I'll go first: Fire by friction. When I was going through Green Beret training, I thought I had fire figured out. Lighters, matches, ferro rods—easy. But the first time I had to make fire with nothing but wood and determination? Humbling doesn't even cover it. It took me hours. My hands were blistered. My ego was bruised. But when that coal finally formed and I got flame... man, that changed everything. Not just because I could make fire—but because I proved to myself that I could do hard things when it mattered most. That's what real survival skills do. They don't just prepare you for the wilderness. They build the kind of confidence that carries into every part of your life. So here's my question for you: What's ONE skill you've been putting off learning? Fire? Shelter building? Knife sharpening? Navigation? Drop it in the comments below. And if you've already learned it—tell us what finally pushed you to take action. Let's learn from each other. That's what this community is all about. 🔥 P.S. — If fire by friction is on your list, I just dropped a free guide that breaks down the exact method I teach. Comment "FIRE" and I'll send it your way.

I spent years as a Green Beret Engineer and Intelligence NCO. Deployed to some of the harshest environments on the planet. And here's what I learned: Survival isn't about having the fanciest gear. It's about mastering the fundamentals that keep you alive when everything goes wrong. These are the 5 core skills every Green Beret is expected to master – and the same skills I teach civilians who want to be truly prepared, not just "survival enthusiasts." 1. FIRECRAFT – The Non-Negotiable Why it matters: Fire is life. Warmth, water purification, signaling, morale. Lose your ability to make fire, and your survival timeline collapses fast. What Green Berets know: -Multiple ignition methods (ferro rod, friction fire, magnification, chemical) -Fire in ANY weather (rain, snow, wind, wet conditions) -Tinder identification and prep (natural and man-made) -Fire lay structures for different purposes (cooking, warmth, signaling) The skill that separates amateurs from pros: Hand drill friction fire. If you can make fire with nothing but wood and your hands, you're never truly without fire. What you should practice: -Master your primary method (ferro rod) until you can do it in the dark, in the rain, with numb hands -Learn one primitive method (bow drill or hand drill) -Build a tinder bundle that catches on the first ember -Practice fire-making in bad weather – that's when you'll actually need it 2. SHELTERCRAFT – Your First Line of Defense Why it matters: Exposure kills faster than hunger or thirst. Hypothermia can set in within hours. Your shelter is your survival priority after immediate threats. What Green Berets know: -Site selection (drainage, wind protection, hazards, resources) -Insulation principles (ground insulation is critical – cold ground -steals body heat) -Natural shelter construction (debris huts, lean-tos, snow shelters) -Improvised materials (tarps, ponchos, emergency blankets) The skill that separates amateurs from pros: Building a debris hut that actually keeps you warm. Most people build shelters that look good but don't retain heat.