your revised edition is so important. Maybe, just maybe it will cause enough of those “Thugs” as you put it, to think about the oath they swore to when they put that badge on! I have shared your post with 90% of the guys I work with and it caused each and every one of them to talk to me about it. Very positive stuff! My vote is to put it in there!
BOZ
BOZ-
Thanks for sharing Max’s article with your co-workers. This is important. They need to be made to think beyond “us vs. them.”
Same goes for non-LEOs.
Look forward to new edition. Like the separate blog content. Violent home invasion by ANYBODY needs to be addressed. As well as a possible resistance movement. I agree with your view that “preppers” that are merely interested in saving their own skins and not helping solve the problem of an oppressive gov’t don’t deserve the freedom that others are willing to fight and die for. If that offends some, fuck ’em.
As far as LEO’s, they are much like everyone else. Some good, some bad, some squared away, some incompetent. I have found the local sheriff’s dept has some of the best LEO’s I have ever seen, as opposed to fed goons too willing to step on your rights. It may soon come to pass that every sworn officer or soldier may have to decide between doing what they call legal, vs doing what is right.
Good points, Diz. Our county Sheriff and Deputies are good folks, if a bit overwhelmed because of the oil boom and the serious, nasty drug business that has followed it.
I’ve been able to have a few chats with our folks on this type of thing here and there. Not everyone is so fortunate.
BTW, I like your site…
While your book originally reached a wide audience your unfounded views have certainly narrowed the field. I find it interesting that you have diarrhea of the mouth on the blog, towards other who carry guns for a living outside of your field and that would probably be a large monetary base and would receive and welcome your training were you not so openly negatively opinionated, but when it comes to making money from the book you worry.
Instead of directly attacking you should enlighten and educate just as you would as an NCO, you know the ole hearts and minds thing Max because you have knowledge and base that could be valuable and benifical to all. Also you should leave out the racial overtones because as you see it hasn’t helped Bracken out in growth and expansion either.
Anon-
You said, Instead of directly attacking you should enlighten and educate just as you would as an NCO
but you also said, I find it interesting that you have diarrhea of the mouth on the blog.
That is somewhat interesting, but in your second sentence, you seemed to commit the same offense of which you accused Max.
As for the substance of your comment, that Max’s views are “unfounded,” do you care to justify the exponential increase in violence by LEO towards unarmed people (I won’t say “civilians,” because LEOs are civilians as well) in the past ten years? I’ve sat in on some of the training sessions and have friends in the LEO field. They are training for a kill-or-be-killed world, as if they were infantry on the battlefield in stead of public servants. Max’s views are anything but “unfounded.”
I’ve had friends who have had their homes invaded and their families terrorized with locked and loaded MP5s for no offense other than knowing the wrong person when a friendly question or two would have worked just fine. You don’t kick in doors and come in ready for combat when there are more children around than you can count on both hands. That’s either inexcusably bad intel or plain reckless idiotry.
The statement “others who carry a gun for a living” you made is troubling, especially if your are referencing LEOs, but it does sum up the entire problem nicely.
Police should not be carrying guns for a living. They carry guns, and should, but if that is how LEOs define their jobs, it’s no wonder we are where we are. None of the good LEOs I know see themselves as “carrying guns for a living.” Guns are a tool to be used if needed, not a means of self-identification. Soldiers “carry guns for a living.” Police should not define themselves in that way.
I like many LEOs. My county sheriff and deputies are genuine good guys, and they are public servants. They carry guns, for sure, but that is not what they do for a living.
One last note- can you substantiate your “racial overtones” accusation against Max? I have worked with and spoken with Max for some time, and I assure you he’s anything but “racist.”
Max-I understand if you don’t post this. Some things need to be said, however.
Justin, excellent response. Well thought out and presented.
Justin,
If we every have the opportunity to meet, I’ll buy you a drink.
Cheers!!!
