The Warrior’s Mindset

On any normal day of the week, we can go about our business and feel fairly secure in our daily efforts. But for many of us, we tend to be disconnected from our surroundings. U.S. citizens, on average, have traversed down the rabbit hole of mobile technology, and have lost sight of what connects us to our environment. Not only do we intimately disengage from our surroundings, we place ourselves more at risk within them. This is where Joe Teti, an ex-special forces expert in disaster survival, excels. If Joe looks familiar, then you’re in good company. Many will recognize Joe from his appearances on four seasons of the Discovery Channel’s hit television program, “Dual Survival.” Since then, Joe has been an avid physical fitness trainer, survival instructor, and passionate advocate of what he refers to a the “Warrior’s Mindset.” In this exclusive interview with Joe Teti, he discusses many of the basic human survival intuitions that society has lost, and ways that we can train ourselves to get them back.

Disaster Initiatives: What is your overall view of survival in the 21st century?  

Joe Teti: That’s a multi-pronged question depending on the particular aspect of survival you are referring to.  I believe that is based on what a particular individual feels are the emerging threats to their particular situation and lifestyle.  For me, personally, ensuring that I am well-prepared for a natural or manmade disaster is at the forefront of my planning and preparedness status.  I live in an area that I have seen several hurricanes and floods within the past 3 years. One of those hurricanes touched down less than a mile from where I lived.  I got a really good, firsthand account of how people react and behave under situations like this, and where my “weak links” were in my planning.  Nothing like a real-world experience to shake out the chinks in your armor!  Bottom line, your plan had better address multiple situations…..seamlessly.  When the shit has already hit the fan, it’s too late to make major adjustments.  

DI: Has your disaster philosophy changed over time, especially in-light-of the changes in today’s world (increased terrorism, natural disasters, geopolitical turmoil, etc.)   

JT: No.  I learned many years ago, from my days as a Recon Marine, through Army SF, and serving in a government counter-terrorist unit, that physical and mental prowess (warrior mindset) are the 2 most formidable weapons a person can possess in a survival situation……regardless of the time, place or situation.  They are time proven, and without question, highly valuable tools in a survival situation and life in general.  

DI: What methodology do you instill in your instruction techniques? How can that be incorporated in various levels of preparedness (governmental, community, individual)?  

JT: Again, not to sound like a broken record, but you need to bring a certain level of physicality and mental toughness to the table first. Understanding what you are capable of and not capable of is a big benefit. Such as…

“Can you walk 50 miles in 2 days in rough terrain?” 

“How long can you go without food until you start to fall apart?” 

"How long can you go without water 'til you drop?” 

These are all performance issues that the smart person should want to know.  I’m not saying go and starve yourself, or not drink water for a week, but you need to have some base-line performance matrix on yourself so you know what you are capable of.  Personally, I don’t think it matters if it’s governmental, community or individual.  That is non-sequitur in the scheme of things. Besides that, I feel that any plan you come up with MUST be simple to follow, and simple to execute.  As we know, the more complex a plan is or becomes, the higher the likelihood there will be issues in the “fog of war / stress.” This becomes even more imperative when you are dealing with large groups of people, IE: communities, governmental agencies, etc.

DI: A lot of times, people often try to differentiate "survival" and "disaster preparedness." Is there a holistic approach to connect disaster preparedness and survival skills? 

JT: It’s like trying to differentiate between a “survival kit” and a “bug out bag”.  Two completely different tools in my opinion.  I would first ask those entities what their own particular definitions of survival and disaster preparedness are.  Let’s face it.  If you ask 10 people, I am willing to bet you will get 10 different answers based on present company, experience, and skill sets.  In my opinion, they are one and the same. The goal in disaster preparedness is to survive the event, better yet, thrive in the situation.  Your use of the word holistic is quite correct.  Both survival and disaster preparedness MUST be looked at holistically, not myopically.  This is what will bridge the gap between the two.  They both have commonalities that can be applied to both, and mutual challenges that can be solved in both instances with the same solution. 

DI: While there are many skills that must be incorporated into survival and preparedness, is there one skill that all students and practitioners should hone?  

