A Navy SEAL’s Bug-In Guide: Book Review

I’ve been part of the prepping community for quite some time now, but I feel like I still have a lot to learn, especially when it comes to bugging in. I’m sure you’ll agree when I say that bugging out and heading for the wild in a crisis should be a last resort. No one wants to leave everything behind and risk their lives out there.

I’ve picked up a ton of tips along the way, but something I’ve always struggled with is building my own stockpile. What exactly do I buy? How much do I need? Where do I get it without breaking the bank?

A friend suggested I check out A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide by Joel Lambert. He told me this book includes a chapter titled “How to Gradually Build Your 3-Month Stockpile,” which breaks down exactly what to buy, how much of it, and where to find it at an affordable price and even includes a 90-day meal plan with recipes.

Given Joel’s background—a decade on the Navy SEAL teams and as a lead instructor at BUD/S—I figured he’s probably qualified to write a book like this.

I ordered A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide, and to my surprise, it arrived in just three days, even faster than it said on the website. Right away, I appreciated how straightforward and easy it is to read and follow. The content is packed with practical advice, and the book is well organized with clear tables, high-quality color photos, and helpful illustrations.

Joel talks about The Life Pie and details how each piece of the pie covers everything you need to know if you want to be successful when bugging in.

There are ten pieces in the Life Pie, and here are some that caught my attention immediately:

How to Make Your Property Looter-Proof:

This one is an eye-opener. It points out some security mistakes I didn’t even realize I was making around my property. For example, I had no idea how vulnerable my windows were or how important silent traps and alarms could be.

On top of that, it teaches you:

• How to safely clear your house room to room when you think you’ve got an intruder.
• How to make your house invisible after SHTF.
• Ingenious, violence-free ways to keep looters off your property.
• What hiding places looters never check.
• SEAL home survival tactics for the next civil war.

These tips are not just theoretical—they come from real-world Navy SEAL experience, offering practical and effective methods to secure your home during uncertain times. The guide breaks down complex security strategies into simple, actionable steps that anyone can follow, regardless of prior training. For example, learning how to methodically clear each room can help you stay calm and in control if you suspect an intruder, minimizing risk to yourself and your family.

Making your house “invisible” after a disaster means using camouflage and other techniques to avoid attracting unwanted attention, a crucial skill when lawlessness may prevail. The violence-free methods to deter looters emphasize smart deterrence over confrontation, helping you keep your property safe without escalating danger.

Additionally, understanding common hiding spots that looters overlook can give you a strategic advantage in protecting valuables and essential supplies. Finally, the SEAL home survival tactics prepare you mentally and physically for the challenges of a civil war or similar crisis, ensuring you’re ready to defend your family and property effectively.

Together, these insights form a comprehensive approach to home defense that prioritizes safety, preparedness, and resilience in the face of a real crisis.

Essential Medical Pills and Supplies:

It’s like the ultimate guide for stocking essential medical supplies when you’re bugging in. It has a checklist that helped me organize my first aid kit, covering everything from minor cuts to serious emergencies. Before this, my medical supplies were a bit scattered, but now I feel much more prepared for any medical situation.

Here are a few other things you’ll learn about:

• The 10-cent pill everyone needs in their cabinet.
• What happens if you take expired medications.
• “Nature’s Amoxicillin” and dozens of other natural remedies that can save you once pharmacies run dry.
• The only four antibiotics you need to stockpile for when SHTF.
• What happens if you mix raw honey with activated charcoal.
• The powerful painkiller that probably grows in your driveway.

In addition to these essentials, the guide delves into the importance of understanding how to properly store your medical supplies to maintain their effectiveness over time. It highlights common mistakes such as exposing medications to heat, moisture, or light, which can degrade their potency.

You’ll also discover expert insights on assembling a comprehensive first aid kit tailored for long-term bug-in scenarios, including items often overlooked by survival experts but crucial in emergencies.

The book emphasizes the value of natural remedies and how traditional knowledge can complement modern medicine, especially when access to pharmacies becomes limited during a crisis.

Moreover, it covers how to recognize symptoms that require immediate medical attention versus those manageable with home care, empowering you to make informed decisions that keep your family safe.

With practical advice and detailed checklists, this section of the guide ensures you have the survival knowledge necessary to handle medical emergencies confidently while bugging in at your own home.

