Cade's Corner: Information Will Keep You Alive

In the SEAL Teams there was nothing more important for mission success – and everyone returning alive – than the current and constant flow of intel (information).

Where was our target, where were they going? What was the size of the enemy force? Were there "friendlies" in the area, were environmental conditions rapidly changing?

These are just a few of the critical pieces of intel we needed to know at any given time. Lacking this kind of vital information could result in a tragic loss of life, which has sadly occurred throughout military operations.

But you don't have to be on a helicopter heading in to grab a bad guy to understand that "real time" information could save your life in any number of potential survival scenarios.

I recently returned from a successful elk hunt at my place in Northern Colorado. We have a saying in Colorado: "If you don't like the weather, wait 10 minutes and it will change."

Well, that is pretty much what happened to my friends and me...

We were stalking a small herd of elk at over 10,000 feet when I looked east to the horizon and spotted a front moving toward us. Normally I wouldn't be too concerned but with the current temperature hovering around 11 degrees and our group being more than eight miles from the truck, I decided to pull out my radio, the Liberty Band Tactical Solar Radio, and tuned into the nearest weather frequency.

Within a few minutes I learned that there was a massive weather front heading our direction and the barometric pressure was plummeting.

I had a few guys with me from warmer sea level climates on their first big-game hunt so I made the call to abandon the herd and immediately start working our way back to the truck at a rapid clip.

Two hours later we made it to the truck and the "balmy" 11 degrees had dropped to NEGATIVE 19. Coupled with ever increasing and dangerous winds. When we returned to my cabin, the previous disappointment of leaving the herd of elk behind was replaced by utter relief on their faces.

Without this "real time" information I was able to receive on my emergency radio, exciting day hunting could very easily have turned into an incredibly arduous fight for our lives, complete with severe hypothermia and late, extremely difficult calls to loved ones.

That didn't happen. Information got us all home alive.

This same information can give you immediate updates of the severity and direction of a tornado, category and path of a hurricane to include evacuation orders and recommended routes, emergency responses to earthquakes, even Amber Alerts.

And the best thing about the Liberty Band Radio is it's not only tough and lightweight; it charges itself with the free rays of the sun, a rechargeable integrated battery, replaceable batteries or even a built-in hand crank.

Again, let me close by saying that having a full and current idea of what your situation is so you can make an educated decision on what your next move will be is absolutely invaluable.

Get one and always stay informed.

Be a survivor, not a statistic,

Cade Courtley
Former Navy SEAL / 4Patriots Contributor

Comments

  • James Dollahan - November 30, 2020

    I want you to know that I feel that you’re products are timely. I have 4 power cells and I feel that the radio is a must have for everyone especially if they have a family. I always had a bag with survival supplies while living in Guam and the Philippines . Keep up the great work. Jim

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