Survival Groups: Deciding who should lead your group.

Hello, my friend and welcome back!  In my time, I have seen many survival groups form up only to dissolve from internal bickering on who is in charge and who isn’t.  The trouble is that everyone thinks they should lead because they know what’s best for the group.  The truth is, there is much more to leading than many people realize, and this is the subject of today’s post.  Now, grab a cup of coffee and have a seat, my friend, while we visit.

Let’s face it when your life and the life of your family is on the line, everyone want’s to feel like they have a say in what happens.  It’s completely understandable and you should have some say, but command structure is important when it comes to survival groups.

Ask anyone who has ever been in a battle of any kind, and they will tell you that majority rule simply will not work.  Someone has to lead and make decisions on the fly. How you decide just who that person is can be one of the most important decisions of your life.

Choosing someone who has served in the military is a good start if possible.  They will have a much better understanding of how it works and have practical experience in implementing it.  This will help that person in knowing just where his or her authority lies and where it ends.

For example, making a final decision on just how best to defend a group compound, while under fire, is one thing but in the initial phases of planning, a good leader listens to suggestions from their members and takes them into consideration when making plans.  There is an old saying that goes “No one cares how much you know until they know how much you care!”  This is especially true, in the command structure of Survival Groups.  If you don’t feel that the person who is giving you orders has your best interest at heart, then you are much less likely to follow him or her when the going gets tough. 

Now by the same token, no one want ’s someone who is wishy-washy when it comes to making decisions.  You need a strong leader, someone you can depend on and can make the hard decisions.  Let me give you a common example: You know that you have enough food for now, but you are not sure when you will be able to get more.  You are called to the compound gate to find an 8-year-old little girl who is begging for food.  Do you give it to her? You know she will likely tell others who will then come knocking at your gate demanding you give them some. Or do you send her away knowing she will likely starve to death? 

These are the hard decisions that a leader must deal with and whatever they decide could haunt them for the rest of their life.  This is by no means the only type of decisions that leaders will have to make.  Command leadership is not a prize to be coveted, but a decision of self-sacrifice and commitment to others.  Most people would rather let someone else make the hard decisions, rather than be forced to make it for themselves.  Remember, however, your position of leadership will only last as long as the decisions you make serve the greater good of your group and not just your own.

When it comes to deciding who is in charge of your group, one of the best I have seen are groups taking a two-phase approach.  They have both a commander and a security chief who share power equally when needed.  The commanders are usually successful businessmen who are experienced in organizing and coordinating the day to day operations of the group, while the Security Chief is tasked with making all decisions regarding maintaining the security for the group.  In a situation like above, they would both decide whether or not to feed the child while considering the long-range implications of doing so.

If you are wanting to lead your group simply because you think it will make you powerful, then think again.  There is no place in command for ego, especially when it comes to Survival Groups.  Remember, when you choose to lead, you are agreeing to surrender yourself and your best interest to serve the best interest of your group and except all that it entails. 

Many people won’t truly be able to make hard decisions, they will freeze up, and this could cost people their lives, so before taking on that responsibility, search your soul and decide if you are able to make the decisions that may haunt you the rest of your life.

Every Survival Group needs good strong leadership and a command structure that will hold the group together in good times and bad as well as serve their best interest.  When it comes to choosing who should lead your group, choose wisely my friend because the lives of those in your group will depend on it when it all hits the fan.

Well, that’s it for today, and I hope you have found this post interesting and useful. Until next time my friend, stay safe, stay strong, and stay prepared. God Bless America!

-Sarge-