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Oath Keepers is Going “Operational”

Oath Keepers Founder and President Stewart Rhodes made an interesting announcement today – the organization is going “operational” by forming what they are calling “Special Civilization Preservation Teams”.

For those of you who aren’t familiar with Oath Keepers, it’s “a non-partisan association of current and formerly serving military, reserves, National Guard, veterans, Peace Officers, and Fire Fighters who will fulfill the Oath we swore, with the support of like minded citizens who take an Oath to stand with us, to support and defend the Constitution against all enemies, foreign and domestic, so help us God. Our Oath is to the Constitution.”

Mr. Rhodes describes these Special Civilization Preservation Teams:

Oath Keepers is instructing it’s 30,000 members nation-wide to form up special teams and sub-teams in each Oath Keepers chapter, at the town and county level, modeled loosely on the Special Forces “A Team” (Operational Detachment A ) model, and for a similar purpose: to be both a potential operational unit for community security and support during crisis, but also, as mission #1, to serve as training and leadership cadre, to assist in organizing neighborhood watches, organizing veterans halls to provide community civil defense, forming County Sheriff Posses, strengthening existing CERT, volunteer fire, search-and-rescue, reserve deputy systems, etc., and eventually to assist in forming and training town and county militias (established by official act of town and county elected representatives). We want our chapters to organize themselves as a working model that we can then take to other veterans organizations, such as the VFW, American Legion, Marine Corps League, etc. in each town and help them establish such teams within their already existing veterans halls.  And likewise, to serve as a model and training cadre to help churches, neighborhood watches, and any other civic organization organize.

We are basing this on the Special Forces model, which has a twelve man “A team” of specially trained soldiers who are inserted into a community to train and lead that community in resistance to oppressive regimes (hence their motto: “De Oppresso Liber).   SF’s primary mission is to teach, organize, and lead, rather than to directly fight. They can fight, of course, but they are most dangerous as a force-multiplier by helping an entire community to fight. We will do the same – be force multipliers to help prepare communities so they can preserve civilization by providing their own security, disaster relief, infrastructure preservation, emergency communications, strategic food reserve, and medical care.

From there Rhodes goes on to break down the composition of this twelve man team. The question you’re probably asking is, why is Oath Keepers doing this? Rhodes goes on to explain:

In addition to this being part of our mission anyway, we feel like we are flat running out of time and we need to get as prepared as possible as fast as possible. The Oath Keepers national Board of Directors war-gamed what we think is the most likely move by our enemies to scrap the Constitution. On the BOD at the time were a Special Forces Major, an Army Ranger, and a Marine Scout-sniper veteran, as well as a retired Navy Commander and several Vietnam combat vets, and several other combat arms veterans. Playing devil’s advocate, and putting themselves in the enemy’s shoes, we estimated that the most effective course for “them” to follow would be to:

1. Intentionally trigger a catastrophic economic collapse as an economic “neutron bomb” (kills the people, but leaves the land intact). With the current intentional lack of a Strategic Grain Reserve, our population is in a strategic “checkmate” position where an economic collapse could be a near-extinction event for our population. During the Cold War, the U.S. government maintained three years worth of grain in a Strategic Grain Reserve for the entire US population because they knew that in the wake of a nuclear exchange with the Soviet Union, it could take three years to recover and grow crops again. Without that reserve, those who survived the exchange would starve to death before they could possibly restart growing enough food. We now have no such Strategic food reserve, which means that any catastrophic interruption in food delivery could kill millions of Americans. Such a disruption could occur because of even a limited nuclear exchange, an EMP strike (either man-made, or natural, as a result of solar activity), or, an economic collapse.

Currently, our economy is in such a weak state that an economic collapse could be intentionally triggered at any time. Because of the lack of a food reserve, and because few Americans store food on their own, such a collapse would lead to mass starvation, just like in the aftermath of a nuclear exchange.

