Most people think that survival is something for military personnel, emergency services or “preppers”. That is a mistake. Survival is not about extreme scenarios, but about ordinary people in unusually bad circumstances.
In this series, we translate insights from a former member of the Special Forces to everyday life. What sets these tips apart is their simplicity, speed and flexibility, allowing you to maintain freedom of action. They are designed for situations where communication fails, people freeze and chaos becomes the norm. Exactly the moments when civilians usually make mistakes.
We do not start from doom thinking, but from preparation. Having a plan is not fear. It is peace of mind. Those who think ahead need less luck afterwards. This series is intended for people who take responsibility.
Survival begins before the incident occurs
“Most civilians do not prepare themselves mentally and rely on improvisation. That rarely works, because clear thinking is difficult under stress.” Special Forces solve this with one simple framework: PACE:
- Primary
- Alternative
- Contingency
- Emergency.
As a result, you always have multiple options, determined in advance. Take communication now: “Your primary option is your smartphone. Alternatively, you can use a particular app or a second device. Contingency could be a mesh network. Your emergency option is not technology, but a clear agreement: where do I go if things go wrong and I cannot reach anyone?”
🪖 Tips from a four-star admiral
William McRaven’s theory of relative superiority states that a smaller force can gain a decisive advantage over a larger enemy by applying specific principles. Important elements include:
- Simplicity: A clear and simple plan.
- Security: Safeguarding the details of the operation.
- Repetition: Regularly practising the plan to increase effectiveness.
- Surprise: Achieving the element of surprise during execution.
- Speed: Rapidly achieving relative superiority, often within the first few minutes of an operation.
- Purpose: Focusing on achieving a specific objective with a clear intention.
Our former Special Forces member gives a concrete example: “You are with your family at a theme park. Panic breaks out and the communication network becomes overloaded because everyone is trying to call. If you have a plan, your entire family knows where to meet: we go to point A, and if that is not accessible, we choose point B. If you cannot get there, we meet at point C within an hour.”
This principle applies to everything: medical assistance, transport, evacuation,… Those who have a plan in their head beforehand are more likely to remain calm.