Introduction to Selco Begovic and His Hard-Earned Survival Wisdom
Selco Begovic is a renowned urban survival and preparedness expert who gained firsthand experience and insight during the brutal Siege of Sarajevo in the 1990s. As a young man living in the city, Begovic endured over 1425 days of being cut off from utilities, surrounded by violence, and struggling to find basic necessities.
The Siege of Sarajevo during the Bosnian War lasted from April 1992 to February 1996, making it the longest siege of a capital city in modern warfare. The city was shelled relentlessly, snipers took up positions in high-rises, and residents were trapped without electricity, water, or access to adequate food and medical supplies. Gangs took control of the streets, exploiting and killing civilians. Selco experienced the worst of urban societal collapse, which forever shaped his survival philosophy.
Begovic now shares the brutal realities of his firsthand experience to prepare preppers for true catastrophe scenarios beyond idealized "doomsday" notions. He urges preppers to ready themselves psychologically and spiritually while warning that gear and supplies alone cannot guarantee safety when society breaks down. According to Begovic, community connections and skills ultimately matter more than material stockpiles. His hard-won wisdom provides an indispensable perspective for preppers seeking to survive disasters.
Begovic's 5 Core Principles of Survival Preparedness
Distilling his experience into key fundamentals, Begovic outlines 5 pillars of survival:
Stockpile Essential Supplies - Gradually build stockpiles of gear like food, water, medical items, comms, lighting. Have at least a 3-6 month supply and know how to use it all.
Cultivate Community Connections - Get to know your neighbors and form local mutual aid groups with diverse skills. Avoid isolationist mentalities.
Adjust Mindset - Be mentally ready for severe hardship, violence, supply chain breakdown, loss of utilities, desperate people. Stay positive.
Learn Skills - Take hands-on training in skills like gardening, navigation, first aid, fire-making, hunting, foraging, and improvising gear.
Get Physically Fit - Good fitness prepares the body and mind for adversity. Prioritize strength, flexibility, nutrition, and stamina.
Begovic's Top 5 Urban Survival Strategies
Drawing from urban warfare experience, Begovic recommends:
Maintain a Low Profile - Dress discretely, avoid conflict, and limit exposure to stay under the radar.
Have Backup Evacuation Plans - Map escape routes and rehearse emergency evacuations in case you need to urgently flee the city.
Scavenge Overlooked Resources - Repurpose discarded items and check trash for usable materials.
Leverage Community Connections - Barter goods and services within trusted circles of neighbors and friends.
Protect Yourself and Home - Secure your home with fortifications and alarms. Recruit those with medical/defense skills into community security teams.
8 Key Lessons from Begovic's Firsthand Survival Experience
Begovic’s account of surviving urban collapse reveals harsh but vital lessons:
1. Supplies alone can’t guarantee safety - Skills, fitness, and community connections matter more when catastrophe strikes.
2. Civil order decays rapidly - Be mentally ready for extreme hardship, violence, exploitation, and loss of modern amenities.
3. Adaptability is critical - Remain flexible, improvise gear, and do whatever it takes to endure.
4. Isolation is dangerous - Mutual aid and community boost outcomes. Avoid going it alone.
5. Stay unnoticed in a city - Maintain a low profile and discretely salvage overlooked resources to survive.
6. Have backup evacuation plans - Be ready to urgently flee on foot if threats arise. Map routes and rehearse drills.
7. Defend yourself as last resort - Only use force to protect life as an absolute final option.
8. Hands-on skills training is a must - Take every chance to practice essential survival skills before an emergency.
As Begovic warns, idealized collapse scenarios can breed complacency. Preparing requires a gritty mindset, adaptable skills, fitness, and connections above all else.
Begovic’s Expert Tips for Urban Survival Preparedness
Drawing from Begovic's experience, urban dwellers should:
Stockpile Essential Supplies
- Store at least a 3-6 month supply of shelf-stable food, water, first aid items, batteries, camping/cooking gear, tools, and communications equipment.
- Rotate stock to maximize shelf life. Learn to use everything in the stockpile.
Learn Key Skills
- Take hands-on training to learn skills like foraging, fire-making, self-defense, emergency first aid, and improvising gear from salvaged items.
- Regularly practice skills before an emergency arises.
Get Physically Fit
- Follow a regular exercise routine focused on strength, flexibility, and cardiovascular endurance. This will prepare both mind and body.
- Maintain top health through nutrition and lifestyle habits. Manage stress.
Connect with Community
- Get to know neighbors and form local mutual assistance groups. Exchange skills and resources.
- Connect with veterans, doctors, engineers who can provide valuable expertise.
- Unite with like-minded preppers through online communities like WeLovePrepping.
Secure Your Home
- Fortify doors, windows, and entry points. Install alarms and exterior lighting.
- Have escape routes planned. Create hiding places for emergency supplies.
Keep a Low Profile
- Dress discretely and avoid openly displaying resources or wealth.
- Limit exposure in public and be ready to blend into crowds. Avoid conflict.
Mentally Prepare
- Envision worst case scenarios to inoculate yourself against normalcy bias.
- Be ready to adapt to severe hardship, hunger, violence, the loss of utilities, and desperate people.
Have Backup Evacuation Plans
- Map escape routes out of city on foot. Scout quick exits from buildings and metro access points.
- Rehearse evacuation drills under different disaster scenarios. Be ready to leave urgently.
By combining Begovic’s hard-earned wisdom with thorough preparations, urban dwellers can significantly improve their chances of surviving disasters. Reality-based training, strong community ties, adaptability and grit ultimately provide the best chance of making it through collapse scenarios.
