Change of Uniform Styles

[Uniform and Camouflage]

For the most part I've stuck with simple OD green and woodland camo BDU's - very simplistic, easy and economical - but also VERY common. Finally I am looking to expand and try something different from the crowd. I've done my fair share of German Flecktarn, Swiss Alpenflage to compliment or switch it up from the traditional U.S. Woodland, but now I'm curious to see what else is out there that I could utilize. 

I've often found myself drawn to Soviet and Russian camo patterns, but they tend to be more or less unusable in my surrounding environments - like the Russian OMON (Otryad Mobilniy Osobogo Naznacheniya\Special Purpose Mobile Unit) uniform, which is more of a snow-oriented camouflage. Sure we have winter here, but it would better to have something that could be used all-year-round.

Russian OMON Camo pattern

There's a number of other patterns the Russians use and for obvious reasons - their area of operation just nationally is so far spread and covers many different terrain and weather types.

After a bit of research I have decided to pursue a particular loadout used by the Russian MVD due to its durability and coloration. In the area I live where we receive the breadth all four seasons and have a great amount of woodland and forests I believe this uniform would suit me best. Only challenge is finding it at a reasonable price. With less common BDUs you almost always run into price. These BDUs run anywhere from $150-$200 and I know they're worth it, but damn that's a pretty penny to pay.

Russian MVD with Gorka E BDUs

Richard Proenneke - Alone in the Wilderness documentary - Excerpts

I've managed to actually see most of the full version of this documentary on Richard Proenneke and found it to be one of the most important documentaries for me personally.

This is an excellent excerpt from the full documentary and I would highly recommend to go and find the full versions on DVD if possible.

Old-World Bolt Action - Soviet Style

The Mosin Nagant is still considered one of the most prolific rifles in world history and finally after years of research and contemplating I got my own. More to come soon.

'39 & '42

Food Review - Failure to Start

I must admit it's a bit challenging to review something when you can't even open it up. Was a little frustrated with this one so I have yet to add it to my Survival Food Reviews page. I will soon though.

Easy to open? My ass it is.

Web Comic - Romantically Apocalyptic

I think someone crawled into my brain and made the perfect web comic series.

Romantically Apocalyptic

A Country's Efficiency - Outside the U.S.

Preface
Many have theorized what would happen to the U.S. during the collapse of society or if essential services disappear what would happen? Most likely chaos - which what just about everyone thinks.

Across the Atlantic
Something tells me that this may not be the case everywhere else. It is unfortunately our reliance on so many things that make us weak - also something not entirely new as a concept. This all came to mind with a recent trip to Denmark under my belt. Sure the country has its very big and bustling capital Copenhagen, which just about everyone has at least heard of. But in all reality the majority of the country is flat, quiet farmland with small towns and villages peppered across the landscape like freckles.

Denmark is not a perfect country and although it has recently been ranked the happiest country in the world I can see some reason for unhappiness. As Americans we all love to complain about taxes and social security taking money out of our paychecks, but you haven't seen nothing. The tax rate in Denmark is about as high as you can get in all of Europe. So all the things you normally buy... make them at least twice as expensive. And cars? Well forget it. There's a 180% tax after buying an automobile. So my Audi A3 rental car that I had over there, which is a reasonable $33k or so in the US costs more like $80-90k here. You don't see many luxury cars in Denmark for this reason. And if you do something nice like an S-class Mercedes or a Jaguar it's probably driven by someone who REALLY has a lot of money. A hundred grand for a top end Merc turns into almost $200,000 real quick. Someone even told me the other day that it cost 12,000 DKK (Danish Krone) or about $2,100 just to get your driver's license.

Decently priced in the U.S., but expensive in DK

There's a flip side to these taxes though. They have free healthcare in this country, and guess what? It actually works. Granted you do still pay for dental and a few other things, but the majority of what you'll have to get done in a hospital or doctor's office in a Danish lifetime will be absolutely free. Education from 1st grade all the way through college is free. Also like most other countries outside of the U.S. there's paid maturity leave. 