The US government is spending billions of dollars on ammunition, armored vehicles, and weapons for DHS and local police. It is spending nothing on food for the people. They are preparing to control and contain us, and to shoot us, but not preparing to feed us. Why is that?  You know the answer.

2. Let the country descend into chaos. A national economic collapse would be like a “national Katrina” but lasting far longer, and because it is nation-wide, it would be far more intense. The cities would implode. All the government would have to do is contain them and let them implode. in the midst of that chaos, they could also do a decapitation strike on the leaders of the liberty movement, but other than that, “They” could just sit back and wait a month, two months, or three to be really sure the people are at a maximum level of starvation, weakness, and chaos, and then:

3. Ride in like the cavalry, to “save” us by means of martial law and scrapping our constitution once-and-for all. They could blame the collapse on the so-called “free market” and on not having enough government power, and they could blame delays in relief on the “extremists” in the patriot movement (i.e. “we would have gotten the food trucks in sooner, but the extremists were ambushing our safety check-points and resisting the necessary relocation to relief camps”). Their ready to go solution would be a world-wide version of the Fed, and a world wide government. People would be told to “just turn in your guns, and you’ll get food” and “just turn in the extremists, and you’ll get food.”

ADDITIONAL ANALYSIS: To the above, we now add Brandon Smith’s insight that with a war in Syria, the elites can trigger an economic collapse with a war – with Russia and China using economics as a weapon in retaliation. All China would have to do is dump US treasuries and refuse to trade with US dollars. That would begin the final death-spiral of the dollar.

The Chinese would be blamed for the collapse, rather than the banksters. “They” would tell the American people that the evil Chinese are to blame for the death of the dollar, and anyone who resists the “emergency measures” by the US government would be accused of aiding the enemy. They would say “domestic extremists took advantage of the Chinese economic attack on us to push their own racist and extremist anti-government agenda, making the collapse worse by attacking peace-keepers and international relief volunteers, and by attacking and resisting US officials who were trying to restore law and order.”

It is because of the systemic weakness of the American people, and our strategic checkmate position of having no strategic food storage and no effective local security, that we feel the need to take Oath Keepers operational and put our focus on each chapter being a training cadre to get their communities as prepared and organized as possible in whatever time we have left.

We urge you to presume the worst in the short term, and to work in three or four month sprints – assume that a collapse will be triggered this fall/winter and do all you can to get yourselves and your communities ready.

If it doesn’t happen in the next four months, then do another sprint, of three or four more months of preparation. And keep going until it happens – which it will eventually, no matter what anyone does. The dollar is doomed.

We encourage each individual to build a food reserve, to set aside food for their neighbors (10% of their food is for others), and to have basic communications (at least a hand-held dual band radio), basic medical, and water purification, shelter, and weapons and ammo.   We will post more details on our recommendations for preparedness in a follow-up post.

Everyone is encouraged to use the above team building model and template to build a team within their family, extended family, and friends, and to then do the same in their neighborhoods, and in their civic organizations. From the individual, to the family, neighborhood, civic org, town, county, and state. Bottom up.

OK. Let us know how to improve the above.

For the Republic,

Stewart Rhodes
Founder and President of Oath Keepers

I’ll be interested to hear what folks have to say about this, both for and against, so be sure to let me know in the comments. For more information and to read the whole announce, check out oathkeepers.org.

39 Responses to Oath Keepers is Going “Operational”

  1. H.K. October 1, 2013 at 3:38 pm #

    And so it begins.

  2. Brent October 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm #

    I’ve been prepping for this. I can live off the land though, so while I do stockpile food, I focus more on weapons and ammo.

  3. Brent October 1, 2013 at 3:51 pm #

    Any of these Oathkeepers in Indiana?

    • Dan October 1, 2013 at 10:27 pm #

      I believe if you go to oathkeepers.org you can find them.

  4. TK October 1, 2013 at 4:03 pm #

    Obama and his buddies are not gonna like this.