JT: I know this will sound very odd, but here’s the no BS answer.  PRACTICE! That is a skill in my book as you must train and practice as you are going to fight. Everyone I meet says, “Oh….I can make a fire with a bow drill….that looks easy!”  I laugh every time I hear someone say that.  I have been privileged to train and work with a variety of professionals over the course of my life.  In the survival realm, I learned a tremendous amount from Matt Graham.  This guy knows more about survival than I will ever know.  Even more to the point, he constantly trains and practices his trade….and this guy is at the top of the food chain when it comes to primitive survival skills.  Yeah….in perfect conditions, with the right wood, no wind, no rain, no humidity, no elevation, and with the right technique, most people can get a fire going with a bow drill. But do you think conditions will be perfect when you have to perform cold and on demand?  Highly unlikely.  Try that in strong winds, after it’s been raining for 3 days.  I think you will see the point.  Skills?  Train for the worst situation…..that is a skill in my book.  Become comfortable with being uncomfortable.  

DI: What is the importance of disaster psychology during times of crisis and survival? 

JT: HUGE!  This aspect of survival is not discussed much if at all. It’s a warrior’s mindset to persevere and to make it out the other end, no matter what obstacles get in your way. First and foremost is a person’s ability to absorb stress and stay in the fight with a clear head.  Stress is extremely debilitating in numerous ways, both mentally and physically.  Secondly, the sad fact is this…..if you are caught in a highly stressful survival situation you WILL default to the level of training you have had up to that point.  Period. If you have no or little training in regards to survival and survival protocols, luck is your only saving grace.  With that said, having the confidence that you possess not only the mental and physical toughness to endure, you also have the skills as well, is a tremendous boost to your mindset and positive outlook on making it out alive.  This is great for the prepared individual; however, in a group setting you had better be prepared to deal with the person(s) who don’t have a clue, and will completely unravel mentally in a high intensity, life or death situation.  I have seen that side of it as well, and unless that person is quickly managed, they will spread fear and panic throughout the group.  And now you have a real problem. 

Black simply means that person is in blind panic.  Many people equate this to the “fight or flight” syndrome, however, that is not the case in my experiences.  There is one response I have seen time and time again, and that’s freeze.  Bottom line, getting caught like a deer in the headlights when the crap hits the fan is going to produce a performance response that is not going to serve you well.  Maintaining situational awareness, on a daily basis, will soon become a habit and a skill you will do without thought.  That is where you want to be.  In a perpetual yellow state.  This in turn will keep you out of the black.

DI: Is there any form of disaster that concerns you more than another? Why?

JT: Sir, survival is survival, no matter how you slice it. The same tenants in common apply to all equally regardless of the situation, in my humble opinion.   Now….do I think there is going to be a zombie apocalypse any time soon?  No. I think that each person’s individual situation will dictate which of those scenarios is most applicable to them.  Individual threats are based on numerous factors.  For example,…. if a person lived in the middle of nowhere USA, 200 miles from the nearest large city, I wouldn’t be too worried about a bio-terrorism event, as they are pretty far outside the danger area, depending of prevailing winds.  So preparing for such an attack may not be at the top of my METL tasks. However, if I lived in a big city that makes a nice target for the bad guys, I may take steps to evacuate the area unconventionally if an attack occurred, and have the proper kit to get me out alive.  From my own experience, my top 2 scenarios are natural disasters and grid down.  I have experienced both.  I was in a situation not long ago that the power was disrupted for 20 days.  I can tell you that you couldn’t buy a generator within 100 miles of where I lived, and IF you did find one, it was 3 times the cost of what it normally sold for.  Ergo, a month later I bought a top of the line generator to add to my kit.  Do I think eventually there will be a terrorist attack that will use a WMD? Sadly, yes.  I think it is inevitable.  Again, geography will play a major role for someone when it comes to planning and COAs.  I live in the country.  If a WMD was used on the major city near me, I have time to evacuate to a safe location.  Do I have a plan in place? Yes.  

The knowledge that you have done it before, and the confidence you will gain, is invaluable.  Take the time to hone your warrior mindset. I promise you that this one skill….and it is a learned skill, by far will be the most valuable tool you can possess in a high intensity survival situation.  Learn what thoughts/ memories/ beliefs rock you to the core to perform at high levels. Be it your family, kids, wife…whatever.  The ability to tap into these primordial motivations is exactly what is needed to persevere through injury, physical discomfort, lack of sleep, sickness, etc.   Lastly, be meticulous in your planning. Meticulous, but don’t over-plan and get what I call, “analysis paralysis”.  Keep you plans as simple as you can, executable and logistically simplistic as possible.  In the event you are in a group setting, ensure everyone is on the same sheet of music and communicating.  That is a leadership thing, and something that will come to bite you in the butt when its go time.