What are the best skills to have if SHTF

[NM-Username]

Proficiency in general survival skills and mastery of one or two would be good, I think? As someone stated earlier...common sense.

For me:
Mechanical skills
Gardening
Firearms
basic survival for shelter and fire
Preparedness to perform the previous items (I count this one as a skill because knowing how to do things isn't enough)

 

[Toyota30mm]

So I have been debating with my brothers lately what is the top 5 best skills/professions to have in a SHTF scenario, so I will ask you guys. What is your top five on the best Skills to have if teotwawki occurs?

Map skillz

 

[sherm4428]

Farming, gardening, canning without power/ foos saving. Willing to learn.

 

[Josh_45]

Proficiency in firearms and weapons. Along with a willingness to use them.

Medical training or knowledge. Even if it's basic. I at one point was a trained, certified, and licensed EMT and took a lot of advanced training when I worked in hospital care. I'd recommend everyone at least seek out basic and advanced first aid.

Proficiency in basic mechanics and repairs (vehicles especially).

Basic navigation skills/maps.

Growing food if possible or storing food that lasts.

Basic SERE (Survival, Evasion, Resistance, and Escape) and survival skills.

The ability to negotiate. I'm sure many people don't consider this, but the ability to negotiate and haggle/barter goes a long way. From getting a better deal on something to avoiding trouble, negotiating can be very helpful.

 

[DunRanull]

So I have been debating with my brothers lately what is the top 5 best skills/professions to have in a SHTF scenario, so I will ask you guys. What is your top five on the best Skills to have if teotwawki occurs?

A good skill will be- ability to wipe using ad hoc TP. Goes along with general cleanliness and sanitation. I've often wondered what they did in the old days or in primitive societies... not a topic I've seen covered in "survival" books and manuals.

 

[Hook686]

Some have pointed out it depends upon what the circumstances of the SHTF is. I think true, and if it is a global nuclear exchange, if you watch movie, "On the Beach", it really does not matter what your skill set is eh?

 

[Josh_45]

To DunRanull's point on TP...

This would be important to also learn what leaves are poison ivy, poison sumac, etc...

You don't want to use the wrong makeshift TP and make the apocalypse worse! Heh heh.

 

[DunRanull]

To DunRanull's point on TP...

This would be important to also learn what leaves are poison ivy, poison sumac, etc...

You don't want to use the wrong makeshift TP and make the apocalypse worse! Heh heh.

Never did it myself, but knew someone who did.. Then there was the time my Grampa cleared some property on his farm- burned off an area which happened to contain a good bit of poison ivy... that was memorable in the lore of his farming exploits.... What the heck, he came from Protestant Irish stock who came here for reasons.. and he really wanted to be a farmer... One of my favorite places when growing up...

 

[Josh_45]

Woe to the man (or woman) who uses the wrong leaf to wipe!

That certainly made me laugh. I'm sure the "victims" in the story didn't find it too funny. Haha.