Solar Panel Array in Tønder, Denmark

The country of Denmark is also incredibly green - yes both in terms of having a lot of  open farmland AND being an incredibly efficient culture by today's standards. Recycling, alternative energy are the two that come to mind first. During the second week of my trip I stayed at a company-owned office\dormitory that was almost entirely powered and heated by solar power. And the company's buildings are all high efficiency with LED bulbs on motion sensors so they cannot be left on, toilets that have two flush modes to use less water, and they even have implemented energy-saving architectural designs.

So this brings to mind the question: what would happen if modern society came to a halt? What if some kind of war broke out? A natural disaster? What would happen to majority of these people? Well for one a huge portion of these people surrounded by solar panels and huge windmills everywhere certainly could keep their lights on longer. As a culture the Danish seem to be more easily content and are usually considered "easy-going." In the office workplace it seems to be that way as well... employees come in around their starting time and leave around 3pm to 4pm most days. I certainly wish I could get away with that back in the U.S.

Many of them just don't require all the luxuries we take for granted everyday. It's an interesting concept while remaining in Western culture. Quite frankly I think the majority of this country could survive very well after the collapse of national government. They have plentiful resources, a very friendly and even-tempered populace and don't require much to continue living their lives. And you have to remember that huge portions of the population managed to survive the Nazi occupation for the duration of World War II.

Shooting Ranges & Memberships

The LONG wait...

Recently I found myself invited to a local members-only shooting range and realized that I quite liked the atmosphere compared to the hustle and bustle of your everyday range. 
Last month I had applied for a membership at the same establishment and after a couple of weeks they emailed back saying that I could start my membership in June... of 2014.
At first I couldn't believe the long wait, but after seeing what a private range looked like I felt like anyone in their right mind would want a membership at a place like this.
Apparently this isn't an isolated instance of long waits either. I heard that some other ranges not too far away have 2 or even 3 year-long waiting lists and after that you still have to prove yourself to be a viable candidate and in good standing with the NRA.
People seem to be weary of long lines in crowded indoor shooting ranges these days. Can't say that I blame them, because I sure am. Now that Autumn is here I feel like outdoor shooting is in its prime in New England. Being stuck inside an echoing cavern with pistols and rifles going off 10 feet away on either side of me isn't my idea of a good time.

Most private shooting ranges are starting to put a cap on the number of new members and from there the only way you're getting in is almost purely based on knowing the right people. So check for local members-only ranges sooner rather than later because they're filling up quick!

On the upside I got the opportunity to shoot an acquaintance’s S&W .357 revolver. He had hand loads of .38 and .357 ammunition for it and it was a hoot and a half to shoot and sadly I can shoot it better than my own Glock, which I've owned for quite some time. Also had the chance to shoot the tiniest 1911 Kimber I've ever seen or held and was impressed by its manageability even for its small size.

AMD-65 and Glock 30SF after cleaning

Luckily I was able to dust off my Glock 30SF and AMD-65 for the beautiful and cool Fall day and share them with new shooting friends. Still find that I get compliments and inquiries for my somewhat unique-looking Hungarian AK whenever I shoot it, which is nice.

Well here's wishing me luck to getting into a private, members-only range at some point in the future...

Survival Foods - Let Down

Saw this in the store the other day and thought, "Alright! I totally want to do a review on that!" Unfortunately my paranoia about ingredients kept me from buying it. One of the things I avoid more than anything else is MSG and let me tell you it's getting harder and harder to do so. Most often labeled by its full name: Monosodium Glutamate, it's a "flavor enhancer" and thickening agent. But it's also incredibly bad for you. Then again what isn't bad for you in the everyday U.S. diet?
Anyway, it was just a bummer and let down because I was actually kind of excited about this because it looked pretty good and a little different from the usual canned stuff I see.

Well... back to the search I suppose...

