Manly Skills

There’s a serious problem with most of your ‘survival vehicle’ plans…

Although I spent the better portion of my twenties running around the world with a fresh fade and my boots bloused, the line of work I was in both before and after serving in the Marine Corps was in the racing industry. Most folks might be surprised to know that there are some real parallels […]

5 methods to purify water from a survival instructor

During some training in the military I was sent on a second solo evasion living exercise because I did terrible at my first one. The weather wasn’t terrible and I mostly had sun. The temperature dropped well below freezing at night but I was allowed to have a fire. Life was quite peaceful and I […]

Tactical thought – keeping it simple

“Why do you keep these tactics so simple?” That’s a question I get sometimes by thoughtful students in my classes. There is a moment in life where you realize that all those paths you created in that dense forest of problems in your head might not be accessible when you venture into the dark. Whether […]

Three survival skills you learned from movies (that will get you killed)

We tend not to go to movies looking for realism. Even the movies we watch that are “based on” or “inspired by” true stories tend to bend the facts of the tale around a more logical (or marketable) narrative that audiences would be more likely to get behind, but some common tropes have become so […]

Introducing ‘The Professionals Playbook’ – F-35 pilot Justin Lee interviews CIA Officer, author Michele Rigby Assad

*Editor’s note: Here at the Loadout Room, we pride ourselves on being well prepared and well rounded individuals capable of performing under whatever circumstances life throws at us. That’s just what Justin “Hasard” Lee’s podcast, “The Professionals Playbook” is all about. Lee, an active duty F-35 pilot with multiple combat deployments under his belt at […]

What and when you should be eating to maximize your gym time

Everyone loves a good, gruesome workout. You feel accomplished afterwards, you’ve got the endorphins flowing, but what next? Is it a protein shake? Is it a full meal? What about before the workout? What fueled you during those intense bicep curls? There is a lot that goes into the workout besides the exercises themselves. Pre, […]

The 5 unusual things that’ll help keep your car running in an emergency

In any prolonged survival situation involving a vehicle, the most important things to look for aren’t speed or even ground clearance — the first things you should consider are reliability and ease of repair and maintenance. After all, even the most badass of vehicles tend to lose their appeal when you can’t change a flat […]

How to throw a punch like a Marine

The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program has been the basic hand-to-hand combat system employed by the United States Marine Corps since 2002, and as I’ve written about in the past, it tends to get dragged through the mud by young guys with limited experience and a lot of bravado. In order to complete recruit training, you need […]

Acquiring a Pistol in Kurdistan: No Easy Task

There is a major shortage of firearms in Kurdistan today; this is primarily because there is a war being waged. With the small amount being trafficked into Kurdistan and the majority of the weapons from the coalition being sent to Iraq and Syria, very few find their way into Peshmerga hands. This creates very unique problems and solutions […]

Learn how to build improvised body armor

If you haven’t checked out book 1 of 100 Deadly Skills then you need to remedy that NOW. This first book covers many skills for personal protection whether you’re a normal dude working a 9 to 5 job, a world traveler or you’re an operative for one of the 3 letter agencies. There are many practical skills […]