Mark
I think the blog post about HIT was incredibly relevant and absolutely should be included and even expanded upon. If/When things kick off, I doubt very much it will start with an all-out shooting war, but rather with an escalation of home invasions by government goons and/or criminals (same?). Whether it be the seizure of dissidents, guns, supplies or wanton violence, I see a dramatic escalation in home invasions as a precursor to any open resistance movement. Personally I feel any tactics and advice regarding that scenario are every bit as relevant as general light infantry topics.
It would be useful to have an acronym appendix to keep from flipping back and forth in the book. For sure leave the HIT post, and even expound on how to counter/ prepare to recover quickly.
Never fails…..there always seems to be an anon troll in the bushes.
Aside from that, I feel that the additions, like the “Home Invasion Dilemma”, should be included.
Looking forward to the 2nd edition of “Contact”, and for sure, the long awaited, “Patriot Rising: The Storm Rages”.
Thank you for all that you do.
Bob
III
Aside from all the serious arguments going on here, I would just like a hardcover edition.
My first copy is falling apart.
(FYI – I am not the anonymous from above)
Max,
Currently, due to the shut-down I put down Rapid Fire to re-read Patriot Dawn for the fourth time. Only to see in a later blog that perhaps a review of PD would be beneficial at this time.
Concerning your “request” for input on the second rendering of CONTACT, and after reading that book, here are my suggestions:
1) Leave the details of the HIT squads in the text where it provides the relevant support for the reasoning and the “WHY”.
2) Further expansion on CRCD in urban as well as rural/wooded terrain would be of invaluable importance. This I would suspect to be written from the evolution of your training of patriots in these last few months.
3) This is again my take: If both CONTACT and RAPID FIRE were expanded using certain scenarios out of PAT-DAWN (at the extreme risk of dumbing it down) this may be a way to illustrate where the Resistance prevailed due to their training, and where it failed when that training was not applied.
I also teach, albeit not in this area, but in an area where the consequences of complacency is just as deadly.
Just my two cents worth. Hopefully will see you in Feb.
Respectfully,
Mark, CFI
Considering who is reading this book, leaving in the HIT team discussion is relevant and important.
I also second the idea of an appendix or glossary for the acronyms and abbreviations. Being a member of the AGNI club it would be of significant help.
Regards,
Mark
President
AGNI club
Always keep it real. For those who will be put off, lights out anyhow.
Leave the HIT, its excellent. If you want to make it more PC, it could be responding to a general ‘blitz’ attack.
I’ve read and reread ‘CONTACT’ good stuff! Look forward to both the new books.
Max, on the second read of Contact currently, The one thing that i would like to see (which it sounds like you might have already included) is a practical this is how you train for this drill/this situation. I guess what i’m trying to get at is what can you do to get me as close to learning and being able to set up the drills like you teach in your class. Kinda of an this is where you would apply this drill, this is how to perform this drill this is how to practice this drill. I look forward to your revised version. Thanks!
Max, I bought and read Patriot Dawn, don’t have Contact. I am very interested in your follow up edition of Contact. Any prepper who would be turned off by your HIT chapter seems unlikely to buy anything else by you, so I’d say put it in, with the rest of your blog posts.
Max, An 11B5VF700 here; 23 years on jump status / 300-F1 qualified with a surgical rotation. I just read Patriot Dawn, brother. You did well. It was both an entertaining novel and a well thought out cautionary warning. I have some thoughts about the next book…
Having deployed with both a LRSD (14 months staring at Pak-ass-tan)(Pashtu still makes my head hurt) and running a MEDREP with 7th’s 3-tabbers for a few months… I don’t believe the “Regime” would be able to hang onto the 18-series folks for long. And both Ft.Lewis and Hunter Army Airfield Rangers would disappear into the treeline if DC was re-flagged. You have a good point about the families being held as bargaining chips, though. I suspect the Regime would also quickly lose USAF CCT, TALO, and PJ teams also. With China involved, Canada’s JTF2 might even back-channel some Delta guys into another 1st SSF to network with the Resistance; Montana would happily sponsor that idea again, I’m sure. JTF2 might be a resource for alternate secure comms for Bill’s underground. W
Whatever you develop will be useful to all of us AR-building, silver coin stashing, food hoarding, God fearing, patriotic flag saluting Vets. Out here. Pathfinder23