(Also see: Food Storage - Purchasing Habits)

"Survival Foods"

Blog Additions
Food

A new addition to the Broadminded Survival page has come! Combining my interest for "survivalism" and my never-ending interest and knowledge in food has birthed a new aspect to this blog: Broadminded Survival Food Reviews. It's a simple concept where I give brief reviews and descriptions of good, storable foods that anybody can buy on a budget all for your knowledge. Yep. Just for you.

I look at all aspects of my bizarre collection of pantry items as well as going out and trying new things when I find them and review them based on 6 basic ratings: Price, Shelf Life, Transportability, Nutritional Value, Taste and finally my Overall score and thoughts.

Sure I talk about a lot of things, but we all still need to eat, right?

Check it out here: Broadminded Survival Food Reviews

Hiatus

Apologies to all for my recent hiatus. Work has been keeping me more busy than usual with... well... work. But also quite a bit of travelling.

More posts coming soon!

"Hurry up and Wait"

Survivalism in Fiction - Writing My Own Apocalypse

For as long as I've been writing (spanning back before high school) I've pondered scribbling down ideas about the end of the world and the few survivors left and their inevitable struggle. 
Of course now with T.V. shows like Doomsday Preppers, Falling Skies, and The Walking Dead, and films like The Book of Eli and The Road center stage it's certainly a concept much more accessible to the masses. 
In college when my writing began to really take form I found that even there I couldn't quite spread my wings and flap on the subject. Not that it was inappropriate, but it just wasn't the right time. I dabbled in some ideas in college though and as my writing (and knowledge) matured over time I found that I could put together stronger and more realistic stories on page.

Cormac McCarthy's novel The Road I feel is still one of the most striking and realistic depictions of the end-all-be-all end of the world story. At the other end of the spectrum in the same genre I read Patriots: A Novel of Survival in the Coming Collaspe by James Wesley Rawles, which is certainly a much different take on that end of the civilized world. As an actual composed and collected story Cormac McCarthy's wins by a mile, but Rawles does have a lot of interesting technical and logistical information that's incredibly fascinating. I found myself less interested in the characters in their journey for survival, but more so in the equipment they utilized or the tactics they used to defend themselves. While reading I thought to myself "hey that's a pretty good idea on how to secure that door," or "that's a pretty efficient way to store ammunition."

I think finding a middle ground between stories like these is where I'd like to go - whether it'd be a novella, full-length novel or even a screenplay for film or television. To be honest I have been brewing a TV pilot since 2009, but I would like to maybe try my hand at the survivalist angle. I just wish my motivation and skill was more present earlier on because now it isn't a fresh subject anymore. It's a familiar idea in a sea of stories just like it. I know it hasn't been "new" in a LONG time (i.e. Mad Max. 1979), but now it's a pop culture statement.

At this point I think I'd just like to be able to say: "Yes, I did write that and yes I was inspired by X, Y and Z and I'm happy I was able to do it," and have people say I sure remembered him and his work back then. To be acknowledged for bringing at least a new or improved opinion to the table of survival that the world can digest and nod their heads to. But it isn't all about recognition, it's also about getting my opinion out there too, hence Broadminded Survival. It's an external venue for my own thoughts because when I think about things like this most of the day while I'm at work or in bed watching T.V. with my wife I feel like I'm going to explode sometimes. I have to get it out there in some fashion. Whether it's me sketching drawings in a notebook, writing micro fiction or short stories just for myself or working on this blog what it comes down to is that I need to express myself. It's cathartic to say the least and when you have this much pent up inside you all the time it's better to let it out and share it.

Endless Projects - The New Home Part II

(Part I)

After much trepidation I decided to have some professionals come and look at this bizarre above-ground sump pit. Two different professionals both stated that they had never seen anything like it before... Who thought it was a good idea to install a sump it in a house addition that's on a concrete slab above ground?

Strange things indeed. Anyway I decided to have it partially filled and properly lined, but left in such a way that if I did ever had flooding issues I could have a sump pump easily installed. Better to be safe than sorry.

Right? Right.

