Great idea and maybe there should be some talk of formal training like scouting organizations. My friend and I who eventually became Eagle Scouts, used the skills we learned in Wilderness Survival courses to help us make it through two of the darkest nights we ever saw.

I would also like to hear more about any type of survival training I can get ahold of. I am a Marine ve as well as an Iraqi vet, and we had some real good survival manuals and classes, but no real Prac. Ap., so when we had to use them during a time where we got seperated from our supply convoy for a several days, i felt a little unprepared. so any information, even locaions and organizations that are in each state would help a lot.

I live in Oklahoma, and my email is jayfive80@hotmail.com.

The Army used to have some pretty decent schools, but you really learned the most when you were left alone to see what you could really do. I learned that even small fish would do when you were hungry enough, grasshoppers were good for more than bait, and always* carry a spare knife. Small fishhooks fed me more than anything else did, and you did a lot better carrying a little bit of fishing line than trying to make some. And an old Marine Gunny taught me the most important thing of all, the secret of life - "Always Know What Pocket Your (plastic bag wrapped) Toilet Paper Is In!" (and keep some matches with it!)When I go to the woods nowadays, I carry the "Pilot Survival Knife" Cammilus M-5, the Army issued me long ago, and my Victorinox Swiss Army knife (mine is the Explorer model)that I have carried everyday for 30+ years now. I also carry a pocket kit that is very similar to the Altoids Kit described under another posting on this site about 'my first survival kit' or words to that effect. An appropriate hat and clothing, and usually a firearm, depending on what I am doing and where I am.