Aloha and welcome to AskThePrepper.com!

The purpose of this site is to do two things…

1. Document my journey as a prepper as I prepare for a SHTF event.
2. Helping others with the same desire.

So who am I?

My name is Jason Cain.

I am just a regular American guy — sharing the shortcuts and hacks of what I have learned along this path of preparation and self-reliance.

US MILITARY SERVICE

I was a sergeant (E-5) in the United States Marine Corps, and served six years (6) on active duty (1986-1992).

I was homeported in Hawaii at MCAS Kaneohe Bay as part of the 1st Marine Expeditionary Brigade (1st MEB).  I was honorably discharged in 1992.

My primary job was as a CH-53 avionicsman (6323) but I cross-trained as an aircrewman/door gunner once I arrived at my first squadron HMH-463 “Pegasus”.

I also served with HMM-165(REIN) “White Knights” and HMM-262(REIN) “Flying Tigers” for two WestPac deployments.  I participated in Operation Classic Resolve while stationed in the Philippines with HMM-165.

During my enlistment, I deployed a lot — every chance I got.  I volunteered for everything, so I could see and experience the world.  During my travels I spent most of my time in the Philippines and the Japan.

Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) NCO

One of my collateral duties during my enlistment included Nuclear Biological Chemical (NBC) NCO for my unit and serving on the NBC survey team.

The NBC NCO of a unit is responsible for maintaining equipment, training, and supervising NBC decontamination operations.

The survey team are the Marines that are tasked with going into a suspected contaminated area and taking specimens and samples — ahead of a main force unit.  Helicopter units were (not sure about now) typically used because they could fly into and out of a suspected area limiting exposure to personnel.

Military Training

While not even close to being an exhaustive list of all the training I had during my time in the Corps, I took courses and formal classes in:

• Cold Weather Survival
• Water and Sea Survival
• Infantry Patrolling
• NCO School

In short my military service can be summed up:

I did more than some — but there is nothing to brag about.

LAW ENFORCEMENT

After leaving the Corps, I immediately began working for the Honolulu Police Department — and was in the 117th Recruit Class at Ke Kula Maka’i.

All of my time was spent in patrol in Kalihi, Kaneohe and Waikiki.  I was one of the first bike patrol officers in the department.  Spent time on the three-wheeled motorcycles in Waikiki.  And trained new recruits in patrol procedures and tactics as a Field Training Officer (FTO).

I was one of the initial officers at the Sand Island Shooting that was one of the original segments of World’s Wildest Police Shootouts.

And I was involved in the incident involving an African elephant named “Tyke” that we had to put down after it killed two trainers and escaped from the circus.  (I freaking hate circuses to this day…)

CORPORATE SECURITY

Following the Honolulu Police Department, I began working for a fantastic Fortune 50 company in Atlanta, Georgia as their Senior Corporate Security Officer.

After 9/11, I began being asked by company executives about personal security, precautions to take overseas, safe rooms, and survival bunkers.

Maybe you remember the fear…

It makes the current pandemic we are in, look extremely feeble.

With all the questions I was getting — and time I was spending helping people — I started my own consulting company on the side helping executives protect themselves and their families in case of terrorism or disaster.

My Life As A Prepper

When did I start prepping?

I started in the early 90’s shortly after experiencing Hurricane Iniki which I thought was going to rip the roof off of the house I was living in. My preps were simple, and inadequate — and if things had been worse I would have been screwed.

From that point on I started putting away extra food, water and cash for an emergency. But I don’t think I really became a prepper until 1999, when my daughter was born.

I’m not sure if it is biological, but when you have a child something clicks inside you.  Parents become more nurturing and protective. That is when I really started thinking about survival.

It is also the year that people started preparing for the Y2K emergency. And while many people scoff at the whole premise of the Y2K problem, they know and are familiar with cyber attacks. Y2K would have been far worse, if governments around the world hadn’t dealt with the problem.

It would have been a self-inflicted cyber attack.

Lucky for me, because I still wasn’t ready for a serious emergency. I made a common mistake that most preppers make in the beginning…

I concentrated on guns, etc. but failed to have adequate food supplies.

My food situation was pitiful. I had a 20 pound bag of flour that I purchased at Sam’s Club, and a 20 pound bag of rice. Even to this day, I’m not sure WTF I was thinking. Although it greatly influenced the amazing emergency food plan I share with clients today.

By September 11th, I had my shit together…

September 11, the anthrax attacks of 2001, the SARS pandemic of 2002 and 2003, the H5N1 epidemic, Hurricane Katrina, and now the Covid-19 pandemic have prepared me to help you.

WHERE DO I LIVE?

I grew up in Northern California and Pacific Northwest and now live in the forests and shadows of the Cascade Mountain Range where I fish, camp, hike, shoot, and contemplate life.  I get out in the bush almost every weekend.

My interest has always been the outdoors and survival — especially cold-weather survival.  In cold weather, the mountains and forests themselves are trying to kill you.  🙂

On nice days: I ride winding, country roads on an old Harley — sometimes with an ‘old lady’ on the back.

I hope you find the answers you are looking for on my site, or on my social media channels.