I think now I'll just cover it with some polyurethane sheeting and at least fill and seal the concrete cracks that have been there for what looks like quite some time.

Fiona is clearly excited by this new development

Alright, what's next on the list of things to do with a new (old) house?

Tom Clancy's The Division

I have been playing Tom Clancy games since the original Rainbow Six came out for PC in 1998. Since then I have been following the franchise closely over the years. 

To this day it's a toss up between the original Ghost Recon (and addons) and Rainbow Six: Vegas 2. But now I've seen these trailers and quite frankly I'm impressed. Although I am still unsure of all the details of the game and whether or not it'll just be a next-gen console game or released on the PC as well, but I think if this is really executed well this may end up being my new favorite Tom Clancy game. 

Guess time will tell...

Military Tactics - Insurgency - Surviving an Invasion (Part 2)

[applications]

Let's stick with the Red Dawn scenario in the loosest form possible. A superpower has come and overthrown another country's government (doesn't have to be the U.S. specifically) and their goals are: occupation, control and complacency among the nationals.
They are not looking for complete annihilation of the country, but instead are looking for assimilation of the general populous and usability of natural resources. 
During a takeover of a country there are going to be huge gaps - at all levels of government. The transition time for government takeover varies by the complexity of the occupied country's infrastructure prior to the invasion - the more complex, the more challenging it will be for the occupying force to insert itself into every facet. 
As discussed in Part 1 the two foremost goals of this type of "insurgent warfare" whether violent or non-violent are:  
Survival 
&  
To convince the enemy’s political decision makers that their goals are either unachievable or too costly for the perceived benefit.

It may be tempting to immediately fight and attempt to repel an invading force, but if it's a full-scale invasion you'll most likely fail. Instead hide, regroup, plan and then take the fight back to the enemy when the time is right.

Information and communication are key. Radio or other forms of telecommunications may be knocked out or compromised so it may be required to use runners or people capable of quickly traveling from one place to another to transport information with notes or by word of mouth. Throughout history though this has been considered to be one of the most dangerous of jobs. World War I & II saw many runners who had to leave the safety of trenches or bunkers to get to another during combat to relay orders or field updates.

When a base of information has been established within a close-nit group (or multiple groups) operations can begin. Whether it be setting up a headquarters or multiple bases of command or even beginning to probe an occupy force's capabilities proceed with the utmost caution. Work with locals for support either with food and supplies or intel, but give them respect and even refuge when needed as supporting insurgents can be as dangerous and risky as being one.

When they're attempting to rebuild and restructure would be the best time to enact subversive acts. Much of the effort of the occupying force will be focused on rebuilding state infrastructure and using propaganda to quell uprisings, while at the same time cracking down on possible insurgenceies if they even exist yet. Remember if you're playing the part of insurgent you are the bad guy.

One of the greatest examples of insurgencies (in my opinion) is the Warsaw Uprising between August and October 1944. Although they did finally surrender - historically it was an amazing event considering the strength and aggressiveness of the Nazi army versus what was generally considered just a city's resistance. Granted there was some support from the Allies, but not much. To this day some Poles still feel betrayed by their allies for this, I would know because I've been there. The German causalities were quite high and frankly they had to level most of the capital before the resistance couldn't fight back anymore. That's a real fight from the heart right there.

Warsaw c. 1950

Getting back to our scenario at hand during the rebuilding state and initial hold of the country by the occupation will mark a weak point in the occupying forces. Subversive acts are hard to counter when the OPFOR are spread thin trying to "keep the peace" over a large blanketed area.

Setup small and specialized teams to attack small outposts and and others to stall any QRFs (Quick Reaction Force). It won't take long to demoralize occupying forces when doing this as it makes it more difficult for them to occupy a specific zone with any level of safety and confidence. Look at some of the more dangerous outposts in Afghanistan, such as the Korangal Valley (See: Restrepo). People are only human and can only be subjected to so much pressure and stress.

