If the SHTF, what educations will be the most valued

[KFinn]

....

• Acting - Ginger wasn't as hot as Mary Ann but she'd do in a pinch and I'm a firm believer in redundant systems.

"Twins Basil, TWINS!!!"

[Mtn.man]

Oh, you just had to ruin it, didn't ya? And no, I ain't fonda Hanoi Jane or any of those other commies.

That's my Personal Defense Dude.

[Bailey Guns]

"Twins Basil, TWINS!!!"

Twins will do.

[SA Friday]

I'm gonna take the "Gilligan's Island" approach to this:

• General scientist - because he'll be able to make radios and such outta coconuts and make other stuff work.
• Agricultural - Because Mary Ann knew about farming, was really hot and wore Daisy Dukes. How can that NOT be helpful after the apocolypse?
• Acting - Ginger wasn't as hot as Mary Ann but she'd do in a pinch and I'm a firm believer in redundant systems.

This thread was worth it for this one post. That's the funniest stuff I've read in a long time.

[theGinsue]

(1) The Foxfire Book: Covers lots of essential skills that could be very useful, such as: hog dressing; log cabin building; mountain crafts and foods; planting by the signs; snake lore, hunting tales, faith healing; moonshining; and other affairs of plain living

(2) Some sort of comprehensive argriculture/horticulture book: Knowing how to grow sufficient food to sustain my family/clan will be essential - this is beyond the knowledge I had growing up in rural MO with an annual large family garden.

(3) U.S. Army Survival Manual: covers building emergency shelters, setting small game traps, improvising tools, etc. etc. Excellent all around information.

I've got good hunting, fishing, and standard "Boy Scout" skills as well as a little blacksmithing knowledge (would love lots more knowledge in this area). I also believe that boyer and ferrier skills would be essential as well.

Folks have spoken about medical knowledge. In a true TEOTWAWKI situation, most of the tools we rely on for meeting our medical needs will probably not be available. Someone who had a good understanding of general medicine and homeopathic knowledge will be needed.

[Marlin]

Folks have spoken about medical knowledge. In a true TEOTWAWKI situation, most of the tools we rely on for meeting our medical needs will probably not be available. Someone who had a good understanding of general medicine and homeopathic knowledge will be needed.

Oh, I don't know, way back in my previous life as a CDAT Medic in Germany, it was my turn to give the "weekly" classes. One was just standard boring Army text book stuff.. The other though was about
"Emergency surgery with the Swiss" Completely practical uses of the Swiss army knife in surgical applications.. I researched it and did it in a "slightly" humorous way that everybody, including the Plt Sgt and PA were rolling on the floor in laughter..

But, I did learn that it could be done..

[BigBear]

Well all seem to agree that some form of agricultural and mechanical types should take the number one and two spots. They would supply food and shelter. What is the other "basic" need? Clothing. I have yet to see mention of women who can sew, bear children, teach basic math/spelling/grammar/reading/etc. So, for my third choice I would like to interpose women as an occupation! Preferrably a "homebound" (archaic word I know) women who knows the ways of canning, sewing, etc.

No offense, I just don't want to be stuck in a TEOTWAWKI situation with a bunch of men that don't shower! HAHA.

[SigShooter]

I'd say it has more to do with the person than the curriculum. Clearly technical or science based fields will fare FAR better than lib arts, but it still relies on a persons ability to apply that knowledge in a wide variety of situations.

IE. How many of you know engineers that can barely tie their shoes? or teachers that could fix many cars, repair many homes, have a basic knowledge of orienteering, etc...

Sure. Medical, farming, etc is important, but so is the ability to find a way to generate electricity and purify water. Not to mention mostly lost arts like working wood or stone by hand, or blacksmithing.

We live in a remarkably interconnected society, and there are precious few people that could do it even in small groups.

[BigMat]

Folks have spoken about medical knowledge. In a true TEOTWAWKI situation, most of the tools we rely on for meeting our medical needs will probably not be available. Someone who had a good understanding of general medicine and homeopathic knowledge will be needed.

Couldn't agree more, I work in medicine and have been slowly climbing the food chain, frankly a experienced EMT would probably be your best bet, which is where I started, as they are trained to be flexible and use what they have and given a broad and basic understanding of the body. As I got higher up the food chain, I realize, its not like I am gonna be able to start I.V.s for very long and push all kinds of fancy meds and run ECGs all day, but I could still splint things like crazy.

in terms of education and the OP

1.) agriculture, with a focus on people like hobby farmers and ranchers who don't know ranching from a helicopter or farming from a combine on 3,000,000 acres of the same crop.

2.) engineers, in as many types as I could get, to keep running what was had/found/gotten, or build what we needed. Focus on chemical and mechanical

3.) Wildland management, as its the best education I can find that means "mountain man." Some education in what the animals are going to do and where they are going to be as well as some education in hunting and gathering, i.e. "can I eat this and not die?"


I like the idea of medical education (as I have it, and I am selfish) but in my opinion most people who would need medical help that would require that much help from a person with that much education would probably die anyways. I think these three types would stand to save the most lives per person

[KevDen2005]

(1) The Foxfire Book: Covers lots of essential skills that could be very useful, such as: hog dressing; log cabin building; mountain crafts and foods; planting by the signs; snake lore, hunting tales, faith healing; moonshining; and other affairs of plain living

(2) Some sort of comprehensive argriculture/horticulture book: Knowing how to grow sufficient food to sustain my family/clan will be essential - this is beyond the knowledge I had growing up in rural MO with an annual large family garden.

(3) U.S. Army Survival Manual: covers building emergency shelters, setting small game traps, improvising tools, etc. etc. Excellent all around information.

I think those are good books, The US Army Survival Book has a ton of good info, but I like the SAS Encyclopedia of Survival by Barry Davies (ISBN 0-9666771-5-3 if anyone is looking for it). I think there is more diverse information in the book and has a lot of color pictures (which makes me happy) I can't figure anything out with a picture...