Deadly Water Storage Mistakes to Avoid:

Water is needed on a day to day basis. Absolutely mandatory. Vital for our survival! It plays a hugely important role in our survival. The truth is that without it, we die fast, much faster than if we had no food.

Water storage is something I thought I had under control, but this chapter made me realize I had some gaps in my plan. It stresses the importance of having enough water not just for drinking but also for things like watering gardens, maintaining personal hygiene, and bathing. I learned about common mistakes to avoid, like improper storage that can lead to contamination. The book provides plenty solutions, like:

• How to stockpile a ton of water for 365 days, ensuring you have a long-lasting stockpile that can keep your family safe through even the most severe ones, like a full blown economic meltdown or natural disasters.
• A simple and cheap device that can filter huge quantities of drinking water, giving you the confidence to survive when the usual water services are disrupted.
• How to harvest atmospheric water, an ingenious method that allows you to create your own water source right at home, increasing your self reliance and reducing dependence on outside supplies.
• How to test your water to see if it’s still safe to drink, avoiding common security mistakes that could endanger your health during a crisis.
• How to desalinize water using a device that costs only $4, a great idea that can be a true insurance policy for your family when stranded in a real crisis.
• Tips on how to store water properly to prevent contamination and spoilage, accounting for all categories of water use including drinking, cooking, and hygiene.
• How to set up your water storage in a way that makes it looter proof, ensuring your precious resources are protected from unwanted visitors.
• Additional information on how to maintain your water supply long-term, including rotating supplies and using natural preservatives.
• Insights from a former Navy SEAL on how to keep your water supply secure and accessible, so you can stay one step ahead of potential threats.
• How to prepare for power outages that might affect water pumps, and alternative methods to cook and purify water without electricity.

A Bug In Guide Winning Project Example

These practical solutions and expert insights make this chapter one of the most relevant and helpful parts of the bug in guide, turning your home into the safest place to weather any storm or crisis.

And that’s just a glimpse of what I found inside. Each chapter offers useful, hands-on advice that actually helps me get ready for the next crisis.

After a thorough review of the stockpile chapter, I wasted no time and got straight to work. I used the book for guidance every step of the way. I even brought it along as a shopping companion. I made sure I bought everything listed in the book, and then I even made some of the homemade survival foods Joel recommended, like pemmican.

While my stockpile isn’t complete yet, I’m closer than I’ve ever been to having a complete three-month supply.

In the book, I also stumbled upon a neat DIY project called “The Pressurized Backyard Well,” aimed at providing a constant water supply. It seemed a bit intimidating at first, but the instructions were clear and the QR codes made it super easy to gather the materials and tools needed.

If I have one critique, it’s that the DIY projects chapter is a little bit shorter than expected. It would’ve been great to see more projects, perhaps categorized by skill level, especially since all of these projects are very practical and handy when you’re bugging in long term. Hopefully the author will consider expanding on this in a second edition, but other than that, the book is great.

Overall, A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide has truly been a gamechanger for me. If you’re looking to build your survival stockpile and learn the skills you need to be prepared for whatever comes your way, I highly recommend grabbing a physical copy.

Here’s the link to Joel’s official website, where I bought A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide

Final Thoughts

A Navy SEAL’s Bug-In Guide is more than just a survival manual—it’s a comprehensive blueprint for protecting your loved ones and ensuring your family’s safety in any crisis. With expert insights drawn from real Navy SEAL experience, this great book covers many others critical areas you might not have considered, from building a long-lasting stockpile to mastering home defense and medical preparedness.

What sets this guide apart is its practical approach, making it accessible for any family member to understand and apply. Whether you’re just beginning your preparedness journey or looking to improve your current plan, the guide offers clear, actionable steps that help you stay one step ahead of danger.

Don’t wait for disaster to strike or rely on ads and misinformation. Instead, take control of your future by doing the necessary research now. This book acts as the best insurance policy for your family, providing peace of mind that you can protect your home and loved ones when it matters most.

If you’re serious about creating a secure, self-reliant home and want to be confident that you’ve covered all your bases, this bug-in guide deserves a spot in your library. It empowers you to face any moment of crisis with confidence and control, ensuring that your family remains safe and prepared no matter what challenges come your way.

Remember, the time to act is now—move forward with the knowledge and strategies shared in this invaluable resource and secure the safest place on earth: your own home.

Here’s the link to Joel’s official website, where I bought A Navy SEAL’s Bug-in Guide

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