Observe MSRs (Main Supply Route) and look for openings for ambush or ways to disrupt them temporarily or permanently. It isn't always possible to airlift supplies or equipment - most armies still transport fuel, food, equipment and even vehicles by land. Long convoys always have vulnerabilities, usually in the middle whereas armed escorts are usually situated at the front and rear. Of course it's best to watch and take note of convoy layouts before taking a course of action.
Heavily-armed Russian convoys fell pray to endless ambushes by the Mujahideen during the Soviet War in Afghanistan (See: 9th Company) and did so again countless times during the first and second Chechen War.
Supplies HAVE to come in for units in the field to stay operational, which means there will always be something to disrupt.

 (More in Part 3...)

Military Tactics - Insurgency - Surviving an Invasion (Part 1)

[intro]

All this is sadly because I dragged myself through the remake of John Milius' Red Dawn. Which made the original look like a masterpiece in its own right. Now that's saying something. 
But films of this nature do tend to bring up that question: what would you do in that situation?

Granted the remake of Red Dawn certainly made it look (relatively) easy to overthrow the N. Korean rule of an American prefecture, but we all know that kind of scenario more or less leads to... well... death for starters.

Source material is good for understanding what real guerrilla warfare is all about and one of the best sources is the historical writer Anthony James Joes. His knowledge of the subject is infallible and his writing is actually quite intriguing. The body of work isn't as dry as you'd think, but it certainly helps if you're interested in the subject too.

[terminology]

In 1989 a team of United States analysts made it a point to specifically break up conflicts of past and future based on tactics and abilities into "generations".

First-generation warfare - In its most common usage, "First generation warfare" refers to battles fought with massed manpower, using line and column tactics with uniformed soldiers governed by the state. Much of the Revolutionary War and Civil War in the U.S. were fought in this manner.

Second-generation warfare - Second generation warfare still maintained lines of battle, but focused more on the use of technology to allow smaller units of men to maneuver separately. These smaller units allowed for faster advances, less concentrated casualties, and the ability to use cover and concealment to advantage. 
The contributions of the second generation were responses to technological development. The second generation saw the rise of trench warfare, artillery support, more advanced reconnaissance techniques, extensive use of camouflage uniforms, radio communications, and fireteam maneuvers.

Third-generation warfare - Third generation war focuses on using speed and surprise to bypass the enemy's lines and collapse their forces from the rear. Essentially, this was the end of linear warfare on a tactical level, with units seeking not simply to meet each other face to face but to outmaneuver each other to gain the greatest advantage. The German Blitzkrieg of World War II is often cited as a perfect example of Third-generation warfare.

Fourth-generation warfare (4GW) - Used to describe warfare's return to a decentralized form. In terms of generational modern warfare, the fourth generation signifies the nation states' loss of their near-monopoly on combat forces, returning to modes of conflict common in pre-modern times. 
The use of fourth generation warfare can be traced to the Cold War period, as superpowers and major powers attempted to retain their grip on colonies and captured territories. Unable to withstand direct combat against bombers, tanks, and machine guns, non-state entities used tactics of education/propaganda, movement-building, secrecy, terror, and/or confusion to overcome the technological gap.

Fourth-generation warfare as a term can be applied to most insurgency and terrorism for the last half century. This is also related to unconventional warfare, but at the same time can be applied to non-violent actions as well - such as Gandhi's opposition to the British Empire in India or Martin Luther King's marches.

Fourth generation warfare goals:

• Survival
• To convince the enemy’s political decision makers that their goals are either unachievable or too costly for the perceived benefit

Yet another factor is that political centers of gravity have changed. These centers of gravity may revolve around nationalism, religion, or family or clan honor.
 
Disaggregated forces, such as guerrillas, terrorists and rioters, lacking a center of gravity, deny to their enemies a focal point at which to deliver a conflict ending blow. As a result strategy becomes more problematic while combating a VNSA (violent-non-state-actor).

It has been theorized that a state vs. state conflict in fourth generation warfare would involve the use of computer hackers and international law to obtain the weaker side’s objectives, the logic being that the civilians of the stronger state would lose the will to fight as a result of seeing their state engage in alleged atrocities and having their own bank accounts harmed.

