The Darkling Wilderness

 On 25 & 26 January 2025, I operated as part of a field communications site to participate in Winter Field Day (WFD) 2025 ( https://winterfieldday.org/ ) and to test, demonstrate, and experiment with various communications tools and protocols. The field site was located near Deschutes Falls Park in Yelm, WA 98597 and was completely off-grid (no commercial power / utilities). Initial communication began at 0800 local on 25 January 2025 using 2-meter simplex on 145.520 MHz and 145.580 Mhz and on HF near 7.265 MHz using portable radios and mobile rigs as the group came together. We also sent and received messages using Winlink Global Radio Email ( https://winlink.org/ ) during this first hour. Winlink worked well both through a post office station and through a CMS, but we were not able establish a P2P contact using Winlink. Digital communications was established using FLDigi ( https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Fldigi ) and the OLIVIA protocol to receive the WFD information bulletin, ...

The MI9 Code originated in WW-II and a version of this code is still taught in SERE, allowing captured and detained personnel to transmit a hidden message in otherwise ordinary and mundane correspondence. First, you are going to need the letter writer’s secret number which in this example is 1. (This number is per-arranged, and listed in the EPA.) Then, you need to find the keyword in the encrypted letter which will give you the positions of the words that comprise the hidden message. Find the keyword Count the characters of the first two words of the letter and add the number of the letter writer. In the example embedded below, the first words are ‘I’m afraid’, hence 8 characters. We add 1 (the letter writer’s secret number), 8+1=9. The ninth word, in this case ‘keenly’, is our keyword! Find the codeword frequency Convert the keyword into numbers based on the letters’ position in the alphabet and eliminate numbers 1 to 3. In the example, K=11, E=5, E=5, N=14, L=12, Y=25, so KEENLY t...

*Personal Survival Kits* . Creating and carrying a personal survival kit will augment any issued survival equipment in order to help an isolated person survive. Individuals must personalize their survival kits for the operating environment. Consider including the following items in a personal survival kit: water, shade tarp, [firearms and] ammunition, radio, personal locator beacon (PLB), satellite phone, commercial tracking device, maps, compass, and emergency signaling devices, local purchase cell phone, sun block, insect repellent, head net, space blanket, burlap, poncho, a mirror, infrared (IR) and visible lights (e.g.: Fire Flies, laser pointer, Micro Lights, Phoenix, chemical lights, etc.), 3’x3’ bright colored cloth, 1 sq. inch of glint tape, knife or multi-tool, fire starter, candle, button compass, water purification tablets, three 1-gallon zip lock bags, large plastic leaf/trash bag (for water storage and protection from the elements), 100 ft. parachute cord, gloves, large ne...

You can send a direct (text) message between two DMR radios, if know the other person's DMR ID (You can look up ID by callsign here: https://database.radioid.net/database/search). Start by selecting a DMR channel on your radio. Common DMR Simplex channels include: UHF Frequencies: 441.000 MHz 441.500 MHz 446.500 MHz 433.450 MHz VHF Frequencies: 145.790 MHz (used in some areas) 145.510 MHz (used in some areas) Channel Configuration: When programming DMR simplex channels, the following settings are commonly used: Talk Group (TG): 99 (a common convention for simplex use) Color Code (CC): 1 (a common convention for simplex use) Time Slot (TS): 1 or 2 (depending on the radio and desired functionality) Admit Criteria: Always or Channel Free (depending on the desired behavior) Both radios MUST be on the same channel and talk group in order to receive DMR direct messaging. Because the messages are direct (private) they are only received by the radio ID to which they are addressed. (Whi...

A lot has changed since the CIA was founded in 1947. Sweeping advancements in technology, a new and evolving threat landscape, and the nuances of an increasingly globalized world mean that the CIA of today looks remarkably different from the CIA of yesteryear. CIA’s headquarters in Langley, Virginia, was built in 1952, predating the Internet, the personal computer, and yes, even the microwave oven. And while the CIA has evolved tremendously over the years, there are certain elements of our mission that are, for lack of a better word, timeless. In 1951, CIA instructors developed “Introduction to Survival,” a course meant to prepare Agency officers with the skills needed not only to survive—but thrive—in wilderness conditions. Documents declassified in August of 2000 include a nearly 300-page course manual ( https://www.cia.gov/readingroom/docs/CIA-RDP78-03362A000900050001-4.pdf ) that guided students through the core principles of wilderness survival, including parachute jumping, ground...

  In their 1958 book 'On Your Own in the Wilderness', Col. Townsend Whelen and Bradford Angier wrote: "The most practical answer for a multitude of outdoorsmen is the light, high-grade .22-caliber pistol or revolver. It is conveniently and easily carried at all times, even while hunting with the big-game rifle. Besides furnishing you with pot meat, it will account for varmints including poisonous snakes. It can also be used for securing large fish not protected by law. The .22 Long Rifle cartridge, particularly the highspeed type, has excellent killing effect on birds and small animals. The report is not too loud. The ammunition expense is insignificant... If I were selecting a new handgun for pothunting today, however, I believe I would choose one of the lighter autoloading pistols with a 4 1/2-inch barrel, target sights, and a grip with a thumb-rest."  In 2000, George Jasper wrote in 'Six Ways In & Twelve Ways Out' - "The weapon of choice for U.S. R...