    • Prairie Patriot October 1, 2013 at 4:25 pm #

      Exactly, they’ll be labeled as a right wing terror group for trying to create self sufficient communities. How dare they wean us off the government teat!?

      • warbler October 1, 2013 at 8:18 pm #

        labeled as a right-wing terror group? whatever might make them think that? oh, dear.

  5. Erik Block October 1, 2013 at 4:19 pm #

    Very Interesting indeed. Any of you folks here in Kommiefornistan? I’m not an Oath Keeper due to my lack of service but would be glad to offer any help.

    • Ryan October 1, 2013 at 7:35 pm #

      Yeah, former Paratrooper and combat vet living in Chino. Hoping for the best, but preparing for the worst.

    • Dan October 1, 2013 at 10:32 pm #

      You need not have been in the Military. A patriot and be willing to defend the Constitution is all that’s required.

      • Carl October 18, 2013 at 2:32 pm #

        I’m a patriot and will to defend the Constitution of these United States, to the point of death, from ALL enemies more especially domestic so that my children can grow up in the America I did. Die on your feet rather than live on your knees. EMT/IV/FF skills along with survivalist,. yadda yadda

    • Dave Stiles October 2, 2013 at 6:12 pm #

      As of 2010 you do not have to have served in any capacity to be an Oath Keeper. Please go to oathkeepers.org/oath and join us as an Associate Member.

  6. Peter Payne October 1, 2013 at 4:21 pm #

    I don’t see an issue with this, we all need training. Let’s be real here, our government isn’t doing very well right now and with Democrats not hearing anything unless Obamacare (which is disastrous) gets funded, we’re looking at a lot of issues. Our economy is on a decline and there isn’t a way to deny it. Not going to go into heavy detail, but I’ve seen to it that I got into a team I’m comfy with and can trust. I encourage my fellow Americans to listen to this man, prepare yourselves. SHTF is not an if anymore, it has become a when.

  7. Mandate October 1, 2013 at 4:49 pm #

    Agree. Things like this have been in the works for a while. Push aside all the “conspiracy crap” and think about the modern concept of having only a weeks worth of Wal-Mart food in the pantry and fridge. What happens if SOMETHING happens that blocks the semi-trucks from delivering the food for a month. Everyone would go ape.

    Being prepared isn’t “prepper conspiracy”, it’s just smart.

  8. Hillbilly Bob October 1, 2013 at 4:52 pm #

    Yeeeeee Hawwwwww

  9. dgdimick October 1, 2013 at 5:18 pm #

    If you look down at some of the other stories, it gets very interesting. I’m really unsure how you can implement this type of training, however, I see a need for it.

  10. Robert Miller October 1, 2013 at 5:18 pm #

    I’m a former soldier, retired SFC, and I live in AZ, Sierra Vista. Any chapters close by?

  11. Ray Blaloock October 1, 2013 at 5:49 pm #

    If anyone is in TN I’m ready to assist.

  12. william engroff (@wileng2) October 1, 2013 at 6:18 pm #

    i’m ready to help,i am in new jersey

  13. Patty Freeman October 1, 2013 at 6:28 pm #

    I live in Harker Heights, Texas about 5 miles from Ft. Hood. Is there anyone else close or is there a team already set up around here?

  14. Rob October 1, 2013 at 7:14 pm #

    Retired paramedic firefighter with extensive training on hazardous materials , disaster and crisis management, officer, instructor and ham radio operator. Near Gettysburg Pa. I have an acre and a 1/4 and will be expanding my garden next year.

  15. Humorist Hunt October 1, 2013 at 7:35 pm #

    I’m in Las Vegas Nevada & ready & willing to help.

  16. Jim Thompson October 1, 2013 at 8:13 pm #

    I am a retired soldier, living In Tucson Arizona, any chapters near here

  17. Edward October 1, 2013 at 8:16 pm #

    Thank You All!!!

  18. Matthew October 1, 2013 at 8:25 pm #

    Upstate NY here.

    • Roch October 2, 2013 at 1:32 pm #

      Upstate NY too. Roughly where are you ?