 [brief history]

Most people in the U.S. live in a bubble, rarely looking outward at the rest of the world. They know little about world history or even U.S. history for that matter and care only about what effects them. Never the big picture. So when a film like Red Dawn comes out (both the original and remake) and however bad the movie is, it makes you wonder what it'd be like to have your country invaded.  You have to remember there are plenty of countries that have had similar things happen throughout history.
In what I'll call the "modern era," this has happened many times over. Whether it be Nazi Germany's invasion and occupation of several countries during WWII or the Soviet Union invading and occupying over a dozen countries throughout the Cold War. Even more recent: the Argentinian invasion of the Falkland Islands or the Iraqi invasion of Kuwait.
While we live in relative safety (or at least used to) the rest of the world has seen this kind of violence for years. We're really just starting to see the face of it in our backyards now and clearly we're not ready. We're more apt to bicker with each other rather than solve issues.

(More in Part 2...)

Survivalist Magazine Publication

Everyday it's more mainstream and this clearly pushes the envelope a little further...

Good find for MAC (Military Arms Channel) for finding this gem of a magazine. His post is here if you want to check it out.

I'm just waiting to see how I can get a hold of this magazine.

Endless Projects - The New Home

Office Difficulties

Let the projects roll! 
And boy will there be a lot of them. When you get a house from the 1850's you know what you're getting into though. Poor insulation, moisture buildup, failing structures, and grand-fathered in out-of-code aspects everywhere you look.

For the most part we're only looking at old school insulation and yes, some moisture, but surprisingly not in the main part of the house. Instead I have found moisture and mold in a small office add-on that's only about thirty years old - judging by the alarming color and style of the carpeting. 

First it's a concrete floor that's separate from the foundation of the rest of the house and second there's a trap door. Now when I initially pulled up the carpet and found this wooden trap door I was skeptical and even a little worried. What's inside? Contraband? Zombies? Let's just say that the first time I opened it I wasn't taking it lightly.
Afterward though I was able to put down my weapons and flashlight and really inspect this oddity. What I wonder is if I can find a way to properly seal this trap door to stop moisture from getting into the room. Is it possible? If it is possible, should I? I'm not a construction expert by any means, but it looks like it was meant for mitigating flooding. Like a sump pump might actually go into it.

I'll be getting a dehumidifier soon for this room (only about 150 sq. ft.) and putting down some interlocking carpeting. Then I'll do some real mold-cleaning with borax and bleach and get the room usable again. The room doesn't have to look spiffy as it's just going to be my new office\workshop, but if I'm going to be spending a decent amount of time in there I don't want it to look like an outhouse either.

Any advice on this would much appreciated as I am definitely out of my element here.

Boston Events

I wanted to write long and sophisticated post about the recent Marathon bombings and the even more recent shootout with the suspects, but I am now deciding not to.

I just want to say my heart goes out to those wounded and the families of those who lost their lives during these awful events.

Hope it all ends soon.

That is all.

Searching for the Perfect Home - In Suburban\Rural America (Addendum)

100+ year-old shed in our backyard

We are closing on a house in 27 days and hope that everything goes well. Wish us luck and hopefully we'll be lucky enough to have a place to call home. Or in my case... a place to call "Headquarters."

Searching for the Perfect Home - In Suburban\Rural America

A Personal Journey

Now that the housing market is slowly clawing its way back to some sense of normalcy after all these years we find ourselves rushing to find a place that's right for us. Problem is our price range is limited and the last thing you want to do is jump into something that may cost you way more down the line. Of course leave it to us to lean towards much older properties - yeah we like places with personality. And when I say older I mean "19th century older." Colonianls, New Englanders with stone foundations, dutch doors - my kinda house. I grew up in a town where many of the houses in my neighborhood were from 19th and even 18th century - great big old houses with lots of history. Fantastic. 