  19. TWDC October 1, 2013 at 8:32 pm #

    while this concept is an awesome one, like the A teams, this should have been a more clandestine operation, initiated through the local chapters, not spread all over the web, it s not like we are not under enough microscopes…… make love loudly, make war silently!

  20. Jeffrey L. Elson October 1, 2013 at 9:08 pm #

    The best trained, best equipped, best fed troops will sleep on guard duty! The weakest link in your chain could be the man in your mirror. Remember no man is an island. The man you shot for scavenging food was the only dentist for hundred miles, You will be killed because somebody thinks you have can of soup in your cupboard. People will resort to cannibalism in less than 30 days after the trucks stop running to the stores and most people would have already committed suicide the day they eat they’re last meal. Police will run a grid course shooting anyone caught outside, they won’t be asking if you need assistants. it will be every man for himself. It could happen any day and your world will be changed as fast as you can snap your fingers.

  21. Ken Herringshaw October 1, 2013 at 10:05 pm #

    I’m all for it and very willing to do what I can at age 69.

    • Dan October 1, 2013 at 10:37 pm #

      Ken, I’m 68 and can do a lot. The young ones will just have to keep up. Make it our game,and our rules, we win.

  22. Regina October 2, 2013 at 12:14 am #

    Thank you Stuart!!

  23. John Mattern October 2, 2013 at 12:21 am #

    I would just like to know who to contact in Oregon to sign up.

  24. David Haines October 2, 2013 at 1:58 am #

    anyone near roland, iowa or DES MOINES, IOWA I’M ALL IN

  25. hardh8 October 2, 2013 at 7:04 am #

    HK, that’s the line from the 2 towers. A great movie. Ryan & Eric Block, I too and in california. I’m an ex-navy corpsman. Let’s get together and talk. Hillybilly Bob, great comment. As I see it, everything lies in how the local police departments and the men who work for said will react to the orders to murder their fellow Americans. And YES that order will come for sure. What will they do? Obey what is a lawfully given order. Or not. What will the state national guardmen do? Obey what will be a lawfully given order to disarm their fellow Americans. Or not? Even the most ignorant must realize this happen in America already in Katrina and Boston Bombing incedents. In Katrina the local police & national guard went door to door and disarmed inoccent Americans. In the Boston bombing the local police did warrentless house to house searches. So….what will the leo’s and national guardsmen do?

  26. George Hill October 2, 2013 at 7:29 am #

    I am in full support of the Oath Keepers and this move to go “Operational”. The Down Side however is that many local authorities, City and County, will see this as a threat to them.
    The Wise Sheriff with see this as an opportunity to bolster his assets, fill the ranks, and utilize the Oath Keepers to the best advantages to help the community – following the spirit in which the Oath Keepers are offering their help.
    The craven Sheriff or Commissioner will be fearful of this and refuse the assistance, considering only these actions as threats to the local authority or his office.
    I submit that in those areas where Oath Keepers are shunned – are areas were the Oath Keepers are needed the most.

  27. panajungla1984 October 2, 2013 at 8:07 am #

    Just look around you. The general population are completely lacking in morality. Do you really want to share your supplies with the assholes who have acted like 15 year-olds their entire lives? I say let them scumbags starve, and be ready to dispatch anyone of them when they cross the line. Some folks need to be extincted.

  28. Brenda October 2, 2013 at 10:22 am #

    Frightening scenario! Thanks for the heads up. I’ll check my area for a chapter.

  29. Mongoose Elite October 2, 2013 at 1:39 pm #

    Great,I said this area days ago that groups need to start acting within each state for when Obama starts the NWO script!

  30. Hoosier Minuteman October 2, 2013 at 5:52 pm #

    Yes, I just recently turned in my badge however. You can look into http://www.indianamilitia.org as one way to prep with like-minded patriots. This group has been around since 2001, was founded by a 20-year militia veteran commissioned by the Continental Congress. They have current/former public safety & military.