They look good and remind people everyday of how far we've come. Newer houses need lots of work every decade or so, but I feel that these houses from the 1800s, if built really solid in the first place just don't need much. Just enough love and care over the years to keep them lasting forever.

It's an exciting and very scary time for us. We've decided to leave the city and find an area a little more removed and quiet. So we've turned in our city spurs for rural America instead and I think we'll manage just fine. Taxes are a bit high, but for good reason: a fantastic school system, which is one of the best in the state. With the prospect of children in the near future I'm doing my best to think ahead.  Knocking up the wife will be a planned endeavor, not an accident - just saying.

And as of now we're working back and forth with the seller and listing agent to get a price that's just right considering that the roof will need work soon and that the 50-year-old oil furnace needs to replaced almost immediately. If you know anything about house ownership neither of these expenditures are simple or cheap. But with over an acre of land to play with and a great overall house I think it'll be worth it in the long-run, especially before the housing market picks up again this Spring.

Wish us luck!

Patience is Rewarded... with Gas Masks

More posts coming soon...

Photo taken by Jeff Provencher

The "B.O.T" (or Bug Out Team)

You've got your Bug Out Bag, possibly even a Bug Out Vehicle, but what about your Bug Out Team?

This has been a topic of discussion I've heard a lot more often as of late. With new bans looming over the horizon, the division between Liberals and Conservatives greater than ever before and with certain supplies growing more rare a need for a backup plan feels pretty pertinent.

Not only is this a topic of discussion for others, it's been one for me as well. The need for contingency plans is more important than ever and I'd rather be ready and in a group I trust than climb this mountain of sorts alone.

A "Bug Out Team" should be a small group, no larger than five or six. In this group a level of compatibility must be kept between all members whether it be similar medical kits, radios or similar weapon platforms and calibers.

Have a plan!

You may have good, trusted friends that you'd like to be in this group, but they may not all live in the same area. Just because they decided to live in a different city or state shouldn't disallow them from joining your bug-out operation. Because if they weren't allowed to join because of that would make you a jerk.
Create waypoints and different routes depending on differing scenarios (i.e. disaster type, population panic level, etc.) for a group to meet up. If, for example you are trying to escape farther north in the Midwest you may have friends or group members from all over a specific state or region that need to link up. Find areas ahead of time that would be best for finding each other as well as mark areas that would be better to avoid - (i.e. city-centers, transportation hubs, major highways, etc.).

Practice!

Run tests with your team and time yourselves under different scenarios and be critical of mistakes. Like your group's medic realizing that he forgot to pack his med-kit when arriving at an important rendezvous point. He won't be making that mistake again in the future...

Kits - In Depth:

Unanimously the most important quality of kits in a team is to have multiple similarities and redundancies throughout, but don't forget that some form of variety is helpful too. Everyone should have a good medical kit in case of some nasty cuts, sprains or breaks. Besides the glorified boo-boo kits you'll probably want at least one "Oh crap I got shot or gored" kit and of course one or more competent group members to utilize it.

Kits and packs should also be somewhat unique based on the skill-set of the individual such as tools for a mechanic, a medkit for the medic (of course) and maybe a radio pack or repeater for a communications or electronics expert. It may seem obvious, but a lot of bug-out bags are VERY similar down to the food they carry. If you plan it out more like a squad of infantry it becomes more clear who has what role as well as defining what one person should carry over another.

It isn't always possible to have everyone carry everything because you then run into the problem of everyone's pack's weighing 200 lbs. and then you'll have a whole new set of issues to overcome.

One of the few times I'd highly recommend compatibility is between weapons and ammo - yeah, it's the obvious one. The ability to hand each other magazines with the same ammunition can be essential in a survival situation. Primary weapons needs to be alike, whereas secondary weapons such as pistols and maybe even hunting rifles is slightly less important. It depends on where you are and where you're planning on bugging out to.

Please plan ahead!

NY Times article on "Preppers"

One of the best news articles on the subject of prepping I've read as of recent:  The Preppers Next Door